With increased summer travel expected for 2014, national financial nonprofit provides tips for consumers to save money on gas.
Boston, MA – June 19, 2014
June 19, 2014 — The temperature is beginning to rise, and so are gas prices. After a brutal winter, consumers will be traveling, going on road trips, or just driving to the beach this summer. There are, however, ways to save on gas despite the seasonal increase. As part of National Dump the Pump Day on June 19th, American Consumer Credit Counseling has developed smart and savvy tips to save consumers money at the pump.
“In the past few years, gas prices have steadily increased, but most consumers notice it in the summer when they are traveling the most,” stated Steven Trumble, President and CEO of ACCC. “The cost of driving is emptying the wallets of many Americans and adding to their monthly costs. Consumers can take steps to save money on gas by making smart choices about where they fill up, the type of car they use, and how fast they drive.”
According to the Oil Price Information Service, the price of a gallon of gas rose 12 cents, roughly 3 percent, in the month of April. On May 4, 2014, the national average for gas was $3.64, 39 cents higher than in February 2014.
What’s worse is that for some, gas is nearly 4 dollars a gallon according to the Energy Information Administration, almost, on average, 20 cents higher than it was last year. The fuel market is not looking like it will drop its prices anytime soon, so it is up to the consumer to make their own changes to save money.
There are many ways consumers can avoid or mitigate the effects of rising gas prices. Consumers should look at smaller, more fuel-efficient cars instead of SUVs to get better gas mileage. Also, downsizing to one car can save consumers a significant amount of money. An APTA Transit Savings Report found that a two-person household that only has one car saves, on average, more than $10,174 a year.
Consumers can combat the high gas prices by being smart about where they get their gas and how much they are using. ACCC offers tips on how to save money on gas this summer:
- Use the Internet – Websites such as http://gasbuddy.com, compare prices of gas stations in your location so you can always find the lowest price. They also have some great tools and a weekly drawing for people who send in gas prices.
- Don’t Speed – Most cars reach optimum efficiency and use the least amount of gas between 50 and 55 miles per hour. Going over this limit will decrease your efficiency and increase your fuel usage.
- Route Selection – Plan your routes with the amount of gas you will use in mind. Google map direct routes to your destination, or if you have a few stops, make sure they are close in proximity. Also, choose roads with less stop signs and traffic lights so that you won’t need to stop and accelerate as much.
- Cruise Control – While on the highway, use cruise control, which keeps your car running at a constant speed rather than speeding up and slowing down. This causes you to burn more fuel.
- AC vs. Open Windows – If you are driving on the highway in hot weather, use your air conditioner instead of rolling down your windows. The added drag of the open windows decreases fuel efficiency more than using an air conditioner.
- Public Transportation – Using public transportation is great way to avoid the gas station. Taking the train to work helps the environment and your wallet – see how much money you can save through public transportation with the fuel saving calculator.
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization, that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
- For credit counseling, call 800-769-3571
- For bankruptcy counseling. call 866-826-6924
- For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
- Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial management and debt relief through education, credit counseling, and debt management solutions. ACCC provides individuals with practical debt solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC’s certified credit advisors work with consumers to help them determine the best plan of action to get out of debt and regain financial stability. ACCC holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. For more information or to access free financial education resources, log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit TalkingCentsBlog.com.
