7 Clever Hacks To Save $180/Month On Your Daily Commute
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1. Track Your Weekly Gas Spending To Spot Hidden Waste
You’d be shocked at how much money slips through the cracks when you don’t track it.
When you see those numbers staring back at you, it suddenly feels real.
Check your gas receipts and note them down each week.
Add up your weekly total to see how much you’re truly spending.
Spot patterns like “I fill up every Friday after work” or “that one gas station always costs more.”
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Keep a note on your phone labeled “Gas Tracker” and jot down every fill-up for two weeks.
Make It Easy: Use Rocket Money to track your spending automatically and get alerts when gas expenses rise.
2. Avoid Peak Traffic To Save Time And Fuel
You know what burns gas faster than a bad date? Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Leaving just 15 minutes earlier (or later) can save you both fuel and sanity.
Use Google Maps or Waze to see when your route is the clearest.
Shift your work hours slightly if your job allows.
Avoid long idles. It’s like burning money with your engine.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Try leaving 10 minutes earlier tomorrow and compare how much faster and cheaper your drive feels.
Make It Easy: Consider a dashboard phone mount so you can easily check traffic updates hands-free.
3. Plan Multiple Stops In One Trip
Quick reality check. Your car guzzles gas every time you start it cold.
So, why not bundle all your errands into one smart trip?
Group errands by location so you’re not zigzagging across town.
Map your route ahead of time to avoid unnecessary detours.
Use your lunch break for short errands to save after-work fuel.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write down your week’s errands on Sunday and plan one efficient loop instead of five mini-trips.
Make It Easy: Keep a small trunk organizer so your groceries or deliveries don’t roll around on your planned route.
4. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated For Better Gas Mileage
Your tires might look fine. But if they’re underinflated, they’re quietly robbing you at the pump.
Even a small pressure drop can lower your fuel efficiency by up to 10%.
Check your tire pressure monthly (it takes 5 minutes, promise).
Look for your ideal PSI on the driver’s side door frame.
Inflate them regularly to keep your car rolling efficiently.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Next time you stop for gas, use the air pump to check your tires. Bonus points if you do it before work.
Make It Easy: Grab a portable tire inflator to check and top off air from home anytime.
5. Use A Bike Or An E-Scooter For Short Trips
Not every trip needs to be a gas-burning expedition.
Sometimes, a short ride on two wheels can save money and give you a mini workout.
Use a bike or e-scooter for errands under 3 miles.
Skip parking fees and reduce your wear-and-tear costs.
Feel good about helping the planet (and your wallet).
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Next time you need to grab coffee or drop off a package, use your bike instead of the car.
Make It Easy: Use a reliable E-Scooter for shorter trips.
6. Use Less AC And Heat While Driving
Your car’s AC isn’t just cooling you. It’s cooling your wallet, too.
Cranking it all the way up burns more fuel than you’d think.
Use AC sparingly when driving under 45 mph (it guzzles gas at lower speeds).
Crack the windows for natural airflow when it’s not blazing hot.
Turn off the heater early once the car warms up. It keeps the cabin comfy without wasting gas.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Start your car’s fan before turning on full AC or heat. You’ll still feel comfortable but save fuel.
Make It Easy: Keep a sunshade for your windshield to prevent your car from turning into an oven on sunny days.
7. Pick Gas Stations With Membership Discounts
You’re loyal to your favorite coffee shop. Why not your gas station too?
Membership discounts can easily knock a few bucks off every refill (and those add up fast).
Join loyalty programs like Costco, Shell, or BP for instant savings.
Stack rewards with grocery store fuel points.
Use gas price apps to see which nearby stations offer the best deals.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Sign up for one gas rewards program today, and check how much you save after two fill-ups.
Make It Easy: Try Capital One Shopping to automatically find gas and grocery discounts you can stack with fuel points.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).
