Best Gas Mileage - They Laughed When I Said One Day Cars Would Run On Water... Guess Who's Laughing

This article shows how I was thoroughly laughed at by my friends when I told them cars would run on water... but guess who's laughing now.

Many years ago I remarked to my friends during one of our chatting sessions- "One day cars will run on water". I can still remember how they all laughed at me as if I was crazy. Among them was someone who knew so much about the mechanics of a car and how it works. He was the one that laughed the loudest and took time to explain to us, especially me, how it wasn't possible for cars to EVER run on water, even 30% water.

I wish I could see his face right now while demonstrating the water car technology to him. For the rest of my friends who were there that day that I still contact, they are so filled with shame for ever laughing at me that day.

If you know anyone that has also doubted the workability of the water car technology, tell them that not only is it now workable but anyone can make it work from the comfort of their home.

That's right. The water car technology can be made workable by just about anyone, who has access to the right information and the right devices needed.

How exactly this water car technology works?

This water car technology is the use of simple technology of putting together of home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline.

To get started, learn more about how this works and how you too can do it yourself on your car. With the power of the Internet you can find this information for free. When you arm yourself with this information you will be amazed at how easy it can be to make this water car technology work for you.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - You Can Help Save Thousands Of US Soldiers In Iraq!

No matter what argument the USA government has put forward on why they had to do the Iraq war, it's obvious that OIL is one of the reasons for the war. And because of this war in Iraq, US soldiers continue to die on a daily basis. And no matter how much you hate and scuff at the US government for the war, they didn't have much choice.

The people of USA need the oil and the government has to get it for them at ANY cost. Even at the cost of its soldiers' lives. But do you know what is tragic?

It's the fact that such deaths from such wars as the Iraq war can be avoided! They can be avoided if we can reduce our dependence on oil. And we can reduce our dependence on oil by using alternative energy to power our vehicles and other such fuel consuming machines such as generators.

As incredible as this sounds, it's possible and even now a reality. we can do without all that oil that we consume on a daily basis, not only in the USA but all over the world.

The oil we consume in powering our cars and other vehicles can be reduced drastically... ... by powering our vehicles with WATER! Yes, you heard that right. We can now power our cars with water and by so doing reduce our dependence on oil.

The less we get dependent on oil, the less we would need to get involved in such wars as that in Iraq. And the less we get involved in such wars, the less our soldiers will die! So, yes, you too can get involved in helping to save the lives of US soldiers in Iraq by powering your car with water and helping to spread the word about it.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - Learn How To Save Gas Cost By Running Your Car or Truck On Water

This article looks at the claims of running your car on 100% water and tells you if it's really possible or not.

When you look closely at such 100% water driven technology, one ends up spending even more than using the usual fuel for powering vehicles.

So, the method I recommend for powering your car with water that will save you cost of fuel is to make your own low-cost hybrid car that will run on water and gas, thereby saving you huge costs you would have spent using only gas.

In other words - Hydrogen-On-Demand system where you run your car on Hydrogen WHEN you need it!

Note that I am not saying you should build a car from scratch that will run on water. Not at all. This instead is about constructing simple devices that will enable your car to run on water as well as gas. You don't have to alter your car make-up or get a new car. The technology can work with almost any car or truck.

In simple words, this technology involves putting together home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline.

By using such cars you effectively save money that would have been spent on fuel for your car. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870.

First things first... this isn't about running your car on 100% water. Of course there are information available about running your car on 100% water but I don't recommend them because they are not only complicated but seriously expensive and completely unpredictable.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology

Best Gas Mileage - 7 INCREDIBLE Advantages Of Water-Powered Car Technology For YOU

No doubts about it, it's now possible to power your car on water as well as gas, instead of 100% gas. Apart from the many advantages that this technology have on the planet, it also has many widespread advantages to many individuals around the world, including YOU.

Below are 7 of these incredible advantages of the water for gas to YOU:

1- Improves your gas mileage by up to 35%. This includes both city and highway driving conditions. Imagine how much money this would save you at the end of the month and at the end of the year. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870. More if you have more drivers.

2- Eliminates harmful exhaust emission that pollute the environment and contribute to global warming. Your engine will ADD oxygen to the environment instead of polluting it. How about doing something good to help the environment for a change?

3- Greatly enhance engine power and performance. The more gas you use on your car, the more the engine gets battered- thus reducing the performance. But by using water as an alternative, this enhances your engine power instead and improves performance.

4- Remove carbon deposits and prevent future carbon build up.

5- Reduce the operating temperature of the engine and waste heat into the environment.

6- You will notice a calmer, quieter and much smoother engine operation and smoother gearshifts. This is due to the effect water has on the combustion cycle inside your engine.

7- Enjoy a longer life expectancy of your engine, especially the pistons, rings and valves.

These are just some of the many advantages of water for gas technology to YOU. Remember, even YOU can build the device needed to make this technology work for YOU, from the comfort of your home.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology.

Best Gas Mileage - Learn How To Get IRS Refunds Using Water Powered Car

First, in case you don't previously know that it's possible to power your car with water, this is to inform you that not only is it possible but you can actually make your car to run on water from the comfort of your home.

Yes, you heard that right. You can put it all together yourself, with the right guide and the right devices.

The beauty of water powered car, apart from the fact that you can put it together yourself and apart from the fact that it helps you in saving the costs of fuel, is that you can actually get IRS refunds for doing so.

By using such water powered car you are driving a "green" car and thus helping our National economy by reducing the costs that the government spends on pollution, hospitals, sick days.

And most importantly, you help to reduce our national debt for imported oil, not to mention the painful price of economic dependability on oil.

Since 2005 the IRS could not afford to continue ignoring alternative fuel anymore, and started giving considerable rewards for "green" cars, "green" fuels and "green" upgrades.

You can get back up to $2,000 for a car, or up to $50,000 for a truck. Specifically, below is the word for word text out of the new IRS code:

"Deduction limit. The maximum deduction you can claim for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property with respect to any motor vehicle is one of the following.

1. $50,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds or for a bus with a seating capacity of at least 20 adults (excluding the driver).

2. $5,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds.

3. $2,000 for a vehicle not included in (1) or (2)."

But of course you must provide receipts that show your costs in installing and setting up your water powered car.

If you are thinking that it will cost you a fortune to set up water powered cars, think again. With the right information you would only need to spend very little money to install the device in your car that will make it run on water and gas, thereby reducing the consumption of gas.

You can start by using Google or any of the search engines to search for information on how to make your own water powered car using simple home-made devices.

Are you Thinking of making your own low-cost water powered car? Visit http://CarWater4G for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology.

Best Gas Mileage - How To Modify Your Car Cheaply To RUN ON WATER

THE PROBLEMS:

Foolish petrol prices, petrol battles, pollution and global climate change. You know what I'm referring to.

THE BAD NEWS:

One likely way out, that you may have heard of, is water automobiles. As distinct from water hybrids, water powered automobiles are yet to be rolled out of the assembly plants. You could get a minimum of 10 strategies of water powered automobiles to try out. Regrettably those designs are too costly to put together, are very knotty, and absolutely unpredictable.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Widespread development and experimentation by numerous back yard engineers has proven one method FEASIBLE. With this method you can run your traditional automobiles PARTIALLY ON WATER (that's a "Water Hybrid") with little or no modifications.

"¢ You should be able to increase your gas efficiency by as much as 59% (Toyota 99) or even 70% (Cadillac 99).

"¢ You could drastically cut down discharges and help reduce Global Warming.

"¢ You can improve efficient burning of fuel and consequently lessen wear and tear, engine clatter, high temperature in the engine, carbon deposits, etc.

You see, you have just hit upon a unique piece of information. As there is a small number of persons on the World Wide Web who will not sell you products, but rather when you become a member of a group or club, you will will gain knowledge of how to make these stuffs yourself at home. A number of them will even provide you a COMPLIMENTARY HYDROGEN BOOSTER SYSTEM, fully put together set to go into your vehicle, so you can authenticate its practicability and have a copy for replication. Again, this is a COMPLIMENTARY GIFT for you, for becoming a member and a researcher

You could make use of this mock system to switch nearly any vehicle into an trial, wholly functional WATER HYBRID in one slow day, with the aid of simple tools at home. Back in I knew nothing about automobiles, I had no garage and no special tools, yet I installed one un-aided within a quarter of an hour. This was in an era when all I had was half a page of instructions. Nowadays you can obtain complete informational products or ebooks, packed with guidelines and suggestions. There are also support groups to assist you with any mechanical, electrical or tuning trouble. These new groups have labored hard to make it SIMPLE FOR YOU. And it is the influence of the group that makes your path so much easier and smoother.

IT GETS EVEN BETTER:

You will also be skilled in how to become a home manufacturer of numerous models of hydrogen generating system. Again, basic skills and easy tools is all that is need to replicate these systems for your friends, family or clients. PAY NO ROYALTIES OR LICENSE FEE - you keep all the cash!

When you get into one of these exceptional clubs or groups, you can discover answers to your questions:

1. Is this really practical? How come it's so easy?

2. Why didn't anyone tell me about it before?

3. could water technology do for me?

4. Why should I become a member of a group/club?

So"¦you will start to realize why water hybrid (water car / watercar) secrets have been unknown until today.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - Is It Possible To Run Your Car On Water?

Congratulations! You have just found a way to own a water-to-energy converter for your car. Water4Gas is one of the most PRACTICAL free-energy devices, marked by extraordinary simplicity and effectiveness. You cannot get anything, anywhere near this good, for twice the price.

We offer devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery, to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also called Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and provides TONS of energy - while the end product is just WATER! Mobile Magazine says HHO provides the atomic power of Hydrogen, while maintaining the chemical stability of water.

DID YOU KNOW: Pound for pound HHO GAS IS 3 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN GASOLINE!!! HHO is a fast growing trend for boosting performance and MPG.

We took a 90-year-old suppressed technology,

We SIMPLIFIED it,

You can have affordable yet very effective devices, right now.

You have our permission to replicate all our devices - we'll even show you how!

Easy to install & maintain.

Good for carb/fuel injection, gas/diesel. Old/new cars, light trucks, boats, more.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - The Biggest Cause of Poor Fuel Economy!

There is an activity that is the single biggest gas robber. You must constantly battle this gas robber to prevent it from stealing your gas. Any time you drive your car you encounter this problem.

The greatest gas robbing problem is: allowing your car to run when your car is not moving. To state it more simply, allowing your car to idle. Idling is the greatest single factor in decreasing your fuel economy.

When your car is running and you are stopped you are getting zero miles per gallon. This is worth repeating. When your car is idling meaning the motor is running but you are not going anywhere, you are getting zero miles per gallon.

If you are on the freeway for 15 minutes and getting 20 miles per gallon, and all of a sudden traffic stops and you idle without moving for 15 minutes your average miles per gallon just dropped from 20 down to 10. The longer you idle, the worse your average fuel economy gets.

There are a number of factors that contribute to situations that cause you to waste gas idling. The biggest culprit is red lights. Every time you need to stop at a red light, you are forced to idle your car and consequently burn fuel at a rate of zero miles per gallon. I have to point out that I am by no means telling you not to stop at red lights. I am just acknowledging that it is a problem.

The next factor contributing to situations of excessive idling is rush hour. During rush hour, with the high volume of traffic on the road, you are forced to drive slower and stop more frequently. Consequently you are idling more than in non rush hour periods.

The red light problem becomes exaggerated during rush hour. Because there is higher traffic volume in the rush hour period, you have to spend more time at red lights. For example, you may be able to make it through a red light in one cycle during normal driving conditions, but that same red light may take two, three or even four cycles to get through in the rush hour period. Your idling time is thereby increased two, three or even four times.

This increased idling is robbing you of fuel economy, and lowering your average miles per gallon. Additionally there is one more major cause of increased idling time: the hated orange barrels. Road construction slows and stops traffic. This of course increases your idling time. Add rush hour to the mix and it exacerbates this problem producing even more traffic delays and more idling time.

How can you fight this excessive idling? The short answer is planning. You have to plan your driving trips to avoid as many idling situations as possible. I don't advocate not stopping at red lights but you can reduce your idling by planning your travel routes to minimize red lights. Avoid lights that you know have long wait cycles. Plan to avoid areas where you know there is construction. Avoid driving during rush hour if at all possible. Arrive earlier at work to avoid the heavy traffic or stay later at work. Try to stagger your work hours so your commute takes advantage of non rush hour times.

Minimizing the time you find yourself sitting in an idling car will help you maintain better fuel economy. Avoiding idle producing situations will go a long way towards achieving better fuel economy, thereby saving you money and saving you gas.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Best Gas Mileage - The Best Ways to Save Some Money by Saving on Gas

The price of gas is disgusting. I sometimes think that I spend more money on gas for my car than I do on food in a week. In some states, consumers have witnessed gasoline reach, and pass record price levels. The scary thing is there is no relief in sight but to manage our fuel economy and driving habits to squeeze the most out of each gallon of fuel.

What can we do about it? Well, we aren't left with much of a choice what we can do besides pay the price of gas or start walking. That's why it is so important to watch how we drive and perform regular maintenance on our cars to insure we are getting good fuel economy.

There are a few things we can do to keep our vehicles running in top shape and get the best mileage. Here are just a few tips that should give you a slight increase in miles per gallon individually but used together will really add up.

Warming up engines – Remember when your dad told you to always warm up your car so that all the engine parts are good to go instead of just starting the car and driving off? Well, it turns out dad was wrong on this one. Most mechanics recommend only about half a minute at tops to warm up a car.

Properly inflated tires – Tires that are not inflated to factory specifications causes drag to the rest of the car and in turn leads to poor gas mileage. It also increases wear and tire to the tire. Check with the owner's manual to find out what your vehicles proper Psi should be. You can even get away with over-inflating tires for even better miles per gallon, but check with a mechanic beforehand.

Too much weight – For some of us out there, our cars are our second home. We live out of our cars and therefore keep a second set of everyday basics in our car. All those extra pounds of "stuff" leads to extra weight which hurts your fuel economy. Make it a habit to clean out your car at least once a week of non-essential items.

Good motor oil – The oil used in a car's engine has one sole purpose and that is to reduce friction between all of its many moving parts and less friction means less gas being used. That's why it's important to always use the correct grade motor oil to reduce the risk of overheating and potential engine problems. It doesn't hurt with helping your car's fuel economy either.

Avoid unnecessary short trips – In order to use your car as little as possible, plan out any and all possible trips you'll be making for the day. You'll save gas by using the car for one long trip for the day instead of a lot of short back and forth trips since engines burn more fuel when they are cold and also results in more greenhouse emissions harmful to our environment.

Driving habits – Wild, stop and go driving can burn through a tank of gas faster than anything on this list. Poor driving or driving too fast practices lowers your car's gas mileage by up to a third. Some of the things you need to "steer" clear of is speeding, heavy braking, and rapid acceleration.

Air filters – Did you know that a clean, well-maintained air filter can save you gas by up to 15%? A dirty, worn-out filter lets dirt into the engine impacting the amount of fuel used.

For further stories like this be sure to check the countless cheap magazines available for purchase at Magsforless at They sell over 75 different magazine subscriptions with hundreds of other subjects to choose from.

Best Gas Mileage - How to Save Fuel with Synthetic Oils while helping the Environment!

Reduce Skyrocketing Gas Costs With AMSOIL Synthetic Oil...the Number One rated Synthetic Oil in the World!

Industry tests have shown improved fuel economy of 2 - 5% in vehicles using synthetic lubricants. Many AMSOIL customer testimonials tell of even greater savings. But there is another way to reduce oil usage. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are designed for extended drain intervals and reduce the amount of oil used by as much as 80%. Fewer oil changes means less oil used. "Keep America on the road with AMSOIL, the original synthetic motor oil.

"We can reduce the dependency on foreign oil by converting our vehicles to synthetic oils and lubricants. Amsoil is 100% American made and manufactured. Amsoil puts less waste back in the environment, and it saves gas. This is a WIN-WIN combination for America right now. Let's do our part to reduce our dependency on Middle Eastern Oil."

AMSOIL gives a 5% increase in fuel economy on average, and in some cases 20% and even more! Why use ordinary oils when our superior AMSOIL synthetic oils outperform all others? AMSOIL Synthetic Oil achieves superior lubrication, extends engine life by reducing friction and wear and creates more horsepower. As a home-based AMSOIL dealer, you can build a great repeat-order business.

WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY!

You love technology! Personal computers, hand helds, cell phones, and digital cameras. Your vehicle is state of the art engine technology. Then why are you using dinosaur squeezings to lubricate it? Petroleum oil is the way we lubricated the first cars in 1890. Synthetic oil is Jet Engine technology. Don't use 19th Century technology on your 21st Century vehicle. Welcome to the future, the future is now! Synthetic oil's time has arrived, don't get left in the past!

AMSOIL lubricants reduce friction in your engine, your transmission, and your gear boxes. When friction is reduced it takes less energy to turn the wheels of your vehicle, thus increased efficiency and increased fuel economy. Many customers report having to set down their idle on the fuel system because it was too high after switching to AMSOIL. Engines run higher RPM on the same fuel, reduced friction means better gas economy and better protection for your engine.

AMSOIL should save you enough per year in fuel savings to pay for all your vehicles lubrication needs.- If you get an average of 20 miles per gallon and travel 15,000 miles per year you use 750 gallons of gas per year. At the present cost of unleaded gas ($2.58) in my area, you'll spend $1935.00 per year on fuel. If you can get a 2 mile per gallon increase (10%), your gas usage will decrease to 682 gallons or $1759.00 per year. That's a savings of $176.00 per year! You can get your engine and transmission protected with AMSOIL for a lot less. Even just a one mile per gallon increase would save $93.00 per year, which is enough to switch over your engine to AMSOIL for the year plus you'll have $48 left over!

