If you have to have a suv, consider getting a hybrid suv to save gas. By using alternative forms of energy, you can cut down on the money you have to spend on gas to fill up the huge suv tank.

Despite the huge rise in fuel costs thanks to the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, people still need and insist on keeping the versatility that they can get with sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Kids sometimes have to take the ferry to school and soccer practice, the dogs still insist on going to the vet or the groomers, and we still have to make our weekly trips to the grocery store just to stay alive and content. Minivans, although they are extremely useful, do not have the style of most SUVs, and sedans, even though they generally are more fuel-efficient. They just can’t duplicate the commanding view of the road that oyu can get form your SUV.

You can get an SUV in a hybrid make as well. Hybrid power trains, which are available in sedans and small cars for the past several years, will soon be widely available in SUVs as well. Ford was the first manufacturer to introduce such an awesome vehicle to the market, For example the Ford Escape Hybrid, but other manufacturers are running closely behind them.

The Choices that will eventually be available will include the Saturn VUE with BAS (Belt Alternator Starter Hybrid System), Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h, a hybrid Mazda Tribute and we all know that everyone else will follow. While hybrid alternative vehicles can now offer a substantial jump in fuel economy, they also require a similar jump in price just to be able to cover the cost of developing this new technology. That’s something that you really need to think about when evaluating overall ownership costs.

In addition to hybrids, there are other cost effective SUVs on the market that can really help to make the high price of gas more tolerable, but as with everything else these days, there are certain concessions that have to be taken into consideration. The most economical vehicles tend to be smaller or midsize, with either front or two wheel drive and they feature the smaller engine that has less horsepower, four cylinders instead of six which also have standard as opposed to automatic transmissions. As the list of standard and optional items for the car gets bigger, fuel mileage will also decrease.

When you start using the most current EPA data, you can easily learn that there is a list of the most fuel-efficient SUVs that are on the market. If you also start considering base sticker price and cargo capacity you just get a good deal. If you want to make a quick comparison between the two of them, fuel mileage for all or four wheel drive is also provided. Your behavior while driving will also play a huge role in this as well. So do not think that these ideas are set in stone.

How do I save money on gas? Here are some tips on how you can accomplish just that. . Let’s look at them now!

* Don’t fill up the tank when prices are extremely high. Gas suppliers and gas station owners can charge high prices for gas because they know people will pay for it. By adding only a few gallons of gas to your car when prices are high gives you your say in the matter.
* Don’t drive when you don’t have to. Carpooling, walking, taking the bus, and riding a bike not only help you to save gas, but they are better for our environment and may be better for your overall health.
* Check the tire air pressures every week. If you buy a cheap manual air pump and an accurate tire gauge this will help you.  Keep all of your tires inflated to the same pressure that is recommended. For help in determining this you can go by the sticker on the door frame not the one on the tire wall.
* Drive at a regular speed and keep the windows rolled up. Keeping the windows closed reduces the wind pull on your car. Sticking to the speed limit also helps. Use cruise control when you can.
Avoid letting your car idle. If you are going to be stopped for more than one minute, you will save gas by turning the car off and restarting when you are ready to go.
* Buy fuel on cold days and if you can, drive on the hot ones. When you buy on cold days, and pay for the volume instead, you will end up buying more gas for the same price.
* Park in the first spot you find; don’t hunt forever to find a better one.

Don’t fill your car until it is nearly empty. If you do this, it can extend your gas because you are hauling a lighter load as the tank looses gas. Just be careful about this in the winter as it can shorten fuel pump life.
* Take off slowly from a full stop. This is one change that can have a dramatic affects on your gas mileage. If you move out slowly, it will help save you money at the pump.
* Avoid having to stop when you can. If approaching a red light, see if you can slow down enough to avoid having to actually stop instead.

When it comes to the money that you spend on gas, taking care of your car is a great place to start. What this means is that have to take responsibility for the car itself. Common sense will tell you that fixing a car’s engine that is out of tune or one that has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of about 4.1 percent. You have to make sure to have your vehicle serviced immediately if a check engine light appears on the dashboard. It’s not there for nothing and could mean a bigger problem that just gas money.

You need to replace a clogged air filter which can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. If you think about in money, that 10 percent is the same thing as nearly 15 cents a gallon in actual gasoline savings. A car’s air filter is what keeps impurities from hurting the inside of the engine. Also, you will want to keep an eye on the tires. If you begin keeping your tires inflated at their proper pressure you can improve gas mileage by about 3 percent.

