🔎 Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. Money Vice is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented on this site are opinions and are presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly
You know what’s wild? How much money can you lose just because your tires are a little lazy?
When your tires are low on air, your car has to work harder, burning more gas like it’s in a marathon it didn’t sign up for.
Keeping your tire pressure right isn’t just about saving money. It makes your ride smoother and your tires last longer.
Plus, when your tires are properly inflated, your car handles better, and that’s free peace of mind right there.
Think of it as giving your car a mini spa day. But cheaper and with a better return on investment.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a digital tire pressure gauge from Amazon or check free air pumps at gas stations once a month to keep all four tires in check.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Don’t Let Your Engine Idle Too Long
Ever left your car running while waiting for someone who’s “just two minutes away”? Yeah, they’re never two minutes away.
Letting your engine idle is basically like paying your car to stand still. It burns fuel and gives you nothing in return.
It also adds unnecessary wear to your engine, which can shorten its lifespan faster than you’d think.
If you’re stopped for more than a minute, turn it off. Your wallet will thank you.
Bonus: You’ll also look cooler when you restart your car like it’s a fresh start every time. 🙂
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Turn your engine off during long stops, or use auto-stop features in newer cars to save gas automatically.
3. Avoid Premium Gas Unless You Need It
Unless your car specifically calls for premium fuel, you’re just tipping the gas station for no reason.
Regular gas works perfectly fine for most cars. And the difference in performance is almost invisible unless you’re driving a race car on Ocean Drive.
Premium might make you feel fancy, but it won’t make your car’s wallet thicker.
You can easily save hundreds every year just by sticking with regular unleaded.
So next time you’re filling up, ask yourself. Do you really need the “fancy juice”? Probably not.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your owner’s manual or Google your car model to confirm which fuel type you actually need.
Bonus Tip: Shop Around for the Best Car Insurance
Right after learning to skip premium gas, here’s another easy win for your wallet.
Most people don’t realize how much they overspend on car insurance. It’s like paying for a fancy meal and getting drive-thru service.
Prices can change fast, even if nothing about your driving does.
That’s why using a free comparison tool like Insurify makes sense. It checks dozens of providers for you and shows who’s giving the best deal right now.
You might find out you’ve been overpaying for years, and honestly, seeing how much you save feels like winning a small lottery.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Go to Insurify’s website, enter your zip code and car info, and compare quotes side-by-side in minutes. No spam calls, just real savings waiting for you.
4. Stay on Top of Oil and Filter Changes
Neglecting oil changes is like skipping dentist appointments. It feels fine until it really, really isn’t.
Clean oil keeps your engine running smoothly, prevents overheating, and saves you from crazy repair bills later.
Your oil filter also catches all the nasty gunk that can mess up your engine over time.
Stick to the schedule, and your car will treat you like royalty on the road.
Trust me, engine repairs cost way more than a quick oil change.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set reminders on your phone to track oil change dates automatically.
5. Use Cruise Control on Highways
You know that feeling when your foot’s been on the gas for an hour straight, and you realize you’ve basically been doing leg day? Yeah, cruise control fixes that.
Using cruise control helps your car maintain a steady speed, which means your engine works more efficiently and burns less fuel.
Every time you speed up and slow down on the highway, your gas tank quietly cries a little.
A consistent pace saves you gas, reduces stress, and makes long drives way smoother.
Plus, you can actually enjoy the ride instead of pretending your right foot is a metronome.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Turn on cruise control whenever you’re on a clear highway or use adaptive cruise if your car has it. It’ll keep your speed steady and your wallet happy.
6. Lighten Your Trunk to Save on Gas
If your car’s trunk looks like you’re moving out every week, you’re not just carrying junk. You’re carrying extra fuel costs.
Every 100 pounds of stuff in your car can lower your fuel efficiency, and that adds up faster than you think.
Old gym bags, random tools, that beach chair you swore you’d use again. Yeah, they all count.
A lighter car runs smoother, uses less gas, and gives your engine a well-deserved break.
You wouldn’t jog with a backpack full of rocks, right? So don’t make your car do it either.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Empty your trunk weekly and keep only what you need. Use a simple foldable storage bin from Amazon for essentials.
7. Combine Errands to Drive Less
Ever notice how one quick trip turns into five random ones? That’s gas money disappearing in real time.
You can save a surprising amount by grouping errands instead of driving back and forth like you’re in a NASCAR race.
Planning your route once saves you time, gas, and that “how did I spend $50 on gas already?” moment.
Plus, fewer cold starts mean your engine stays healthier for longer.
Efficiency feels good, especially when it means more cash stays in your pocket.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use Google Maps or Waze to plan multi-stop routes efficiently and hit everything in one go.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
8. Wash and Wax to Protect Your Paint
Keeping your car clean isn’t just about flexing at red lights. It’s a money move.
Dirt, salt, and grime slowly eat away at your paint and metal, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road.
A clean car lasts longer and even keeps its resale value higher.
And hey, washing your car can actually be kind of relaxing. Like a mini therapy session with a sponge.
Think of wax as sunscreen for your car; it protects and makes everything shine brighter.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Wash your car monthly and use a quick wax spray like Meguiar’s from Amazon to protect the paint and boost resale value.
9. Drive Smoothly and Avoid Sudden Braking
Every time you slam the gas or hit the brakes like it’s an emergency, your car silently screams in fuel pain.
Smooth driving isn’t just safer. It’s cheaper.
You use less fuel, reduce wear on your tires and brakes, and avoid those awkward hard-stop coffee spills.
Try keeping a steady pace and looking ahead instead of reacting at the last second.
It’s basically Zen driving: calm, efficient, and oddly satisfying.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Turn on your car’s eco-driving mode (if available) or use apps like Fuelio to track how gentle driving saves fuel.
10. Use Apps to Find Cheaper Gas Stations
Gas prices jump around more than your Wi-Fi signal at a café.
Why pay more when the station down the street sells it for less?
Some apps literally do the price hunting for you. No detective hat needed.
They update in real time, so you’ll always know where the cheapest fuel is hiding.
Little savings here and there quickly snowball into serious cash.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download GasBuddy or Upside to locate the cheapest gas nearby and earn cashback every time you fill up.
11. Learn Basic Car Maintenance Yourself
Mechanics are great, but not every little fix needs a trip to the shop.
You can save hundreds just by learning a few simple things, like replacing wipers, air filters, or even headlights.
YouTube is basically a free mechanic school, minus the grease stains.
Doing small maintenance yourself also helps you spot bigger issues before they get expensive.
And honestly, there’s something satisfying about fixing something with your own hands.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Watch beginner car maintenance tutorials on YouTube or grab a basic toolkit from Amazon to start doing simple repairs yourself.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
