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The rising costs of living, and an unstable economy, are forcing us all to tighten our belts, watch our pennies and analyze our budgets. Gas prices are rising at astronomical amounts. A large part of typical household budget is the cost of commuting and a large cost of most commutes is gasoline. There are many steps you can take to lessen the cost of gasoline. For example:

Public Transportation - Utilize public transportation whenever possible. This can significantly cut down on gasoline expenses.

Carpool/Rideshare - If you are unable to hop on the train, or bus, to work you may be able to save gas money by finding people to share the ride. The commute can be shared via a carpool situation where you drive to work in a private car or via a more formal Rideshare situation involving private van services. Check with your companies Human Resources/Benefits department to see if they have a list of Rideshare opportunities in your area. Does your company offer a classifieds bulletin board? Advertise your carpool. Check on-line on sites such as Craigslist for potential carpool participants.

Bicycle/Walk - Bicycling, or walking, to work offers both cost savings and health benefits. Sign on to your city website to see if there are bike paths available. Check with your company to insure there is a safe place to leave your bike. You may also want to check for showering facilities and be sure to invest in the appropriate safety equipment.

Telecommute - Not much in the way of gasoline costs when you just need to walk from your bedroom to an office in your house. Even telecommuting a few days a week should dramatically cut your expenses.

Car Maintenance - If you must continue to drive to work, car maintenance is one way of maximizing mileage and minimizing gasoline cost. Maintaining a clean air filter, appropriate tire pressure and regular tune ups increase gas mileage and lower costs. You may also want to consider low resistance tires.

GPS - A good GPS (Global Positioning System) can cut the costs of your commute by indicating the quickest route and minimizing gas costs spent idling in traffic.

Flextime - Take advantage of flextime if offered by your company. Staggered work hours may decrease the commute time and therefore lessen the amount of money spent on gas. You may also be able to find off hour offers for discount parking.

Miscellaneous - There are many other small things you can do to lower gasoline costs. Driving at a slower speed and combining errands help with gas consumption. Explore website which list the cheapest gas prices in your area or investigate specials offered by your local gas station. Many stations offer cash discounts or day of the week specials. Check your credit cards for gas rebates. Empty out your trunk. A lighter car uses less gas.

There are many creative, and simple, ways to cut down on gasoline costs. Try them out and see which one works for you!

Learn more about this author, Bridie Cavanaugh.
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