PREVENT BILLIONS OF QUARTS FROM BEING DUMPED

Most automobile manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals of 3,000 to 6,000 miles for petroleum motor oils. AMSOIL recommends up to a 35,000-mile oil change which is 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes. Just think about the savings on the environment if, for example, the 135 million cars (excluding trucks, buses and taxis) in the United States were equipped with AMSOIL motor oil. Assuming an average service-life of 100,000 miles and an oil capacity of 5 quarts each, 11.4 billion to 22.3 billion quarts of used oil will be generated during a regular service lifetime (with regular oil changes every 3,000 to 6,000 miles). If you put 22.3 billion quarts of used oil into 55-gallon barrels and loaded them onto semi-trucks, a line of trucks would stretch end-to-end from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. and back to Los Angeles.

AMSOIL SOLUTIONS

For nearly three decades, AMSOIL INC. has been recognized as the leader in synthetic lubrication technology. AMSOIL was the first to introduce a synthetic motor oil qualified by the American Petroleum Institute, the first to recommend 25,000-mile/1-year drain intervals, the first to recommend 35,000-mile/1-year drain intervals, and the first to implement a system for dramatically increasing drain intervals with oil analysis. Decades of research, laboratory analysis and millions of engine miles have kept AMSOIL the leader in automotive applications for synthetic lubrication. Although the results have paid off in maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste, they are not conclusive. AMSOIL is the leader in synthetics and with continued research, analysis and product development will remain the industry's leader.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

In 1983 AMSOIL created the TRI-GARD system. The life of a lubricant is dependent on the quality of oil and the filtration system's ability to keep it clean. The AMSOIL TRI-GARD system incorporates AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil, the AMSOIL Foam Air Filter, the AMSOIL By-Pass Filter and oil analysis to dramatically extend the oil change interval. Less oil changed means less oil disposal and less oil pollution. With regards to the environment, the AMSOIL TRI-GARD System is the most technologically sound, environmentally friendly motor oil program to reduce oil disposal.

OTHER ECOLOGICAL/ECONOMICAL BENEFITS OF AMSOIL

Reduces Emissions: Increases Engine Life

Each year nearly 600 million gallons of motor oil are burned and exit through the tailpipes of cars and trucks, creating emissions pollution. Petroleum oils volatilize (burn off) more readily than AMSOIL synthetic oils and create more emissions pollution.

The graph at the right (will be available soon) shows the results of five oils that underwent the NOACK Volatility Test. Of all the oils tested, AMSOIL shows dramatically less weight loss . . . less than half the weight loss of its closest counterpart. Some oils tested lost 20 percent of their weight. That means almost one fifth of the oil boils away and is released into the environment. For most cars, that's approximately a quart of oil being burned and expelled into nature.

The thicker oil left behind after volatization contributes to damaging deposits, sticky piston rings and oil blow-by, all of which cause reduced engine life, reduced fuel economy and increased air pollution.

"Each month, petroleum products emit the equivalent of an 'oil spill' into the Los Angeles Basin's air as massive as the 10-million-gallon spill from the Exxon Valdez, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District." (Truckers' News Magazine)

GREATER FUEL ECONOMY

The advanced lubricity (slipperiness) of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants has been proven to increase fuel economy by 2-5%. AMSOIL reduces friction and allows your engine to use its heat-energy more efficiently.

How Much Is a 5% Savings in Fuel? The average person drives slightly more than 10,000 miles each year. A 5% savings in fuel gives you more than $25 in savings a year (assuming you get 30 mpg, at $1.60 per gallon). And if you get 20 mpg a 5% savings in fuel gives you $39 in savings a year and you get better gas mileage!

Worldwide Vehicle Population: 1970: 245 million 1985: 520 million 2000: (est.): 800 million If, in the year 2000, these vehicles change oil 3 times each year and have 5 quart systems, 1 billion quarts of waste oil will be generated each month.

Harvey Vickery has knowledge of many things to help the environment as well as the best synthetic oils available today and recommends Amsoil Synthetic Oils. You can get Amsoil at wholesale online at

Harvey Vickery

Best Gas Mileage - Never Use Payday Loans

Should I Ever Use a Payday Loan Service?

In the past several years, payday loan stores have been popping up all over the country. With names like "Check Into Cash," "The Cash Store," and "EZ Money," they offer unsophisticated consumers the promise of quick, easy cash with few questions asked. But at what price?

The High Cost of easy money

Americans paid more than $6 billion in payday loan fees in 2005, and the number is likely to be much higher when the results for 2006 are tabulated. Payday lending is a big business, and it's also one of the fastest growing in the country. EZCorp, for example, was a lowly Texas-based pawnbroker just a few years ago. Thanks to expanding into the payday loans business in 2002, the company has more than quintupled its profits, and its stock had the best one-year price performance of any company traded on the major exchanges or NASDAQ, through June, 2006.

While buying EZCorp's stock a year ago would have been a wise financial decision, actually using the company's services has never been a good idea. The reason EZCorp and companies like it make so much money is because they rip off their customers, and this is hardly a matter of opinion. According to EZCorp's 2006 report for shareholders, the average payday loan has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 530 percent - and that's not a typo - that's highway robbery. So why would anyone ever use a payday loan service?

Target Market - The Unsophisticated and Credit Constrained Consumer

Most of the payday loan business's customers are people who are unsophisticated and / or have made bad decisions with their credit in the past. These are people with no savings and no credit, who live check-to-check. They don't realize that when they agree to pay a $40 fee for a $200, two-week loan, they are paying an astronomical annual interest rate. Or in some cases, they just don't care - they feel that they have no other options.

A disturbingly large percentage of people use payday loan services in order to avoid incurring NSF (non-sufficient funds) charges with their banks. People living check-to-check, with no access to conventional credit, can be devastated by unexpected expenses. Imagine a single mother who needs to write a $200 check to get her car fixed in order to get to work the next day, but she doesn't have the $200 in her bank account. She writes the check and then immediately goes to the payday loan store, where she can usually borrow the $200 with nothing beyond verification of her employment with a recent check stub. In this case, the single mom may actually be making a wise choice - since NSF fees are said to have an APR of 665 percent, and bank overdraft fees are even higher, at 1,160 percent APR. Clearly, the system is stacked against those who need the most help.

The Cycle of Indentured Servitude - And How To Avoid It

In the worst cases, people end up working all week in order to pay back their payday loan, and then have to take out another payday loan in order to make ends meet. Thus, the cycle continues, and these unfortunate people are relegated to the modern equivalent of indentured servitude.

The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to always maintain adequate lines of credit. In the above example, if the person could have simply charged the $200 repair bill on her Visa or Mastercard, all would have been well. Using a credit card to automatically pay for your regularly occurring charges, such as your phone and cable bills, is a good way to avoid NSF or bank overdraft fees, as well.

If you find yourself in trouble, be sure to always pay the minimum due on your credit cards - make this a priority second only to survival. If you default on your credit cards, you may have a very difficult time getting credit again in the future. Avoid the mistakes of the payday loan consumer, and of course, avoid the payday loan stores. Your money should be applied for your own benefit, not to the bottom line of unethical companies that make profits for their shareholders by exploiting the poor.

Take Care,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - Gas Prices Going Back Up

I'm sure that very few of you are surprised by this, but it looks like the price of gasoline is going up again. Thankfully, we have all enjoyed a few months where prices were staying stable and even dropping. But it looks like the winds of change are blowing again. According to CNN Money, prices have gone up an average of $0.065 in the last two weeks, and this will be just the beginning.

On the bright side, at the beginning of the year analysts assumed that prices would be much higher than they are now. While I don't think that prices are going to go up dramatically at this point, any increase will still take more out of your and my pocket each time we go to the pump. But don't worry too much about prices going up to $4.00 a gallon any time soon.

One of the reasons why prices are going up is because refineries will soon be switching over to the winter blend of gasoline. Some may have already started this process, and that could be affecting the current price of gasoline. While the refineries make this change the prices will likely go up for a short period until they get back to full production. The good news is that the winter blend of gasoline is overall cheaper than the summer blend, which is one reason why gas prices are generally cheaper in the winter.

With the constant fluctuation in gas prices, you should really consider using a fuel saving gas additive if you aren't already. Using a fuel additive can increase your miles per gallon, and reduce the overall cost you experience at the pump.

You should also consider doing other things to improve your gas mileage such as getting regular tune-ups to your car, checking your tire air pressure, and reducing unnecessary trips. Every little bit helps!

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner a FuelAdditiveS a site where you can buy a good fuel saving gas additive for your car or truck to save money on gas.

Best Gas Mileage - What the Heck is The Larry Rule ?

The Larry Rule - Is Applying for Store Credit Cards Bad for Your Credit?

Larry Lindsey is probably not a name that you know, but he is an important figure in the history of personal finance. Currently, Mr. Lindsey is President Bush's chief domestic economic advisor. Prior to that, he was a Federal Reserve Board Governor. But neither of these distinctions are what make Larry Lindsey significant. Instead, it was a little incident at Toys 'R Us that gave birth to "The Larry Rule."

The Larry Rule - What No Retail Clerk Will Ever Tell You

In 1996, Larry Lindsey was a Federal Reserve Board Governor. While it isn't known for sure, it's probably safe to assume that Mr. Lindsey was then, and is now, a millionaire. An even safer assumption is that he always paid his bills on time and should have had a top-notch credit score. After all, he was a member of the most prestigious financial committee in the world, and his personal credit history was undoubtedly vetted by politicians and regulators before he could be appointed to the Fed.

Despite all of this, Mr. Lindsey was denied a store credit card - at Toys 'R Us of all places. The reason? He lacked a sufficient credit score due to too many recent inquiries. You see, Larry Lindsey had been trying to prove a point. Whenever a retail clerk offered him an opportunity to apply for credit, he did so. He filled out the application correctly, even stating that he was a Fed Board Governor under "employment." He listed his six-figure income and all other pertinent data, and until Toys 'R Us came along, he had always been approved.

It wasn't that Mr. Lindsey actually wanted or needed all of these retail credit cards. His objective was to point out this flaw in the credit scoring system - applying for too many retail charge accounts can hurt your credit and prevent you from qualifying for real credit cards. Ask yourself, which is more important - the charge card at JCPenny that can only be used at JC Penny, or a real Visa or Mastercard that can be used at JCPenny and everywhere else, too?

To Apply or Not to Apply - That is the Question

On one level, the Larry Rule makes at least a little sense. After all, someone who is out there applying for credit all over town would seem to be in some form of financial distress. When the credit bureaus created their scoring criteria years ago, they didn't factor in pushy retail clerks who get bonuses for getting people to apply for cards they don't need. You do need a real credit card. Having two or three isn't a bad idea. But department store cards count as lines of credit on your credit report, and having too many of them can make you look like an unworthy applicant in the eyes of real credit card companies.

Armed with the knowledge that applying for and receiving retail store credit can be harmful to your credit, you should think twice before applying. First, ask yourself if you really want the store credit card, or are you just filling out the application so that the clerk will stop bugging you? If the store offers you a discount for applying, ask yourself if the money you'll save is worth the negative impact that the inquiry (or even being accepted) could have on your credit score.

If you actually do want the card or the discount is a real money-saver, then ask yourself this question: Will I need to apply for credit for something important, like a real credit card, a car, or a home loan, in the near future? If the answer is yes, then it is probably best to "just say no" to the retail application. You wouldn't want an inquiry from Toys 'R Us to inhibit your financial future.

We highly recommend that you research your credit card options before applying for a card. Then, choose the best one that is best for you, not one placed in front of you by a store clerk. In fact, you can search hundreds of cards right now at:

We recommend you browse this directory and pick our one or two solid cards that you plan on keeping for the long term. With this sound financial advice, you will be on track for a great credit future.

Regards,

James Marshall

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - Submitting Websites to Directories

Submitting your website to the various online directories is an important part of any Link Popularity campaign. While your traffic from many directories may be minor or irrelevant, relevant incoming links to your website will help in your overall search engine link popularity.

Paying for your directory submission can be a waste of money. You can get just as good a result from submitting to free directories. Personally, I wouldn't recommend you pay for what you can get free elsewhere.

The best directories to submit your site to are Search Engine Friendly directories (those that actually have your site URL listed at some point, rather than outlinks that are simply code). Some will ask for a reciprocal link, some will not. One list of non-reciprocal directories is at . Opinion at the moment is suggesting that non-reciprocal or one-way links are better, although any relevant link is useful. Directories that do not encode outgoing links will help your website's Search Engine Ranking.

Deep Linking can be worth linking to other pages on your site other than your main page. Before doing this, make sure that the directory you are submitting to permits you to both submit URLs other than your home page (some only allow top level submission), and for the same site to be submitted to different categories (not all directories permit what are essentially multiple submissions of the same website). This will work especially if you have online tools or directories (such as your links page) on your site that are useful and relevant to add to other directory categories. Choose the relevant directory category for your website. Most directories will have many categories you can submit your site to. Decide on the one that is most relevant, preferably a keyword that you are aiming for high search engine ranking in, and try to submit to the same or similar category in every directory, at least for your main page. This will increase the ranking of your site relating to the keyword chosen.

Submit to different categories as long as your website is relevant to those categories. This will increase the number of incoming links to your website. Writing the title for your website is very important. Try to include a keyword you are aiming for ranking in the title, but make the use of it appropriate. Describe your website in a way that will attract visitors. The length of your description will vary from directory to directory, but most will be under 250 characters. Some will allow up to 1,000 characters, and in those cases write the most comprehensive description of your site and its features that you can. It is a good idea to write several descriptions of different lengths, say from under 50 characters for a brief overview, to around 150 characters for a fuller description, up to 250 characters for a yet more comprehensive listing, and finally a full description as previously mentioned for over 250 characters. Keep your listing pertinent to your website, insert keywords where relevant and appropriate, but do not just submit a keyword listing, as most directories will reject your submission. Save all your descriptions in a text file, and just copy & paste into the descriptions boxes when needed rather than typing the same descriptions out again and again.

Again, as with the description mentioned above, the amount of keywords you can use will vary from directory to directory. Some will not give the option, some will allow you numbers of keywords, whilst others go by numbers of characters. Make a list of all relevant keywords for your site, from most important to least, and basically keep adding keywords until either you get to the bottom of your list (unlikely unless your list is really short) or you run out allowed characters/keywords. Check what keywords your competitors are going for if you need inspiration. This can often be done by viewing the source of a web page and checking the META tags. Again, save your keywords to a text file.

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Submit your website to a major search engine. Visit . Submit your website to search engines, Hype your Business, Promote your Website, Pimp-U ! When it comes to owning a website, traffic is the most important concern. Traffic means customers. Pimp-U offers search and link engine submission and website promotion services that will assist in driving traffic to your website.

Submit your best quality articles for massive exposure to the high-traffic

Best Gas Mileage - How Do Secured Credit Cards Work?

Secured Credit Cards - Pros, Cons, and What to Watch Out For

If you've been turned down for several credit cards, even with low credit limits, a secured credit card may be the right product for you.

In today's society, having a credit card is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. You need a credit card in order to rent a car, book a hotel room, or in the most extreme cases, to rent a movie from the local video store. People without credit cards are locked out of the e-commerce revolution, since a credit card is needed to buy online. Most people can qualify for a traditional credit card, even if it is with a low credit limit and high interest rate. But what about the people who've made serious mistakes in the past? Are they doomed?

The Advantages of a Secured Credit Card

While it's true that a debit card attached to your bank account can substitute for a credit card in most cases, the sad truth is that using a debit card doesn't utilize credit - and therefore, it can't help to improve your credit score. Since a debit card withdraws money from your checking or savings at the moment of purchase, there is no risk of you not paying, and because you're using your own money, you aren't showing future creditors that you can be trusted. In order to do that, you have to use other people's money.

A secured credit card falls somewhere in between. In order to set up an account, you have to place funds in a certificate of deposit (CD). Your credit card is then secured by this CD, meaning that if you seriously default on your credit card bills, the secured credit card company can recoup its money by taking the CD.

The good news is that your CD earns interest. If you established a $2,500 secured credit card account, and you always paid your bills in full and on time, you would actually make money with your credit card, excluding any annual fees. The bad news is that some secured credit card companies report to the credit bureaus that your card is secured. By doing so, it makes the account seem less valid than an unsecured account, since there is ultimately very little risk to the card issuer. Because of this, look for a secured credit card company that offers both secured and unsecured cards, and make sure that they will not report your account as being secured.

Make Sure That You're Secure Too

Since credit constrained consumers are the target market for secured credit cards, there are plenty of unethical companies that seek to take advantage of their desperation. Unless your secured credit card is through a reputable, national institution that you've heard of and know well, you should probably contact the Better Business Bureau to verify that the company doesn't have excessive complaints against it. Even the best companies, particularly larger ones, are sure to get a few complaints now and then, but if your company seems to have a slew of dissatisfied customers, look elsewhere. Thanks to the internet and web sites like this one, you have no shortage of options.

Remember, we've got a full range of cards for you to choose from right at our site:

Sincerely,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - How to Check Credit Reports

Credit Reports - What's On Them, and How to Check Yours

Businesses in the United States buy more than two billion credit reports every year. Since there are currently fewer than 300 million people in the country, this means that the average adult has his or her credit reports examined by someone about once every other month. And yet, only a small percentage of Americans have ever laid eyes on their own credit reports. Viewing your credit reports at least twice a year is a necessity in today's electronic age, and while it may not always be free, getting access to your credit reports is much easier and less expensive than it has been at almost any time in history.

What is a Credit Report?

There are three major credit bureaus in the United States. They are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These three companies are competitors, and therefore they don't share information with one another. As a result, your Equifax credit report may be significantly different from your Experian credit report, and your TransUnion report may be different still. Sometimes this is a good thing - if only one of the credit agencies reports a bad history, for example. But more often than not, it's a headache, since at least one of your credit reports is bound to have some incorrect, negative information on it.

What's On Your Credit Report?

Although each of the three credit agencies record slightly different information, the following is a basic list of what you'll find on each of your credit reports: Your name and your spouse's name. Where you live, where you work, and where you used to live (and used to work). Your social security number, phone number, and birth date. A list of your credit accounts and when you've paid your bills - on time, late, late by more than 30 days, late by more than 60 days, etc. How much total credit you have available. Whether and to whom you've made an application for credit in the past six months. Which companies have requested and obtained your credit report. And finally, dreaded "public records" - bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, court judgments, convictions, and tax liens.

