Hate to be the bearer of bad news but gas prices in Massachusetts have reached a new record high. I know, I’m sorry! The average price for a regular gallon is now $5! Five freaking dollars! That’s the highest it’s ever been, and 27 cents more than one week ago! A month ago, we were paying $4.35 a gallon, and a year ago, prices were $2.93 a gallon. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick.  Analysts say the national average could hit $6 a gallon by Labor Day, and I seriously feel bad for people who planned road trips for the summer.  BUT I do have some good news for you. No it’s not lower gas prices, but there are ways to make the gas that you do pay for, last longer. Here are 13 Easy Gas Saving Tips for you thanks to AAA.

Also, make sure you follow Gas Buddy to find the best gas prices near you.

If you need a little comic relief from gas prices, check out this story about Akon’s SUV being stolen while he was filling his tank. Not funny for him, but we all need a little laugh.

• 1. Click that gas cap

  After you fill your tank, make sure the gas cap clicks three times. If your gas cap isn’t sealed properly, it allows your gas to vaporize.

• 2. Avoid the delivery truck

  Unless you have to, don’t buy gas when there’s a delivery truck at the station. Recent deliveries stir up sediment, which can clog your fuel filter. 

• 3. Make sure your tires are properly inflated

  Tires that are properly inflated are safer, they last longer, and can improve your gas mileage by more than 3% per tire. Also, make sure you check your tire pressure at least once a month, and check it with the recommended pressure in your owners manual. A good time to check is in the morning after your car has been sitting overnight. 

• 4. Accelerate BEFORE a hill

  Hills can be gas killers. When you’re approaching a hill, accelerate BEFORE you reach it, not while you’re on it.

• 5. Slow down!

  I know a lot of people don’t want to hear this, but slowing down will help. Cars reach their optimal fuel economy at different speeds, but gas mileage usually decreases rapidly over 60mph.

• 6. Stop tailgating

  Besides it being very dangerous, tailgating will waste fuel. Why? Because both acceleration and deceleration waste fuel. You should try to drive at a constant speed when possible. If you’re tailgating, the driver in front of you could be unpredictable, making you brake or speed up more than you need to. 

• 7. Stay off rough roads

  If you can, avoid driving along rough roads. Dirt and gravel can cost you up to 30% of your gas mileage!

• 8. Fill up at local gas stations

  We all know that gas stations on major highways are highway robbery. Pun intended. Before you go on a road trip, make sure you fill up at your local station. If you have to fill up near the highway, try stations near state border lines, which tend to not be as high.

• 9. Be that annoying person that backs in

  I know, people think those back-in parkers are annoying, BUT you should park your care so that you can easily travel in forward gear. It’s something small, but little things add up.

• 10. Keep the AC use down

  It’s getting hotter which means we need to use our AC more, but operating it on maximum level can reduce your mpg by 5 – 25%, compared to not using it. You should try to park your car in the shade so your your AC doesn’t have to work as hard, and turn off  your air conditioning five minutes before you reach your destination.

• 11. Remove that third row in SUVs

  If you’re driving a large SUV or minivan, one of the easiest ways to save gas is by removing the third-row seat when not using it. Some third-row seats can weigh over 100 pounds. The extra weight will cause your engine to work harder, which can waste gas.

• 12. Clean out that trunk

  For the same reason you should remove the third-row seat, you should remove excess weight from your trunk. That includes: extra tires, child seats, heavy car parts, random junk. Or maybe that’s just me. The extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.

• 13. Plan your trips

  Save time and money by planning your trips. Taking several short trips from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one longer trip covering the same distance with a warm engine.

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