Saving money is easy... if you try

DavidB · 10-11-01, 08:46

A-hem!

This forum is for discussing ways to save money. I buy expensive cars, but I don't like throwing money away. What can we do to save a few extra coins each month. Share your secrets.

I'll tell you what I have started doing lately with the price of gas. My BMW 330i is rated for Premium fuel. However, when I'm taking long road trips (i.e., low RPMs and little stop and go), I use mid-grade fuel. The car runs fine, even when passing and taking on hills. I save $2-3 per tank.

db

PrinzII · 10-11-01, 03:17

Since you mentioned gas, I tend to cross the border to Indiana and fill my car up. On average, gas in IN is around .20/gallon cheaper than it is in Chicago.

Guess My Name · 10-11-01, 08:42

I got one how about giving room in front of you so you can use your brakes less to save gas and the brakes! Guess this could be in driving huh?

Gas here is cheap anyway $1.15/ gal 87 octane!

BW · 10-11-01, 11:35

Our city is located in a high hill, so I have to constantly use the brakes. I try to downshift more often, thus reducing the need of brakes (and cleaning!)

I also try to open the windows, and only use A/C when totally necessary. As for gas, I drive a round finding the cheaper-est gas stations. The cheapest price I can find here is about $1.67 for premium.

lordkelvin · 10-12-01, 04:46

Buy used, and get a stick! Trying very hard to take my own advice this time...nuttin' but Chevron with Techron in my tanks, though...grade depends on the car, of course.

Keep 'em comin'!

Gary

Dude · 10-12-01, 10:29

My girlfriend taught me to buy everything on sale. Her family is rich, and they don't buy anything unless it is on sale.

The beauty of this approach is that you can BOTH spend less money AND get nicer stuff. For example, I get my casual shirts at the Gap and Bananna Republic. I have thirty or forty shirts in my closet, and I have not paid more than $12.99 for any of them. I would not have as many shirts if I had paid full price ($49.99) for them.

Now when stuff is on sale, you can stock up! For example, when my toothpaste goes on sale, I buy three or four tubes. This holds me over until the next sale.

I know that this sounds pretty obvious, but if you buy everything- and I mean everything- on sale, your standard of living will improve instantly- and you will be able to save more at the same time!

pdthree · 10-14-01, 07:24

I also buy mid-grade gas (89 octane) for the cars I drive that suggest premium. The only time I don't is if I know I'll be driving serious hills.

Another tip is to use cruise control when highway driving, it tends to use less gas than if you were accelerating manually.

pdthree

waxman · 10-15-01, 06:44

A funny saying is "Buy only things that you need."
That would include food(bread), water, shelter(a tent) and some clothes(some old towels sewn together), and maybe some soap and deodorant.
If we lived only on our needs we would have an economy like a third world country.

PrinzII · 10-15-01, 03:15

Quote:

Originally posted by pdthree
I also buy mid-grade gas (89 octane) for the cars I drive that suggest premium. The only time I don't is if I know I'll be driving serious hills.

Another tip is to use cruise control when highway driving, it tends to use less gas than if you were accelerating manually.

pdthree

Usually, the Maxima gets 89 octane but at least once per month, it gets 93 to flush the system out.

To alleviate the air filter expense, I bought a K&N drop-in. The only thing I need to do is clean it.

BW · 10-15-01, 04:42

Btw, pick up the latest issue of Car and Driver, or wait till next month and go to their site and read a special article about the effects of using different gases. For example, a Honda Accord has more horsepower at the wheels and quicker acceleration when used at [I[89[/i] octane instead of 92!

Dave C. · 10-16-01, 10:23

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidB
I'll tell you what I have started doing lately with the price of gas. My BMW 330i is rated for Premium fuel. However, when I'm taking long road trips (i.e., low RPMs and little stop and go), I use mid-grade fuel. The car runs fine, even when passing and taking on hills. I save $2-3 per tank.

db

Is it really worth cheaping out $2-3 on a $40k car?? I honestly couldn't do it!!! BMW has obviously found that the car performs at it's best on 91 octane. When my dad bought his xi the sales guy told him that he could in fact run the car on 89 with no ill effects. I think it is just a ploy to make Bimmer owners believe that the cost of ownership isn't as high as it really is. Just my opinion but Click and Clack have many columns about this topic here is one:
http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...5/July/01.html I'm not saying that you are wrong David, rather I simply disagree.

lordkelvin · 10-16-01, 04:07

I've also seen it written that Octane ratings are a funny thing.

Like, for example if you put 3/4 tank 89 octane and 1/4 tank 93 octane gas, it stands to reason that the effective octane rating would be about 90. Well, apparently it's more like 92...

So, if you're into saving money, but keeping that octane rating up, you could try something along the lines of putting a gallon or two of Premium and then filling up with Plus. Not that I do that, or anything, but apparently it should work...

Gary