Gas Prices Through the Car Roof, Start Saving.

As we can all see, gas is up to $3.60 per gallon, nationally, and I’m afraid to say it, but there looks like no relief in sight. Like many of us, we can’t skip the pump, but we can maximize ever little drop. Here’s how: Auto experts at Edmunds.com tested some old road tricks and found some awesome gas savers.

Try to brake less. When we stop hard and speed up quickly, we burn right through fuel. Ease up on the lead foot and yo

u could save an average of 30% of your gas.

This one is a toughie, but slow down. Those speed limits were created for a reason, so stick to them, by doing so, you reduce gas consumption by about 10%.

If you have long commutes, then cruise around. Using cruise control on longer trips saves 7% on average.

Shut your car off. Are you waiting on someone, while they run in the store to grab something? If it’s more than 60 seconds, turn off the engine and save up to 20%.
With all the craze of the smart phones, why don’t you download these great gas saving apps. Your wallet will thank you.

	GasBuddy and Cheap Gas let users upload gas prices—use them to find the cheapest gallon wherever you are.
	Mileage makes it easy to track your fuel economy.

Also, some places like Winn-Dixie have partnered with gas stations, and give customers discounts off the per-gallon price—and in some cases, the discount grows, the more you shop at that store during a given time period.

Making a Spending Plan

The key to budgeting and making it

work is working with what you have and making a flexible plan that works for you. Often the inflexible nature of budgeting can be a frustrating and a turn-off. Even if you've never been one for budgets it doesn't mean there isn't hope for following a plan that will get your finances on track. I'm not fond of the word budgets, I like my freedom and I think of budgets as a bore,so let's call this a spending plan. A spending plan is a better solution than a traditional budget for those who want a less rigid method for managing your money. It's all about giving your dollars some direction and taking control by taking these 5 simple steps to creating a spending plan.

1. Calculate — Determine your incoming income with a quick calculation: take your monthly income after taxes and subtract your fixed expenses like rent, insurance, and bills. The money left over is your discretionary income.
2. Think Ahead — Look into the future expenses and pick out any expenses on the horizon like vacations, car maitenence, appliance replacements and any other things that you know will put a dent in your wallet.

3. Save — Set aside a certain amount of your discretionary income for savings and for the things you identified as future expenses. I try and save 15-20 percent of my paycheck for what I call "uh-oh expenses."
4. Make a List — After you've deducted the amount you plan to save from your income, make a list of all the things you need on a weekly/monthly basis and another list of all the things you want. i.e. a new suit, a fancy dinner, a facial. Then prioritize your list.
5. Keep Track — Keep track of your spending by checking off any needs or wants that have been fulfilled. That way you can decide quickly if you have the extra funds to catch that concert this weekend with friends. Another great thing too is that you can re-prioritize. You can always save some of those wants for another month and save It's an easy way to get a clear picture of what you can and can't afford.