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15 Ways to Save Money on Gas for Your Car

Save money on gas

With gas prices getting out of hand lately, the cost of driving can’t be overlooked. Whether commuting to work, going shopping, or taking a leisurely Sunday drive, it’s not going to be cheap to drive with gas prices this high! Thus, it might be time to revisit some ways to save money on gas.

Here are 15 ways to save money on gas:

Find the lowest prices. This one is so simple yet people often look to other methods first. However, why not just pay less for gas as a first step? Use an app, or just keep an eye out for low priced gas.
Forget brand loyalty. Who cares where you buy gas from, in terms of the branding of the station? A few months back, I saw two gas stations, on opposite corners from one another, with a difference of $0.24 per gallon. Yet, there were cars at the more expensive station. Why? Could it have been brand loyalty? I would rather go with the lower cost gas.
Carpool. If you know someone who works or goes to school with you, and lives pretty much on the way to your mutual destination, why not consider carpooling? Taking turns driving – say alternate weeks – can result in commuting costs cut in half. Of course, you have to enjoy or at least tolerate that person’s company. Think dollar signs, and that can become easier in some cases J
Don’t speed. I have a friend who simply never drove the speed limit when younger. He was also really frugal. I’ll bet he never factored in the decrease in efficiency when speeding. Going past highway speed limits, mileage efficiency might be reduced quite quickly. Best to avoid speeding, which is also smart since it’s safe and we aren’t supposed to be doing it anyway!
Use public transportation. Yes, this might not be possible for you. However, for some people it is a possibility, and one that should be considered. With my current work assignment, I’m probably looking at $10 in gas round trip, based on the approximately $4.30 per gallon local prices. By taking the train, my per-day cost comes out to about $7.50. An added bonus is less wear and tear on the car, and a less stressful commute!
Bike or walk. Again, not possible for many. However, if you have a short distance to work, school, the gym, or wherever it is you want to go – why not work in some exercise? It’s good for your health, and saves gas. Even doing this occasionally can have incremental money and health benefits that could add up.
Get a tune-up. If your car gets a regular tune-up and is running well, it can be more efficient in its use of gas.
Avoid unnecessary starting/stopping and braking. By this, we’re talking about taking clear paths to places rather than dealing with stop and go traffic. Also, while you drive open roads, if you are constantly tapping on the brake out of habit, you may be able to let up on the accelerator instead. This could help save money ultimately.
Clear out your car trunk. If your car trunk is weighed down by unnecessary items, it can lower efficiency. To save a little money in the long run, get out of the habit of thinking of your car as a secondary storage unit.
Check your tires. Tires that are low on air can impact the mileage you get.
Use lower octane fuel. Going with premium fuel, when it isn’t truly necessary, can really add up over time. Go with the lower octane variety.
Use coupons. Yes, I have actually seen coupons for gas! One offered a $0.05 per gallon discount if you redeemed the coupon. Not bad!
Check your air filter. Keep a clean car air filter, if totally in need of replacement it could impact your mileage.
Plan your trips. If you take the time in advance to spend a few minutes planning your driving for a day, if you’re running errands as an example, you might be saving more than time. Consolidating stops and choosing locations to visit, resulting in a shorter and more efficient trip, can lead to gas savings.
Pinch pennies. Here’s a way to really be a Squirreler by using the take a penny, leave a penny dish. This one’s just for fun, I don’t really recommend it J

My Questions for You

Have you given extra thought to saving money on gas lately?
Do you use any of these strategies?
Do you have any more to add?

Squirrel Away the Money You Save With Lower Gas Prices

By Squirrelers 16 Comments

Have you noticed that gas prices have dropped as of late?

It’s about time! A few years back I wrote about how historical gas price increases outpace inflation by quite a bit, which really put into perspective how expensive gas has become in recent years. I’m old enough to recall paying less than $1 per gallon of gas, around 20 years ago. (Side note: Dang….I really am getting older!)

Anyway, I’ve noticed recently that gas prices have been relatively low by standards of the last few years. This has been corroborated by a recent article from MSN which detailed some news regarding Energy Department forecasts on gas prices. They noted that in 2015, gas prices are projected to be under $3.00 per gallon, which is quite a bit lower than a prediction not that long ago.

So if gas prices do in fact stay low, how would that impact your spending and overall finances?

The thinking among some people is that with lower gas prices, people will have more money to spend on other things. Thus, if more consumer goods are purchased, this could be good for the economy!

Perhaps. But on an individual level, what would you do if your gas expenses were considerably lower on a regular basis? That’s the question I come back to.

I think that it’s probably true that with less money spent on gas, people will have more money available to spend. Math would dictate that. I also agree that with that additional money available to spend, people will generally do just that: spend it.

So basically, this means that the average person out there will not do the prudent thing from a personal finance standpoint. Which would be this: take the extra money that you’re saving on gas, and squirrel it way.

For example, if you were spending $120 per month on gas, but then that dropped to $90 based on price decreases, you could use the $30 to buy other things, or you could increase your monthly investments by that $30.

That small amount adds up! $30 per month equals $360 for a year, and invested over time that could result in quite a bit more.

So I’d like to see Americans take the savings from cheaper gas, and boost their savings instead of spending it. Here’s to responsible personal finance!

My Questions for You

What do you think about where gas prices have gone recently?

When you save money due to regular expenses being reduced, do you offset that by spending more on other things, or do you consciously try to save more money?

Money Saving Skills Are Worth Their Weight In Lower Bills

By Squirrelers Leave a Comment

The news has recently brought attention to an issue that many employees experience every year. That experience is becoming unemployed unexpectedly and needing to save money while unemployed. The temporary closure of the federal government and delayed paychecks has brought this to the front of media coverage. The truth is that many individuals that do not have government jobs face this challenge without having the media bring it to light. These individuals have to find their own way to save money. This is frequently by reducing their expenses on costs such as with cable and Internet, groceries, and entertainment.

Cable and Internet

If you become unemployed, one of the first suggestion many make is to get rid of your cable and Internet service. This is indeed a way to save money, but those services can be critical to you finding a new job. Having access to the Internet makes job hunting easier. It increases ways for the job hunter to communicate with potential employers and find new job opportunities.

With cable and Internet being essential services, the key is to review your bill. Only pay for the services that are essential. If you are not under contract, suddenlink offers a significant cost savings over what you are currently paying. If you are stuck with your current Internet provider, eliminate channels, services and packages that are not essential.

Groceries

May families find they throw a significant amount of their grocery budget in the trash each week. This loss can be limited by going through your closet, refrigerator and freezer regularly. This will help you avoid buying food items that you either already have or have a replacement for that item. Be sure to keep your leftovers visible in the front of your refrigerator. This will reduce the amount of leftovers you “lose” and have to throw away at the end of the week.

When shopping, be sure to make a list. Review your list and eliminate any items that you do not feel are needed or can be replaced. Avoid grocery shopping when you are hungry. If you shop when hungry, you are likely to purchase more food than when shopping on a full stomach. Coupons can help you save if used wisely. Using them wisely means only use them for items you would buy anyways. Do not add to your grocery list to “save money using coupons”, it doesn’t work. Finally, buy items in bulk if you have storage space. If you have a large freezer, stock up on each type of meet for the month when they are on sale.

