Free Ways to Increase Your Gas Mileage

Companies are well aware that consumers are desperate to reduce their fuel consumption.  That is why the market has been flooded with products that supposedly increase your gas mileage significantly.  Let’s ignore the fact that none of these products’ claims have been proved by the Environmental Protection Agency for a minute.  It really does not matter either way, because the fact is that there are plenty of ways to increase your gas mileage without having to spend a dime!

It is rather unfortunate that many of these extremely easy ways to increase gas mileage are still unknown by much of the general public.  The gas prices and their constant increases have caused the economy to sputter, and have put a lot of pressure on lower and middle class families.  It is important for these folks, along with everyone else that drives regularly, to know that they can save on their gas costs without making any extra financial investment!

Many of the methods for increasing gas mileage are quite simple.  For instance, did you know that having the proper level of air pressure in your tires can help you to save gas?  It is true!  Best of all, most gas stations and even car washes have free air machines that will help you to monitor and adjust your tire pressure according to whether it is a bit high or low.

You can also increase your gas mileage by avoiding certain things while driving.  For instance, you can avoid using the air conditioning* system in your vehicle, since air conditioning makes your engine work harder, which in turn means that you use more gas.  At the same time, you can drive with the windows up on cold days, which will also improve your aerodynamics, and thus, your gas mileage.  Open windows increase drag, which causes resistance that your car must overcome, after all.

*By the way, if you find you can't go long without A/C, you can manage it for efficiency as well. Use the inside air setting so you cool air that's already been cooled, rather than trying to cool the hot outside air. Once you feel the air coming through is nice and cold, leave the inside air setting on and switch the A/C off. This will save on energy, and the already-cooled air will remain actively cooled for much longer so you don't have to run the air conditioning constantly.

Another great tip for increasing gas mileage without spending a penny is simply to slow down a bit on the highway.  If you stay at the speed limit for most highways 100 km per hour), you will be operating your vehicle at right around the optimum speed for maximum fuel efficiency.  Any faster than that, and you will be sacrificing fuel efficiency to get to where you are going just a little bit earlier.

You should avoid doing certain other things, as well, such as idling your engine while you run errands or buy items at the store.  It is always better for your gas mileage for you to turn off the engine when you are stopped, even if you are only going to be gone for a couple of minutes.  You are wasting gas if you leave your car running, since you have no need for it to be running when you are not going anywhere!  You also do not need to “warm your car up” in the winter, as the only way to truly warm an engine up is by driving.  If you want it to be warm inside when you get in, try to limit the amount of time you warm up the interior of the car, at least.

These are just a few of the free methods for increasing fuel efficiency.  Try these ideas, and see how well they work for you!

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Living Fierce...on a budget

I posted not long ago about putting a wardrobe together without having to put your car up for sale or refinance your left kidney. It occurred to me this morning as I was shuffling the weekly flyers that it might be worth making a few tips about grocery spending as well.

Living fierce means exercising and eating well to maintain optimum energy and drive. The exercise part is easy enough, and even if you're not into an expensive plan you can do it with a really well-designed bodyweight plan like THIS ONE from Adam Steer & Ryan Murdock. The eating thing, on the other hand, is not so easy to do.

The trouble is, eating cheap and eating well don't always go hand in hand. Just a couple of weeks ago I was at the grocery store, having to do a budget shop to restock for the week. The revelation was startling. A package of twelve chicken thighs, boned with no skin (and no preparation whatsoever) was $16.99. A box of pre-cooked frozen fried chicken (8 pieces), fully breaded and seasoned, was $10.99.

Is it any wonder the lowest income segments of the population tend to be the ones most plagued by obesity, diabetes and heart disease? The affordable food options seem to be limited to starchy, pre-cooked, preservative-laden goop that has very little nutritional value other than high-calorie survival sustenance. Not a good outlook.

How do we combat this problem? On a cultural scale, I suppose, it would be feasible. The price of fresh, healthy foods would potentially come down if the sales were there to support it. So yes, getting people over their addiction to starch and sugar would probably be a good first step. But for those of us who know what we should be eating, keeping the cost of the "six-pack diet" down can be a challenge.

Getting smart with your grocery shopping, on the other hand, can save you a lot of headaches in the finance department. The first and most obvious point is never EVER be shy about clipping coupons. For the last couple of months, my favourite cereal has had a free ice cream coupon on every box. I know, ice cream isn't the healthiest choice, but I have a three-year-old, and that's a little treat for dessert.

Nobody should ever deny a child ice cream in the summer. You don't have to eat it by the bucket-full. But while on that self-same grocery expedition I mentioned above, I found a 4-litre container of No Name ice milk for $4.99. I couldn't get a 2 litre of Breyer's for that!

And that's my next point: go No Name whenever you can. This is especially true when you're trying to make up your quota of nuts and vegetables. In fact, to stock up on almonds, stay out of the produce section and hit the baking section. The assortment of affordable whole nuts is fantastic, and a single large bag of No Name brand almonds runs about $15. That's enough for nearly three months!

