How Changing Our Spending Habits Will Hurt Business In America

by Hiro Mizuochi

Americans are beginning to telecommute, work from home or look for jobs close to home. This is both directly and indirectly due to horrific gasoline prices. Directly it's because gas costs so much to get to and from work. Indirectly, the cost of gas has made other necessities much more expensive. Other sources report that individuals are filling up their tanks halfway or just adding fuel as needed or as they can afford it.

Half are curtailing vacation plans; nearly as many are considering buying cars that burn less gas. Half of households with incomes below $20,000 say they face severe hardships because of soaring gas prices. Three-fourths of households making $75,000 or more also are changing how they use their cars.

Employers also are beginning to try to help their workers cut gasoline costs. About 12% of people surveyed said that their employers were offering a form of financial reimbursement for their commute time. But is it enough?

5 Practical Steps To Save On Gasoline
1. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. You can either do this at a service station or purchase a digital gauge and check it yourself once a month. Make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended amount as outlined in your owner's manual. Also, make sure you have your tires rotated about every 6 months.

2. Whenever possible, park your car in the shade and use a good windshield shade which blocks sunlight. Being conscientious of this parking practice will help to keep sun and the heat outside instead of inside of your car and you can run your air conditioner less or on a more economical setting.

3. If you're a two-job family and you have separate cars, make sure the family member who has the longer commute takes the car with the best gas mileage.

4. While on the interstate, or traveling at high speed (within the speed limit of course) keep your windows closed. When car windows are open at a high speed of travel, it causes a drag on the car, which, will reflect in your gas mileage. In fact, open windows can use more gas than air conditioners.

5. So number 4 is a catch 22. Because it's common knowledge that running the air conditioner results in more gas consumption. So here's the tip. Use the lowest setting possible and when your car feels cool, keep the fan on but turn the AC off and let the fan circulate the air.

The Cost of Fuel Doesn't Just Affect Us Behind The Wheel
The cost of fuel affects almost everything responsible for our lifestyle. In addition to cars, public transportation, farming equipment, delivery trucks, boats, school buses and more all consume fuel to deliver products and services to us. So why is the price of food going up? Take wheat. Wheat is used to make our bread as well as many other things. It takes gas to harvest wheat. It takes gas to deliver wheat. It takes gas to take the wheat, now bread, from delivery truck to the store we purchase it from. Fuel costs affect nearly everything in the economy.

"We can't do anything about the gas prices." Maybe not, but we can do something about how they affect us. A little responsibility will go an awful long way. Just to save a little here and a little there will help us when gas pinches us in the wallet.

About the Author

Hiro Mizuochi has decided to take a stand for something he believes in and found a business plan and a path to follow. If you want to see the resources I use to save money, you can go here: http://hubpages.com/hub/rising-fuel-costs-and-the-tanking-of-america

To learn how to turn your everyday conversations into money makers, go here: http://www.squidoo.com/fuel_freedom_international