Saving On Entertainment Costs

Another area of your budget to investigate when needing to save is your entertainment budget. Start by looking at the amount of times that you go out for dinner. Try to limit this or eliminate it entirely depending on your financial situation. If you can budget for dining out once or twice a month, go where you can save money. Join frequent customer cards or visit restaurants where you have discounts from advertisements or frequent customer cards.

There are other entertainment choices you can save on as well. If you attend movies on a regular basis either consider a movie ticket subscription plan, or watch movies at home instead. Some rental services allow you to rent a movie or video game for a dollar or two a night. Renting video games ensures you are your children enjoy the game before you purchase the game. Another option is instead of going out for entertainment, speak to your friends about doing a monthly gathering at each other’s houses.

Saving Takes Time To Learn

Becoming an expert saver is not something that comes to everyone naturally. Saving money takes time to learn. Picking up on money saving skills will reduce your monthly expenses. Simple but overlooked tips and tricks can help as well. Riding with a coworker and saving money on gas saves money. Another way to save gas money is to keep a list of places you need to visit and limit your time on the road by grouping nearby trips into one longer visit.

6 Examples of When Not to be Frugal

By Squirrelers 14 Comments

Frugality gets a bad rap in some circles, and in a way, such criticism can be over the top. There are people that simply think that it’s dumb to focus on saving at all, while one should simply aspire to bigger and better things with career or investments. In other words, they say make money and enjoy it while you can.

Admittedly, I do like to save money. Now, that’s no shock to those of you that visit here regularly. After all, I’ve shared a story about how I’ve picked up pennies on the ground below the window at drive-thrus, as well as a host of other tactics that can be seen as examples of extreme frugality. Saving is fun.

Plus, let’s face it – we won’t have a chance to grow net worth if we don’t save. It takes living within our means, and making sure our income exceeds our expenses, to allow this to happen of course. Then we can take that difference, invest it, and improve our situation. Bottom line is that saving money plays a big role in our financial success, and frugality can be a key part of it.

However, there really are times when we can’t be too focused on frugality. While it has its place, we can’t be myopic and lose sight of the bigger picture. Here are 6 times when we don’t need to be frugal:

When it Costs Money to Save Money

Sometimes, frugality addicts can go to great lengths to save a few dollars. Or, in some cases, pennies! I have heard people suggest things such as driving 60 minutes round trip to visit a cheaper grocery store, or driving 20 minutes round trip to go to a gas station that sells gas for 8 cents less per gallon. When you add up the cost in terms of gas, in order to drive to these places, it seems ludicrous to make those attempts to save. Particularly for using gas to save money on gas!

When it Takes Time to Save Money

Clipping coupons can be a nice way to save money. However, if we spend 30 minutes clipping coupons in order to save $4 at the grocery store, is it worth it? Would you want to spend your free time working at an $8 hourly rate? If so, maybe it would be worth it. But these are the types of calculations that make sense for us to make, determining the ROI on coupons, in order to see if we are truly spending our time wisely.

Food Choices

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been guilty of this one. Did you see above, where I talked about plucking coins off the ground at the drive thru window, where people dropped them? The drive thru isn’t exactly indicative of optimal nutrition 🙂 However, I’ve gotten much better with choices, and realize that it doesn’t help to buy cheap food just to save money. Food that is healthy and cheap is a great choice, but unhealthy and cheap isn’t. What we save up front we might pay back and then some in health care costs and lower quality of life later.

Necessary Health Care

Have you heard of people who avoid getting healthcare on purpose? By this, I mean people making a decent salary with decent benefits, but choosing not spend on insurance because they “never get sick”. I have. Plus, there are people who don’t want to make doctor visits due to copay costs and medical costs, despite the necessity of such things. I get that some things aren’t truly necessary to do, but others actually are. Don’t shortchange your quality of life to save a few dollars.

Maintenance and Repairs

This can take many forms, but the ones that jump out at me are home and car maintenance. Like anything else, if we do the little things along the way, the long-term results will likely be better. Delay the important expenses, or try to cut corners where we shouldn’t, and we could ulimately lose more money later.

Generosity

I know that many will disagree, but I think it’s rewarding to be generous in spirit and action where feasible. Now, obviously we can’t do this at all times and for everyone. But being willing to shell out a few dollars here and there to be a good sport or truly help someone in need are both nice qualities and can be rewarding. For example, if someone you know asks if you can buy girl scout cookies, how could it really hurt to buy one box? Again, can’t do it for everyone, but sometimes we can.

More importantly, there are people in need. Not all needy people are lazy bums or moochers, some folks have truly experienced misfortune. A few dollars to help on occasion won’t break the bank. To each their own though, of course.

My Questions For You:

Which of these 6 instances of when not to be frugal resonates most with you? How have you applied it in your life?

Are there any you disagree with?

Do you have any more to add?

Six Crucial Tips For a Successful Trucking Business

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When you drive along the highways, you’ll notice big trucks plying the roads. Trucking is indeed a profitable business because this industry is an essential component of trade. If you’re thinking of getting into the trucking business, it is actually a great source of income, provided you know what you are doing.

Competition abounds, so you’ll need to up your game to stay one step ahead of the pack. Getting your trucking authority from TBS can really help get the ball rolling. Succeeding in trucking takes more than knowing how to drive a truck or choosing a route. Consider the following suggestions below in order for you to be a successful trucking business owner.

Support and Choose the Right Niche Market

This is by far the most important component you must consider as a truck owner-operator. Whether big or small, you must support and choose the right niche market because it will determine the machinery you purchase, prices you charge, and freight lanes your trucks can service.

Beginner owner-operators must focus on untapped markets of huge carriers. In short, avoid what they service and, instead, focus on hauling specialized loads. To illustrate, making an income in the dry van commodities market will be a struggle because large carriers abound in this area.

However, hauling fresh meat and produce in reefer vans have many benefits. There are fewer competitors, there’s work all year round, and there’s resistance to recession should the market be in one. The last one is a critical component of your trucking business’s survival.

Command a Great Rate Per Mile

Price is one of the things that you must know how to set. Charging your client the right amount to haul their load is crucial because charging too high means you lose business and charging too low means your profits will be limited, so paying your operating costs will be a struggle.

Know your pay rate before marketing to shippers because you must be competitive with what the brokers offer them. You can determine this amount by selecting your freight lane and checking load boards. Then ask brokers to find out how much they pay. Get the average then add ten percent to get the final price brokers charge their shippers. Repeat this process for various directions, and then you’ll know the pricing in the market.

Figure Out Your Overhead Costs

As with any business, it is critical to know your overhead costs to keep the business running. Knowing your operational expenses will give you an idea if you can make a profit. List down all the fixed costs like truck payments, business permits, vehicle insurance, etc.

Then list variable costs such as the number of miles driven, along with estimated fuel consumption. You then total all these costs and subtract it from the rate you charge to get an idea of your total profit.

