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Boyda Responds to Economic Concerns; Compiles Tip Sheet to Help Consumers Save Money

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As gasoline reaches another record high of $3.49 a gallon, motorists want to make sure they’re getting every penny’s worth. But motorists could be spending more than necessary, by filling their gas tanks at the wrong time of day. Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) has compiled a list of money-saving tips for consumers that includes suggestions such as the best time of day to stop at the filling station.

"I have spoken with Kansans throughout the Second District," said Congresswoman Boyda, "and what I continue to hear over and over, is that people are hurting. They are having difficulty paying their gas bills. Many hardworking Kansans are even finding it a challenge to afford food for their families. The Economic Stimulus Package was one step, but more needs to be done. In the meantime, I hope this list of tips can provide at least a small measure of relief."  

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE:

Buy in bulk. The price per unit is usually smaller – and you can freeze foods that might go bad.

Cook in bulk. Cooking one large entrée and freezing smaller portions can not only save you money, it can save time. Plus, knowing you have a meal ready will make you less likely to pick up prepared food or go out to eat.

Shop alone. “Little helpers” can add items to the cart that aren’t on your list. Caving in to pressure from kids for certain snacks adds, on average, $6 to $20 a week.

Cut back on “one-item” trips. Not only do you use gas, but you almost always buy more than that one item. If you shop with a list or plan your meals for the week, you can minimize the trips to the store.

Coupons. Clip coupons and go to stores that allow double coupons. Look on-line for coupon websites and check out the websites for your favorite products.

Don’t buy what you don’t need. There are many products that we buy because we love them, but don’t need them. Good examples are soft drinks and sweets. Giving these up will help your wallet and your waistline.

Cut out “shortcut foods.” Consider if the premium on shortcut foods – cut vegetables, marinated meat, etc. – is worth it. Take lettuce. A head of lettuce costs about $1.50, but a bag of pre-washed lettuce can cost double that.

Eat vegetarian twice a week. Fixing vegetarian casseroles several times a week can save a family of four about $3/meal or $15/week or $800/year. There are plenty of choices –omelets, pastas, salads, soups, or vegetarian pizzas or casseroles – that can all cost less.

Don’t buy frozen meals. If you empty the contents of a frozen dinner onto a plate, you’ll realize how little you’re getting. You pay an average of $300/pound for veggies in frozen dinners. Try making your own frozen meals – set aside a Sunday afternoon.

Eating Out. In general, try to eat in – it’s much cheaper. But if you do eat out, consider sharing an entrée – they’re normally more than one person can eat anyway.

Take your lunch to work. Brown bagging it is about 1/3 the cost of a cheap restaurant. Avoid vending machines and bring your own soft drinks/snacks.


TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY AT THE GAS STATION:

Maintain your vehicle. A vehicle that runs smoothly uses less gas than one that is poorly maintained. 

Regular oil changes, air filter and other recommended maintenance will all help to give you a fuel-efficient vehicle. 

Keep your tires inflated. The savings on gas isn’t huge, but it does make a small difference. It’s also safer and makes your tires last longer. 

Remove weight. Driving with more stuff in your car drags the car and requires more fuel. Lighten your load by removing excess cargo you might be storing in your trunk. 

Drive slower. Driving the speed limit is more fuel efficient than speeding. 

Accelerate and brake easier. Driving too aggressively, especially starting fast and braking fast, is bad for fuel economy. 

Use higher gears. Driving fast in low gears is bad for fuel economy as well. Drive in as high a gear as possible, unless you’re down-shifting in order to slow down or control speed. 

Roll up windows on highway. While many people think they’re saving money by turning off the air-conditioner, it actually creates a strong drag if you are driving fast with the windows down. If you are driving slow, around town, turn off the air-conditioner and roll down the windows. 

Don't top off. Topping off while you are filling up your tank is a waste of gas, as any gas that you top off will spill or otherwise be wasted. 

Park in shade. A hot car evaporates gas. 

Carpool. It’s not usually hard to find friends, family, or neighbors who live in your area and work near you. Take turns driving each other to save gas for all of you. 

Use cruise control. This has been proven to save a lot of gas – a steady driving speed will improve fuel economy. 

Avoid idling. Idling gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON YOUR MONTHLY BILLS: 

Pay your bills online. The average household receives about 15 bills a month. With stamps now at 42cents each, you spend about $76 a year just on postage — and don’t forget the late fees if your checks get lost in the mail. Savings: Almost $76 a year in postage.

Don’t pay interest on credit cards. As you fail to pay off the credit card in full, the high interest payments start to eat away at your monthly budget. The average U.S. household carries a little more than $9,000 in credit-card debt. At an average annual interest rate of 13 percent, you’ll spend almost $1,000 on finance charges alone in one year. If you are paying interest, request a reduction in the interest rate on your credit cards – it can’t hurt to ask.

Get organized and avoid missed payments. It happens. Bills occasionally get buried beneath a stack of papers. Get organized and avoid those late payment penalties. If you do miss a payment, call your creditor and ask to have the penalty removed. They’ll usually accommodate the request, at least the first time.

Get your books from the library. Simply put, it’s hard to beat free. You can also get DVDs and magazines from the library.

Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs. These bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer.

Unplug appliances and electronics. Some tend to keep using a little electricity even when turned off, computers and cell phone chargers are perfect examples.

Shut vents in unused rooms and keep blinds or curtains closed. Shutting vents in unused rooms can save on your summer cooling bill. Locking your windows can tighten the seals around your windows keeping more heat or air conditioning in your home.

Change the filters in air conditioners. Not only does it keep your system running more efficiently, it keeps the air in your house cleaner too.

Turn off the tap. Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving — every minute the water flows wastes up to 2 1/2 gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. Water plants in the early morning to ensure that the water goes into the ground instead of evaporating. And use a bucket to wash the car, hosing it off for a quick rinse, to save 90 gallons of water per wash. 

Tips and statistics were compiled from information published by various consumer agencies.