Another Gas Price Hike

The newest catastrophe to hit town is the rise in the price of gas. So what else is new, aside from your leather envelope, leather passport holders, leather padfolios, or your plump leather couch? From 40 cents a gallon in the '70s to the present day $4 plus, the increase seems unfair when your great grandfather enjoyed the 17 cents per gallon in the 1930s.

Never before have had gas price increases affected the average wage earner. Although there are explanations that the recent gas price is at its lowest in the entire American history, there seems to be no way to accept it. You feel the squeeze and it hurts your pockets.

Mark Perry of USA Today simplifies this conjecture by saying it this way: you, as the average wage earner, work about seven minutes to be able to buy a gallon of gas, but your great grandfather worked a full 20 minutes before he could get enuogh enough to buy a gallon. Well, seems fair enough.

Gas prices, though, are not the only troubles knocking people around. If you're the average American working today at the standard hourly rate of $17.50, this is indeed a bad dream staring you in the face. But, instead of moping, take up the challenge and retaliate.

Beating Run-away Gas Prices

Don't ditch that car yet. These tips can you get more mileage from your car:

* Use regular not premium gas, unless specified by the car company. Regular or octane gas does not affect fuel power. It only helps the car's engine to resist pinging or explosions when the fuel and air mixture ignites prematurely or abnormally.
* Scout for the gas station that offers the lowest gas prices and don't agonize over brands. As long as it can move your car, you're good to go.
* Reduce your speed at the suggested speed limits on highways. This saves you gas, and your car runs efficiently.
* Conduct regular engine maintenance. Avoid overheating the engine, and please change sparkplugs and other items regularly. Fix small engine trouble before it becomes too difficult to handle. Timely engine checkups keep the car running, even after 175,000 miles.
* Travel lightly. For every hundred pounds of excess weight on your car, your car's fuel economy decreases by one to two percent.

So take heart, don't dump that car yet!