6 Ways to Save Money on Gas

No one really knows where oil prices are headed now-a-days. We have seen the price of oil affect gasoline prices throughout the world to a pretty large degree, especially over the last 3-4 years. As prices bounce around, the economy also is not in great shape. Everyone is looking to save some cash on gasoline right? Well here are some things you, as a consumer, can do to help lower your gasoline use.

#1 Choose alternate cheap methods.
Consider walking, biking, or riding the bus. The first two will not only save you money, but possibly even a couple years on your life, and maybe some money on those extra large sweatpants you have to buy.

#2 Park in the Very First Spot you Find.
Don't spend minutes riding around looking for a better spot. In the time it takes to find another spot, you could already have been at your destination. Walk a little if it's nice out. Time in your car means more gasoline consumption.

#3 Combine trips.
Plan out the quickest way to run all your errands that will save on time and distance traveled. Plan ahead instead of having to run out 5 times every day.

#4 Check the Internet for Gas Deals
Check out sites like Gasbuddy.com for deals in your area. Sometimes you can save as much as 15 cents a gallon from one station to the next.

#5 Who Cares What Brand it is
Gasoline is Gasoline. Who cares if it is Mobile, BP, or some no-name brand? There may be slight differences in the additives of one brand compared to another, but overall, you will not notice a difference.

#6 Sign up for a Gasoline Credit Card
You can often save up to 3% on all gasoline purchases with a cash back rewards program offered to people with good credit scores. Remember to pay off your card on time every time, and to shop around for the best deal.

How to Save on Life Insurance

Life insurance. It's not something anyone really wants to think about, because no one wants to consider the possibility of dying earlier then expected. Having said this, Life Insurance is one of the more important insurance types anyone can buy. Be aware that there are a lot of companies out there that will rip you off on policy terms. Because of this I have created a short, but important list of things you can do to save money on your Life insurance policy:

#1 Look for "No Load" Policies
Although they are rare, "No-load" policies are a smart move. This means that you are not paying any of your monthly premium for expenses to the agents, thus more money will go immediately to work for you. The best way to get a No-Load policy is to seek out financial advisers which charge a flat one time fee.

#2 Improve Your Health
There is no questioning why a Life Insurer would charge a lower rate to someone who is healthy. Concentrate on quitting smoking, losing weight, and decreasing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Note that you usually have to stop smoking several years prior to getting a policy in order to get the "non-smokers" rate.

#3 Pay Entire Insurance Bill Yearly.
Do not opt for the monthly payments. This will only increase your rate and interest payments. If you pay the policy free and clear at the start of each billing year, you will walk away with much more cash at the end of the year.

#4 If You Are Healthy, Do Not Buy A Guaranteed Issue Policy
Guaranteed issue policies are policies which require no medical exam, and are guaranteed to you. The problem is, that if you are healthy, you want the insurer to know. Guaranteed issue policies are riskier to the insurer, thus they cost more for you.

Remember as with every financial decision, do your research, online and offline to make the best decision possible for you.

Save Money on Heating and Cooling Your Home

With all the talk recently of cleaner greener energy use, I thought I'd start a series here with different ways to save energy, since saving energy also means saving quite a bit of money, something we all can use in this economy. So, here is a short list of things you can do to save money and energy with the heating and air conditioner systems of your home:

- Clean or Replace Filters on your furnace at least every 2 months
Dust buildup can lead to less air making it's way into your home, meaning your furnace will need to run harder, longer. It can also be a carbon monoxide hazard.

- Install New Smart Thermostats
New thermostats allow the owner to program them so that at certain times of the day, according to ones schedule, the temperature can be switched higher or lower. It is pointless to heat or cool a home when you are not there.

- Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such like the attic and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss.
Up to 60% of the heat produced by your furnace can be lost by poorly insulated ducts. Considering that half of a families electric bill can be used on heating their home in the winter, that means the average bill could be reduced about $30 a month with proper duct insulation.

- Install and Use Fans during the summer months.
A fan causes a windchill effect. Having a fan on will allow you to increase your thermostat in the summer 4 degrees F, and still feel just as comfortable. Also, in the Winter, a fan can be used to circulate the warm air that has risen to the ceiling down toward where you are.

I will try and continue this series with other energy tips throughout the next few weeks. I thought that since we are in the Summer months here in the US, I would provide the Heating and Cooling section first.