Utilize a Good Fuel Consumption Strategy

It is pretty obvious that fuel is the biggest expense in trucking. In order to make money, be creative and save money on gas so your overhead cost won’t be too high. The cheapest pump price won’t give you the most savings. Instead, you must buy fuel at the cheapest base price regardless of the pump price because you are being killed by the fuel tax.

On top of that, consider purchasing fuel that gives you rebates through your card or points that get your added perks. There are many ways to save on gas if you are creative enough.

Bypass Brokers and Work With Shippers

Load boards and brokers are helpful when you have an empty truck. However, they charge a big commission from ten to twenty percent off your load price. It would be best if you can minimize your transactions with them, but develop a relationship with the shippers themselves.

If you have proven yourself to these shippers, you can book loads directly and minimize the middleman charge. You can charge them a competitive price and keep all the payments for your company. Do this right and you’ll grow a stable list of shippers in your client roster.

Have an Efficient Office

Last but not least, you must have an efficient office if you want to stay successful in the trucking business. You can do this yourself or you can opt to hire a reliable staff. Managing an office means having a great dispatch system and being able to keep track of all the paperwork. This component is crucial for a cash-flow dependent business like trucking. You need to have someone document your fuel consumption, payments, receivables, and the like. This is one aspect that you must take care of if you want to succeed in this industry because trucking is not just merely driving from point A to point B.

Hooray for $2 Gas! Now, Be Careful.

By Squirrelers 14 Comments

Gas under $2 per gallon is a welcome sight!

As of this writing, I saw gas for sale at $1.92 per gallon. Just one day prior, I filled up my car’s tank at $1.99 per gallon – and thought that was a bargain. Little did I know that prices would drop about 3.5% in just one day.

Don’t worry, I didn’t lose any sleep over it. I’m not THAT frugal, despite past forays into extreme frugality 🙂

These prices are at levels that many of us probably thought would never happen again in our lifetime. However, they’re at those low levels now. So, it’s time to celebrate, right?

I think it’s a good thing, and it’s nice to see. Though as I wrote about several months ago when prices were closer to $3 per gallon, we should squirrel away that money saved on cheaper gas.

This might sound funny, but when I had the aforementioned gas purchase the day prior, I actually saw the $1.99 price on the sign and got a little bit fired up. It was irrational, I’ll admit it. You know, like an overly excited Black Friday shopper seeing a great deal at retail store.

Though I did have to laugh when at the pump I was asked whether or not I wanted a car wash. You know, when the temperature outside is literally 1 degree above zero, it’s quite the humorous question to ask a customer.

Anyway, back to gas prices. With prices at lower levels that in recent history, it’s a great time to remember that recent history. As in, remembering that those prices can go back to those levels at any time. As suggested in a post on Money Beagle, we shouldn’t count on prices being this low – and it might good to spend as if prices were that high.

This all came to mind in a very recent conversation where somebody was talking about buying a bigger house. These people live in a good enough house now, but for whatever reason they’re afflicted with dream home syndrome. The current place is closer to the city (Chicago), which all other things being equal means that prices will be higher than in more outlying areas due to jobs and other factors.

And what came up as a reason to consider moving further out? Gas prices!

It’s one of those exact things I had hoped people wouldn’t think of, but it looks like some are doing so. Memories are short with some folks all of a sudden, and low gas prices are causing people to get enticed to get more for their money buy considering a home purchase in a far flung suburb. Human nature, perhaps?

What will be interesting is if we see another wave of interest in such outlying, “exurb” type of places just as we did in the prior housing boom. You know, if gas prices stay at low levels for an extended period of time.

My take is that we ought to truly enjoy these low gas prices, but NOT count on them when making any budgeting decisions. So I’m doing just as I said in my prior post I referenced: suggesting that we save that extra money we have due to lower gas prices.

My Questions for You

How low have gas prices gone where you are?

Have you thought about how much you’re saving now in total, compared to how much you were spending before?

What are you doing with the extra money you’re saving?

What If Everyone Was Frugal?

By Squirrelers 1 Comment

The following is a Guest Post

In a perfect world, everyone would practice frugality like it was a religion. Why? The benefits range way beyond each individual and extend across continents, affects the environment and the economy. More and more people are taking stock in this economy and realizing they can live a fulfilling life with less, not more.

Strategies For A Frugal Lifestyle

The word “frugal” might be a little intimidating, but all it means is being more economical, taking advantage of sustainable practices and embracing a minimal lifestyle. There are many strategies and options available to those looking to cut expenses, save money or just wanting a simpler and less stressful life. The underlying philosophy can be summed up by the statement, “More isn’t always better.”

Here are some strategies you can utilize to start living a more frugal life:

Reduce your credit card debt. This is probably one of the biggest hurdles you can face when looking to downsize. One strategy is to evaluate the best credit card deals, choose the best one for your situation and taking advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards and consolidating all your credit cards into one payment. Pay as much as you can on the principal every month, and you’ll get the balance down faster than you think.
Consider alternate forms of transportation. If you are lucky enough to live in an area with public transportation, utilize it. You will save wear and tear on your car, save in gas money, and may qualify for a discount on your car insurance.
Have a 24 hour “cool off” before purchasing big ticket items. When you feel the urge for the latest technological gadget, a bigger television or an upgrade on appliances, wait a day and see if you still feel the same. You might want it, but a want is much different from a need. Take a day and sleep on it.
Re-use, recycle, re-purpose. Take it easy on your wallet and on the environment. Re-use something if you can, or donate to someone else. Recycle grocery bags, plastic, metal and paper. Instead of throwing something away, use your imagination and creativity and re-purpose that dresser into a potter’s station, for example.

A frugal lifestyle doesn’t mean going without. It means focusing on what you have and not on what you don’t have. Extend this philosophy to other aspects of your life, including downsizing your home, car, cable package, grocery bill. If everyone was frugal, there would be less strain on the environment and a lot less stress to deal with on a daily basis. Give it a try – you really have nothing to lose.

Little Traps: 4 Nagging Expenses and How to Avoid Them

By Squirrelers Leave a Comment

Everyone wants to save money, but it’s often easier in theory than it is in practice simply because so many things require your hard-earned cash every month. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where all that money’s going, but once you realize what you’re spending, you can start saving more of it. It takes sacrifice, but sometimes making a different choice is all you need to do to put some of that cash back in your pocket.

Don’t Let Your Car Gobble Your Cash

nagging expenses

Image via Flickr by Bruce Fingerhood

Cars are enormous money-suckers, but they’re also essential. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck in a losing situation, however. For starters, even though it seems more expensive, keep up on your car maintenance. Those oil changes and maintenance checks cost money at the time, but by making sure your vehicle runs smoothly, you avoid shelling out more money for bigger repairs in the future. Occasionally carpooling, using public transportation, or walking and biking to work are smart ways to save on gas money, as well.

Take Care of Your Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are everywhere. Almost everyone uses them. They allow us to communicate, pay bills, make purchases, and even play games. They’re entertaining, informative, and often essential. However, phones and tablets are also expensive. They’re initially expensive and they cost a lot to replace, as well. Avoid that by being smart – as smart as your smartphone itself.

