*First and foremost, I want to apologize to my readers. It's been a crazy month or so since I last wrote, between leaving to go home for the summer, and then my father passing away.*
You start noticing a lot of changes now. The news is always bleak, how the economy is sucking right now, and how many people's lifestyles have changed. Houses getting cheaper, and foreclosures on the rise, gas prices are killing everyone, it's an absolute nightmare.
As a cashier, and as a person who pays attention to everything going around me, I see that Americans are taking a really bad hit, and I would not be surprised if we had another Great Depression. People with low income housing are now homeless, and people who were middle class are now hitting the food banks. I watch people putting back essentials because it's now too damn expensive. You can't even buy a box of pasta for $1, although recently Stop and Shop has a sale for a $1 on pasta, but still. I remember getting boxes of pasta 3 for a$1 as of a few months ago, that's how bad our economy is. It really sickens me.
As someone who was once middle class, and became lower class since my parents divorce, we are struggling. However, there are things to make this situation better. I'm a person who looks out for the cheapest ways, and despite everything, we are getting by. So I want to share things I do to make other people's lives easier.
As far as driving goes:
Keep your tires filled, and don't over fill them. At Walmart, there are tire gauges that you can put on each individual tire and it tells you the tire pressure. It's easy and only a few bucks. I would also invest in this 3 in 1 thing where it fills your tires, is a flash light and it has a radio or something in it. It would be good if your tires get low on the run, but can't find a gas station with a working air hose. It's about $20-25 and small enough to stick in your trunk or backseat. And I think it's battery run but also can be used by plugging it into the car cigarette lighter. I know that the Hess near my has free air and the newer ones have a gauge so it beeps when it's done filling. The average tire fills at 35, unless you have a truck or big car. General rule of thumb.
I would also use dry gas or something to the equivalent about every few weeks. I've used the dollar store's dry gas and never had a problem. Take out the extra weight too. It adds to the gas mileage. For every 50lbs you have in the car, you lose 1% of your fuel. If you really don't need to take your kids or husband with you either, don't. And if you are a big person like me, losing a few pounds may save you gas money. At least once a week sweep out unnecessary stuff from your car. And, for your car's sake, keep your keys and keychains light. Too much weight can ruin your ignition. The weight tugs on the mechanics of it, causing it to warp.
As far as gas goes, pick the cheapest name brand, and try not to use too many different types of gas stations. Try to stick to at least one or two gas stations, like say Exxon and Hess, unless you are absolutely desperate for gas. Try to avoid cheap gas stations that have no name brand, because what it is it's a gas station the picks the cheapest gas company, and the gas may be bad. I'd rather pay a little extra on gas than shell out money for a new car or car part because it got ruined by bad gas. That has already happened once to me
Speaking of gas stations, here's a few helpful hints to get decent gas. For people who live in New England, Stop and Shop is doing a new gas thing now. No more gas coupons, but rather, for every $50 you spend on food, you get 10 cents off a gallon of gas just by using your card. Now it doesn't sound a lot, but, it accumulates. So you no longer have to spend $50 in one transaction to get a coupon. I have people who already have 200 points ($200) which is 40 cents off a gallon. That doesn't include the automatic 5 cents you get off just from using your card at the pump. No gas station nearby? Check out www.stopandshop.com for the closest ones, and then look for other things to do nearby. So your not just going out there for gas, you can do other things as well. See if there is a movie theater or a mall or stores you don't really get to go to often. Make it one big trip so your not wasting gas to get gas. If you really want, save up as much as you can, I already had one guy save $1.60 per gallon, so if you do your math right, you can probably get your gas practically free. Now for people who live in other parts of the US, Stop and Shop is sister company of Giant, Super Giant, Tops, and Martin's, so check out your local supermarkets' website. Also at Stop and Shop, you can use your gift card towards gas as well. Also, for people who live near Super Walmart's you can also save. When you use your credit card or Walmart gift card, you save an extra 3 cents off per gallon. I know that's not much, but it all helps. So if you don't want a Walmart credit card, just put the amount you want to put into your gas tank (such as $25 for example) on a gift card and save 3 cents off a gallon at the pump. Save your gift card too, as it's reloadable.
Google places where you want to go to, and look for short cuts and places where you can avoid lights. Sometimes there are shorter ways to get to places that you normally travel. Avoid street driving as much as possible, especially roads where you know that has a lot of lights. Idling uses up gas, and that rule applies to drive thru as well. If you are going to eat a place that is still open, choose to go in rather than drive thru.
More tips on saving money to come....
