Oklahomans feeling the pinch as gas prices skyrocket

TSCRA Daily News Update, June 24, 2008

Oklahomans feeling the pinch as gas prices skyrocket

Many Oklahomans are feeling the pinch as they see more of their paychecks go toward putting gasoline in their vehicles.

With gas prices rivaling the cost of a gallon of milk, Oklahoma drivers are looking for ways to rein in their fuel budgets, said Sissy Osteen, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service resource management specialist.

"The rising cost of gas is really having an impact on Oklahoma drivers," Osteen said. "The more drivers spend on gasoline, the less they have to meet all of their other financial obligations, including mortgage and car payments, utility bills, groceries and clothing. Because these other expenses aren't optional, the best thing to do is try to find ways to cut fuel costs. Drivers need to cut about 22 miles of driving in order to save a gallon of gas."

The American Automobile Association offers a number of gas-saving tips on its Web site. If you have several errands to run, group them together and do them all at once. If possible, park in a central location and then walk to the post office, the bank and the dry cleaners.

Drivers need to slow down. The faster you drive the more gas you use. AAA says if your average commute includes 20 miles of highway time and you drive it at 60 miles per hour instead of 70 miles per hour, drivers will save on average 1.3 gallons of gas in a five-day work week.

Osteen suggests asking your boss about telecommuting one day per week as a gas saving measure. Also, if you own vehicles of various sizes, take the smaller, more fuel-efficient one on longer trips.

"If you enjoy an evening out for dinner and entertainment, consider inviting friends over to your place instead," she said. "You'll save the miles to and from the restaurant and will get to have a fun and enjoyable time at home with several friends."

Talk with friends and neighbors about taking turns picking up children from school.

"Most Oklahoma towns don't offer public transportation like the large, metro areas do, but do take advantage of public transportation if it's available in your area. Not only will you save gas money, but by not driving you can use the extra time to read a book or make to-do lists for home projects. And you won't have to worry about hunting down a parking place either. If public transportation isn't available, consider carpooling with coworkers."

Another AAA tip is to keep the trunk light. The heavier the load your car has to carry, the more gas it guzzles. It is not a good idea to use the trunk of your vehicle as long-term storage.

Other fuel efficiency tips include:

Keep tires inflated to proper pressure.
Make sure your car is in good mechanical shape.
Change the air filter when it gets dirty.
Buy gasoline during the coolest time of day – early morning or late evening is best.
Avoid prolonged warm-up time.
Avoid revving the engine.
Keep the windows closed on the highway. Open windows cause drag, reducing your mileage by 10 percent.
Accelerate and brake at steady rates.
Self-service gas is usually significantly cheaper than full-service.

"When you are comparison shopping for a particular item, check prices online instead of driving from store to store," Osteen said. "Using just one or two of these tips will save drivers some on their gas bills. However, combining several of these tips can definitely help consumers use less gas and therefore, leave a little extra cash in the wallet."