Make sure you get a screen protector and apply it immediately. Screen protectors greatly reduce the risk of a cracked screen. Find a durable, heavy-duty case to protect the rest of the phone from scratches. Waterproof cases are also helpful since water damage is often a costly fix. Always get cellphone insurance, as well. Look up consumer opinions about insurance options, such as an Assurant review. Allowing your insurance to deal with damages is far less expensive than buying a new phone.

Check Your Entertainment Options

Entertainment is important. There’s no reason to sit at home all the time simply because you’re trying to save money. That being said, your monthly entertainment budget is the perfect place to start saving money. Look into the little things, such as the amount you spend eating out or going to the movies. You can save by cutting cable, planning game nights or movie nights at home, and re-evaluating your Internet bill.

Cut Everything You Don’t Need

Do you have any monthly subscriptions you never use? Check out every expensive. Maybe you’re paying for magazines, streaming services, newspapers, or apps that you never use. Get rid of them. They’re costing you money but providing no advantages.

It requires financial sacrifice, but you don’t have to completely change your life just because you want to start saving money. Small changes make a tremendous difference if you’re both diligent and serious, and as long as you remember to weigh initial costs against possible future payouts.

Historical Gas Prices and Money Saving Tips

By Squirrelers 21 Comments

Lately, the price of gas has again become a topic of discussion here. It’s come up come up a few times in conversations, as people have expressed concern about how high gas prices might go in the near future. Nobody wants to have his or her bank account depleted even more by spending at the pump, and gas prices have historically been a hot button issue.

It’s hard to blame anyone for such thoughts, as prices have already gone up disproportionately over the years. In fact, I did some analysis on historical data which allows leads to the conclusion that gas prices really have increased more than the rate of inflation over the last 20 years.

Now, many of us have probably surmised as much in general, after noticing how high gas prices have gone lately and how they spiked a few years back. Personally, I have a memory of stopping at a gas station back in the early/mid-1990’s, and seeing gas for less than $1.00 per gallon. It had dipped a bit at that time, and it occurred to me that a road trip at that time wouldn’t be too expensive. Those were the days, weren’t they?

Today, after seeing gas well over $3.00 per gallon here, I decided to check on how prices have changed over the last 20 years. I found a good source of data on gas prices at the Energy Information Administration site, which listed monthly gas data by grade, formulation, and geographic area. I focused on regular grade gas, and a national average.

What I found was the average price of regular grade gas has increased by almost 280% from February 1991 to February 2011:

February 11, 1991: $1.11 average price of regular grade gas

February 14, 2011: $3.10 average price of regular grade gas

Yes, we are spending almost $2.00 per gallon more today than we did 20 years ago!

When you compare that to the CPI (Consumer Price Index), it’s really apparent how gas prices have gone up. Along those lines, I did a similar analysis on monthly CPI, looking at data over the last 20 years.

The time period was one month different due to available data, but I found that CPI has increased 64% from January 1991 to January 2011:

February 1991: 134.6 CPI

January 2011: 220.2 CPI

When you compare the two metrics, it’s easy to see why it seems like gas has disproportionately increased in price – because it most definitely has!

20-year increase in gas price: 280%

20-year increase in CPI: 64%

Now, with any sets of data, there is variability. There have been even higher gas prices within this time frame, such as $4.00 per gallon back in June/July of 2008. This was followed by a decline in prices down to $1.59 per gallon at the end of 2008. That was a nice gift for the holiday season, but the rug was pulled out from under us as prices shot back up again, eventually to the levels they’re at today, over $3.00 per gallon.

Bottom line: gas prices have skyrocketed to the point where the resource is comparatively much more expensive today that it was several decades ago.

So, what to do about rising gas prices?

You could employ the following alternative modes of transportation:

Train
Bus
Bike
Walk

The train can work for me, though nothing else would. If I tried to bike or walk to work, it would be the greatest physical accomplishment of my life. Then I’d probably collapse. Of course, the danger of doing so might catch up to me first.

If these alternatives work for you, great! If not, here are 10 tips on how to save money on gas:

Keep your car’s trunk empty.
Keep your tires inflated to the recommended levels
Use cruise control when driving on the highway
Avoid stop and go traffic
Consider using regular gas instead of higher grade product (make sure this is ok for your car)
Plan your trips ahead of time, so you make fewer stops and drive less
Carpool
Employ certain hypermiling techniques (as long as they are safe)
Special Tip: Buy gas early in the morning when the ground is cold; the gas is more dense at this time of day, so you get more for your money than later when warmth causes gasoline to expand
Super Special Tip: You’ll have to check out the extreme frugality displayed in Squirreling Gone Wild #1 to learn more 🙂

Factors that Affect the Cost of Car Insurance

By Squirrelers 2 Comments

The following is a guest post.

Car insurance can be a major cost associated with your vehicle and so, when you are looking for cheap car insurance quotes, it is definitely worth knowing a bit about the factors that affect the quotes you are offered. Read on to find out more about 7 factors that affect the cost of car insurance.

Choice of car

The type of car you drive can have a big impact on the price of your auto insurance. As you might expect, the safer your car is, the better it will be for your insurance. Big, powerful cars also cost more to insure than cars with smaller engines, so this is something else to bear in mind if you’re looking for ways to reduce your insurance costs.

Driving experience

Newer and younger drivers tend to be considered higher risk than older, more experienced drivers and this is often reflected in a person’s ability to get a cheap car insurance deal. The more experience you have of driving – and the better your driving record – the more attractive your insurance quotes will be.

Driving habits

Safe drivers with clean licenses cost less to insure than those drivers who have speeding or traffic convictions. Also, the amount you drive can also play a part in how much you have to pay for auto insurance; as a general rule, the less you drive, the less you will have to pay for your insurance. This means that it can be a good idea to work out if there is any way you could use your car less, such as by using alternatives like walking or cycling. This can save you gas money as well as insurance money, so it is definitely something to bear in mind if possible.

Car modifications

Any modifications you make to your car will also affect your motor insurance quotes. If your car comes from the manufacturer with modifications (such as alloy wheels) already made to it, this shouldn’t affect your insurance too much. However, if you make the modifications yourself, you’ll need to declare them to your insurance company and this can have a sizeable impact on your insurance costs. This means that avoiding modifications wherever possible is a good idea.

Car security

How safe your car is should also be taken into consideration. Investing in additional security systems might cost you some money up front, but have a car that’s more secure is attractive to insurers and so this will be reflected in your quotes. This is because secure cars are harder to break into and steal. Things such as immobilizers, car alarms and steering locks are all good security additions. Parking your car in a garage is also preferable to parking it on the road.

Deductible rates

Something else that affects the cost of your car insurance is your deductible rates, or the amount that you would pay in the event of making a claim on your policy. Raising your deductibles can lower the cost of your policy.

Insurance company

Finally, your choice of insurance company can have a big impact on how much you pay for your insurance, so whenever you are looking for car insurance you should always do careful research. Check to see what’s included in your policy and do a price comparison against other insurers to see which one offers the best deal before making your final choice.

