SavvySugar

Simple Money Saving Tips For Your Road Trip

SavvySugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:45:27 -0800

The experience of going on a road trip is often just as exciting as the final destination. Lucky for us, the long holiday weekend ahead invites the opportunity to hit the road and head someplace fun. Before you put your car into drive, check out my money saving tips for your road trip.

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What You Spent on Gas in 2009

SavvySugar — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:00:12 -0800

Filling up the tank, unfortunately, helped to empty our wallets this year. Even while we saw comparatively lower prices through the year, 28 percent of you dropped $1,000 to $2,000 at the pump. Not exactly chump change, but still better than the 22 percent who surpassed the $2,000 mark, spending up to $3,000 for the year.

Tied for third at 13 percent, respectively, we've got the thrifty commuters who managed to keep their gas costs down between $500 to $1,000 and those who spent zero at the station - no car to drive, no tank to fill. So, what's the verdict, are you still planning to drive in 2010 or finding alternative transport?

The Most Overpriced Expense in 2009

SavvySugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:00:01 -0800

With universities raising tuition across the country, the cost of higher education takes the prize as the most overpriced expense of the year, earning 34 percent of the votes. It's no wonder, with college tuition prices rising high and fast, getting a higher education is becoming more unaffordable for many. Parents are dealing with some serious sticker shock as they prepare to send off their college-bound kids, while any student facing loans is definitely dealing with the spike in prices first-hand.

Second place was a little closer - the cost of airfare (20 percent), gas (18 percent), and weddings (16 percent), were almost nearly tied up. Commuters filling up at the pump still couldn't get over the crazy gas prices this year, while many consumers struggled with airline fees for just about everything while traveling, from checking bags, food on board, head phones - you name it. Still, some of you were most taken aback by the high cost of weddings. Shelling out a truckload of cash for the plane tickets, gift, new dress. Whoa! It all adds up pretty fast, huh?

How Much Did You Spend on Gas in 2009?

SavvySugar — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:00:57 -0800

Sure, we've seen worse days when it came to gas prices this year, but regardless, filling up the tank in 2009 still took a toll on our wallets. It seemed a lot more commuters were back to driving this year when we enjoyed some of the lowest gas prices we'd seen in a while, but once we saw prices rise again, public transportation was jam-packed. Being huddled up in a crowded bus isn't exactly my ideal for getting to work, but with gas prices creeping back up, cramming in seemed a better option than forking over some major cash at the gas station. These roller coaster pump prices were hard to keep up with, but we couldn't finish up our Best of 2009 coverage without your feedback - we want to know, how much did you spend on gas this year?

What's the Most Overpriced Expense For 2009?

SavvySugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:45:44 -0800

This year saw some escalating prices coming down - and back up again (hello gas prices!). We're not fans of this pricing roller coaster either - but couldn't determine the Best of 2009 without asking what you think about this year's priciest expenses.

By the end of this year, we're seeing some signs of a recovering economy, but prices are still in flux. Real estate prices continued to fluctuate, and just as we were getting used to paying way less at the pump, gas prices went back up again, with a national average of about $2.62 - up from $1.81 a year ago. Airfare was another costly expense - pricey tickets, blackout dates, and restrictions on travel vouchers and free flights along with extra costs to check baggage or claim "extra" leg room made flying an all-around expensive hassle.

Meanwhile, weddings cost about $30,000 on average, and the cost of higher education rises every year along with our grocery bills. So, tell me, which expense is your pick for the most overpriced in '09? And don't stop voting there - check the rest of my best of 2009 polls!

3 Gas Myths That Won't Save You Money

SavvySugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:30:57 -0800

While there are many tested tips for saving on gas and preserving on fuel, there are also a whole lot of misconceptions and wives' tales about when and where you should be filling your tank. Consumer Reports took to the streets and squashed some of the myths that have probably been cemented into your "fill 'er up!" schedule.

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5 Simple Ways to Save on Gas

SavvySugar — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:00:17 -0800

Despite a dip in gas prices at the end of the year, most SavvySugar readers estimate they spent between $1,000 to $2,000 on gas over the course of 2008, which certainly isn't chump change. Every mechanic, car nut, or know-it-all has a pocket full of suggestions for minimizing gas usage, but the penny savers at Consumer Reports have put together some tested tips for saving on fuel I found incredibly informative. Check them out and start saving today.

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How Much You Spent on Gas in 2008

SavvySugar — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:00:45 -0800

Gas won the crown of the most overpriced expense in 2008, and if you drove at all there's no way you couldn't notice its impact on your bank account. Most of you estimate that you've spent between $1,000 to $2,000 on gas over the course of 2008.

Now that prices have come way down, I encourage you to save the money you're no longer spending on gas. You were able to get by when you were paying almost $5 a gallon, and since gas prices are now about half of what they were at their peak, you should notice that you have a little more disposable income on your hands. Estimate how much you've saved in gas this month compared to what you were spending at the height of gas prices, and apply at least part of the difference to the amount you transfer each month into your savings account.

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The Most Overpriced Expense in 2008

SavvySugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:15:16 -0800

Gas may be relatively cheap at the moment, but this Summer we were shelling out more than $4 a gallon at the pump. When prices inched toward $5, many of us wondered how we would afford to keep driving. Forty-eight percent of you voted gasoline as the most overpriced expense in 2008, and I agree with the majority on this one.

You said the second most overpriced expense is higher education, and with college tuition becoming increasingly unaffordable I can see why you'd rank this one toward the top of the list. For those who have them, student loans are a constant reminder that education is expensive, and for those of us who are thinking about having children, the thought of the future price tag on college is downright scary.

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How Much Did You Spend on Gas in 2008?

SavvySugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:15:47 -0800

Exorbitant gas prices practically defined how we spent our money this year and dominated many cocktail party conversations. Those who rely on their cars for commuting were hit the hardest, while regular public transportation riders watched as their buses became overstuffed with passengers. Because many of us will remember 2008 as the year gas prices compromised our lunch money, I'm wondering how much you approximately spent at the pump this year.

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