This is the same thing getting a savings of up to 5 cents a gallon. You can check with the manufacturer of your vehicle on what the recommended tire pressure is. You will also want to have the right grade of motor oil in your car. Different vehicles need different grades. For example, the average sedan uses 10W30. when you buy the wrong oil your car just focuses its energy in the wrong way to get your car to run.

Finally, you are going to want to try to keep track of the gas mileage for your car as well. If you notice that you’re going through gas much more quickly than you usually do, your vehicle might not be operating at it very best. Getting your tune up regularly and when it is recommended may mean that you are going to spend less money over all. If you don’t get a tune up regularly, your gas money problems could just end up being the least of your problems because at that point, your problems will be far more focused on fixing your engine which will cost you far more than you could spend on gas in an entire month.

Don’t shop on payday. This is when you have the most money. You haven’t paid the bills or put money away for savings. In error, we believe that we have more money at our discretion than we really have. At the end of the shopping trip, we are a few hundred dollars in the hole and a bill goes without being paid.

Don’t shop for groceries on an empty stomach. This is a universal rule. It never fails; if you shop when you are hungry you can be talked into buying anything. The shopping list goes out the window and so does the grocery budget for the month. Shopping when hungry could also cause you to stop for fast food on the way home because you can’t wait to fix something to eat.

Visit thrift stores and consignment shops. This works for kids when they are babies and toddlers. These stores have beautiful clothing that is in excellent condition. All it takes is a little searching to find a treasure or two at a fraction of the cost. Name brand clothing can be found here also. Thrift stores are a good alternative to “hand-me-down” clothing for younger kids.

Buy in bulk only if it is something that you need. Buying everything in bulk is not necessary. Some bulk prices have a higher unit price than buying a couple of boxes of cereal or baby formula. Carrying a calculator to the store with you can aid in figuring up which is the best buy. Join a shopping warehouse if you frequently buy bulk items.

Ask for a rain check. Some stores don’t give them for certain sale items, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. A rain check can save you money. Don’t buy a six dollar case of water if you can get it for two dollars with a rain check. Buy up to the limit you are allowed to purchase and stock up.

Bargain shop when looking for services. There’s no rule that says you have to go with the first plumber that you call. All companies don’t charge the same amount. Checking two or three places will give you a good idea of how the prices stack up. Choose the one with the most services for the lowest price. If you are not sure, ask a friend who may have had the same need that you do now.

Purchase gifts throughout the year. Don’t wait until right before the holidays or someone’s birthday. Finding gifts throughout the year saves money. Sales after Christmas are the perfect time to find all sorts of merchandise that would make good gifts for the following Christmas. Store your gifts in a cabinet for that purpose so that you are never without something to choose from for gift giving.

A few frugal spending tips can save a lot of money. It takes a conscious effort to start, but once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature.

1. Have a financial plan. We all need one. Plan to save or you won’t save anything at all. Before you spend a dime on anything else, put aside ten percent of your paycheck at least once a month. It would be ideal to do it with each paycheck that you earn in a month, but sometimes that is not possible. Start with a goal of one paycheck and work your way up. To keep from forgetting, you can have the money deducted from your check and sent to a savings account each pay period. That way, you don’t even have to think about it. It is done before the rest of the money is deposited in your checking account.

2. Grocery shop with a shopping list. Have you ever gone to the store for one or two items and come out with a cart full of stuff? Me, too. A list is like a blinder. It requires you to locate the things written there and ignore everything else. When creating the list, look in each cabinet and cupboard to see what you need. If you’re absent-minded like me, attach a magnetic grocery pad to the refrigerator and record when you run out of something. Your list will create itself.

3. Clip coupons. Coupons are generated mostly for the grocery store, but department stores have store coupons that offer a percentage or a specific dollar amount off of your purchases. Get that sweater at the end of the season when the store marks clothing down forty percent and offers additional coupon savings. Don’t shop at a store just because it has a coupon. Chances are the price has been marked up before the coupon is applied to make you think that you are getting a deal. Only use coupons for items and stores that you frequent. Stores that offer free discount cards also have weekly specials that, when combined with a coupon, could save you even more money.