How Long Does Information Stay On Your Credit Report?

Positive information stays on your credit report indefinitely, which is a good thing. Most negative information should be deleted after seven years, with the exception of certain types of bankruptcy, which can stay on your report for ten years. If one of your credit reports is missing positive information or contains negative information that's older than seven years, contact the appropriate credit bureau. Their website addresses are listed at the end of this article.

How To Obtain Copies of Your Credit Reports

Usually, you may have to pay for your credit reports. The fees that the credit bureaus can charge vary by state, but the maximum is $9.50. You can find out more information by visiting the individual sites of the three bureaus: and

So go ahead and do it now! Find out what your score is, it could make or break your financial future.

Sincerely,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - How Credit Works

In order to acquire and maintain access to credit, one must have a working understanding of how credit works - namely, how credit scores are established and tracked by the three major credit bureaus.

Inquiry Myths

As discussed in "The Larry Rule," people who repetitively apply for credit are viewed with suspicion by the credit agencies. However, there are some caveats to the Larry Rule. First, multiple inquiries for the same purpose - shopping for the best deal on a home loan, for example - count as just one inquiry. Secondly, it is never harmful for you to check your own credit report - only applications for credit (not mere inquiries) count against you. Third, and most importantly, inquiry data is only kept on file for six months. So in other words, the Larry Rule has a six month statute of limitations.

The exceptions to the Larry Rule outlined above are all good news for consumers. Unfortunately, not everything contained in this article is so pleasant. For example, you may believe that your permission must be given in order for someone to check your credit. Unfortunately, this is a myth, except where it applies to employers. A potential creditor, an insurance company, a landlord, or virtually anyone else can access your credit report without your permission.

Credit Repair Myths

Many people believe that paying off debts immediately improves their credit score. Unfortunately, this one of many credit repair myths. While a paid debt is marginally preferable to an unpaid liability, the truth is that missed payments and past delinquencies are still ugly marks on your credit report, and simply paying off an old debt may not improve your credit score by even one point.

The good news is that late payment and old delinquency information will disappear after seven years. But the idea that all negative information is wiped out after seven years is another credit repair myth. The truth is that Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your record for 10 years, and unpaid judgments can potentially remain on your credit report forever.

Another popular myth is that the act of closing your credit cards is good for your credit score. This myth is perhaps the most painful, as many people who close open accounts have difficulty opening new ones in the future. The truth is that open, active, and up-to-date accounts help your credit. Unused credit capacity (i.e. available credit) is a positive factor in determining your credit score.

Credit Counseling Myths

Credit counselors and debt management services have received a bad name over the years, and much of the negative publicity has been deserved. It is, for example, a myth that you can simply pay a company to "fix your credit." Any firm that claims to perform this hands-off service should be avoided.

But there are good, reputable credit counseling and debt management services who truly do help people. And despite the myth that using such a service inevitably hurts your credit, the truth is that many of these companies are able to reduce their clients' debts and maintain or improve their credit scores at the same time. When considering a credit counselor, look for firms that have these dual goals, not companies that focus solely lowering your liabilities.

Sincerely,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - What is Interest?

Unless you have a degree in finance, you probably don't know all that you need to know in order to be an informed, responsible credit card user. Now you don't need to be a finance expert to comprehend the basics covered in this article, but after reading it, you might feel like one the next time the subject comes up with your co-workers, friends, or family.

What is Interest?

If you borrow $5,000 from your grandma and promise to pay her back in six months, you might return $5,000 to her a year later. Grandma would probably be happy with that because she loves you. But if you wanted to borrow $5,000 from a bank, you know you would not get off the hook nearly as easily. The bank would almost definitely expect regular monthly payments, and would absolutely expect to be compensated in the form of interest. But compensated for what? So long as you pay back the money, why should the bank deserve any extra compensation?

Interest is first and foremost, compensation for what is known as "default risk." When you borrow money from the bank, there is a chance you won't pay it back. There's an even greater chance that you won't pay it back in full, or that the bank will spend time and money bugging you about late payments. If not for interest, it would only take one missed payment by one borrower for the bank to lose money. Therefore, the bank must charge interest in order to offset deadbeat debtors and make a little (or not so little) profit for itself. Otherwise, why be in business?

Secondly, interest is charged on loans because the use of money is "mutually exclusive." If the bank has only $5,000 in its vault, it can't lend $5,000 to you and to your sister. (Actually it can, but how banks are able to do this is well beyond the scope of this article). Imagine your friend wanted to borrow $50 from you, but if you lent the money to him, you wouldn't be able to take your girlfriend out to a fancy dinner. How much "compensation" would make lending him the money worth it to you? How much would you have to add in to cover his "default risk?"

A third reason that interest must be charged is inflation. If you borrowed $5,000 in 1966 and paid it back in full 40 years later, much of the value of the money would have evaporated. In order to replace the buying power that $5,000 had in 1966, you'd have to come up with more than $31,000 in 2006 dollars. Inflation is a constant fact of life in America (and around the world), so at the very least, interest must offset it. In recent times, inflation in the US has been hovering around 3 percent per year.

How Do Credit Card Companies Determine Interest Rates?

Credit card companies exist to make money, and they do this by charging interest and fees. In order to attract the most business possible, they offer different interest rates and fee schedules to different people. In business lingo, this is called "price discrimination," but don't bother contacting your lawyer - this form of discrimination is perfectly legal (if a bit unfair at times).

Credit card companies consider your default risk, the cost of lending (taking into account the mutual exclusivity of money use), and inflation expectations in determining the interest rate you will pay. Obviously, only default risk is unique to you, and it is determined by your credit history. The better your credit, the lower the interest rate you'll be offered.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Best Gas Mileage - Young Adult Credit

Credit Care for Teens and Young Adults

It's great when parents are willing to help out with their kids' futures, but make sure that you understand all of the implications before you help your kids build credit.

A credit card is a great way to start building credit as a teen or young adult, and many young people receive their first credit card from their parents. Before you hand your teen a credit card as they head off to the mall, think about whether it's helping (or possibly hurting) their future credit.

Authorized Users vs. Co-Applicants

Often, a teen's first introduction to credit is becoming an authorized user on a parent's credit card. This is an easy way to get a credit card, but it's not usually the best way. In almost every case, an authorized user does not build positive credit of their own, but if the primary cardholder goes into default, it can be reflected on the authorized user's credit report. In other words, your child does not stand to benefit from your good credit but could suffer if you fall into hard times.

Placing your child on your account as a co-applicant can have even more harmful consequences. If your credit card company requests a signature from the child, they are likely adding the child as a co-applicant. Think long an hard before you take that step. Being a co-applicant means that they are equally liable for any debts that you incur. If your child is an authorized user and you run up $25,000 in debt that you can't pay, your child could get an ugly stain on his or her credit. However, if you list your child as a co-applicant, the credit card company can expect them to pay back that money, and even take him or her to court!

Make sure you look at all the factors. Even if your credit is great and you have no intention of racking up debt, is there a possibility that a lost job, medical bills, or another disaster could change your circumstances? If there is virtually no chance of that happening, your child might be fine being a co-applicant or an authorized user. However, even if you won't hurt your child's credit, you won't help them much either. The best course of action is to get a card in the child's name tied to his or her social security number only. If you've been thinking of adding your child to one of your cards, call you credit card company and ask to open a separate account in your child's name instead. Since you already have an open account with the company, and are bringing them additional business, you will usually get a better rate for your kid than he or she could get on his/her own.

Why Start Early at All?

Even if he or she has to open a starter credit card offer with a high interest rate, it will still help your child's credit in the long run, as long as you teach him or her to act responsibly. The easiest way to help them build good credit is to have them use their card for one use, paying his cell phone bill or buying gas, and pay it off each month. When your kids get an early start on credit, they'll have a huge advantage over their peers. If you show them how to use their new card responsibly, the credit card company will reward them in the future with higher credit lines and lower rates, so they can gradually use their credit card for more "adult" things, like furniture for their first apartment or a post-graduation vacation.

Don't let common mistakes like adding your child as an authorized user or a co-applicant harm his or her future credit. Imagine what a shock it would be if she attempted to buy a car or pass a credit check for an apartment, and she found out that the credit card she'd been making payments to for years isn't on her credit report. And furthermore, imagine the phone call you'd get shortly after asking for a loan! Your kids' credit can have a negative financial impact on you as well, so start early! Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

James

Best Gas Mileage - Hughes Leaving Team Miletich

In what has been the biggest news story of the day, Matt Hughes posted a small blog on his website which stated that he and his brother Mark were going to open up their own gym. It was also reported on Sherdog's Savage Dog Show that Matt Hughes would also leave Pat Miletich's camp in Iowa, if true many wonder how this may affect his training for his fight against Matt Serra in December at UFC 79.

Here's the quote from Matt Hughes' Blog:

"Mark and I have been busy on the farm getting things ready for harvest. Also, I am going to open a gym in the Granite City area; but I will have more info on that later."

Also of note, it is also being reported that Robbie Lawler is going to team up with Matt Hughes on his new gym which would also mean that he's intending to leave the Miletich Fight System. We'll have more on this as we get it.

Tim Ngo is an Editor for 5thR

Best Gas Mileage - Ultimate Fighter Season 6 Cast

Today the official fighter list for Season Six of The Ultimate Fighter reality television show was released to the media today. As you know by now, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are going to be the coaches on this season with a fight in December at UFC 77 for the Welterweight Title on the line. There are some rumors going around about this season's show, but we can tell you from the preview that was seen at UFC 74 this past weekend that it looks like it's going to once again be the craziest seasons ever. Don't be surprised if some fighters are kicked out of the house for their antics.

Here's the list of fighters that'll be on this season's Ultimate Fighter courtesy of Dave Meltzer & The Los Angeles Times:

Matt Arroyo - The 24-year-old Arroyo is a former baseball player at the University of Tampa, who left the sport in favor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.He now teaches at the Gracie Academy in Tampa, and came in worried about not seeing his family for six weeks and not being able to go on MySpace. He has a 2-1 record.

Daniel Barrera - A farm boy from Rupert, Idaho, he wrestled in high school and boxed in the Air Force, once losing to gold medalist Andre Ward. He's 26, has a 1-0 record and currently works for the local fire department. He's working on getting a degree in criminology.

Blake Bowman - Bowman is friends with Cole Miller, from season five of the Ultimate Fighter. They met when Bowman was out of shape at 240 pounds in college. He has a psychology degree from West Georgia University. Now 70 pounds lighter, the 25-year-old has a 4-3 record.

Mac Danzig - The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native is the closest thing to a name fighter on the cast, with a 17-4-1 record and six years experience. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his fighting career.

Paul Georgieff - Originally from St. Paul, he first went to college at the University of Vermont, and debuted in MMA in 2002. The 24-year-old transferred to Wisconsin, where he's working on a masters degree in Structural Engineering. He's now 7-1, and considers wrestling as his weakness.

Richie Hightower - Hightower had a solid high school sports background including being Arizona state high school champion in the discus in 2000, as well as a football star. He went into mortgage brokering, and by the age of 21, he was 5-8, 265 pounds, and was suffering health problems. He gave up smoking and drinking, and began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with UFC fighter Eddie Sanchez. After dropping 95 pounds, the 25-year-old has a 7-1 record.

John Kolosci - The oldest fighter in the house at 32, he began training in 2002 and has an 8-4 record. He lives in Portage, Ind., and competed in three sports in high school.

Troy Mandaloniz - A native if Hilo, Hawaii, who grew up as a friend of B.J. Penn, he began training as a teenager. He moved to Las Vegas at the age of 21, working at the airport and as a bartender to pay the bills while training under Mark Laimon. Now 27, he has a 3-1 record. (Also is a referee for the Rumble on the Rock fights in Hawaii).

Billy Miles - A former high school and college wrestler, the 29-year-old Miles is a Youth Correctional Officer in Loomis, Calif. He was an Academic All-American at Sacramento State University and has a Masters Degree. He has a 2-1 record.

Roman Mitchyan - A former actor who is a native of Armenia, he trains with fellow Armenians Karo Parisyan and Manny Gamburyan. He grew up in Armenia, moved to Moscow, and then ended up in Los Angeles to pursue acting. Now 28, he has an 8-1 record.

Dorian Price - The 29-year-old got his Masters in Business Administration from Ohio State in 2005, and has an 8-2 MMA record.

Jared Rollins - A Carlson Gracie student starting at the age of 22 in 1999, J-Roc has a 9-3 record. He's a former football player at Chapman College.

Ben Saunders - A 24-year-old member of the American Top Team based in Orlando, Fla. He has been a UFC fan since it started in 1993. He has a 4-0-2 record.

Joe Scarola - A protege of Serra, the 28-year-old Scarola took up BJJ under Serra after graduating high school in 1997. He was Serra's first black belt in 2005, and now teaches at his gym. He has a 6-0 record.

George Sotiropoulis - A native of Australia who lives in San Diego, Sotiropoulis competed in Australian Rules Football, cricket and karate , he moved to the U.S. to achieve his goal to be an MMA fighter. He has a 7-2 record.

Tommy Speer - An all-state cornerback at Melville High School in Elgin, Minn., Speer went to nationals in wrestling as a senior. He made his pro debut in 2005 and has a 9-1 record. He lives on a dairy farm, hence his nickname, "Farm Boy."

Don't forget the season premiere is on September 19th, which is a Wednesday as Spike TV announced they were moving the show from Thursday night, to Wednesday nights.

Tim Ngo is an Editor for 5thR

Best Gas Mileage - College Student Credit

If you're a college student, chances are you've been offered more than a few credit cards. Maybe you have a friend who has already run up credit card bills on par with her student debt, and so you've steered clear of the credit card offers. Or maybe you're one of the few who have received their first credit cards and used them responsibly - so far, at least. Regardless, you probably don't realize just how important responsible use of your first credit card is to your financial future. It could have a significant impact on whether or not you'll be able to get financing for your first new car or house, and increasingly, it could even determine whether or not you get hired for your first professional job.

If you're not a college student, be sure to forward this message to anyone you know who is -- it's that important.

The Importance of Building Credit History

For many people, credit is a Catch-22: They can't get approved for credit because they don't have a credit history, but they can't build a credit history without first being approved for credit. Luckily for them, college students don't tend to have this problem. Credit card companies view them as low risk, at least compared to other young people with no credit, and so they're willing to give them a first chance. As a new cardholder, it's vitally important that you make good use of this first chance.

When you have a credit card, the issuing company reports information to each of the three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. This information includes the amount of credit you've been approved for, how much of that credit you are currently using, and most importantly, your payment history. All payments - both late and timely - show up on your credit report, and even one late payment can hurt you rather badly when you lack a solid credit history. This is why you should always, no matter what, pay at least the minimum due on each of your credit card bills. Always Try To Pay More Than The Minimum Due

While it's important to always pay at least the minimum due, you should never only pay this amount unless you are completely unable to pay more. In fact, it may not be a bad idea to pay the minimum immediately upon receiving your bill and then pay more later in the month when you have more money.

If you pay less than the total amount due, you will be charged interest on your next bill. Even though the credit card company holds you in higher esteem than one of your high school peers who didn't go on to college, they still regard you as a rather risky proposition - which means you'll probably be paying a very high interest rate. If you only pay the minimum due on a card with a high interest rate, it could take you several years to pay off even a modest amount of debt.

Take Advantage of Your Opportunities - But Use Your Credit Wisely

Believe it or not, it may be easier to get approved for credit while you're in college then after you get out - particularly if you don't start a professional job right away (or at all). The high interest rates you're asked to pay are just part of being a newcomer to the world of adult finance. But then again, if you always pay your credit card bills in full, interest rates will be irrelevant.

Regardless of all the cautionary tales, you should definitely open up at least one credit card account while in college to begin building a solid credit history. If you can show the credit card companies that you're responsible, you'll soon be paying much lower interest rates, and you'll be able to get that new car or house when the time is right. If you ignore or abuse your credit opportunities in college, it could be one of the worst mistakes of your life. You're an adult now - it's time to stand up, take responsibility, and enjoy your share of the American Dream. And it all begins with responsible use of credit!

To see our full listing of Student cards, simply visit: http://www.CC-Yes.com/categories/student_credit_cards

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit - Over the Limit

Imagine you had a credit card was a $500 limit, and in the run-up to Christmas, you nearly maxed out your card. Before taking that last shopping trip of the season, you went online to check your balance and saw that you had $19 of available credit. "No matter," you say to yourself, "I'll pay the balance in full when I get my Christmas bonus from the office." The only other charge you made was for a couple of mochachinos at the local coffee house, but two days later you were shocked to learn that you somehow went over your credit limit! Worse yet, your card company hit you with a $29 fee! The Mochachino That Broke the Camel's Back

This can happen a lot easier than you might expect. In the above example, you may have recently "paid at the pump." Oftentimes a gas station charges your card only $1 at the point-of-purchase and applies the remainder of the charge to your card later that day (or the next day). Let's say you had $17 in gas that you forgot about. That would reduce your available credit to $3 ($19 - $17 + $1 for the refunding of the temporary charge). Then when you bought two $2.50 drinks, you pushed your balance to $502, exceeding your credit limit by $2, and receiving a whopping $29 fine. It happens all the time.

The real question should be, "Why do credit card companies let this happen?" After all, couldn't they just reject your card at the coffeehouse? The gas station reserves the funds on your card even before it charges them, so shouldn't you not be able to buy the coffee and go over your credit limit? It depends. Some people would find this embarrassing fate more horrible than the $29 over-limit fee, particularly if the second coffee was for a romantic interest or client. But the reality is that credit card companies exist in the world to make money. There's nothing wrong with that, but you need to be aware of the fees and expenses associated with your card and do your best to avoid them. Tips for Avoiding Over-Limit Fees

1. Use a separate card for your gas purchases. Since "pay at the pump" can distort your true balance, it is wise to use one card exclusively for gas. This can be an actual gas card or just a regular card card that you designate as your own gas card. It might be okay to have some recurring charges (cable bill, subscription charges, etc.) also on the card, but don't use it to make "discretionary" purchases. If you have $200 of recurring charges on your card and you typically spend $80 a month on gas, this means you'll only need a card with a $300 limit. Then again, $500 would be better for a little cushion in case you spend more on gas - either because you take a trip or because gas prices to through the roof!

