As a busy dad with school runs, clubs, and family outings to chaperone, you likely feel as though you live at the gas station. You’re certainly there often enough considering that the average American family now spends as much as $204 on gasoline every single month!
That’s an eye-watering amount, but you don’t want to limit your children’s movements. So, are you simply stuck paying these high prices forever? We don’t think so. In truth, some key steps can see even the busiest family man cutting their fuel spending in half. Keep on reading to find out what they are.
# 1 – Upgrade Your Vehicle With Efficiency in Mind
Did you know that certain vehicle upgrades can significantly improve fuel efficiency? Even small switches, like replacing key vehicle parts with lightweight carbon fiber alternatives can make a major difference. Equally, alloy wheels are famously lightweight and fuel-saving.
Do note that you can’t simply make these upgrades and enjoy a life of lower fuel costs. To ensure ongoing efficiency, you also need to oversee regular parts maintenance and take steps to refurbish alloy wheels as soon as they start to drag. But, if you’re willing to make those relatively minor commitments, you could soon sail into a low-gas sunset.
# 2 – Find Your Speed Sweet Spot
Logically, drivers who hit the highway at 110km/h burn up to 25% more fuel. But, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just lower your cruising speed and automatically save on fuel money. In truth, drivers who go less than 50km/h typically drop to a lower gear, which is fuel-costly in itself.
To overcome both issues, you’ll want to find what we like to refer to as your ‘speed sweet spot’. This is the dream speed, if you like, which will always keep fuel consumption ticking over at a nice pace. Most often, this sweet spot will rest between the 50-90km/h mark. Simply try things out, and find a steady, reliable speed that serves your fuel needs.
# 3 – Lighten Your Load as Much as Possible
As much as you might like to sometimes, you can’t leave one of the kids at home when you head out in the car. As such, you can’t entirely eliminate the backseat weight that’s notoriously bad from a gas standpoint. But you can lighten your load as much as possible in other ways.
Simply bear in mind that you’re set to burn 2% more fuel for every 50kg you carry. Regularly cleaning your boot and backseats is therefore key. Abandoned toys, bags, and snacks might not seem like they’d weigh a huge deal, but the accumulative weight of these things can have more impact than you’d imagine. Equally, choosing to scrap your own bag and instead carry essentials like keys and wallet in your pockets could seriously save on fuel costs in the long run.
Gas isn’t cheap, but it could be a whole lot cheaper if you lengthen the use of each load in these ways.
Discover more from St. Louis Dad
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