4. Don’t impulse buy. Rule of thumb: Don’t purchase anything the first time you see it. This rule goes for big ticket items like cars, furniture, appliances, and electronics. Give yourself time to comparison shop to find the best deal. All the stores of the world won’t sell out of DVD players overnight. Waiting may show that the item you wanted to buy was a want and not a need. In that case, after clearing your head, you might not go back and buy it anyway.

5. Reward yourself. Spending money on something that you want can be thought of as a reward and a privilege earned. Make a list of your “wants”. Prioritize them and save until you can afford to get it. In the meantime, you will have added to your savings account and the discretionary fund for the item you dream of buying. Knowing that there is a pot of gold at the end of the financial rainbow can be a good deterrent to overspending.

Saving money is a good practice. Not only does it make your finances more stable, but there is also money for a rainy day.

Every month you sit down to pay the bills and every month you wonder how in the world you’re spending so much.  This is a common scenario for most families.  The good news is there are a few things you can do to cut your monthly bills down.

Shop Around – Always shop around.  Utility companies are in fierce competition with each other, use it to your advantage and shop around for the best savings.  Don’t think you have to stick with a supplier you’re not happy with.

Leave the Car at Home – Don’t pay the outrageous fees for gas.  If possible try to walk, you can also consider taking the bus or carpooling.  When filling up the car, shop around for competitive rates.

Lower Your Thermostat – If it’s cold in the house don’t just automatically switch the heating to high.  Put on an extra sweater and pair of socks instead.

Avoid Using Your Dryer – Dryers waste a lot of electricity which means higher bills for you.  Try to hang up your clothes instead.  This not only saves you money on electricity but will help some of your clothes last longer as well.

Make Sure It’s Full – Don’t use your washing machine or dishwasher when it’s half empty.  Play around with the temperature settings to see if a lower temperature will do the job just as well as the pricier higher one.

Turn Off the Lights – Your father was right.  Turn off the lights you’re not using to save electricity.  If you’re just relaxing try lighting candles instead, this will save money and create a nice atmosphere (make sure you follow all safety guidelines).

Lower Your Water Bill – Try to take showers instead of baths.  Turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth.  Collect rain water and recycle it to water the plants.  Make sure your faucets aren’t dripping.  Use a bowl full of water when doing the dishes instead of leaving the tap running.

Change the Setting – Set your thermostats a couple of degrees lower in the winter and a couple of degrees higher in the summer for a big savings on your utility bills.

Filter Your Water – Investing in a good water filtering system can save you money on buying bottled water.  It will also help you save money by making your appliances last longer due to lower lime scale buildup in hard water areas.  You can even use less detergent when washing clothes or using the dishwasher.

Don’t Buy Disposable – Try to cut back on your shopping bills by not buying disposable items such as paper towels, use a clean dish cloth instead.  Try to reuse your aluminum foil or sandwich bag containers or better yet buy plastic containers you can wash and reuse.

By following these tips, you can make a significant dent on your monthly bills. As an added bonus, you’ll also be contributing towards a healthier environment for your children and grandchildren to enjoy.

There are always ways to spend your money – no matter how much you have. You can buy your lunch at work or you can buy groceries to make your lunch to take to work. The frugal person will make her lunch and then save the rest of the money for something else (a vacation, paying off the mortgage early, a spa day as a treat, or a new pre-owned car).

Income tax checks are a great chance to be frugal. You could use the money to put a down payment on a new car or to buy that surround sound system you always wanted. A frugal person will save a portion, pay off any outstanding debts with a portion, and use the rest for a treat that they have desired for a while (maybe a professional hairstylist or a new outfit for business meetings). The money will be used or spent, but it will go towards things that have lasting value. Splurges are allowed, but they are controlled.

Being frugal is about spending money the best way it can be spent. You learn to compare items and opportunities and decide which one is the best choice for you. It requires a willingness to do some research, a boldness to ask questions, and the ability to walk away until another day (or for good).

It takes a special mindset to live a frugal life. You have to understand the bigger picture and be willing to sacrifice a little now in order to gain a lot tomorrow. The trick is that you may not be able to see the gain for some time. It’s a walk of faith that in the end it will be better.

A great way to start on the frugal path is to meet some truly frugal people. They will be the happy people who have no hefty bills weighing them down because they have paid them off. Talk to them about their walk and see if they will help you along your own journey.

Learning to be frugal will help you to save money, but it is not just about the money. A frugal person learns to make the best choice in financial situations so that he can enjoy his life to the fullest.