2. Check your balance on a daily basis. If you maximize the benefits of your credit cards by nearly maxing them out each month and then paying off the balance in full, then you need to spend a little more time making sure managing your cards. Check your balance online every day and look at the itemized charges. Sometimes charges don't show up right away, so be on the lookout for anything that's missing. And if you do use your card for gas, make sure you keep your gas receipts so you know how much you really spent when your statement still says "$1."

The Real Cost of Exceeding Your Limit

No one likes paying $29 extra for a couple of coffees, but the even greater cost of going over your credit limit is the damage it does to your credit. Many card companies begin charging you the maximum interest after just one overage - and not the card you went over on. An entirely unrelated company might also jack up your interest rate, even though you've always paid your bills on time with them, so do everything you can to avoid going over.

Credit cards are wonderful tools, but they come with serious responsibilities. You should be using a credit card to your advantage - whether that means getting an interest-free loan every month by paying your balance off in full, or just the simple security and satisfaction that having extra buying power at your fingertips can bring. But when you start paying $29 fees and higher interest, you are letting the powerful tool wield itself against you. Be a smart consumer, but also check the over-limit fees and practices of cards before you sign up for them. No one intends on exceeding their credit limit, but it does happen to most people, so be aware!

Sincerely,

James

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Repair and History

The Credit Repair Equation

Although credit cards may be what land the most people in credit trouble, they're also the best tool for credit repair. If you find yourself faced with mounting debts and worsening credit, the most important things you can do are always paying your minimum credit card bills, and not exceeding your card's credit limit. If you allow your card to be cancelled or "charged off," you will have a very hard time getting credit in the future, which will make it even more difficult to restore your credit rating.

Or, if it's too late and you've already had your cards cancelled or charged off, you should apply for a card from a company that specializes in servicing clients with not-so-good credit. Even if the card's interest rate is exorbitant and there's a costly annual fee, it's worth it to have an open, active credit account. Otherwise, how are you ever going to rebuild your credit?

Rebuilding + Revamping = Repairing

But rebuilding your credit through the timely payment of your new bills is only half of the credit repair equation. There's also the matter of the items that are already listed on your credit reports. If you can get an item deleted from one of your credit reports, then to that credit bureau and all who use it, it's as if it never happened - the instance of not-so-good credit will have been expunged from your record. Surprisingly, it's easier to have this done than you might think.

Obtain and Review Your Credit Reports

First, you need to obtain your credit reports from the three major credit agencies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This can be accomplished by visiting their web sites ( and transunion.com), and paying the necessary fee. If you've been denied for credit, insurance, or employment in the past 60 days, you are entitled to free credit reports. Send documentation of your denial along with your credit report requests.

Once you have your reports in hand, scan for inaccurate information - negative, of course. If some untrue positive information somehow made its way on to one or more of your reports, you are under no legal obligation to identify it as being false. It's probably best to turn a blind eye. But as for the negative information, photocopy your reports and use a highlighter to indicate what you would like to be changed. Send a letter explaining how the information is false and include any corroborating documents that support your claims.

Once you've dealt with the inaccurate information, it's time to move on to the things you only wish were inaccurate. It's important to note that any negative information (excluding a bankruptcy) that's older than seven years old should not appear on your credit report. You have every right to request its removal, and the credit agency must comply.

Set Realistic Goals - And Make Them Concrete

But next you need to decide what you would like to have removed, and how realistic your chances are of having it deleted. If you declared bankruptcy last year, or you have an unpaid judgment against you, there's not much of a chance you'll succeed. But if you got divorced four years ago and your husband stopped making the car payments, which ultimately resulted in a repossession on your credit record, you just might get it expunged.

Other, minor debts aren't as difficult to have removed. For example, if you owe a credit card company $1,100 for a canceled card, you may be able to get them to remove the information from your report if you pay them in full. Normally charges like this go unpaid or end up being settled for pennies on the dollar, so if you have the ability to pay your debts in full (or close to it), you may be able to get your creditor to send letters to the credit bureaus saying that it was all a big misunderstanding.

The key is to evaluate your credit report and decide what can realistically be accomplished. Give yourself three achievable goals and go from there. And in the meantime, make sure you don't repeat the mistakes of your past. Keep two or three credit cards open and active and pay the bills in full and on time. It won't happen overnight, but by following these guidelines, your credit will be rebuilt, revamped, and restored. The sooner you get started, the sooner the process will be complete.

Best of luck in your important journey,

James

P.S. Don't forget, having a solid, ongoing payment history with a card is your best way forward. Find yours now.

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Cards - Can You Live Without Them?

Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

In 2007, having a credit card is no longer a luxury or even a convenience - it's a necessity. You can't rent a car, check into a motel, or order online without a credit card. If you want a cell phone, you'll probably have to purchase prepaid minutes - at a premium - unless you have some plastic with your name on it. And without a credit card, you either have to carry around a lot of cash, make frequent trips to the bank, or hope that the stores you patronize will accept your personal checks.

Credit Cards Can Be Lifesavers in the Case of an Emergency

Worst of all, people who lack sufficient access to credit are the most likely to use payday loan services. Later in this series we will explore this subject in depth, but for now, just consider this: If a single mother is hit with a sudden, unexpected expense - say a car repair for $600 - what can she do if she doesn't have the money? She needs the car to get to work, and she doesn't know anyone who can afford to lend her the money out of friendship. So she decides to use the local payday loan shop and ends up paying a 530 percent APR (annual percentage rate) interest. If, instead, she had a credit card with at least $600 of available credit, she wouldn't have had to use the payday charlatans, and would have paid a much, much lower interest rate. Many people who use payday loan services, even once, fall into an inescapable spiral of debt, where they work all week to pay back their payday loans, and then have to take out new payday loans to meet their weekly expenses. People who use their credit cards responsibly never fall victim to this scenario.

Credit Cards Can Help With Budgeting

Credit cards help spendthrifts easily track their expenditures. One simple technique is to use one credit card to automatically pay your recurring monthly expenses (phone, cable, utilities, etc.), another to buy your groceries and gas, and a third for all other expenses (entertainment, eating out, etc.). When you get your bills each month you can compare how much you spent on your wants versus your needs and make adjustments as necessary.

Protections Offered by Credit Cards

Although the media likes to focus on the "epidemic" of identity theft, the truth is that using a credit card is much safer than using cash, a check, or virtually any other means of exchange. If you're carrying cash and your wallet is stolen, you'll never see a dime of your money. If a merchant cashes your check and refuses to grant you a refund, chances are, you're out of luck. But in either scenario, using a credit card would have offered you protection.

If, for example, your wallet full of credit cards is stolen, you will not be liable for any more than $50 of fraudulent charges, per card. This is the legal limit, but in reality, most card issuers don't even hold you liable for the first $50 - they just stick the merchants with the bill. And if a merchant refuses to give you a refund that you deserve, you can file a "chargeback," in which the credit card company will side with you 99 percent of the time. Paying in cash or with a check offers no such protections.

Your Credit Card - Don't Leave Home Without It

Credit cards are ideal for traveling abroad because they automatically convert to the local currency. This means you won't have to waste time with the money changer or carry around several foreign currencies, and of course, not carrying cash makes you much less susceptible to pick-pocketing.

The main thing to understand is that credit cards can be wonderful tools that greatly enhance our lives. All that we need to do is be informed, active, and responsible users of these powerful little pieces of plastic.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

www.CC-Y James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Bad Credit? Start Rebuilding

Bad Credit? Lose The Shame, Take Responsibility, and Begin Rebuilding

According to the research firm Sherbrooke and Associates, 43 percent of American households are "credit constrained." This is probably because they carry too much current debt, or they were forced into making poor choices with their credit in the past. With interest rates rising and the housing market cooling, the number of credit constrained households is likely to increase. If you find yourself in a such a situation, know that you're not alone.

Having excess debt and bad credit is a source of shame for many, and it has even been known to break up otherwise loving marriages. Many people who are credit-constrained feel there is no way out - particularly now that bankruptcy laws have been changed to make filing for bankruptcy more difficult for people with even average incomes. The truth, contrary to what most bankruptcy lawyers will tell you, is that bankruptcy is rarely the answer. You can dig yourself out of debt and repair your credit - all that it takes is commitment, discipline, and most of all, a new attitude.

Step #1 - Let Go Of Your Shame

Unless you fraudulently charged items that you had no intention of paying for, you need to let go of all shame related to your bad credit and debt. After all, the credit system is set up with the understanding that some people will be unable to pay their debts - that's why lenders are paid interest, to compensate them for risk. If you buy a corporate bond and the company goes under, nobody feels sorry for you, so don't let your creditors make you feel sorry for them. Just like buying a bond, your creditors took a financial risk by lending to you, and they didn't do it out of the kindness of their hearts - they did it to make money. So long as you had every reason to believe that you'd be able to pay for your debts, you have nothing to feel guilty about.

Letting go of your guilt and shame is not the same as abdicating all responsibility. To one degree or another, you are responsible for your situation. To another degree, externalities - things in the outside world - are responsible. Take responsibility for your actions, but do not let anyone make you feel guilty or they will wield that guilt as a weapon against you.

Step #2 - Contact Your Creditors

Once you've let go of your shame and have committed to taking responsibility, it will be much easier to face your creditors. Explain to them that you're over your head in debt, and while you want to honor your commitments, you would appreciate it if they would work with you to make doing so easier. Most of the time, your creditors will be more receptive than you would imagine - after all, they're used to people in your position ducking under a rock and ultimately sticking them with the bill.

Your creditors may offer to let you skip a payment or two in order to help you get back on your feet, or they might offer to lower your interest rates. If you still have your accounts open, they might offer to suspend your credit while you pay off the balance in principal only at regular monthly intervals. Finally, they may offer to settle your accounts at less than the full amount due if you pay in one lump sum.

Step #3 - Begin Rebuilding Your Credit

While restructuring your payment terms, by all means, stop abusing credit. You need to work out a budget that will prevent you from finding yourself in this situation again. If you still have credit cards that haven't been canceled, you should continue to use them - but make absolutely sure that you can pay for everything you've charged that month when the bill comes due. By doing this, you'll keep a credit account active, which is good for your credit.

Many of these negotiated payment plans will adversely affect your credit - particularly settling for less than the total amount due, which will be a black mark on your credit report for up to seven years. The fact is that negotiated settlements may still may be superior to falling deeper and deeper into debt, which could ultimately destroy your credit and lead to legal action being taken against you.

Once you're back on your feet, be sure not to repeat the same mistakes you made in the past, but don't swear off credit altogether, either. Just because you're in bad shape now doesn't mean that you always have to be. Open up a small credit account and pay your bills in full and on time, and in a matter of just a few short years, your credit can be just as good as anyone else's. The sooner you start rebuilding after a near credit meltdown, the sooner you'll be able to experience the security and peace of mind that the other 57 percent of Americans enjoy.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Why Credit Cards Are Good

Because credit is something that is so important, but also sometimes confusing, we are going to lay everything out for you, in simple terms.

We'll also show you how to get the credit you deserve, how to make the most of your credit, and ways to improve your overall credit rating, no matter where it is now.

For years, the conventional financial wisdom was "credit cards are bad." We were told that cutting up our credit cards was the only way to free ourselves from debt-ridden indentured servitude. People needed to "live within their means," and if credit cards were ever to be used, it should be "only in the case of an emergency."

This conventional "wisdom" turned out to be not only untrue, but hurtful to those who listened to it. The truth is that credit cards are our friends. They are our allies in building credit. How easy do you think it is it to qualify for a home loan when you've never even had a credit card? Responsible credit card usage shows potential lenders that you're able to manage your finances. What's more, an intelligent credit card user turns the interest game on its head, and actually uses his credit cards to give himself interest-free loans.

Use Your Credit Cards to earn money For You

In order to get the most out of your credit cards you need to use them, and use them frequently. If you have two cards with $500 limits, you might want to nearly max them out each month. Set one card up to pay your recurring monthly bills (cable, cell phone, auto insurance, etc.), and use the other one for gas and grocery purchases. If you have cards with much higher limits, say $5,000 or $10,000, then maxing them out each month probably isn't a good idea, but you should use your credit cards to the fullest extent possible - and you should pay them in full every month.

Say you have a $90 cable bill due on the 3rd, a $110 cell phone bill on the 12th, and $150 in auto insurance premiums due on the 15th of each month. You "pay at the pump" using your credit card on the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 26th, spending a total of $165. That's a total of $515. But here's the beauty - your credit card company sends your statement on the 1st, but doesn't require payment until the 15th. This means that the charges of $515, some of which date back to the third day of the previous month, aren't due until the 15th of the next month. Since interest is only charged on the unpaid portion of your monthly balance, this represents a month-and-a-half interest-free loan! If you have a $1,000 credit limit (or two $500 credit cards), you can continue charging on the card into the second month before ever paying for the first month's charges.

What's the big deal? Well imagine you had $1,000 sitting in a money market savings account yielding 5 percent. Your money would be earning interest for you. In essence, you would be earning money each time you used your credit card.

Balance Transfers - Another Way to Turn the Credit Card

Game on its Head

If you have a higher credit limit, credit cards can be used for the short-term financing of larger purchases. Say you had a $10,000 credit limit and you wanted to buy a new sofa for $2,500. The financing options at furniture stores are normally rip-offs, so why not finance the purchase yourself? You could have an interest-free loan for up to 45 days (maybe 60, depending on your credit card's "grace period"), during which time you could save the money to pay off the entire amount, or at least a portion. And the best thing about your mailbox being constantly flooded with credit card offers is that oftentimes you can transfer existing credit card balances to new cards with introductory interest rates of 0 percent!

For example, imagine you purchased a used car for $9,000 - completely on your credit card. Conventional wisdom would say this was a terribly foolish thing to do, but you know better. You have already been offered and approved for an additional card with a $10,000 credit limit, and an introductory interest rate of 0 percent for one full year. After making one payment on your existing card's balance, you transfer $8,500 to your new card, where you can pay it off in full with 12 payments of $708 - all principal, no interest. After that, you'll own the car, debt-free.

If the $708 was too much for you, you could pay less each month, of course. An even riskier, but potentially rewarding strategy would be to pay as little as possible on the new card, and then hope for another 0 percent introductory offer coming in the next year. There's nothing illegal or even unscrupulous about playing the credit card game this way - it only makes financial sense. Credit card companies exist to make money from your mistakes, but if you're a vigilant consumer, you can invert the game and make money for yourself! What's even better, if a bit strange, is that the credit card companies will find you all the more desirable. So the next time you read an article in which the financial guru tells you to tear up your credit cards, do yourself a favor and tear up the magazine instead.

Sincerely,

James

And remember, don't forget to visit our site for the best selection of cards on the Internet. No matter what your credit picture is like, we have the perfect card for you: James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

In 2007, having a credit card is no longer a luxury or even a convenience - it's a necessity. You can't rent a car, check into a motel, or order online without a credit card. If you want a cell phone, you'll probably have to purchase prepaid minutes - at a premium - unless you have some plastic with your name on it. And without a credit card, you either have to carry around a lot of cash, make frequent trips to the bank, or hope that the stores you patronize will accept your personal checks.

Credit Cards Can Be Lifesavers in the Case of an Emergency

Worst of all, people who lack sufficient access to credit are the most likely to use payday loan services. Later in this series we will explore this subject in depth, but for now, just consider this: If a single mother is hit with a sudden, unexpected expense - say a car repair for $600 - what can she do if she doesn't have the money? She needs the car to get to work, and she doesn't know anyone who can afford to lend her the money out of friendship. So she decides to use the local payday loan shop and ends up paying a 530 percent APR (annual percentage rate) interest. If, instead, she had a credit card with at least $600 of available credit, she wouldn't have had to use the payday charlatans, and would have paid a much, much lower interest rate. Many people who use payday loan services, even once, fall into an inescapable spiral of debt, where they work all week to pay back their payday loans, and then have to take out new payday loans to meet their weekly expenses. People who use their credit cards responsibly never fall victim to this scenario.

Credit Cards Can Help With Budgeting

Credit cards help spendthrifts easily track their expenditures. One simple technique is to use one credit card to automatically pay your recurring monthly expenses (phone, cable, utilities, etc.), another to buy your groceries and gas, and a third for all other expenses (entertainment, eating out, etc.). When you get your bills each month you can compare how much you spent on your wants versus your needs and make adjustments as necessary.

Protections Offered by Credit Cards

Although the media likes to focus on the "epidemic" of identity theft, the truth is that using a credit card is much safer than using cash, a check, or virtually any other means of exchange. If you're carrying cash and your wallet is stolen, you'll never see a dime of your money. If a merchant cashes your check and refuses to grant you a refund, chances are, you're out of luck. But in either scenario, using a credit card would have offered you protection.

If, for example, your wallet full of credit cards is stolen, you will not be liable for any more than $50 of fraudulent charges, per card. This is the legal limit, but in reality, most card issuers don't even hold you liable for the first $50 - they just stick the merchants with the bill. And if a merchant refuses to give you a refund that you deserve, you can file a "chargeback," in which the credit card company will side with you 99 percent of the time. Paying in cash or with a check offers no such protections.

Your Credit Card - Don't Leave Home Without It

Credit cards are ideal for traveling abroad because they automatically convert to the local currency. This means you won't have to waste time with the money changer or carry around several foreign currencies, and of course, not carrying cash makes you much less susceptible to pick-pocketing.

The main thing to understand is that credit cards can be wonderful tools that greatly enhance our lives. All that we need to do is be informed, active, and responsible users of these powerful little pieces of plastic.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

James

Best Gas Mileage - The Significance Of Scooter Gas Mileage?

Still Gassing Up for Less Mileage?

Still using your Cadillac for a 40 minute drive to office? Perhaps you are one of those who scrimp on better things in life just to stretch your gas money. You always have a long way off to payday, and still got to work next Monday. Are you not wondering why a lot of your co-workers are using scooters? Perhaps you need a little education on scooter gas mileage.