Expecting the Unexpected, plus Favorites from the PF Blogosphere

By Squirrelers 6 Comments

Expecting the Unexpected

Many of us, myself included in this group, tend to keep our eyes on the big picture. Which is good, because it’s in our best interest to have a sense of purpose, work toward goals, and be able to discern what’s truly important and what isn’t.

Sometimes, a part of this big picture is what like to think of as “Expecting the Unexpected”. Now, sometimes the unexpected can be great. For example: a promotion that comes out of nowhere, winning a contest, or even finding out that the great looking person in accounting is interested in you:) Other times, however, the unexpected can be not so great…and not necessarily fair either. But things happen.

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal described the story about how a woman was unable to refinance her home due to an erroneous medical bill being sent to collections. Basically, she had been mistakenly billed with two $11 charges by her doctor’s office. The bills went to collections, her credit score plummeted from 757 to 680, and she was told that she would have to pay sky high closing costs for the refinancing deal she hoped to complete.

According to the article, she has since disputed the charges, and they will be gone from her report in 30 days. However, if interest rates go up, she could have missed out on an opportunity.

Another situation, this one relayed to me by a friend, illustrates how unexpected situations can arise. The friend and his colleague were on a business trip, and rented a car to get to their hotel late at night. They tried to get onto a toll road, and found that there were lanes for a) drivers with a toll road transponder, and b) drivers who had to pay cash.

They were from out of town, so naturally they didn’t have a transponder. So, they went to the lane for drivers with cash. The only problem was that there was nobody in the booth! So, not knowing what to do, and with no way to turn around, they drove past the booth. Just as they passed the booth, they were stopped by a cop. The way the story went, the guy pulled them over for not paying. Naturally, the driver pleaded his case, saying they were from out of town and were provided no options to pay. Apparently, from what I was told, the guy let them off after they pleaded their case.

Still, the whole thing wasn’t fair, right? Who could expect to have something like that happen?

Well, things do happen.

Ultimately, this is an example of how things aren’t always fair, but we have to deal with them. Sure, we can try to rectify injustices, as how the lady in the aforementioned article did. If we’re truly not at fault, we should get things corrected. Sure, not always without big hassles, but through perseverance and a clear mind and perspective, problems can be resolved and/or minimized.

An example of how somebody was not able to expect the unexpected is the Ryanair passenger who lost out on a lottery winning of 10,000 euros. This story from the Telegraph highlights how the passenger won a scratch-off card game, and expected that he would be able to collect his winnings on the spot. When told that he wouldn’t be paid immediately, and had to collect the money from the company running the competition, he lost it. Apparently, in anger, he ate the winning ticket!

He wasn’t able to handle the unexpected, and it cost him.

My takeaway from these stories: Expect the unexpected, and realize that things will happen to us that might be unfair. These events might require us to fight to get our money, and sometimes we might not succeed. If that happens, move on. But if we aren’t able to deal with these realities….we have the Ryanair passenger to serve as an example of where that can lead us:)

Have you ever experienced any such situations? What was your approach to handling them?

Giveaways and Scholarships

Invest It Wisely is holding a “Skinny Christmas” giveaway. Numerous copies of books in the “Skinny on” series will be given away, covering credit cards, real estate, and creativity.
Happy Heart and Mind, a blog I recently discovered, is giving away a free copy of her E-Book: “Meaningful Celebration”.
Yakezie, as many of you might know, is currently publishing essays from applicants for the first monthly scholarship. Check out the site to see program rules.

Recommended Reading from the Personal Finance Blogosphere

There were some really good articles this week around the personal finance blogosphere. Here are 10 that particularly caught my eye:

Christmas Experiences During the Great Depression, at Money Reasons. This is a neat story about family and being thankful for what we have.
Beware the PayPal Email Scam, at Everyday Tips and Thoughts. Good reminder to be careful!
How I Make Money Blogging, at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. It’s neat to see how a successful blog does it, and Crystal has impressed me with her accomplishments.
Restaurant Gift Cards – Holiday Promotions, a Comprehensive List, at Wealth Informatics. This is a really good list of opportunities to save, and I have to say that I’ve actually used her tactics as well.
20 Ways You can Save Money on Gas, at My Personal Finance Journey. Check it out, it’s a comprehensive list, and besides – who doesn’t want to save money on gas?
The Gap, at Free Money Finance. Simple, concise, and echoes what I advocate here.
The Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur, at Pop Economics. This piece highlights the commonalities that successful entrepreneurs have, some of which are counter to popular myths
Will Your Legacy Be More Than Money?, at Money Ning. One can leave money to future generations, but it’s important to focus on making sure memories and lessons get passed on as well.
Financial Areas of Improvement, at The Wealth Artisan. Good reminder to take stock and evaluate how you’re doing things, and I also like the line “your finances should overflow”!
My Life Without Christmas, at Aloysa’s Kitchen Sink. It’s interesting how Christmas can be approached very differently depending on where one lives, and this post brings that idea to life with a first hand account.

Squirreling Gone Wild #26: Fooling the Tooth Fairy

By Squirrelers 15 Comments

In the Squirreling Gone Wild series, there have been stories about all kinds of characters trying to save money. Some friends, coworkers, strangers, extractors….and even me:)

In this 26th edition of the series, we’ll share a quick story about a kid that’s apparently learning to be a squirreler. She’s learning from someone who’s got years of experience at it.

First off, the “mentor” in this case wasn’t me – it was a friend. In fact, it’s the same friend who was the source of the story in the very first edition of Squirreling Gone Wild. Yes, he’s the guy who years ago, as a college student, tried to save money on gas by deliberately buying an amount one penny over a whole dollar amount. He would pocket the difference from the “take a penny” dish at the register.

Here’s what happened:

We were catching up on things, talking about kids a bit, when he told me about a stunt his 6 year old daughter pulled. Apparently, my friend’s wife was making their daughter’s bed, when she found a piece of paper underneath the child’s pillow. Curious, she took a look.

As she looked the paper, she saw writing on it. What she read surprised her. In a 6 year old’s handwriting, actually misspelled a bit but clear nonetheless, was a note saying:

“Tooth Accidentally Swallowed”

When my friend shared this with me, I instantly came to the same conclusion that he and his wife did. That is, that the kid wanted to try to get some money for herself, so she wrote a note to get it from the tooth fairy. She never lost a tooth, but wanted to fool the tooth fairy by claiming that she accidentally swallowed the tooth.

That’s something else, for a 6 year old! My 7 year old is a really bright kid in my opinion, but I couldn’t imagine her thinking up something like this. It takes a natural extreme squirreler to do something like that.

My friend was asking me in jest “Now, who do you think she got that from?”

I didn’t even have to answer. My laughs answered for him.

We both know that in this case, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. To my friend’s credit, he doesn’t engage in such antics these days. He stated that maybe there’s some genetic basis for such wacky behavior, as he tries not to model such behavior around his kids. Maybe he’s on to something there!

He then made the comment that he wasn’t sure whether or not he should be proud of her ingenuity or totally alarmed at it. I didn’t say much to that, but if that happened to me, I’d first find it funny then get alarmed pretty quickly!

I wish him well during the teenage years. Best of luck there, buddy!

