Running out of gas probably isn’t the best way to pinch pennies

I find myself longing for a day I once lamented. The day was March 5, 2008, when I posted a picture on my blog of the gas prices at a local gas station. I was complaining because I paid $3.25 for a gallon of gas. My how I miss those days.

Now that gas prices are right at the $4 mark, I find I never fill up my gas tank. I just pump in$12 and then make it last as long as possible. Luckily I can afford to put more in, but it’s the principle of the matter. When I bought my VW in college, it only cost $14 to fill her up. I find I drive less when I know I’m almost out of gas.

Stretching my $12 worth offuel has almost led to my car puttering out of gas a couple times already. Merging onto Raleigh’s Capital Boulevard is never fun when you think you’re about to run out of fuel.

Looks like I’m not the only one stretching my fuel as far as it will go. I found out today that the amount of North Carolina residents running out of gas on the highway soared 43 percent during the first five months of 2008 compared to the same time last year, according to a news release the Allstate Motor Club sent out today. The release goes on to say that NC residents called the motor club 179 times for fuel delivery between January and May 2008.

“We can’t directly correlate this rise in the number of people running out of gas to the rise in prices at the pump, but anecdotally we know that consumers are trying hard to stretch their dollar and sometimes that means stretching fuel into fumes,” said Allstate spokesman John Heid. “Drivers should remember running out of gas on the highway can be a lot more than an inconvenience; it can be hazardous.”

With higher fuel and food prices (CVS advertised a gallon of milk for $4.09 yesterday), I’m looking for ways to save my money. I imagine other Triangle-area residents are too. The TV Station I work for, NBC17, is seeking feedback from local folks about what they’re doing to save some extra money. People who offer particularly interesting or helpful tips may be featured in an upcoming news broadcast.

So if you’re doing something special to conserve gas, consider clicking here and posting a comment on my story about the upcoming series.

Or if you’re saving in other ways, take a look at this other article I wrote and consider sharing your money-saving tips with others. Your ideas could land you a spot on TV. And if being on TV isn’t your thing, then just think about the other people who may benefit from your ideas.

Meanwhile, do you think I’m crazy for only pumping $12 into my car? How much are you pumping in when you fuel up?