Scooters are the little bikes that zip past in blazing colors. They have small bodies but have amazing speed. What makes it remarkable is the ability of the little vehicle to run on a speed of 40 miles an hour on little gas. If you experiment riding the scooter to office, it will become apparent that you have been wasting too much money on the gas station.

Save More for Less

Putting around in a scooter will not have the Rainforest Action Network and the Global Exchange boycotting your birthday because you have splurged on gas on a little mean machine. With your little 49.7cc scooter, you can prove you have earned your scooter gas mileage certificate.

If you spend $50 a day for gas, for the daily commute from to home to office and back, and for some errands three blocks away, that is a sign of gas overspending. You would average $250 a week. With a scooter, you will spend less the amount and still have left-over gas for the weekend, barring of course some extracurricular activities.

Scooter gas mileage will average 20 miles per hour or 20-40 miles per tank. This will depend on the scooter model that can vary in tank capacity from 1 to 1.5 liters. For $5 a day you can commute to office on your scooter instead of $50 in your car. The big difference between the $50 and $5 gas budget is glaring.

Scooter gas mileage, if gas price is pegged at $3 per gallon, will give a mpg of 20 for an annual expense of $1500. A scooter is reported to run on 100 miles per gallon! The potentials in gas saving is the advantage of the compact bikes. It is not unusual that more and more Americans are turning towards scooters.

Getting Ready to Get a Scooter

Scooters retail for $1000 to more than $6,500, depending on the brand and model. The prohibitive price has driven buyers to Chinese scooters that give the same mpg and convenience at almost half the price. Scooters provide comfortable sitting while driving, and you can sit upright without hurting your back. Older people in their late forties can ride these scooters in comfort and enjoy more gas mileage on limited gas money.

If you are going to invest in this ride, verify the scooter gas mileage. Aside from this, check out the availability of spare parts and service centers of the scooter brand. Also inquire about the warranty, state regulations and requirements. This will help you decide on the approved scooter models.

Nothing beats scooter gas mileage. Love speed? Visit this site for fast gas scooters. If you need updates on spare parts for roketa scooters go to this site now.

Best Gas Mileage - Just What Are Thee Flexi-fuel Logos I Am Seeing On Brand New Cars

You may have well noticed logos on new cars and trucks of "Flexifuel" or "Flexi-fuel". You may have well wondered what this innovation is. Is something to increase fuel efficiency? Is it a means of being able to use regular gasoline instead of high premium test? The automobile industry has a well deserved record of relaunching and repackaging old products as new and simply applying chrome and simple modifications to previous models and technologies and selling them as new products and innovations.

Flexifuel is new. A Flexifuel vehicle is a flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or a dual-fuel vehicle. Flexi fuel vehicles may also be called flex-fuel as well. The Flexi fuel vehicles that you are seeing on American roads are designed to run on ethanol (a type of alcohol), gasoline or any mixture of both. Cars made previously to 1980 can not tolerate any ethanol at all. The ethanol played havoc with those cars rubber seals, aluminum and other components of those car models. Cars made after 1980 onwards could tolerate and run on gasohol – a 10 % mixture of ethanol mixed with 90 % ethanol.

What makes Flexfuel cars different is that they can run on gasoline or ethanol alcohol gasoline percentages up to 85 % ethanol. That combination of 85 % ethanol with alcohol is commercially sold and referred to as E85 fuel. No damage of any kind is done to cars certified with the Flexfuel certification when they run ethanol / gasoline combinations or straight gasoline. Further the owner can switch back and forth without skipping a beat. .

Flexi fuel cars have been used for a number of years in Brazil. Since the 1980's and the energy crisis Brazil built up a substantial ethanol industry in tandem with its sugar cane production. As a result of Flex-fuel automobiles Brazil has substantially reduced its dependence on costly foreign imported oil. In the United States we take foreign currency for granted. American dollars a standard in the world. Everyone wants American dollars. However I most of the world foreign currency is a country's most precious commodity. Without foreign currency – be it dollars , Japanese Yen or The European Union's Euro a county can not buy essential items to improve their economy and feed their people – whether it be factory tools , tractors, computers or the money to send their students abroad to learn new procedures to improve their society. As a result of Flexi-fuel gas / ethanol cars Brazil has reduced its dependency on foreign imported oil and saved much precious foreign currencies.

Motorists choose their type and grade of fuel depending on availability or cost or a combination of all the above. Gasoline can be used by Flex-fuel cars. So can 10 % Gasohol. . Ethanol / Gasoline fuels can be used all the way up to 85 % ethanol mixed with 15 % gasoline.

There are some disadvantages to Flex-fuel though. Because the Flexi-fuel engine has to be all things to all kinds of fuel the Flex-fuel vehicle may not be as fuel efficient as a regular gasoline single fuel engine. Secondly ethanol's higher volatility means that ethanol mixed with gasoline may actually increase smog which is not a good idea in large urban areas or in areas such as California which rely on a large amount of vehicles with much driving in an automobile culture.

However there are often tax advantages and credits both directly for using ethanol based fuels both for the motorist and the car manufactures in their fleets.

There are currently more than an estimated 4 million flexible-fuel vehicles currently being operated on American roads. Most of the owner's of these vehicles have no idea of the capabilities of their engines to accept ethanol based fuels. In the last number of years many cars had the term Flexi-fuel without even the dealer never mind car owners even knowing what the term meant. Less expensive ethanol based fuels are not readily available throughout America. Time and the price and availability of gasoline at the pump for American motorists will change their preferences for Ethanol and Flexi-fuel.

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Best Gas Mileage - If You Want To Save Gas, Take Care of Your Oil!

A car that runs at it's peak will produce the best fuel economy. Anything that interferes with peak engine performance will decrease fuel economy and cost you gas and money. That is the reason that proper oil maintenance of your engine is critical to maintaining good fuel economy.

A priority in your car maintenance needs to be scheduled oil changes. Changing the oil according to the car makers recommendations is essential to keeping your car at its peak and keeping your gas economy at its best.

Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, preventing metal-to-metal contact, minimizing friction and carrying away excess heat - all of which promote better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

The oil in your engine also removes metal shavings, dirt and other impurities which are then captured in the oil filter. Neglecting your cars oil can create other problems above and beyond the effects on fuel economy. Improper oil maintenance could lead to replacing the engine itself. Keeping a record of when you last had the oil changed will ultimately help you save gas.

Following the manufacturers maintenance schedule for oil changes is very important. If the car maker says to change the oil every three months or every three thousand miles, do it. If your oil is not changed at the proper intervals it becomes saturated with the very impurities it is supposed to remove. Once saturated with these impurities the oil will be less efficient in doing its job. Engine performance will decline and so will your fuel economy.

Another factor in maintaining the best fuel economy is the proper grade of oil. Use the grade of oil recommended by your car maker. The efficiency of the engine can improve as much as 2 percent when using the correct grade of oil as opposed to using the wrong grade of oil. This becomes even more critical in cold weather.

Using the right grade of oil ensures that your car will run as smoothly as it should in all types of weather. Oil that is too heavy forces the engine to work harder to overcome the oil's resistance. If the engine works harder it uses more gas. You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil and not a higher grade.

As an illustration: using 10W-20 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage. Use only the oil recommended in the owner's manual for the best engine efficiency and the best fuel efficiency.

Many car owners neglect the proper routine of oil changes. Don't loose gas mileage and money by putting it off. Make sure your oil is changed at the correct time and make sure the right grade is used. This simple routine will help you control your gas costs.

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - How a Few Simple Checks Can Save Gas and Save Money

You may not know that your car may not be running as efficiently as it should. If your car is not running at its optimum then you are loosing fuel economy and money. If you invest just a few minutes a month you can prevent that loss.

Many problems with your car can be corrected or identified with some simple things you can do on a regular basis. Not only will you be saving gas by keeping your car running at its optimum, you may also be heading off costly repair bills.

Even more importantly you will insure that your car is as safe as it can be. You can prevent problems that could lead to critical failures that might result in an accidents causing injury.

Generally it is suggested that most maintenance should be left to the professionals. But once each month you can do the following to identify problems that can cost you money and gas down the road: (excuse the pun!)

1. Check tire pressure and look for signs of uneven wear or embedded objects that can cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure whenever there is a sharp change in temperature.

2. Check for fluid leaks. Look around the car and especially under the car around the engine. If you see fluid then you should attempt to identify it. One way is by its color. Coolant is a bright yellowish green color, Transmission fluid is usually pink, Oil is black and brake fluids and power steering fluids are generally clear, with a slight tinge of brown . These fluids are all oily to the touch.

3. Check fluid levels, including engine oil, engine coolant level, transmission fluid and power steering fluid, according to the instructions in the owner's manual.

4. Check under the hood for cracked or leaking radiator hoses and cracked or split spark plug wires. Also check for loose clamps and check the battery for any visible signs of corrosion.

5. Check the brakes. Identifying brake problems can be done with this procedure. Find a flat and straight road that is traffic-free. Put your hands very lightly on the steering wheel. At a slow speed, put on the brakes gradually. If the car swerves to either to the right or to the left, it is an indication that your brakes need work. It could indicate uneven wear or that your brakes simply need adjustment. Don't wait, get this taken care of as soon as possible.

6. Use a similar test to check for problems with wheel alignment. On a straight, flat and traffic-free stretch of road, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel and drive at an even speed. If the vehicle pulls to one side, the wheels may be misaligned.

Following these few basic procedures monthly will keep your car running at its peak performance. If your car is running at its peak, it will save you fuel, save you dollars and will help to ensure your safety.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

This and other unique content lower gas costs articles are available with free reprint rights.

Best Gas Mileage - Tips and Tricks to maximize your purchase at the gas pumps

1. Buy your gasoline in the evening or morning

Gas becomes denser when the temperature is colder. Gas pumps measure the volume of the gas that you pump and do not measure the density. You are getting more gas per gallon when the gas is denser. A congressional committee has estimated that US consumers will pay 2.1 billion dollars more for gas this summer because of this density difference.

This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning temperatures, or in the colder evening hours, that you'll be getting better gas price economy. Filling up your gas tank later in the evening may also help you to avoid the rush of day hours and you will not waste gas idling while waiting for a pump to open up.

2. Avoid driving when your gas tank is close to empty

It is not a good idea to drive your car until the gas tank is almost empty. Loose dirt that may have built up in the gasoline tank over time will get sucked into the engine. This is bad for the engine and will cause a your fuel economy to get worse.

In fact, driving till empty can create a double whammy. Not only will you use more gas because your engine starts to run poorly, you can find yourself buying gas at a higher price. If you are at empty you will have to gas up at the first station you come across or risk running out of gas. That usually means paying a higher price than you should. The choice of where to gas up is taken away from you due to circumstance. You no longer have the option to find the station with the best prices.

Try to keep your gas level above the quarter tank mark if possible. Plan to buy gasoline when your tank is between one quarter and one half full.

3. Turn the nozzle

Try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees when you have finished filling up your gas tank . This will enable the gas in the nozzle to enter your tank. In some cases it could be as much as an entire half cup. This bonus, if left alone will provide the next customer with a bonus.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you'll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you would have otherwise left for the next motorist.

If you fill up once a week and you can squeeze an extra half cup out of the hose each time, that would be 52 half cups per year. That would equate to 1.625 gallons.

Just by turning the nozzle each time you fill up you will get 1.625 gallons of gas free. If you are a two car family you could realize over 3 gallons of "free" gas a year with just a flick of the wrist.

These are just some of many different things you can do to optimize your fuel economy and gasoline purchases. Just thinking about gasoline economy and some of the things you can do to effect it will start to make saving gas a habit.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

Best Gas Mileage - Chicago's Magnificent Mile

For anyone even a little familiar with Chicago, shopping brings to mind only two words: Magnificent Mile. The Magnificent Mile, though not a true mile, is a stretch of conveniently closely located boutiques, restaurants, first-rate fashion stores, and high rise malls.

For anyone with an appetite for designer labels, the Magnificent Mile is sure to satisfy. Chanel and Louis Vuitton offer delectable handbags, luggage, jewelry, and accessories. Continuing down the stretch Italian jeweler Bulgari and Tiffany & Co. are ready to outfit shoppers with sparkle and shine. Italian lingerie is sold at La Perla, a very expensive and trendy boutique. Giorgio Armani, the world's largest Polo Ralph Lauren, and Neiman Marcus are ready to dress all kinds of shoppers.

Two hip and more modern shops on the Magnificent Mile are pulling in the younger and trendier shoppers. The Virgin Megastore is located in the retail wing of the Chicago Mariott and offers huge stockpiles of CD's, books, videos, DVD's, and games. Kenneth Cole New York also offers contemporary footwear for both men and women along with men's sportswear and suits.

Families, and especially young girls, will have hours of fun at American Girl Place. The three story plaza attracts girls from all over the country. The complex offers tons of accessories, clothes, and toys for all of the historic characters in the American Girl line. Visitors can take in a stage show which brings the characters to life; visit the store's café which offers a perfect spot for an afternoon lunch or tea, and several other attractions to occupy hours of time.

Aside from individual stores, the Magnificent Mile is also home to several malls. Water Tower Place is Chicago's first, and is still the busiest, vertical mall. The seven floor mall, opened in 1975, contains about one hundred stores and a dozen different cafes and restaurants. Reportedly, Water Tower Place accounts for about half of all retail trade transactions along the Magnificent Mile. Talk about staying power!

900 North Michigan is the most upscale of the malls on the Magnificent Mile. The building is often called the Bloomingdale's building, based on the largest store in the complex. The mall houses about seventy stores, a few good restaurants, and a nice movie multiplex in the lowest level. 900 North Michigan is home to Chicago's Gucci store and MaxMara, the unbelievably expensive women's fashion house.

Chicago Place opened in 1991 and is slowly becoming a bigger part of the Magnificent Mile equation. The mall's largest and most prominent store is Saks Fifth Avenue, but the rest of the stores are not quite as upscale. Mall chains such as Ann Taylor and Home Element fill the rest of the complex, making it somewhat of a cross between the Water Tower Place and the upscale 900 North Michigan.

Westfield North Bridge is the newest complex addition to the Magnificent Mile and probably the most family friendly. The anchor of the mall is a four story Nordstrom and also includes the A/X Armani Exchange, Giorgio Armani's younger and more affordable line, and Tommy Bahama which sells upscale tropical wear. The entire third floor of Westfield North Bridge is devoted to children's shops. Kids can play and buy at The Lego Store, get leathered up at the Harley-Davidson children's store, and find hats made by a local designer at the Linda Campisano boutique.

Shopping means different things to all people but it will be difficult to find anyone who won't enjoy themselves spending an afternoon strolling down Michigan Avenue and Chicago's historic Magnificent Mile.

Sue Foley - Group Travel Coordinator

Student Travel

Bus Tours and Group Cruises

Best Gas Mileage - The Pro Side of the Argument on Whether Nitrogen Saves Gas

Does filling your tires with nitrogen save you gas? There is a large group of advocates who say yes. Here is why they say that.

A significant factor in poor fuel economy is under inflated tires. The EPA agency that monitors fuel usage has found that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by 3 percent. The EPA also estimates that 30% of the cars on the road have at least one tire under inflated.

It is estimated that drivers in the US aggregately loose more than 2 million gallons of gas every day due to under inflated tires. Decreased air pressure causes the tire to flatten which creates more surface area between the tire and the road. The greater surface area increases friction which causes the engine work harder.

When an engine needs to work harder it uses more gasoline. The more the tire is under inflated, the more tire surface meets the road, the more friction is generated and more gas is used.As the friction continues to increase it takes more and more power to roll that tire. More power means worse fuel economy. A tire that is properly inflated will roll more easily using less power and less gas.

This is where nitrogen comes into the picture. It has to do with the way tires loose air pressure. Why do tires loose air over time? It is a common characteristic of the kinds of materials that tires are made of.

Tires are made with permeable materials. That means that the small air molecules can escape from the tires over time. As the molecules of air escape the tire looses pressure. It is a natural occurrence for all tires. That is why it is suggested that you should check your tires once a month.

The pro nitrogen camp suggests that tires inflated with nitrogen loose pressure 3 times slower than tires with air in them. This is explained by basic science. Nitrogen has a higher density than oxygen. Because of that, nitrogen has larger molecules than oxygen. The larger molecules of nitrogen will not filter through the permeable material in the tire as easily as the smaller oxygen molecules. . That results in a slower loss of tire pressure over time.

Your tires will maintain themselves at close to the full pressure longer with the nitrogen because the pressure loss is so much slower. The result is properly inflated tires, with less friction, and less gasoline needed to move your car.

That is how nitrogen helps you get better fuel economy. The cost of filling your tires with nitrogen is around $10.00 per tire. Is it worth it? Those who advocate nitrogen say absolutely it is. However there are those that don't agree. Before you run off and spend $40.00 getting your tires filled with nitrogen it might make sense to hear from the other camp.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Click here to get your own unique version of this article.

Best Gas Mileage - The Truth About Nitrogen and Saving Gas

A popular idea, using nitrogen in order to save gas seems to be gaining supporters. It is used as a substitute for air when filling tires . Even retailers like Costco are now offering nitrogen fills. The cost of nitrogen is about $10 per tire. Is nitrogen worth the additional dollars? The answer is no!

Basic chemistry and physics supply the answer. First, take a deep breath, hold it for a second, now let it out. Did you know the air you just inhaled was 78% nitrogen? Certainly you could tell that when you inhaled, couldn't you. That is the biggest myth buster of all in considering nitrogen versus air. Nitrogen already composes 78% of air. Only 21% of air is oxygen.

A major claim made by nitrogen advocates is that nitrogen is a larger molecule and will permeate through the tire slower than oxygen. By slowing the seepage out of the tire, nitrogen will allow you to maintain the proper pressure in the tire longer.

The natural laws of physics don't support that contention. The rate of seepage of a gas through a porous membrane depends on it's mass and on it's size. Nitrogen and oxygen are almost the same size and nitrogen is slightly lighter than oxygen. If either gas is going to seep through the tire then the nitrogen would actually seep slightly faster than the oxygen.

