Save On Your Gas Bills

Today, oil prices fell to an eight-month low below $90 a barrel on speculation that the spreading financial crisis will exacerbate a global economic slowdown and further cut demand for crude oil. Light, sweet crude tumbled $3.82 to $90.06 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In the midst of the deepening global financial crisis, global markets sold off.

While lower oil prices provide some reason for cheer, however there is a widespread gloom surrounding the American and world economies. Lay offs, job insecurity, slow-down in new job creations, high food and oil prices, higher transportation and energy prices, rising costs of operating businesses, and reduced consumption have all combined to create an uncertain future.

Cutbacks seem to be the order of the day. Not just for the lower-income group, but across the board for the middle- and high-income groups.

Here are some ways which people have used to save on gas and other expenses:

• Eating simpler, home-cooked meals
• Driving earlier to work to avoid morning rush-hour traffic jam
• Taking public buses or trains and avoiding driving the car
• Commuting by bicycle or by walking, if the destination is nearby
• Shopping for groceries fortnightly, insteadly of weekly
• Cutting down on vacations
• Flying by economy class

In view of the dimmed prospects for the economy in the coming 1 to 2 years, saving on gas and other expenses will become even more important to ordinary folks.