By the way, they ultimately never left any money under the pillow and didn’t play the role of tooth fairy. The extreme squirreling wasn’t rewarded:)

My Questions for You:

If you were the parent in this case, would be laughing this off and marveling at your kid’s quick thinking, or would you be alarmed at what could be next?
Did you ever come up with any crazy schemes for money (or toys, etc) as a kid?

Driving vs Public Transportation

By Squirrelers 22 Comments

Commuting to work by car can be a breeze for some folks, and a long drawn out process for others. Nobody I know likes to spend a lot of time commuting, as it’s time you could be spending doing other things. It’s not easy or safe to multitask while driving anyway! Additionally, it the financial costs of commuting can add up too.

When looking at it from a financial perspective, it’s great to have a short commute to work. If you take public transportation, the time factor might still be there but there are other ways you’ll be saving. Let’s take a look at my commute lately, and see how this might come into play.

First off, this latest assignment I’m working on has me commuting to Downtown Chicago, from the suburbs. Being the 3^rd largest city and metropolitan area in the country, and the primary business hub between the coasts, it can get hectic getting to downtown during rush hour. Thus, I take the train.

To get to the train, I have to drive about 15 minutes. The train ride is about 45 minutes. Then, I walk another 15 minutes when I get downtown. So, by a combination of car, train, and walking – it takes 75 minutes to get to work.

The other alternative is driving straight there. A few people have mentioned to me, sounds a lot better – especially after I talk about how I have to do some walking! Well, I get what they’re saying, as it might sound like a tough grind to many people, especially those in smaller cities. Admittedly, it is a grind! But, this is the deal, and we have to find the best solution for our present circumstances, right?

Along those lines, I’ll go with the public transportation route. Here are 5 reasons to choose public transportation instead of driving:

Multitasking. When driving, you have to focus on the road. No texting, no tweeting, or anything of the like. Just drive and pay attention to the traffic around you, for your safety and that of others. When on the train for those 45 minutes, I can multitask. If I have work to do, this is a good time to get a few things done. Or, I can catch up on some reading, email, or other activities. It’s a better return on investment when it comes to time.
Reliability. Public transportation generally follows fairly reliable schedules and timings, at least with commuter trains around here. While there’s no flexibility up front if you’re in a hurry (they don’t wait for you!), you have some predictability around when you’ll reach your destination. With driving, you don’t have that. Time is money
Saving on Gas. We talked about this recently here, how there are ways to save money on gas for your car. One way is to drive less! In my case, it would probably cost $10 round trip to get to work, based on today’s prices. When stopping to fill gas at the station so frequently, your credit cards get a good workout with all the money that’s being spent. Conversely, taking the train comes out to $7.50 per day, plus some gas to get to the station (which I didn’t consider before). Overall, I still think it’s probably cheaper to take the train.
Insurance Costs. If you have a long commute to work or do a lot of daily driving, you could be paying more for insurance. You might be able to save on car insurance by taking public transportation and driving significantly less. If you consider your driving “commute” to be taking your car to public transportation, this could mean a ton less driving.
Wear and Tear. When driving, those miles can add up. Cars don’t run forever, and at a certain mileage level they need to have things worked on. For example, periodic oil changes. Additionally, at some point, the car has an estimated useful life – just like many other machines. By driving, we’re accelerating spending on maintenance as well as the end of our car’s useful life. This means spending more money. While daily spending might be incremental, it can add up over the long haul! Plus, there is wear and tear on us mentally and physically when driving, even if not perceptible. After all, we are really making life or death decisions all the time when driving!

My Questions for You

If public transportation is an option for you, do you take it? Why or why not?

If it isn’t an option, would you prefer that it was?

Can you think of any other reasons as to why public transportation is a good choice?

The “Forever Stamp” Concept Applied to Gas Prices

By Squirrelers 8 Comments

First off, I’ve written just recently about gas prices, and how low they have gone. A recent post on $2 gas discussed the topic of these prices that are low relative to recent historical gas prices, and how we might want to keep that history in mind when making big financial commitments going forward.

In other words, be careful when putting your budget together, and don’t make the assumption that gas prices will remain low. I say it’s best to assume they’ll go back up, and if they stay low we can consider it a pleasant surprise. Kind of a bonus, if you will.

Picking up on this theme, I came across an interesting article on Time’s Money site that discussed the concept of locking in gas prices at a fixed rate. This allows a consumer to hedge against the potential that gas will go up.

There were a couple of services mentioned, but one that caught my eye was a small regional group of stations that apparently has a plan like this. In looking at the site, it appears that you can pre-pay locked-in prices at around $1 or so above the current at-the-pump prices. Obviously there are additional details to the program, but this is a high-level summary of what saw.

The way I understand it is this: If gas is $2 per gallon, and you lock in prices at $3 per gallon, you could potentially come out ahead if prices surge back up over $3 as we has seen for quite some time.

It’s an intriguing concept, and it reminds me of the “Forever Stamp” model. Perhaps it’s not quite the same thing, but the idea that you can lock in prices is one that seems like an interesting option for consumers and a novel idea in commerce.

It also seems like one is paying a premium – like an “insurance” premium of sorts – to protect against risk of loss. In this case, loss of money when gas prices skyrocket.

This is something I’d have to really think about before deciding on whether or not to do that. I’m not aware of any local companies offering this sort of option anyway, at least at this time.

Could this idea be applied to other expenditures in our budget?

When it comes to one big ticket expense, housing, we can lock in prices by getting out of the renting cycle and buying a property. Though property taxes could always change, even if your mortgage payment stays the same.

But how about things such as coffee, produce, perhaps even heating oil? It would be fun to be able to “lock in” the price of a cup of coffee that normally costs $1.50 by paying $2.50. Maybe years down the line, when coffee is well over $2.50, we’ll come out ahead : )

Okay, that last example is a bit much. But you get the idea!

My Questions for You

What do you think of the idea of prepaying for gas?

Can you think of any other expenses that would be nice to have a pre-paid, locked-in price option?

Inconsistent Pricing: Pay Attention to Save Money

By Squirrelers 14 Comments

Logic has its place. This is not always the case in life, as many things that happen are due to luck, fortune, and emotions. But usually, especially in terms of the buying and selling of goods in the marketplace, there is some logic involved.

Example #1: Grocery Store

If you buy just one item from a store, you might pay more per-unit than if you bought a larger quantity. You know, price discounts can be worthwhile for a business. Perhaps you won’t get a discount for buying more. But certainly, you won’t pay more.

Well, I saw something different at a grocery story recently. I was in the produce section, and noticed that they had a prominent display of figs for sale. Now, the real reason it caught my eye is because I don’t typically see figs displayed so prominently. It’s not like figs are your typical, everyday grocery purchase! But, this store was promoting them.

Figs as an attention-getter. Who knew?

Maybe it’s because this was such an atypical item to be promoted that their pricing also caught my eye. They had a sign noting that they were for sale at $0.69 each, and another saying $11.99 per case. The thing is, those cases didn’t look like they had too many figs.

Intrigued (and wondering why I’m paying close attention to figs, but that’s another matter!), I looked over the cases and saw that they had 14 figs each. That didn’t seem right, so I did a super quick scan again. Yes, it confirmed that I still know how to count. There were 14 figs.

