Written on 7/03/2008 by Melanie Taylor, of Think Money. 
With oil prices at an all-time high, the knock-on effect on fuel prices is more apparent by the day. According to The German Technical Cooperation (
GTZ), who compiles a list of global fuel prices every year, UK car owners now pay around £4.41 ($8.74) per gallon, while US drivers pay closer to £2.07 ($4.10) - which is small compared to many countries, but that's a rise of almost 25% on 2007.
Most worryingly of all, several countries - including Turkey, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Holland - are even more expensive.
Prices are simply showing no signs of coming down. In fact., barely a day goes by without some kind of horror story prediction for the future. However, there are a few things you can do to lessen the impact on your pocket. I agree, some of these are remedial but when it takes $90 to fill your gas tank, do you agree that it's time to start considering alternative modes of transportation?
In any event, here are some ideas. If the costs aren't pounding you now, perhaps it's time to plan for the continued increase.
- Take walks for short journeys
This will be a culture shock to some of you. But, think about this. It's amazing how many people these days rely on their cars just for a trip to the corner shop. Short journeys they may be, but the costs soon add up. By cutting them out, you're saving money, helping the environment, and keeping fit at the same time. Seriously consider walking to the dry cleaners, the hair salon, or the supermarket.
- Buy a bicycle
Unless you're doing a long commute every day to work, most journeys you would take on a regular basis could be done on a bike. It's free to run (apart from occasional maintenance), keeps you fitter, and you'll beat those traffic jams at rush hour. And with more and more cycle lanes being built all the time, cycling is safer than it's ever been. Use a site like Google Maps to plan your exav
- Share journeys
If you know someone else who takes roughly the same route as you each day (especially colleagues), do a car share, and share the costs. If your car fits five people, you could cut your own costs down by as much as 80%, but even a more realistic 50% (two people) is a good saving.
- Plan your journey properly
Countless hours (and gallons of fuel) are wasted each year by people who trust their 'sense of direction' to guide them to their destination. By planning your journey well in advance, you will save valuable time and money. There are plenty of services online that will plan your route for you, and some even take traffic into account to minimize your journey.
- Fuel-efficient driving
According to experts, you can boost your fuel efficiency by around 30% just by taking a few simple measures. These include switching off your engine for stops of more than 30 seconds, not driving above 60mph unless necessary, making sure your tyres are properly inflated, driving in the correct gear, and lots more.
- Buy a fuel-efficient car
Some cars are gas-guzzlers, others less so. Do your research before buying a car, but as a rule of thumb, the bigger the car, the less efficient it will probably be.
- Don't fill up on Fridays
Many sellers put their prices up on this day, because it's statistically the day most people fill their tanks - so steer clear.
- Take public transport
It may not always be the most accommodating way to travel, but in many cases you can save a lot of money, and it's better for the environment. It's also a good chance to relax and read the newspaper or listen to some music, rather than focusing on the roads.
What have you personally done to save money on gas? Are you planning errands and routes are you using delivery services? Let us all know in the comments.
-Melanie
译文:
油价飞涨——为了省钱，你可以做什么呢？
随着石油价格的长时间的居高不下，燃料价格所带来的连锁反应也日益明显。根据德国技术合作公司每年编辑的一份关于全球燃料价格的列表显示，现在在英国，每加仑的汽油大概要花费4.41英镑，大约8.74美元，然而美国的司机们却仅花2.07英镑，约4.10美元，当和其他国家相比时，这个花费是比较少的，但是在2007年这个价格相对来说几乎上涨了25%。
最令人担忧的是一些国家，包括土耳其，瑞典，挪威，德国以及荷兰在内，他们的油价更高。
油价丝毫没有下降的趋势。事实上，仅1天时间的推移，根本没有某种形式的恐怖故事可以预测未来。然而，你能做一些事情来减少油价上涨对你们钱包的影响。我同意除了花费90美元去装满油箱以外，这些事情当中有一些是具有补救作用的。你们认为是时候开始考虑选择其他一些可行的交通方式了吗？
在任何情况下，我认为这些办法是可行的。如果现在你还能承受这种高价格的冲击，也许现在是时候为拟定个计划以应付不断上涨的油价了。
短距离行程采取徒步
这对某些人来说可能是个文化冲击。但是，这样想想。现在如此多的人依赖于他们的汽车仅仅是为了到拐角的商店是个令人十分惊讶的事情。这个距离也许很短，但是累计起来成本就高了。熄掉汽车的发动机，你可以节省钱，可以帮助保护环境，与此同时你还能保持健康。认真考虑一下步行到干洗店，头发沙龙，或者是超级市场。
买辆自行车
除非你每天去上班的路途很遥远，否则对于大部分行程，你可以采取一种定期骑自行车的方式。自行车能免费行驶（除了偶尔要缴纳点养路费以外），能使你更健康，而且能使你在交通高峰段避开交通堵塞。随着越来越多的自行车专用车道的开设，骑自行车比以前更安全了。你可以使用一个像Google地图一样的导航系统来引导方向。
结伴而行
如果你知道有人（特别是同事）每天上班的路线和你的差不多一样，你们可以同坐一辆车，然后共同承担费用。如果你的车可以容纳5个人，那么你至少可以省下80%的费用，但即使是较切合实际的50%（ 2个人）也是一个很好的节省办法。
恰当地安排你的行程
无数个小时和无数加仑的燃料每年都会被那些自认为他们的方向感可以把他们带到目的地的人给浪费掉。通过提前计划好你的行程，你将会省下很多的时间和金钱。网上有很多可以为你设计路线的服务，而且一些服务还替你考虑交通情况，使你的旅游费用降到最低。
经济驾驶
据一些专家介绍，你们可以通过采取一些措施来使我们的燃料利用率提高30%左右。这些措施包括，比如说当停车超过30秒时应关掉发动机，如果不是万不得已，驾驶时最好时速不要超过60公里，确保你的轮胎气压要够，驾驶时要用正确的档速，等等。
买一辆省油车
有些车是很耗油的，另一些耗油就少点。在你买车之前你调查过吗？大概来说，车越大，可能这辆车耗油就越大。
别在星期五给汽车加油
因为根据统计的数字，星期五这天最多人去给汽车加油，所以许多商家在这天会提高油价。因此，避免在这天去加油。
乘坐公共交通工具
这也许不可能总是最方便的出行方式，但是在大多数情况下，你可以节省很多的钱，并且这样做有利于保护环境。这同样是一个可以放松，读报纸，和听音乐的好机会，而不用把精力集中于道路上。
你个人在节省油费开支方面做了什么呢？你正在计划你出差的路线，或者是你正在使用快递服务吗？请让我们在评论中相互了解。
-Melanie