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Stupid ways people try to save money on gas

Posted Jul 25 2008, 03:49 PM by Karen Datko
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We've read about how more people are running out of gas on their way to wherever. Were they short on money for gas, or were they employing one of Punny Money's "5 incredibly stupid ways people are trying to save money on gas"?

The fact is, with gas at more than $4 a gallon, auto clubs all over the country are reporting an increase in calls from stranded travelers. Some truly didn't have enough money for gas. "A select few morons are even running out of fuel on purpose -- just to get that free gallon of gas their automotive club or roadside-assistance program provides to get them going again," writes Nick at Punny Money. He's right.

The Freeway Service Patrol in California says some people are abusing its help. The patrol provides a free gallon of gas to stranded drivers who were running on empty.

Central Penn Auto Club spokeswoman Cindy Brough told The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa., that some stranded travelers expect a free tank of gas when they make a service call. But if you have only a basic AAA membership, you've got to pay for the gas that's delivered.

Among Nick's other stupid ways to save money on gas (click here to read his entire post and see his stickman cartoon):

Refilling as often as possible. This may be based on the erroneous belief that you'll save by keeping the gas in your tank from evaporating. Or, Nick says, maybe "it doesn't seem so bad when you're buying $5 or $10 worth of gas every other day instead of buying $50 worth of gas once a week."

Buying stuff to get free gas cards. "For example," Nick says, "buy $100 worth of jeans, get a $20 gas card. If you didn't actually need those $100 worth of jeans (or if you overpaid for them), then you just turned $4-a-gallon gas into $20-a-gallon gas."

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Comments

 

just avoid going out to places you don't need to go to and do the shopping near were you leave. or like it was mention before get a bike. there is not a solution to saving money when it comes to gas.

lory (Posted 07.28.08 1:56 PM ) Report Abuse

RUNNING OUT OF GAS DOES NOTHING MORE THAN COST YOU A FUEL PUMP FOR YOUR CAR!!!..  The smartest thing you could do to save gas, or at a least a little money to pay for it, is get rid of the same old people in the government that are keeping all of this bologna going.  Come one, the price of fuel is linked to the value of the falling dollar.  Get some smarter ones in there that will work for you, and earn your trust and their paycheck, and the price of filling up your car will fall again.  Same old people in there to fix what they already messed up makes as much sense as the price of fuel.

Gary (Posted 07.28.08 2:15 PM ) Report Abuse

Hey Tom F,

Before you go calling other people "morons" maybe you should check yourself first.  Trading in your car for one with better gas mileage has got to be one of the dumbest things a person can do to try and save money.  Unless you pay cash and buy the fuel efficient vehicle for the same amount or less than you sold the gas guzzler for your savings will be less than you think if anything at all

the fact straightener (Posted 07.28.08 2:17 PM ) Report Abuse

this is all very funny. we should all understand that the general consumers, the normal drivers, actually use only a small fraction of the gasoline actually consumed in this world. I do not know the exact number, but automobile consumers use something less than 10% of the gasoline consumed. So, if we can all cut our gas usage by 10%, that means we shrunk total gas usage by less than 1%. Corporate America needs to economize more than the consumer. The argument that our cars contribute to pollution is also a weak argument for the same reason - something 1-2% of polluting emmissions come from consumer automobiles - again - corporate America contributes the vast majority of emmissions. Has anyone been to China and seen their smog problems? Diesel fumes from around the world and factories in uncontrolled third world countries produce way more pollution than do the same cars and factories in the US.

Walker (Posted 07.28.08 2:18 PM ) Report Abuse

Car pool or ride a bike? I work 30 miles from home across a busy metropolitan area. No one else I work with lives within 40 miles of me. If I rode a motorcycle or scooter to work, I wouldn't live a week with the way people drive. There is no bus or other mass transit from my area. My only options are to drive it, or quit - anyone want to give me that advice in this economy?

I conserve where I can, but gas is a fungible commodity - I use what I have to use. Does _anyone_ ever just go for a joy ride any more? I don't use gas because I want to, I use it because I have to, and I use only what I have to.

Buy a hybrid, pay way more money for a car that is more expensive to maintain, and more expensive to insure for those few mile per gallon? Impractical. two kids, soccer, softball, etc. I drive a small SUV and get 24mpg. The same SUV in a hybrid costs $9000 more and gets 27mpg - what's the payback period on that tradeoff? I'm replacing the hybrid before I make up that difference.

Walker (Posted 07.28.08 2:28 PM ) Report Abuse

Maybe the most under-appreciated tip  to save gas is :

Make sure your tires are properly inflated, folks.  The rolling resistance of a under-inflated tire can easily subtract a couple of miles from you MPG.

It's free and you don;t evenneed to change your driving habits, though many of us should try to be "smooth operators".

MCM (Posted 07.28.08 2:41 PM ) Report Abuse

      Stop using drive throughs, shut it off and go inside. You would not believe how much gas is used up every day with people idling in drive thru's.

      most americans it would not hurt there waist line to walk 200 0r 300 feet extra a day.

Art (Posted 07.28.08 2:46 PM ) Report Abuse

I just replaced a fuel pump and fuel filter.  $314.00 to be exact.  Someone else drove it on empty, but it won't happen again!!  I wish I could make them pay for the repair.

Ellen R (Posted 07.28.08 2:48 PM ) Report Abuse

YOU ARE ALL IDIOTS!!!!! VOTE REPLUBLICAN!!!!!

BENBEN2001@YAHOOO.COM (Posted 07.28.08 2:54 PM ) Report Abuse

You wonder how much people are saving per month using some of these hypermiling techniques. Dr. Nissan has the right suggestions in his post. The rest as a bunch of hooey. Even if you spend $200/month on gas, the 10% savings is $20/mo. You can do better by re-negotiating your insurance, going wireless, cutting your credit card interest rate or eating out less. And, let's not forget the time you waste (and the physical hazard you pose) cruising along at 40MPH in a 50MPH zone or going below the speed limit on the highway. My life, my time and my car is worth a lot more than the gas you THINK you are saving.

Larry (Posted 07.28.08 2:55 PM ) Report Abuse

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