Let’s do the math here: 14 figs at $11.99 equals $0.86 per fig.

So, if you bought them individually at $0.69 each, you would pay $9.66. Buy them in bulk, and you’ll pay $2.33 more. That’s a 24% penalty for buying the larger quantity.

Say goodbye to volume discounts, and hello to volume penalties.

There could be some real logic here. It’s not readily apparent to me. Rather, it seems illogical.

Example #2: Gas Station

It seems as if many gas stations are located close to one another. Competitive stations are doing battle in close proximity, in heavily trafficked areas. These are often at intersections where one station could be a corner and another is directly opposite.

Recently, I stopped to buy gas at one station without really checking the prices at the adjacent station. Well, I really didn’t check the prices at mine either. I needed to buy gas, and that’s really I thought of at the moment.

As I was filling up the car with gas, I took a look a look at the price per gallon. Then, I glanced at the other station nearby.

To my surprise, the other station was charging $0.07 less per gallon. And there were a few more cars over there than at the station I was at.

Now, I’m not sure that there is any noticeable difference in the gas. Same octane, just a different brand. If there is a real difference between gas sold by major brands, it’s news to me.

By not paying attention, I got burned. Sure, the $0.07 per gallon difference isn’t that significant. I might have paid a dollar more and that’s it. But still, it was totally avoidable. Clearly, others must have noticed and were giving the other station more business.

Key Takeaway

Pay attention! Check prices when you’re shopping, and don’t assume that you’re getting a fair deal all the time.

If you’re buying more, you might not be getting any kind of discount. Or, you might be paying more than you would at the store next door. Either way, prices for goods and services aren’t always logical.

With smaller items like I mentioned, the amount involved isn’t a huge deal. But for bigger ticket purchases, the money can add up. That’s where we really need to pay attention.

I don’t have any specific recent examples for big purchases. However, I’m sure those illogical price differences are alive and well out there!

My Questions for You

Do you pay what you’re charged without a second thought, or do you pause and think about discounts and competitor prices?

Have you ever seen any big differences in price between similar items, or other interesting pricing decisions/policies by stores?

Energy Saving – The Simple Truth

By Squirrelers Leave a Comment

This is a guest post

There are many ways to save energy in your home from using energy comparison sites to installing energy efficient light bulbs. Here are some top tips on how to lower your energy consumption and your energy bills.

There are several energy comparison websites that will look at your annual energy bills and compare gas and electricity prices across the providers to tell you which companies can provide you with the cheapest tariffs. These companies can compare electricity prices alone or they can compare energy prices of combined tariffs for gas and electricity. Once they have provided you with an overall energy comparison they can then even switch providers for you so that you don’t have to deal with the companies yourself. When you compare energy prices it is important to remember that they fluctuate throughout the year, companies that provide services to compare electricity prices or gas prices will take into account the annual fluctuations to find you the cheapest provider.

The simplest way to save energy in your home in the winter is to turn your thermostat down by 1 degree. This can dramatically reduce your heating costs during colder months. Another way to reduce your heating costs is to make sure that you draw your curtains once the light begins to fade, stopping heat from escaping out through the windows, also make sure that your windows are fully draught proofed along with your doors. Double glazing can also reduce heating costs.

Another simple but effective energy saving tip is to turn lights out as you go, making sure that you do not leave lights on in empty rooms. Also make sure that the light bulbs in your lights are energy efficient ones, these save money as well as being good for the environment.

When you go to make a hot drink only put as much water as is required in your kettle so you are not boiling water that you are not going to use and hence wasting energy. The same principle applies to your dishwasher and washing machine, you should always try to put a full load on so you are not wasting energy by putting your machine on twice.

Fixing leaking taps can also reduce energy wastage, a hot water tap that is dripping can fill your bath in 2 weeks wasting water and electricity that has been used to heat the water. Leaving electrical equipment on standby uses nearly the same amount of energy as leaving them turned off so when you go out, or to bed at night remember to fully switch off the laptop or TV rather than leaving them on standby and you could save energy costs.

Whether you choose to use an energy comparison website to compare electricity prices or to compare gas and electricity prices together it is still worth taking the simple steps above to make sure you are not wasting money in the current economic climate. With rising energy bills it is sensible to not be wasting money by wasting energy.

5 Ways to Cut Your Car Costs

By Squirrelers 2 Comments

The following article is a guest post

Cars are a major component of our living costs. With around 95% of US households having at least one car – and with transport taking up around 15% of our annual budgets on average – cutting car costs is something that could benefit us all. From being more careful about where we get our car insurance quotes to changing the car we drive, there are quite a few things we can do to spend less on motoring.

Read on to find out about five ways you can cut your car costs.

Drive less

It may sound obvious, but one major way we can cut the costs of driving is simply to do it less. The majority of trips involve a car these days, and 85% of us use our cars to get to work. Of course, there are some journeys where a car is definitely required and, if you live in the middle of nowhere, walking to the grocery store to pick up some basics might not be an option.

However, most of us could drive less if we put a bit of thought and effort into it. Plus, it’s recommended that we get around half an hour’s exercise every day, so leaving the car in the garage and walking down to the store could be a good option for more reasons than just financial ones.

Switch to regular gas

Many of us like to use premium gas in our cars – after all, why not use the very best? This makes sense for some cars, but most vehicles run perfectly well on regular gasoline. You could save up to 20% on the cost of your fuel by doing this, depending on where you buy your gas. Also, if you live in an area where there is a large number of gas stations, shop around rather than going for the first one you see. You can find price differences of up to 10% in a relatively small area, which will obviously have an impact on the cost of your gas.

Shop for insurance

Another trick when you’re looking for ways to cut the costs of motoring is to shop around for your car insurance. Different companies will offer different policies with different standard cover and extras. You might also find that two insurance companies offer the same cover for markedly different prices, so take a look at a couple of price comparison websites to work out where you can get the best deal.

Don’t modify your car

Also, try and avoid modifying your car wherever possible. Not only do the modifications themselves cost money that you don’t really need to spend, but they can also bump up the cost of your car insurance. Even small changes such as alloy wheels can have a big impact on how much you pay for insurance, so try and resist the temptation if you can!

Buy an efficient car

Finally, buying a more efficient car might cost you some money up front but it could save you significant amounts over time. For instance, a car that uses fuel more efficiently will help you at the gas pump and if you buy a car that’s renowned for its safety, it will also help your car insurance costs. It’s definitely one to ponder.

Business Start-Up on a Budget – 3 Money Saving Tips You May Not Have Considered

By Squirrelers Leave a Comment

When you set out to start your own business, there’s no doubt you have all kinds of plans and goals in mind. Of course, all of those things come at a cost, as starting a brand-new business is never a cheap endeavour. Money will not only be tight at the beginning, but typically the first couple of years are very tough. Statistics show that only 44% of new start-ups are still operating five years later, and money is often the big contributing factor.

So, if you’re determined to get your business off the ground and running, on as tight of a budget as possible, it’s always great to look into money-saving tips. Here are three you may not have considered.