Applying some common logic to this can illustrate why the nitrogen supposition is false. If oxygen did escape through a tire at higher rates than nitrogen, then as the oxygen escaped, the tire would be left with mostly nitrogen. Assuming this is what happens, then over time as oxygen has been lost there might be 91% nitrogen on the residual air in the tire instead of the original 78%.

Now in order to bring your tire back to the proper pressure, you top off your tires with a small amount of air. You have in effect added a small amount of air which is 78% nitrogen to the residual air in the tire which is 91% nitrogen. The end result is your tire is now filled with an air mixture with a very high concentration of nitrogen.

Continuing this train of thought, if the nitrogen does continue to behave the same way, the smaller amount of oxygen now in the tire escapes from the tire and the nitrogen that remains behind becomes even more concentrated. Maybe you now have 95% nitrogen in your tires. As you continually repeat this process many times, you continue to get higher and higher concentrations of nitrogen in your tires. Eventually you will end up with only nitrogen.

The question is, if eventually you would end up with nitrogen filled tires by just repeatedly filling them with air, why would you fill them with nitrogen to begin with and spend the more money? It just doesn't make sense.

This is just a plain logical example as to how false the nitrogen claims are. There of course are a myriad of specific scientific answers showing why the nitrogen claims are based on myths and not scientific facts. Each one would require a separate article in itself to explain. In the end it seems you are seeing the single law of behavior that seems to play itself over and over.

As is generally the case there are those who always take advantage of some problem to make a profit. Who gets the benefit of filling your tires with nitrogen? Non other than the manufacturers of the nitrogen producing equipment and the merchants who sell the nitrogen to the public. They make more money. Who ends up paying for those extra profits? That' right, it's you.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - Can Nitrogen Gas Save Fuel for Your Car?

There is a new strategy that everyone is talking about to save gas and money and more. Actually it is using one type of gas to save another type of gas. The gas you save is the liquid gas you fuel your car with. The gas you would use is nitrogen instead of air.

Racing cars have used this strategy for a long time. Airlines have used this same strategy on their jets and planes. Even large retailers are starting to offer it to their customers.

Alright already, what is this strategy? It is the new rage in truck and car tires. It is using nitrogen in your tires instead of air.

This new idea of inflating tires with nitrogen is becoming so popular that now Costco offers nitrogen fill ups for their customers as an option when they buy new tires. Why would you want to fill your tires with nitrogen? Why do race cars and jets use nitrogen? Is there something they know that we don't?

The claim is nitrogen offers a number of advantages over air. The first claim, nitrogen can keep your tires at the correct pressure longer than air can. The claim suggests that nitrogen loss from your tires is up to three times slower than air. (All tires loose pressure through air loss through the semi permeable surface of the tire). It is assumed that if your tires are at the correct inflation for longer periods, you will save fuel because under inflated tires produce increased road friction and this in turn decreases fuel economy.

The proponents of nitrogen also state that aside from the fuel saving benefits there are other benefits to using nitrogen. Nitrogen supposedly runs cooler than air. Therefore your tires will run cooler and there will be less expansion in the tire. That means that your tires will require less maintenance and may experience longer life.

The benefits of nitrogen are further enhanced by claims that there will be less internal corrosion of the rubber and the rim. Since air contains oxygen it starts to oxidize everything it comes in contact with. That means the tire rim will be oxidizing or rusting as soon as it is exposed to the air filling the tire. The tire itself also is oxidizing and eventually will break down.

Filling a tire with pure nitrogen means there is no oxygen in the tire. Therefore there is no oxidation occurring. The claimed result? Your tires will last longer and be safer.

Are these claims and benefits of using nitrogen true? Is nitrogen a wonder drug for your tires? It is certainly worth considering. There are many car experts who say that the benefits of nitrogen are limited and given the extra cost and hassle of filling up with nitrogen it is not a good investment. There is still much controversy and many questions as to whether nitrogen filled tires are the way to go.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - How Your Computer Can Help You Lower Your Gas Costs

There are several ways to reduce your overall expense of gas purchases even before you consider changing your driving habits or taking any actions on your car. The most rudimentary of these is to find the stations that have the lowest prices.

Sounds pretty obvious but for some reason when it comes to gas this elementary behavior is thwarted. If you were buying a camera you would shop around for the store with the lowest price. For some reason most of us were trained to treat gas differently. You probably buy gas where it is convenient regardless of price. The closest gas station to where you live is a likely place for your fill ups regardless of price.

When your gas gauge shows your tank is low and certainly when you think you might run out of gas you fill up at the very first station you find. In most cases this station will not have the best gas prices. This is one more instance where you may be buying gasoline at a higher price than you should.

A great way to find a station that has the lowest prices is to search the internet. There are a lot of websites that list local gas prices. They list the prices and the locations of the stations where they are found. Here are a few:

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FuelMeU

Searching for gas prices online is a great idea because you can look for the best gas prices without driving. You can find the best gas prices without burning gas to do it. This is important because burning gas to save money on gas is a self defeating strategy.

Studies done by the AAA indicate that it costs on average approximately 51.7 cents per mile to operate your car. So every three miles you drive to find a better price could be costing you $1.50.

That means that if you need to put 15 gallons into your car you have to save about 10 cents for every three miles you drive. If you can find low price gas by not driving around to find it, for every three miles in travel you have eliminated, you have gained 10 cents per gallon.

This is important to remember when doing your online research. If the gas stations with the lowest gas prices are 6 miles away from your usual fill up spot, you have to beat the price of your usual spot by 20 cents just to break even. That is why you need to utilize the information in a manner that saves money rather than costs money.

The smartest way to utilize the online pricing information, is to use it to plan your driving activities. If you need to pick up your dry cleaning and one of the lowest priced stations is next to the cleaners, you should plan on filling up at that station when you pick up your cleaning.

The internet is a great resource in your quest to lower your gas costs. If you can utilize the information garnered online along with proper planning of where and when you will fill up, then you should start to see considerable savings.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Click here to get your own unique version of this article.

Best Gas Mileage - Organize to Save Gas and Money

The two ways to save money buying gas is to pay less and use less. One of the best ways to use less gas, pay the best price and maximize savings is to plan ahead. organizing when and where you fill up will go a long way to reduce the amount of gas you use.

For starters if you can plan ahead you may be able to take advantage of special buys on other products when buying gas. Look for coupons in your area that offer deals on certain items, like convenience food. If you purchase your gas at a station that has a mini-mart type store attached then you can use your money-saving coupons at the same time you get your gas.

Although not specifically saving on your actual fuel purchase, by combining your fuel purchase with the items bought at the mini mart you can realize overall savings. By shopping and fueling up your car at the same place you will be saving gas by not making an extra trip. If the stations mini-mart also has a frequent shoppers plan you may also earn extra points or special purchases along the way.

The primary way to take advantage of advance planning to save on your fuel costs is to plan when and where to fill up. Do not wait until your gas gauge indicates you are on empty to fuel up your car. Plan ahead so you know where you are going to get your fuel. Save by buying regularly at a station that you have noted has a good price.

If you let your tank get too close to empty you may find that you are forced to buy gas at a higher priced station to avoid running out of gas. If you plan your purchase ahead it will allow you to take advantage of the lower priced stations.

Being alert while you drive can also help the planning and organizing of your gas purchases. As you are driving keep a look out for gas stations around your home or on roads you frequently travel and record the best prices and the locations in a notebook. It might even be easier and safer to use a digital voice recorder or the recorder on you cell phone for recording this information. However you decide to capture the information you will have created your own local database of best prices and locations to buy gas. In doing it this way you will have avoided using any additional gas.

Sometimes waiting to buy gas can save you money. If on a particular day you cannot find the price you were looking for, wait a day or two and you may still find your price. The price of gas is constantly changing. A few days could make a difference. Again if you plan to fill up well before your tank is close to empty you will have the flexibility to be able to wait till you find the right station with the right price.

A little advance planning can make a difference in your fuel costs. You may believe that the small things don't seem to add up to much savings. Many small things eventually add up to big things. If you always buy smart and drive smart you will see significant savings over time.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Click here to get your own unique version of this article.

Best Gas Mileage - Taras & Andriy Shevchenko and Chernobyl in Ukraine

Taras Shevchenko

Taras Shevchenko was in Kyiv on 25 February 1814. He was the son of Hryhoriy and Kateryna Hrushivsky-Shevchenko. He showed his intelligence by reading and writing at an early age, and he attended Imperial Academy of Arts School located in St. Petersburg. He studied art, music and literature. He did a lot of paintings and Karl Briullov discovered his talent and trained him even further. During his years of painting, he has received a lot of Silver Medals for his paintings. Later on, he became a well-known poet in Ukranian history. His most famous collection of poems was called Kobzar and it was created in 1840. His poems were mostly based on the stories of Cossacks and history of Ukraine. His view of art was mostly focused on nationalism of Ukranian people and culture.

In the beginning of the 1850's, he was sent to Novopetrovskoe fortress and banned from Ukrainian roots where he continued his art work secretly under strict Russian regime. One of his collections was called Zakhaliavni Knyzhechky. He remained the rest of his life in St. Petersbugh with the escort of national security. After the death of Tsar Nicholas, ruler of Russia, Taras Schevchenko was permitted in Ukraine but he soon after he died in March 10, 1861 and millions of Ukranians showed respect to his work after his death.

Brotherhood of Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Brotherhood of Sts. Cyril and Methodius consisted a group of religious people who were trying to adopt a Christian belief during their everyday lives. The people were wealthy and far- sighted who thought that the future would be hard for their people if there were no changed. They tried to keep the organization secret because of the strict ruling back at that time. One of their well-known members was Taras Shevchenko who was idealist and educated enough to give his support to this organization.

The organization leader was Mykola Kostamarov who was born in 1817, fought for freedom, independence and uniqueness of Ukranian nation. The Brotherhood of Sts. Cyril and Methodius wanted each Slavic state to have their own language, own culture and not dependent to one big regime. They wanted everyone to be equal and they did try to make a lot of reforms to get rid of the ruling strategy on their nation and they wanted to be unlike their neighbors such as Poland and Russia because of their willing for independence and freedom. They considered the city Kyiv as the center of their nation, and private organization. While they were trying to do their actions and reforms secretly, Taras Schevchenko's support had been realized and he had been sent to Siberia. The organization was a great work which influenced many Ukranians to gain their freedom after those years.

Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Shevchenko is probably the most well-known Ukranian through-out the world recently. He was born on September 29, 1976 in a city called Dvirkivschyna. He spent most of his life in the capital Kyiv. His talent was seen in a youth tournament and he was transferred to Dynamo Kyiv. In the age of 14, he participated in the Ian Rush Cup located in Wales and he became the goal scorer and many well-known clubs sent their scout teams to watch his games randomly. He started his professional football carreer with Dynamo Kyiv with the training of his formal trainer Valeri Lobanovsky. He soon become on of the most talented player of the team and he was invited to participate at the Ukrainian Olympic team. His career in Ukraine consisted of five Ukrainian Championships and three Ukrainian Cups which are a very big number for a short amount of time. His first participation in a very big tournament was in 1994 when he played a UEFA champions league game against Spartak in Moscow. He was only 18 at that time and being a player in a champion's league at the age of 18 should be appreciated for his courage and talent. He scored his first goal in an international game against the greatest team of Germany Bayern Munchen, at the age of 18.

In 1997, he scored a hat-trick, which means scoring 3 goals in a game, against the one of the greatest teams of Spain Barcelona. Dynamo Kyiv won the game 4-0 and after this game his talent was soon discovered by an Italy's one of the greatest teams A.C Milan in Milano. The team agreed to pay a young player around $26 million which is a huge amount for a very young player who only previously played in his country. He is currently the Ukrainian best national team scorer and he plays with Veronin in the national team as the strikers. In 1998, he becomes the top scorer in Champions league which is considered the toughest tournament in the world. In 2004, Andriy Shevchenko was chosen as the European Footballer of the Year and received the golden shoe. The living legend of football, Abedi Pelé, gave a speech in which he thought he was one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in 2004. Last summer, Russian petroleum millionaire Abramovich, president of Chelsea, offered his club 50 million Euros but the club refused to lose him. A.C. Milan and Italy President Silvio Berlusconi, have signed a contract with Shevchenko to keep him with A.C Milan until 2009. He can be considered as one of the best strikers in the world according to my observations.

26 April 1986 Chornobyl ( Chernobyl)

Chernobyl was an accident in 1986 which was the result of mismanagement and wrong design. Steam explosion resulted in %5 of the radiation to be spread to the atmosphere.

28 people soon died in four months after the explosion from radiation and/or thermal burns. Seven years after the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown in the United States, a much larger and major nuclear incident happened in Chernobyl in the former USSR on April 26, 1986. Although both of these incidents could be traced to human and design errors, to a large extent, there is a great difference between these two nuclear accidents. In the Three Mile Island incident there were no injuries or deaths involved. The problem was contained within the plant. No excessive amount of radioactive gases leaked out from the nuclear plant. Later investigations revealed that no contamination whatsoever of plants, animals, and the environment within the radius of the plant was in any way related to the nuclear accident. At Chernobyl, massive damage to plants, animals, and the environment within the radius of the power plant were affected. Thirty-one people died in the incident mainly from fires resulting from the reactivity power increase accident. Radioactive gases leaked out of the plant causing contamination and resulting from the evacuation of close to 135, 000 people. A one square mile of pine forest within the plant had to be buried as further preventive measure. There was even evidence of delayed health effects from people contaminated with the radioactive gases.

C. Ozcan - is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit Contractors and Construction in Istanbul for more information about Turkey architects contractors and construction companies in Istanbul, Turkey.

Best Gas Mileage - How Using a Fuel Additive Help Improve Your Gas Mileage

Summer is here and it looks like gas prices aren't going to permanently go down any time soon. There may be some dips and troughs here and there, but for the most part it looks like we're in for a summer of high gas prices.

Many consumers are searching for other ways to save on their overall fuel costs. There are many money saving tips that you can follow that have been show to increase your overall gas mileage. One that is often overlooked is using a fuel additive to increase your car's performance. But what types of fuel additives are available and what do they do?

First, please understand that when I talk about fuel additives I am not necessarily talking about other products like detergents and injection cleaners. Most fuel additives are put directly into the gas tank to increase your octane. Most will also have some other effects on your engine such as cleaning out carbon deposits which will also increase your overall gas mileage.

Some of the benefits of using a good fuel additive include the following

Increase gas milage

Decrease octane requirement (let's you get more out of lower octane gas)

Reduce carbon deposit build up in the engine

and usually more depending on the brand

As you can tell, there are a lot of benefits to using some type of fuel additive. Make sure that it's a product that's been on the market for awhile and has been proven to work by independent companies. It's one thing to have the manufacturer say that it works, but it's another thing entirely to have the backing of another company that is not associated with the maker. Don't just believe the hype of some products, get some good background to make sure you're using an effective product.

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner of FuelAdditiveS a site where you can buy DurAlt Fuel Additive. DurAlt has been proven to work by such companies as Ford, Total Fina Elf, Pfizer, and more.

Best Gas Mileage - Spend Less on Gas Without the Need to Change Your Driving!

There are a number of methods you can use to reduce your overall expense of gas purchases even before you consider changing your driving habits or taking any actions on your car. These strategies consist of smart buying and good management of your gas purchases.

The most basic and logical method is to shop for gas. Look for the lowest priced gasoline you can buy. Sounds so obvious it almost seems ridiculous that this article addresses that solution. But it's not ridiculous because gas is always looked at as something different. If you were shopping for an mp3 player or camera you would try to find the place with the best price. For some quirky reason we have learned to treat gasoline differently. Think about it, you most likely purchase fuel at stations where it is the most convenient rather than where the price is the lowest. You also find that you will fill up at any station you are near if you are running low on gas regardless of the price. That behavior is what needs to be unlearned.

As with any other item you want to save money on, you need to shop around for the lowest price for fuel. You must keep in mind though, that if you use 12 gallons of fuel to find the lowest priced station it will be counterproductive. The idea is to do the shopping consuming the least amount of gas doing it.

Shop around in your neighborhood for the lowest price gas that you can find but don't go too far out of your way. As soon as you start driving the meter starts running. Since the idea is to save money you would be working against yourself by driving around for too long.

The American Automobile Association has done studies that show the average cost to drive a car is about 51.7 cents per mile. That is based on data for cars so the numbers for SUVs and trucks are higher. At 51.7 cents per mile every three miles you drive to find the lowest price gas station could be costing you more than $1.50.

Therefore if you have a 15 gallon gas tank that you would completely fill , you would have to find a price lower than your neighborhood station by about 7 cents. Every two miles you drive after that you would need to save another 7 cents. You can see that after a relatively small distance it would not save you any money and could end up costing you money.

The best way to find the lowest price stations is to do so during your normal daily driving routine. If you do that you will not be using any extra gasoline. Have a small notebook with you or in your car. When you see gas stations that have good prices indicate the location in the notebook.

Later, after reviewing the information you have collected in your notebook, you can plan to stop at the station that has been noted by you to have the lowest prices. Then you can fill up at a location that you would normally be driving near in the course of your daily routine. That way you are not using any extra gas to find your bargain. The net result is spending less on gas!

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - How To Save on Gas Without Changing Your Driving Habits

There are a number of methods you can use to reduce your overall expense of gas purchases even before you consider changing your driving habits or taking any actions on your car. These strategies consist of smart buying and good management of your gas purchases.

One of the easiest and most basic methods is smart shopping for gas. If you were buying a camera you would shop around for the store with the lowest price. For some reason most of us were trained to treat gas differently. You probably buy gas where it is convenient regardless of price. That is what you need to change.

As with anything else you want to save money buying, you need to shop around for the lowest price. Of course you have to be careful keeping in mind that if you use 5 gallons of gasoline to find the lowest price it will be self defeating. The idea is to do the comparison shopping without consuming gas doing it.

If you shop around in your neighborhood for the lowest price fuel don't go too far out of your way. As soon as you start driving you are burning gas and that is the equivalent of having the taxi meter running.

The AAA has done studies that indicate that on average it costs approximately 51.7 cents per mile to operate your vehicle. That is the number for cars so if you drive an SUV or truck it is higher. At 51.7 cents per mile every two miles you drive to find a better deal could be costing you $1.00.

