These simple tips can help your family spend less on gas, and keep more money in your budget
 
By Rachel Cruze
 
If your family is anything like mine, summer means spending a lot more time in the car.
Between sports practices, camps, pool days, day trips and trying to keep everybody entertained, it can feel like you’re constantly headed somewhere. And all those extra miles have a way of showing up in your budget for gas.
While we can’t control gas prices, we can be more intentional about how we use our cars. A few small changes can help you spend less at the pump and keep more money available for the things your family actually wants to do the rest of the summer.
1. Turn Multiple Trips into One
One of the easiest ways to save money on gas is to be more thoughtful when you leave the house.
It’s easy to run out for one thing, come back home, and then realize you need to head right back out again an hour later for something else. Trust me, I’ve done it plenty of times myself.
When you can, try grouping errands together. If you’re already driving across town for soccer practice, see if you can stop at the grocery store on the way home. Or before you jump in the car for a gallon of milk, see if someone who’s already headed that direction can pick it up instead. A little planning ahead can cut down on extra trips and help your tank last longer.
2. Don’t Pay More Than You Have To
Gas is an expense just about all of us have to deal with, but that doesn’t mean you should automatically settle for the closest station.
Gas prices vary quite a bit, even in the same neighborhood. Taking a minute to compare prices before you fill up can save you money over the course of the summer. Apps like GasBuddy and Waze make it easy to find the best prices nearby.
And if your schedule allows for it, try filling up on Sunday or Monday, when gas prices tend to be a little lower than later in the week.1 The savings might not seem huge on one fill-up, but small amounts have a way of adding up when you stay consistent.
3. Use Rewards Programs Wisely
If a gas station you already use offers a free loyalty program, go ahead and sign up. The same goes for grocery store fuel rewards. I mean, if you’re already shopping there, you might as well take advantage of the discounts.
Just don’t spend extra money chasing rewards. That’s never a good deal. (And just to be clear, I’m not talking about credit card “reward” points. You know how I feel about those.)
Stick to buying what you already planned to buy, then enjoy the savings when it’s time to fill up your tank. If you’re a member of a warehouse club with discounted gas, that’s another easy way to trim your fuel costs without changing much about your routine.
4. Give Your Car a Little Attention
Sometimes saving money on gas has less to do with where you buy it and more to do with how your vehicle is running.
Checking your tire pressure only takes a few minutes, but properly inflated tires can help improve fuel efficiency. Staying on top of basic maintenance, like oil changes and air filter replacements, can help your vehicle run more efficiently too.
5. Turn the Car Off When You’re Waiting
Summer comes with plenty of waiting around.
Maybe you’re sitting outside camp pickup or waiting for practice to end. Maybe you’re parked in a driveway while your kids spend 10 minutes saying goodbye to their friends when they were supposedly “ready to leave” five minutes ago.
Leaving the engine running during those stretches burns gas even though you’re not going anywhere. If you’re going to be stopped for several minutes, turn the car off and save yourself a little fuel.
Give Your Savings a Purpose
Summer has a way of putting extra miles on your car and extra pressure on your budget. But a few simple changes can help you spend less at the pump and keep more money available for the things that matter most.
Put those savings toward your emergency fund. Use them to pay off debt. Or save them for a family goal you’ve been working toward.
The bottom line is that whenever you find a way to save money on gas, make sure those dollars don’t just disappear somewhere else in your budget. I’d rather use that extra cash to make memories with my family than watch it disappear into a gas tank!
* Rachel Cruze is a two-time #1 national bestselling author, financial expert and co-host of “The Ramsey Show” and “Smart Money Happy Hour.” Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people how to avoid debt, budget and win with money at any stage in life. She’s an energetic and thought-provoking speaker and has been speaking to audiences as large as 10,000 since the age of 15, when she began making appearances with her father, Dave Ramsey. She has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “Today,” CNN and “Fox & Friends,” and has been featured in “People,” “Parade,” “Woman’s Day,” “Success” and “Real Simple.” Rachel believes it’s possible for anyone to turn around their finances, win with money and build a life they love. Follow Rachel on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
 
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