Hitting the frozen foods, I've found that No Name veggies and berries are a real lifesaver too. The vegetables run often several dollars less than major name brands, and the frozen berries were actually half the price. They're berries and vegetables...it's not like No Name skimps on the recipe used to package them. Plus, they're flash-frozen now. Modern freezing methods leave almost all of the nutrients intact, making these choices much more affordable than fresh vegetables and fruit. While it's nice to get fresh when you can afford it, going frozen, and generic, when you can't is a great way to ensure you're getting proper nutrition without worrying about the budget.

Fruits should be purchased in season whenever possible. Right now, with early summer in full swing, berries are going for ridiculously low prices. The California crops are coming in like mad, which means a pound of strawberries can go for less than $1.50! This will continue all summer as the crops from BC and Ontario start coming as well. A good deal is a good deal...but even better, if you can't go through that many in a week, just add your leftovers to your bag of frozen berries before they start to turn mushy. You may not have to buy a new bag until Christmas!

But don't always assume generic is the best deal. Every once in a while grocery stores have major brand sales (often sell-offs to reduce or replace stock), so keep an eye on the actual prices. If a brick of cheddar normally runs $7 or more for even the generic brand, and the name brand is on sale for $4.99, it's obviously a better deal. And fortunately most of these sales happen on weekends.

Using a little common sense can go a long way when it comes to shopping cheap--and living fierce--on a budget. Don't toss your flyers, don't ignore coupons, and whatever you do DON'T buy something you never buy just because it's on sale! Doing this last one can really tax your budget. Stick with what you know, and go for the goods that are going to deliver what you need. Buying cheap with starches isn't a good deal if there's no nutritional value, so focus in on things that are going to sustain you longer, rather than necessarily what will sock you up cheaper this week.

And finally, hit the bulk store. While mixtures there are a little uncertain (with no nutritional labels, you don't really know what's in them), bags of nuts, whole grains, seeds and spices can be had for next to nothing when compared with packaged offerings from the grocery store. They don't tend to go bad or stale either, so you can get a lot of distance out of bulk shopping. They even usually have whey protein powder...but not flavoured, and you don't really know what the source or profile is. You can use it as an additive, however, to boost the protein content of other things (like baking). If you've never been to a bulk store, go check one out. You'll be surprised at what's available, and well within your budget.

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Badass On a Budget

You're a 30-something (or any-something) guy. You have to deal with $70 tanks of gas, $200 grocery bills (but...I only bought vegetables and apple juice! o_O), rising energy bills, daycare and, yes, dating.
How the hell are you supposed to squeeze decent fashion and upgrades into that mess?

Yeah, I know. Clothes and shoes are brutally expensive. So is grooming. But here are a few tips that can get you badass on a budget (note: I'm talking about a well-groomed professional male here. If your look is trailer or gangsta, you're on your own).


Shoes
One of the best tips I have for presenting a polished look is to make sure your footwear is up to scratch. But good shoes are expensive, right?

Not really. I recently picked up a pair of really comfortable Steve Maddens at Winners for $70. That's less than half price. They also had Bostonians and Sketchers in the same price range.

You can also find killer prices on Overstock.com. Just make sure you verify your sizing at a store.
The thing about men's shoes is the styles don't change drastically from season to season. Don't be scared of liquidation or overstock stores!

Clothes
Like shoes, clothes--especially shirts--don't update very fast, so bargain shopping overstocks and clearances can save you a fortune.

First, Overstock.com does have a great selection. But don't limit your creativity! Find independent retailers in your area. Aside from the fact that you get WAY better personalized assistance to find clothes that really complement your style and frame, they're far more likely to make a deal.

Try, "hmm...I can't decide on which shirt I like. Tell you what: I'll take both if you give me half off a pair of pants." You'd be surprised how often they'll work with you. These places thrive on repeat business and referrals.

Plan for next year too. Major retailers clear out their stock at the end of every season. Take advantage of this and stock up this fall on this summer's clearance items. You'll get summer gear for next season as much as 70% off retail.

Gear & Grooming
Accessories can run up your bills pretty quickly. But if you're smart about it you can find great deals at Overstock. If you have a favourite brand, try hitting the clearance section on their website. And don't forget to make a deal at the clothing store; if you buy a couple of shirts, why not get a tie clip thrown in?

Some grooming and personal products can be pricey too. But I found a professional-strength tooth whitening kit on Overstock for thirty bucks!

Body wash, hair products, shaving cream and deodorant are essentials. Here again bargain stores can save a fortune.

For example, a jar of Axe hair goop costs $9.95 at Shoppers Drug Mart. But at Liquidation World, it's only $3.95. Six bucks!

It's the same product. These stores buy liquidated stock from stores and locations that are going out of business. For these items, always check a liquidation store first. Why pay more?

Nobody needs to know where you bought it! (and who cares if they do?)

The only thing I suggest you pay full price for is a haircut. Don't skimp on this one, or you could end up living with a disaster for weeks.

Getting a well-organized, badass look doesn't have to break the bank if you just put in the time to hunt and/or make deals. Like everything else, if you approach with sound strategy, confidence and a little know-how you can look like a million bucks without breaking the bank.

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