Watching the oil spill in the gulf, I can only believe that gas prices at the pump will increase. Even if you get gasoline at the lowest possible price (because you read this blog regularly), you can save serious money if you eliminate all the “Junk in your Trunk”!
100 pounds of “stuff” or personal belongings in your trunk can add 2% to your gas mileage. Don’t be fooled by the low percentages. Here is how you do it:
Empty the trunk. COMPLETELY. Look at all the “stuff” that was in there. (This is a great time to vacuum that sucker out, too).
Some things you may need to keep; spare tire, jack, some rags, small box with spare oil, and possibly some antifreeze. Of course, this can go if you depend on triple A for road service. There is not that much you can do on modern cars besides checking the dipstick and adding some fluid.
Old clothes (which may now be rags), handbags, 4 sets of windshield wipers that you are saving “just in case”, things you can’t identify, things which don’t need to be in the trunk (“I was wondering where that was”) should be handed off to Goodwill or unceremoniously trashed. Feel free to be ruthless. Make a pile and don’t’ go back – toss it out. Flashlights with leaky batteries, old books, newspapers, etc., all have to go!
An empty trunk is thing of marvelous potential. It can be used to transport new purchases from garage sales, actually hold luggage, and provide safe haven for those items that your significant other does not yet need to see (like unplanned purchases or birthday presents).
So make some time. Spring cleaning works at home and on the road. Save money at the pump, and go green by hauling less Junk in your trunk!