Shop Around to Save Money on the Price of Your Utilities

No business can operate without gas and electricity; however, these two expenses alone can eat a large chunk out of your monthly budget. So, rather than just sign up with the first provider you think of, you’d be wise to shop around and get comparison quotes.

When it comes to your gas supplier, use a comparison site like Utility Bidder where you can find all the latest details on business gas prices, complete with competitive gas quotes specifically for your company. Using a comparison tool like this can help save you a fair amount of money each and every month.

Can You Downsize the Office Space?

Another way you can lower the expenses is to think long and hard about the amount of space you need for your office/company/storefront. Obviously, you don’t want to feel overcrowded, but at the same time, office space is expensive.

Sometimes it’s a matter of being creative and using smaller, less bulky office furniture, creating a smaller breakroom, allocating a small area as the “conference space”, and so forth. There’s also the fact that you may be able to allow employees to work remotely, which means less bodies in the actual workspace.

As the company becomes successful and profits grow, you can then start to think about getting a bigger space.

Opt for an Online Marketing Campaign at First

Then there is a company’s marketing campaign, which always needs to be well thought-out while ensuring you target your intended customers effectively. Marketing is always going to be important for your business, but even more-so in the beginning.

So, while you certainly can’t scrap your marketing plans, you can opt for the least expensive tools, resources, and techniques. Online marketing tends to give the most bang for the buck, and is frankly proving to be much more successful than traditional offline marketing.

Every Bit of Savings Makes a Difference

While each of these savings may not seem massive on their own, once you start adding them up and finding other ways to cut down on expenses, suddenly that tight budget you have will be much more do-able. Can you think of any other ways to save?

5 Reasons Why Boiler Services are Cost and Life Savers

By Squirrelers Leave a Comment

The following is a guest post

With winter on the way, many households will be preparing to batten down the hatches, turn up the heating and spend toasty nights in. However, your boiler is essential to the success of this plan – which is why leading home repair and improvement blog DIY Newbie is reminding its readers of why having an annual service is so important in the run up to the coldest months of the year.

One thing to note is that some comprehensive boiler insurance policies come with an annual service included, which could certainly ease the burden of paying for this annual check up.

Here’s just some of the reasons why enlisting the services of a Gas Safe Register-approved engineer every year is so important.

It could save a packet on repairs
Boilers have to work hard to keep your home warm and there’s a whole host of problems that can arise, especially with poorly maintained boilers. The biggest issues can spring from the smallest faults, so letting an engineer give your boiler a once-over could nip problems in the bud before they develop into major issues. This could save hassle further down the line as well as money, too.

It could keep your heating costs down
Along with checking for faults and fixes, your engineer will also be looking at how efficiently your boiler is running and make recommendations on repairs and replaces that could boost this. Remember, the more efficiently your boiler is running, the lower your energy bills should be in the long run.

It may save your life
Badly maintained boilers can prove fatal – so it’s important that they’re checked regularly for safety. Faulty boilers can leak carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer as it cannot be seen, smelt or tasted. Common symptoms include headaches and stomach pains, although it’s recommended you fit a gas detector to alert you of a leak before you reach this stage of illness.

Landlords could be breaking the law without it
In many countries, landlords must have a gas safety check – carried out by an engineer – every year under strict regulations. After the check is complete, the landlord should also issue tenants with a certificate to prove the work has taken place.

It needn’t cost the earth with boiler cover
If you’ve got comprehensive boiler cover, you may find that an annual service is included with your policy. In this case, by taking out the insurance, you’re effectively spreading the cost of your annual service, while also protecting yourself against any potential issues throughout the year, something that could offer real peace of mind in the current economic climate.

3 Ways to Go Green and Save on Transportation

By Squirrelers 27 Comments

I’ll be the first to admit up front that I have some work to do to actually become more environmentally conscious. Not that I try to do anything harmful, but I generally haven’t been to spend a lot of time thinking about ways I could save the earth. A few thoughts on the environment do enter my mind here and there, but not to the point of it being a big passion of mine.

Just being real here.

That being said, it really is up to each of us to make decisions that can help the environment and keep the earth clean and safe for future generations. Being a parent gets one to think about such things a bit differently, and of the big picture. I want future generations, including my kids and their peers, to live responsibly and enjoy Earth without destroying it further.

If that’s not enough reason to at least think about the environment a little bit more, here is another one: saving money!

With that being said, here are 3 ways that you can save some greenbacks by making green choices with transportation:

Drive a Fuel-Efficient Car

This is probably easier for some of us than for others. By this, I mean that many people place higher value on other attributes when purchasing a vehicle. You know, things like Zero-to-Sixty speed, horsepower, brand name, etc. I’ll admit I like many such things too, of course! That being said, in some cases we can save a good deal of money buying a car that simply gets more miles to the gallon, all other (important) things being equal.

Let’s say Car A gets 20 mpg, and Car B gets 25 mpg (use similar logic outside the U.S.). If each car is driven to 200,000 miles in its useful life, it would mean that Car A used 10,000 gallons over its lifetime and Car B used 8,000. Of course that comes out to 2,000 gallons less for Car B. At $3.50 per gallon, that means $7,000 less in fuel costs over the life of the car.

That’s pretty good, don’t you think? It’s just one example and cost differences can vary based on vehicles being compared, but you get the idea. Money can be saved, and less fuel can be used along with subsequent car emissions. That seems like a win-win, for your bank account and for the environment!

Carpool

Let’s say you can’t take public transportation, but you have the option to get to work without driving as often. Wouldn’t that still be nice?

The trick is, technically you would still be in a car. However, you wouldn’t be in your own car the whole time. If you carpooled with just one other person, you could cut your commuting-related expenses by up to 50%! Realistically it will probably be a bit lower savings than that, as the two of you aren’t likely to be living at exactly the same location. However, the savings could still be substantial.

Let’s say you were each driving 40 miles to work round trip. With carpooling, perhaps there would be some additional driving – perhaps it would come out to 60 miles round trip in total driving when you drive together.

When driving separately, that’s 80 miles of driving – and fuel – that’s required to take 2 people to work. When driving together, it’s just 60 miles of driving in total. Thus, 20 less miles – perhaps a gallon of gas – are required for this purpose. The environment wins.

You might win as well! Taking turns in this example, you would end up cutting your fuel costs by 25% (40 miles in gas vs. 30 miles in gas carpooling). Plus, an even bigger amount of savings might come from the reduced wear and tear on your vehicle.

Take Public Transportation

By taking public transportation, we can get cars off the road! Carrying 100 people on one train line on one commute route would seem to be better than having those people driving 100 separate cars in to work. Would those 100 vehicles cause more impact to the environment than would one train? I would guess so though I can’t for sure. Seems logical, right?

In addition to the benefits of few cars and their emissions, as well as less gas used by all those vehicles, there are other considerations as well. There are some real advantages to public transportation, including saving money.

As a side note, I’ve also seen someone use a clever approach to getting a free train ticket, though I would never recommend it 🙂

My Questions for You

Do you think about the environment when considering your transportation choices?

Have you taken any of these 3 actions in order to save and go green?

Do you have any others to add?