Therefore if you have a 15 gallon gas tank that you would completely fill , you would have to find a price lower than your neighborhood station by about 7 cents. Every two miles you drive after that you would need to save another 7 cents. You can see that after a relatively small distance it would not save you any money and could end up costing you money.

The best way to find the lowest price stations is to do so during your normal daily driving routine. If you do that you will not be using any extra gasoline. Have a small notebook with you or in your car. When you see gas stations that have good prices indicate the location in the notebook.

After reviewing the information on pricing and locations of gas stations collected in your notebook, you can decide to stop at a gas station that has been flagged in your notebook to have the lowest prices. Fill up at that station as you will be driving near it in the course of your daily route. You saved all the gas you would use driving around looking. Instead you are following your normal route and still able to take advantage of the best gas prices. The bottom line is you will spend less on gas!

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

Best Gas Mileage - An Unpleasant Surprise:Your Annual Cost of Gas

How much do you spend on gas over a 12 month period? If you know, you are unusual. As the price of gas increases so has your yearly gasoline cost. Gasoline has become one of the major components of your family budget. In order to maintain a proper family budget you really need to know how much you are spending for gas during the year. Most drivers are familiar with the amount of money it costs to fill the car but few can state with certainty the total spent per year.

It is not hard to calculate and only takes a couple of minutes. Being fairly easy to do, one would think that all drivers would determine their annual expense. But most don't. If they did they might understand the importance making some changes to lower that total.

Almost every day, we see the increases to the price of gas. $3.00, $3.19, $3.39 per gallon, even $3.49 and $3.59 per gallon are costs that we have seen this year. Not long ago $3.00 for a gallon of fuel seemed high. Now $3.00 looks like a bargain.

The American Automobile Association generally figures 15,000 miles as an average amount of miles per vehicle per year.They use that figure when they do cost calculations. If you on average travel 15,000 miles a year in a auto that has a fuel economy of 20 miles to the gallon, you will purchase somewhere in the neighborhood of 750 gallons of fuel per year. If the price is $3.00/gallon that means an expense of $2250.00 per year.

If you are a two car family averaging 15,000 miles per car you will use 1500 gallons of gas per year. 1500 gallons at $3.00 per gallon equals $4500.00 per year.

Of course if the price of gas is $3.49 per gallon the numbers are much higher. If you are a single car household driving 15,000 miles per year you will have an expense of over $2600.00 annually. If you are a two car household your yearly expense will be over $5200.00 per year. That is equal to $437.00 monthly. You could likely be spending more for gasoline than you spend on a monthly car payment.

Every time the price of fuel goes up at the pump by 10 cents, the yearly increase for your two car household is $150.00. When the price of fuel jumps 20 cents in a single day, understand that it will increase the cost to you by about $300.00 per year.

When you think about the annual cost of your gas it is very sobering. When you think about spending $5200.00 per year, you might want to serious look at ways to reduce that cost. When you realize that the 20 cent increase today will cost you $300.00 this year you might decide now is the time to do something about it.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - Don't Let Gas Prices Spoil Your Summer Travel - Tips to Save Gas

As gasoline prices continue to set records and you find yourself spending more and more money at the gas pump, the prospect of taking that driving vacation trip seems more expensive than ever. You can travel and not break your budget on gas.

The best fuel saving device is you the driver. Believe it or not you are in control of your gasoline usage. These tips and suggestions will allow you to lower your fuel costs while on that driving trip.

An easy thing to start with is to lighten your load. Get rid of all the extra things you have in your trunk. Take out that 60 pound bag of cat food you bought three weeks ago. Remove your surplus tool kit. Run that box of paper to the recycling center right now, instead of leaving it your car for another few weeks. 100 lbs of weight reduction from your vehicle will save you around 1 to 2 percent of your fuel usage. If you can reduce your load by 200 lbs then your savings is 2 to 4 percent. The lighter your car is the more fuel efficient it will be.

You already have scoped out the cheapest stations to purchase fuel at around your home. These stations will likely be lower priced than the fuel stations on your vacation route. So, fill up at one of these stations before you leave on your trip. You might even want to buy your fuel one day before you leave. For most people the actual travel day is rushed and hurried. You might run out of time to go to the station you planned on and might have to opt for fuel along your route. If you get your fuel one day before you leave, you can do it without worrying about deadlines and without rushing around.

Don't use luggage racks. If you need to pack your car for the trip try and get everything inside the car. The wind resistance created by using luggage racks will rob you of fuel. The resistance will increase on the highway.

On the turnpikes and freeways use your cruise control. The more you can maintain your vehicle at a constant speed, the more gasoline you will save. Your cruise control will do a much better job of keeping a fixed speed than you can maintain manually.

If you use these tips you can still take that driving vacation without breaking your budget on gas costs. Following these easy suggestions will go a long way to help you control your costs.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of industry insider information on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - Auto Makers and Gas Companies Profit When You Buy Premium Gas!

Vehicle manufacturers and oil companies love to make extra profits so they love it when they are able to persuade you to purchase premium fuel. They like it so much they continue to perpetuate inaccuracies about premium fuel. Inaccuracies such as premium fuel will provide better fuel economy. Inaccuracies such as high octane fuel can enhance your engine's performance. Actually these aren't inaccuracies they are complete myths.

Gasoline refiners and retailers like premium gas because it's a lot more profitable for them than regular gas. You pay 20 cents more for premium gas while the retailer only pays about 8 cents more for that same gallon. That means the retailer makes an extra 12 cents on every gallon of premium gas he sells.

The oil refineries make a few cents per gallon more on premium gasoline over what they make on regular when selling it to distributors. The small extra profit per gallon is multiplied by the tens of thousand of gallons of gas that refineries sell, and ends up adding thousands and thousands of dollars to their profit.

The gas refineries and retailers are not the only ones that make more money from premium gas. Auto makers use premium gas to add to their profits too. One way they do that is by creating a higher perceived value for their cars.

They use this type of thought pattern:if a car can only use premium gasoline it must have a more expensive engine and since it has a more expensive engine naturally the vehicle must cost more. By using that logic, auto manufacturers can convince you that you should be spending extra dollars on their car.

Another way that car manufacturers capitalize on premium gas is by using to their advantage the anti-knock properties of premium gasoline. They do this by designing engines to be specially tuned for premium gas. By doing that they can create "premium engines" that actually do get a little more horsepower out of premium gasoline then they do from regular gasoline.

Because these engines do have some horsepower advantage it enables the car manufacturers to advertise more horsepower for their "high octane engines". Higher horsepower equates to higher cost autos which equates to higher cost for you and more profit for the vehicle manufacturers.

The optimized for premium engines do perform with a small increase in horsepower running on premium gas. Most engineers and car experts seem to agree that you can use regular in a premium engine and you probably can't tell the difference.

Regular gasoline can be used in a "premium engine" without any noticeable difference. Premium gasoline does not enhance fuel economy. In the end it all comes down to this: By making you believe you need to use premium gasoline, the oil companies and auto makers are able to put more money in their pockets by taking more out of yours.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump. Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

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Best Gas Mileage - You Can Save Over $200 Per Year By Switching Grades of Gas!

Is higher octane gas worth the $208.00 increase in gas costs per year? Does the higher octane premium gas result in better mileage? Is better fuel economy attained by using premium gas? Does higher octane gas enable your car run better?

It will cost you $208.00 annually if you fill your car with premium gas instead of regular. The difference between regular fuel and premium fuel is about twenty cents per gallon. Therefore it will cost you $4.00 more per tank if you use premium gasoline instead of regular gasoline. This assumes you have a 20 gallon tank and you fill up about once per week.

Looking at the higher octane question of increased fuel economy, does it help? The bottom line answer is emphatically no!! High octane premium gas does not increase fuel economy one bit. The octane rating is a number that has nothing to do with how efficient it is in creating energy to run your engine.

The octane rating is a measurement of the proportion of isooctane to heptane in fuel. In non technical terms it is a rating that grades how much energy it takes to ignite that fuel. The rating has nothing to do with how much energy the gas puts out.It has absolutely nothing to do with fuel economy.

The next question, does premium gas make your car gain performance, does it run better? The answer is the same as the fuel economy answer, no!! It has been shown that there is no significant difference in the way your car runs if you use premium gasoline.

That said, I must throw in this one caveat, your car might perform with slightly more horsepower with premium than with regular but you would be hard pressed to notice the difference. Premium just allows car makers an extra advertising ploy.

Car manufacturers utilize this slight horsepower gain to market their cars claiming more horsepower by optimizing and designing their cars to take advantage of higher octane premium gasoline's anti-knock properties. Engineers and car experts agree that if you opt to use regular gasoline in your car designed for premium gasoline, the loss of horsepower is so small, you will not be able to detect any difference.

Will you harm your car or void your warranty if your car manufacturer recommends that you use high octane gas? Most automakers say using regular gas even when your owner's guide says to use premium gas won't void the warranty. Most automakers also say that using regular will not damage the engine.

Next time you go to fill up try regular instead of premium. You will immediately save $4.00. See how your car performs with the regular. If it runs fine and you don't hear any knocking continue to use regular. You could save $200.00 per year!

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump. Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

You can get a unique content version of this article.

Best Gas Mileage - How to Keep Your Tires Optimized to Save Gas and Money

To maintain the proper air pressure in your tires takes very little effort. By doing that simple chore, you can save 4% on your annual gas costs. It is estimated that a 4% savings equates to between $100 and $200 per year. Just follow the advice listed here and start saving.

The manufacturer recommended air pressure for the tires on your car can vary greatly from model to model. It can range anywhere from 20 pounds to 50 pounds per square inch. So how do you find the correct pressure for your tires?

The information that tells you the proper tire pressure for your car is listed on a information label. This label is located in a few standard places on your car. The label can be found on the interior of the glove compartment, trunk, or gas tank door or on the side of one of the car doors or on the post inside one of the car doors. If you cannot easily find the label, the owner's manual should include the correct information or tell you where the pressure label is located.

Many drivers have the mistaken idea that the numbers on the tire sidewall indicate the correct pressure. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The information on air pressure listed on the tire is the maximum tire pressure that can safely be used in that grade tire. It also indicates the highest pressure that should be used in order to load the maximum weight in the vehicle.

When you find the information listing the correct tire pressure, you need to physically measure air pressure in all four tires to guarantee they are inflated properly. There are a few steps involved in doing this correctly.

How to measure and correct tire pressure:

Step 1:

Make sure you have a tire pressure gauge. There are many kinds. You do not need an expensive one. A gauge with a dial is easier to read than the pop up kind.

Step 2:

Check the tire air pressure informational sticker or the car operating manual to determine the manufacturer suggested pressure for your tires. Once you have that information you can proceed with the actual measurement.

Step 3:

Tire air pressure should only gauged when the tires are cold. A tire that has been at rest at least 3 hours or a tire that has not been driven for more than 1 mile is considered a cold tire.

Step 4:

Press the pressure gauge onto the valve after removing the valve cap. Be sure the gauge is lined up with the valve properly and press hard so that the pressure gauge seals tightly on the valve. If you hear the whoosh of air escaping disengage the pressure meter from the valve and reseat it.You should not hear any air movement if you have the gauge properly seated. When it is seated correctly you can take the reading on the gauge.

Step 5:

If you find the pressure is low, add air to the tire until you get to the correct air pressure. If you find the tire is over inflated or you put too much air in the tire, you can lower the pressure by pushing on the metal stem at the center of the valve which will allow air to escape from the tire. Measure the air pressure again to make sure you have the correct level and adjust the air in or out again if needed. Repeat measuring and adding or purging air until the desired pressure is reached.

Step 6:

Follow this same procedure for the other three tires.

The standard recommendation that tire experts suggest is to check your tire pressure at least once per month. The tire pressure will change from day to day as air permeates from the tire over time. Heat and driving conditions can accelerate the rate that air pressure is lost. If you are able to check the pressure once each month you can be sure that the tires on your car will remain at the proper pressure all the time.

Follow this advice and you will have more money in your pocket every time you fill up. At the end of the year you will have saved $100 to $200 dollars. It's that easy!

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump. Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Click here to get your own unique version of this article from the lower gas costs Articles Submissions Service

Best Gas Mileage - Being Smart About Car Shopping

Whether you are 16 or 65, shopping for the right car can be a struggle. After all, it's a huge market! So let's get right down to the facts and get you well on your way to selecting your first or next car. For the average person, a car is a means of transportation not a collector's item or toy. Therefore, your car should be, at the very least, functional. So when you are in the process of looking for a car there are certain questions you should ask yourself:

1. What safety features would my ideal car have?

2. How many people will need to fit in my car?

3. Will I be moving any large objects with this vehicle?

4. How much money am I willing spend on this car?

5. What are my credit score and credit history?

6. How much money will I have to spend on insurance?

7. What gas- mileage to do I want?

8. Is this car reliable?

9. Is it presentable?

10. How do I know what cars are available on the market?

Safety is essential when you are on the road. Even if you are the best driver on the planet, you aren't immune car accidents. You could be driving down the highway when someone's tire blows out right in front of you, causing a car crash. Someone could pull out in front of you when you have the right of way and your car could end up totaled. I could keep listing incidents, but I think you get the picture: it's a dangerous world out there! From seat belts to airbags it is import to know how effective a car's safety equipment is, so before you buy it, check its crash test rating.

The type of vehicle you buy should correspond with your lifestyle. By type I don't mean make and model by any means. I am referring to whether you need and SUV, a van, a sedan, or a truck, as well as how many doors you need, the trunk space needed, and of course the interior space needed.

SUV's

• Tend to get poor gas mileage

• Have a dangerous tendency to roll over. (Initially this does not seem like such a big safety issue, after all, you're a good driver and wouldn't take that sharp turn at more than 20 miles an hour anyway. But let's imagine you are on the highway and the car in front of you stops on a dime. You know you are not going to be able to stop in time and so you swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle. At 65 to 75 miles an hour, how do you think an SUV would maneuver?)

Trucks

• Tend to get poor gas mileage.

•Can be used to move large objects.

• Tend to not seat a lot of people

Vans

• Tend to get good gas mileage.

• Have a low, well balanced frame so they maneuver well.

• Seat anywhere from 7 to 12

• Can be used to move large objects when back seats are removed or collapsed.

Sedans

• Tend to get good gas mileage.

• Are compact for those who don't have a lot of parking space.

• Have a low, well balanced frame so they maneuver well.

As my father used to say, "There are some people whose cars work for them, and there are other people who work for their cars." A car is a big purchase that will be taking a cut out of your budget indefinitely. Therefore it is important to make a budget and find a car that fits into it. The car you can afford will be limited by your income, but also by your credit if it is poor or undeveloped. However, credit can also be an asset especially if you know what your credit score is. Dealers and lenders can often be talked down to a lower price or percentage rate if you are confident in your ability to pay off the car and have the history to prove it. Another thing to keep in mind financially is that the higher the price of the car is, the higher the cost of the insurance will be, especially if you are an inexperienced driver.

To find your perfect car, you are going to have to do some research. It is important to think before you buy or else the hype of a car dealer could talk you into a car that doesn't meet all your need and maybe even make you pay too much for it. Therefore it is important to know what is available on the market and how much it is worth. This can be easily done on the in newspapers, at dealerships and on the internet. For me the internet is the easiest research tool, it is convenient because you can view cars and prices without even having to leave your home. I hope this has been a helpful article and of course, happy searching!

To read more tips from this author please visit:

Best Gas Mileage - Generic Gas Can you save you money and not harm your car!

As the price of gas continues to go up more consumers are thinking about using generic gas from gas stations that are not part of the international gas companies. The question in many drivers minds is, can I get the same quality of gas from ABC station as I can get from Shell or Exxon? Will the ABC gas be OK for my car?

The answer is yes the generic gas will work just fine. There is really not much difference between the generic gas and the more expensive branded gasoline except for additives that define a company brand. To understand how this can be you can take a quick look at how the gas refining system handles the gas it produces. This makes the generic versus brand argument easy to figure out.

In general fuel produced at refineries is what is called a generic product. In specific regions of the country gas has to meet certain environmental specifications. Because all gas in those regions gas depots are produced to the same specifications, gas refiners often share and exchange gasoline and store it in common tanks.

The gas that is made at one refinery is the same as any other refinery. They all produce what is known as generic gas. The chemicals that are added to the generic gas is what makes one company's gas different from another's. Each brand has it's particular recipe of additives.

Such blending or adding of these brand chemicals or additives typically takes place when the gasoline is being loaded into a tanker truck for further distribution. In other words all the brands are starting with essentially the same generic gas as their main component. So generic gas is basically the same as the branded gas.

Just to be safe, there have been studies to see if there is a difference between generic fuel and branded fuel. The latest research was a cooperative study was done by the Maryland State Comptroller's office and ABC News.

Scientists at the Fuel Testing Lab performed a myriad of tests on generic and branded gasoline. The gasoline was tested for many things including contaminants like excessive sediments or diesel that might have gotten mixed with the gas. The scientists put the fuel into a special test engine to make sure that the fuel was all 87 octane. The chemists at the lab even made sure that the fuel was properly formulated for the current season as mandated by regulations.

The good news for the consumer is generic and branded gas had nothing but minor differences. They found that by and large the gas was one and the same. The primary difference between competing brands of gasoline is the amount of detergent or additives the distributors add to it. Even then the differences are small.

Essentially gas is gas is gas. All fuel sold for your vehicle regardless if it is generic or branded will work just fine. The one big difference is really what you already knew, the non branded gas has the lower price.

$100 to $200 per year is the estimate that is used in gauging how much you can save by using generic gas. Go to the generic station the next time you fill up and save yourself some cash.

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump. Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Click here for other unique lower gas costs articles.

Best Gas Mileage - Summer Driving Tip:Checking Tire Pressure Can Save $200 in Gas!

One of the quickest ways to rob a car of efficient gas consumption is to neglect the tires. There are a number of different ways tires can affect your car's fuel saving performance. Making sure you are riding on properly inflated tires is probably the easiest way to save money on gas.

