In the upcoming summer season the temperature won’t be the
only thing rising.
Fuel prices are already rising because of predicted high demand
for gasoline and increases in crude oil prices during the
summer.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average price of
regular unleaded gasoline nationwide is now $2.017 per gallon and
will hit a high of $2.03 in June. But Los Angeles already has the
most expensive regular unleaded gasoline at a hefty $2.304 per
gallon.
Soon, if not already, college students will start to feel the
pinch when they have to shell out almost $30 for a full tank every
few days or weeks. And for commuting Bruins, the staggering prices
at gas stations aren’t new or pleasing.
That doesn’t mean there is no hope for your thinning
wallet or your summer road trip plans.
Students can escape the pinch of rising gas prices in many
ways. They can move to Houston, for example, where gasoline
is at an affordable $1.847 per gallon.
Or, more realistically, college students can look up gas station
prices and use the gas price calculators available online before
filling up at the closest gas station.
For example, the Web site www.losangelesgasprices.com allows
drivers to find gas stations and their advertised prices within
their city. Most of the prices are updated at least once every 36
hours, and all prices show the date and time posted.
As students are usually on the Internet anyway, doing an online
search for an affordable and local gas station is a sensible thing
to do before filling up and noticing a gallon of gas down the
street is 5 cents cheaper.
Comparing gas prices before filling up really can save the
consumer money by the end of the month and put a smile on
drivers’ faces.
For the more cost-conscious students, the www.bankrate.com gas
price calculator can help consumers figure out if driving to
cheaper gas station far away is worth the drive.
Generally grocery stores such as Vons, Albertsons and Safeway
and warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club have lower
gas prices than the local Shell, 76 or Mobil stations.
But there are other ways to cut back fuel costs even if students
don’t have the time to pick and choose between gas
stations.
Just pay for the gas by credit card. Students should take
advantage of credit cards offering gas rebates. There is no need to
cruise the Internet or plan a different driving route to save money
on fuel. Just remember to bring the plastic.
For example, Chase’s PerfectCard credit card offers a 3
percent gas rebate, and the Discover Platinum Card with Cashback
BonusPlus allows users to earn up to 10 percent cash back.
Unless you have an interest in car mechanics, most students
don’t know a much-needed tune-up for their car’s engine
can improve gas mileage and cut back fuel costs.
Knowing a little about a vehicle can save a lot when filling
up.
According to the www.fueleconomy.gov Web site, replacing a
clogged air filter can improve a car’s gas mileage by up to
10 percent, saving drivers up to 15 cents per gallon. And driving
with properly inflated tires bolsters gas mileage by about 3.3
percent, saving up to 5 cents per gallon.
As much as busy and speeding students wouldn’t like to
hear it, www.fueleconomy.gov also says aggressive driving wastes
gas and, now more than ever, money.
Aggressive driving entails speeding, rapid acceleration and
frequent braking. Such activities can decrease gas mileage by as
much as 33 percent, which is equivalent to a loss of as much as 49
cents per gallon.
Saving on fuel costs is another incentive for students to
observe speed limits, if safety and avoiding ticket costs
aren’t enough to sway them, because driving over 60 mph
decreases gas mileage drastically.
Every 5 mph driven over 60 mph costs drivers an additional 10
cents per gallon. Cruise control can maintain the vehicle’s
speed to get the most distance out of every expensive gallon of
gas.
At the end of a day of driving and filling up, drivers easily
can save fuel and money by using gasoline price Web sites and gas
rebate credit cards and treating and driving their cars
sensibly.
E-mail Chen at echen@media.ucla.edu if you’re moving
to Houston for cheaper gasoline.