by Ann E. Smith

Created on: July 28, 2008   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

With the economy in turmoil, it is wise to examine ways that you can save money. Below are some tips as to how you can cut down your driving expenses.

* Drive more efficiently

There are several things you can do to increase your efficiency when driving. For starters, when possible, do not run your air conditioning as much more fuel is burned when doing so.

If you are a speedy or somewhat sporadic driver, try to even things out. You use more fuel, for example, when you accelerate rapidly when moving forward from a stop light.

Also, when you are approaching a traffic light and see that it is about to turn red, lift your foot off the gas pedal and coast until you get to that traffic light. When on the Interstate, select a more moderate speed and try to use the cruise function when possible.

If you must drive to work each day, pursue a carpool buddy or two. If you cut the days you drove down to by 50 percent by sharing the driving duties, you would save drastically on your fuel costs.

Finally, plan your errands so that you make multiple stops each time you drive your car somewhere. Instead of going to the store on Monday afternoon and then the nearby dry cleaner on Tuesday afternoon, try to run both errands on the same day. It may require a bit more organization and flexibility on your part, but making stops that are in close proximity to each other while out and about will save you money.

* Consider alternatives to driving

A common-sense approach to cutting down driving costs is to drive much less. Consider taking public transportation to work. Also, if you live close enough to work, try walking or biking there. You may be surprised at how much more you enjoy a nice walk to the office.

Another way to drive much less is to see if telecommuting is an option for you. If you can work from home two days a week versus driving into the office five days, you will greatly save when it comes to driving expenses.

Examine what you enjoy doing for leisure activities. Instead of driving 10 miles to the movie theatre, consider having movies mailed to your home instead through Netflix or Blockbuster mail-order services.

* Vacation closer to home

If planning a summer road trip, consider options of nice getaways that are within a 150-mile radius of your home. While you may prefer to go on a cross-country drive, you can quite possibly find something more reasonable to do this year, given the current cost of fuel.

Sometimes, simple trips can be lots more fun. With an open mind and a willingness

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