Energy Information Administration and EPA statistics support the fact that it is possible to save between $100.00 to $200.00 per year by maintaining properly inflated tires. Your individual savings will be unique based upon how many miles you drive and how much your tires may be under inflated.

There is at least one tire under inflated by more than twenty percent (20%) on approximately twenty-three per cent (23%) of cars based on information from the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency. That means that almost 1 in 4 cars has at least one under inflated tire. Besides lowering your fuel consumption, under inflated wheels can also lead to steering and braking problems. That makes under inflated tires a possible danger. Using a tire gauge is the only sure way to know if your tires are under inflated but a telltale sign of under inflated tires are loud squealing when coming to a stop or turning a corner even at slow speeds.

Driving a car with just one tire under inflated by (8 psi) or 20% can lower the car's fuel efficiency by 4%. In addition under inflation may reduce the life of the tire by more than 9000 miles. Tires are permeable. That means that air can and does pass through the tire walls. A tire could lose up to 2 pounds of pressure per month. This is more important in summer as more air permeates through the tire in hot weather as the pores in the tire material get larger in the heat.

When a tire is under inflated, the sides of a tire bend and flex too much. This builds up heat. As stated earlier heat can accelerate air loss in tires. So an under inflated tire will continue to lose air at an increasing rate.

Under inflation also causes the tire to increase rolling resistance which also increases fuel consumption. In addition under inflated tires can cause serious damage to the tire walls can lead to sudden tire failure.

Measure the air pressure in your vehicle's tires at least once a month in order o maintain proper tire inflation levels. When you do measure your tire pressure you need to do it when your tires are cold. "Cold" means that a car has not been driven more than 1 mile or has been stationary for at least three hours.

Keeping your tires at the proper inflation can save you between $100.00 and $200.00 per year in gas savings. In addition maintaining the correct tire pressure can prevent conditions that could cause serious accidents Keep a pressure gauge in your car and check the tires often.

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of automotive industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the gas pump. Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the Unique Articles Submissions Service

Best Gas Mileage - A High Performance Exhaust System - One Stop for Better Performance and Gas Mileage

A high performance exhaust system is one of the easiest and most cost effective modifications you can make to your car. Not only is a high performance exhaust system very effective and affordable, it is also fairy easy to install. These days, due to the rising cost of gas, the subject of gas mileage is on just about every driver's mind. A high performance exhaust system will help increase mileage too.

If it seems too good to be true that a single modification such as an exhaust system would give so many benefits, it is most definitely not. Even better is that so many of the benefits of a well designed performance exhaust system, such as better performance and gas mileage, are usually mutually exclusive. Not the case here, though. Why are so many advantages to be had by simply installing an exhaust system?

It all comes down to the compromises made by the auto manufacturers. They have to balance many things when designing a vehicle; cost, weight, noise, performance, gas mileage, and a myriad of other things such as supplier relationships. In short, they can't give you the best exhaust system available because it would raise the price of the vehicle too much. In addition, they have to abide by EPA noise restrictions and build a vehicle for the broadest number of car buyers. That alone requires compromise. The car, or any of its parts, simply can't be perfect in every respect, for every car buyer.

Once it's your car, on the other hand, you're free to make any improvements you see fit. If a nice, low rumble doesn't bother you, a performance exhaust could be just the answer you're looking for. Like may performance enhancing modifications, the quality of available systems run the gamut from truly pathetic to finely engineered works of automotive art. Where on the spectrum you want to be is determined by your requirements and budget.

Keep in mind that to properly design exhaust system requires specialized knowledge, equipment and experience. If the system is improperly designed, chances are it will make more noise, but no more power or gas mileage. In fact, due to the high level of factory engineered systems these days, you may even hurt your cars' performance with a poorly designed exhaust.

Because they are relatively inexpensive, offer decent performance gains, and is easy to install, most people opt for a system that comprises only the system from the rear of the catalytic converter to the exhaust tip. This is known as a "cat back" system. More performance can be had by installing a complete system from the exhaust manifold to the tip, however. You can even install a high performance catalytic converter to maximize performance and fuel economy.

There are some features you should look for when selecting an aftermarket exhaust system. The first is the type of material it's made of. Any of the better systems will be either coated steel or stainless steel. The standard stainless steel alloy for a high quality exhaust system is T-304, steel alloyed with about 10% nickel and 20% chromium for strength and corrosion resistance. You may also find exhaust components made from T-409 stainless. While this is a good material, it doesn't have the strength or corrosion resistance of T-304, so it will exhibit discoloration over time and won't last as long as a system fabricated from T-304. T-304 is harder to work with and more expensive to procure, so be prepared to pay a premium to buy a system made from it. As with many things in life, if you want high quality, be aware it costs more.

If you are after the finest quality exhaust system, you may find it's made from T-316L stainless. This has even lower carbon content than T-304, and is used extensively in marine exhaust products, due to its superior corrosion resistance. The absolute best stainless steel material for an exhaust system is T-321 stainless, steel alloyed with the wonder metal titanium. As you might expect, T-321 is extremely expensive, and fairly rare in street exhaust systems, although common in race units, such as IRL and F-1. You'll also find T-321 used in aircraft construction, where the margin for error is small indeed. If you're after a price no object exhaust system, you can have one custom fabricated from Inconel 625, a nickel alloy used in construction of the X-15 rocket research plane. No, unless you're driving a Ferrari, you probably can't afford it.

Another advantage of stainless steel as an exhaust material is that it conducts heat less readily than does mild steel. This serves as a thermal barrier, keeping exhaust heat inside the exhaust tubes. If you are investing in headers or exhaust manifolds made form stainless, the benefit of the lower thermal conductivity will be better exhaust velocity. The higher velocity will give better scavenging, so you'll get more complete exhaust flow out of your cylinders. This means more efficient engine operation, increased power and better gas mileage.

If you're not prepared to pony up for a stainless exhaust system, you can find fine products made from varieties of coated steel, such as aluminized steel or ceramic coated steel. These have some of the properties of stainless, such as corrosion resistance, or, in the case of ceramic coated products, low thermal conductivity.

The next thing to look for in a high performance exhaust is mandrel bending. Mandrel bending ensures the tubes are bent without reducing the diameter, and thus adding restriction. This restriction will hurt exhaust flow, power and efficiency. With mandrel bending, there is actually a piece of tooling (the mandrel) placed inside the tube as it is being bent to prevent the exhaust tube from being reduced in interior diameter. While the best method of forming bends in exhaust tubing, it is quite expensive, and most low priced systems don't use this method. The performance of the finished system will suffer, however. Some estimates are that for a system with 5 bends, mandrel bending reduces exhaust backpressure by about 30%.

A new high performance exhaust system is one of the fastest, most cost effective performance enhancements you can make to your vehicle. In addition, you'll reduce weight, save gas, increase longevity, make it look better, and oh, that sound!

Did you know a high performance exhaust system is one of the most popular aftermarket enhancements people make to their vehicles? It's true! Find out why so many people are enhancing their performance, sound and gas mileage with a high performance exhaust system at the high performance exhuast system guide.

Best Gas Mileage - Car Buying Guide

Considering purchasing a vehicle? S has a car buying guide to help you get the best deal!

First things first, unless you can just get an out of this world deal, don't buy new!! Consider what your needs are (as opposed to your wants). You may want an Escalade, but after you consider your budget and rising fuel costs, you may do wise to think minivan or sedan. You can usually do well buying a program car with around 20,000-30,000 miles. Shop around and compare, and do a lot of research on the types of vehicles you are considering. is a good place to do so. For instance, after comparing used sedans, I got a 1 year old large family sedan and saved over $10,000 on the model I was interested in by comparing dealerships. Not only that, but I got a really good warranty, and a vehicle that gets 26-30 miles-per-gallon. It is important not to let your emotions dictate which vehicle you purchase. If you fall in love with a car, you blow your chances of getting a great deal. Also remember, just because you have two kids doesn't mean you need an SUV. Unless it has a third row of seating, you get the same seating capacity as a sedan. Also, consider these tips as well:

1. Insurance: Insurance is higher on some models than others….research will help you get a ballpark figure.

2. Maintanance: You may love the look of those all-terrain 20″ tires, but how much will they cost to replace? How much will parts cost?

3. Taxes/Tags: The more your vehicle costs, the higher the tags or taxes.

Good luck on your shopping trip!

Sarah is a stay-at-home mom and devoted wife whose interests include music, writing, theology, learning, and spending time with family. She is a true southern belle hailing from the great state of Mississippi.

Best Gas Mileage - 2007 Nissan Altima Review – Style, Comfort, Value and Big-3 Crushing Economy

I've reviewed a lot of cars in my career, and there's always something to like about each of them, some more than others. I went in to the review of the Nissan Altima expecting a hum-drum, mid-sized, mid-range car, but it has more going for it than I expected. It's as comfortable as any Altima has been, more affordable than I remembered, and the damn thing gets 34mpg on the freeway, despite having enough space and comfort to satisfy all but the most eccentric of tastes.

First thing I noticed about the Nissan Altima was that they gave me a base model. It's pretty uncommon for a manufacturer to ask me to review a car that isn't totally trimmed out with all of the latest, greatest amenities, so it struck me a bit funny they'd do this. It was a bit odd, at first, but once I drove it I understood. Even without the leather, navigation and a bell & whistle assortment I can't know I'm missing, the car still managed to wow me. And how did it wow me? Well just read on and you'll find out, of course.

The styling of the Altima isn't the lumpy bar of soap it was in the 1990s, because that car was half-about hideous no matter how well you can manage to convince yourself otherwise. Those days are done and gone, and the new Altima looks fantastic. I don't care who you are, or what you're interested in, but this car is a stylish ride by any account.

It's about the size of the slightly more economical Nissan Sentra, but has a tighter, more solid feel. It's a narrow car, but still has the fifth seat in the back, so with the 60/40 fold-down seats, the interior space is appropriate without the car feeling too big.

The engine is a little bit louder than I'd have liked, but it's a 175hp four-banger with uncommonly good gas mileage (at 34mpg on the freeway, it's more economical than my mom's old 1986 Civic, despite being twice the size, twice the comfort, and frankly just about twice the everything. The standard dual exhaust helps out quite a bit, I'm sure, and though it isn't a runaway screamer, it's plenty quick enough. There is an optional 3.5 liter V6 if you want a racey ride, and I will recommend it for the fun-factor, but it's an economy versus acceleration debate, and one you're free to make on your own.

You'll still enjoy Nissan legendary quality, and my complaints were scant few at best. The double-security measure key system is smarter than you'd expect, even though the key plug is in a weird place. It takes a few days to get used to, and it's no big deal since it prohibits the possibility of hotwiring, theft and adds an extra ounce of curious coolness, but I'd say it's a tad of a matter of taste.

It all starts at $20,300, and for just $300 you simply have to opt for the ABS. If you've never had it, trust me, it's worth a hundred-times as much in peace of mind, especially in inclement weather, and once you've had it, you'll never go back. It won't up your resale, but not having it will just about kill your value.

For more articles by Brian White, please visit AboutS

Best Gas Mileage - Seven Simple Ways To Save Money On Gas

Looking for ways to save money on gas that won't require you to go out and spend more money just so you can save a few bucks at the pump.

If you have a perfectly good vehicle, then spending $25k on a new hybrid car just so you can save $10 when you fill up at the pump might not be such a good deal.

Also, if you're not the type that wants to install any of those "gas saving" devices in your car, then this list is for you.

Whether or not you have any mechanical skills, you can use these no brainier methods to start saving money on gas right now – even if you don't know how to change a tire.

1 – Get A Gas Card

Want a tip that will save you money every single time you fill up at the pump no matter what vehicle you drive? It's a gas card. Just about every major gas station offers their own brand of gas credit card that will allow you to save 3-5% on all your gas purchases at their gas stations. Forget about the branded gas cards and get one that will save you 5% on gas no matter where you fill up, like the Discover Open Road Card. Just remember, pay it off every month or it won't save you any money.

Saving 5% off every gallon of gas means that $3/gallon gas now costs only $2.85 and $4/gallon becomes $3.80. If you have a 25 gallon tank, you'd save $3.75 every time you filled up ($3/gallon gas).

A lot of people use a credit card when filling up at the pump anyway since it's easy and convenient. You may as well get a gas card so it's easy, convenient, and saving you money.

2 – Avoid Aggressive Driving

Hitting the gas hard when the light turns green and braking hard will make your car drink gas faster than a drunk at an open bar at a wedding. If you were to drive away from a stop at a more moderate pace, accelerate in traffic more slowly, and anticipate when you're going to need to brake ahead of time so you can do so slowly, you're going to save a lot of gas – up to 37% – about the same buying a hybrid car but this tip won't cost you anything. (oh yeah, it's safer too)

3 – Use Your Cruise Control

Personally, I won't buy a car if it doesn't have cruise control, since it means I don't have to worry so much about keeping my speed constant. However, cruise control also had the added benefit of saving you gas too. On average, you'll save about 7% more gas than if you don't use cruise control.

4 – Slow Down

Sure, going fast can be fun. It can also get you a nice collection of speeding tickets, but more importantly, the faster you drive the more gas you use. I'm not saying that you need to drive like your grandmother, but slowing down from 75 to 65 can you 12% on you gas bill, and unless you're driving across the country, the time difference in getting where you're going will be minimal.

5 – Stop Idling

Having the car running when it's not moving wastes gas.

I remember being taught when I was first learning to drive that you should let your car warm up for a few minutes before driving it anywhere when it's cold outside. While that may be true for older cars, modern cars don't need warm up time before being ready to drive. Don't drive like a maniac (see #2) before you car is completely warmed up and you'll be fine.

If you going to be sitting and waiting some place without moving for more than about a minute, turn off the engine. It probably goes without saying that if you can avoid rush hour traffic, you should.

Also, one great place to sit and waste gas is your local fast food drive-thru. Get off your lazy butt, get out of your car and go inside to get your food.

6 – Plan Ahead

Instead of driving to the gym, going home, driving to work, driving home, driving to the store, and then home again, start combining trips whenever possible. This is really easy to do if you just think ahead. Avoid just spontaneously hopping in the car and driving to the store to pick up some milk and eggs. Think about what else you can do if you're going to be out running errands anyway so that you can avoid another trip later.

5 You got legs – use'em

Really want to save money on gas? Then use your legs. A lot of trips aren't really that far, and while it takes a little longer to walk somewhere than to drive there, it's a good chance to get outside, get some fresh air and get some exercise in the process. It's really not necessary to drive absolutely everywhere unless you happen to live in the middle of nowhere. So get yourself a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and start walking instead of driving when you can.

Also, a bicycle is a nice compromise between the two, and can actually be faster to get some places than a car. I remember when I was in college and moved off campus – although we lived almost 2 miles from campus, it was a lot faster for me to take my bicycle to go to class than to take my car.

Want even more ways to save money on gas? Then go to the FuelSavingZ homepage and download my free report, 61 ways to save money on gas.

Best Gas Mileage - How Tires Affect Your Gas Mileage

Your tires – where the rubber meets the road.

And when it comes to saving money on gas, there's a lot of opportunity to get better milesge from your tires. Here are some tips for getting better mileage with your tires.

1 – Proper Inflation

It's been estimated that up to 50% of people are driving around on underinflated tires. While tires that don't have proper air pressure in them are unsafe, you will also lose 2% of your gas mileage for every 5 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure that you are below the manufacturers recommended pressure. The reason is that if your tire isn't inflated properly, there's going to be more tire touching the road, causing more friction, which reduces gas mileage.

How can you tell if your tires are underinflated? Well, if they look flat they probably are, but it's not always possible to tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. In fact, it's actually quite difficult. What you need is a tool called a tire pressure gauge that you can get from any auto parts store and even your local Walmart or Sears – they're not expensive. Also, some gas station hoses will have one of these tools built onto them so you can check your pressure when you fill up.

When you're filling up one tire, make sure you check the rest to make sure that all your tires are properly and evenly inflated.

2 – Type of Tire

Some tires have specialized purposes – like snow tires. Snow tires are really good at driving through snow, but they do so at the expense of gas mileage. If you put snow tires on for the winter, make sure you get them off in spring.

Also, using steel belted tires can help you improve your gas mileage by up to 10%.

And when you're buying tires, try to fine a tire that has a low rolling resistance.

Wide tires and studded tires will both significantly lower your gas mileage.

3 – Alignment & Balance

Make sure that your wheels are properly balanced and aligned. While this isn't really something you can do at home without specialized equipment, your local auto repair shop can easily do this for you. Keeping everything aligned and balanced means that your tires will roll as freely as possible, helping you consume less gas.

While there are a lot of things you can do to save money on gas, make sure you don't neglect looking at improving your tires since they're the only part of your vehicle that actually touches the road.

Gary Ruplinger is the owner of FuelSavingZ and the author of 61 Ways To Save Money On Gas - a free book filled with gas saving tips.

Best Gas Mileage - Why I Bought a Ford Escape Hybrid

Our business is providing wireless internet access to small towns and rural areas in West Central Illinois. Consequently, we need to carry tools, a ladder, a laptop, antennas, boxes of cable, and the equipment to be installed at a customers location. We had been using a Chevy Blazer for the last 4 years that had accumulated about 130,000 miles and was getting around 16 miles per gallon. We had never had any trouble with the Blazer but, with the accumulated miles, I was getting concerned it would start to have problems about the time the weather broke this year and we really got busy doing installations. Also, presently gas is about $2.75 a gallon here in Illinois and I believe it will just continue to trend upward in price.

So, with Hybrid in the back of my mind, I started to look around for a new vehicle. We had to have something to carry all that gear in so that eliminated anything like a Prius or Honda Civic and if you look at the Toyota Highlander price tag it is similar to buying a small house. Then I remembered we had once provided service to a Ford dealership in the area and I had heard something about a Hybrid vehicle they had. So I got online and found the Ford Escape. It looked like just what we needed as long as I could get it in four wheel drive. The dealer finally found one at a dealer about 350 miles away and they drove it over so we could try it out. We did and subsequently purchased a new Ford Escape Hybrid in January, 2007.

I think most people with four wheel drive vehicles really do not need four wheel drive for any real reason, but, I do. We live in the country and have a quarter mile private lane to the public road. In February we woke up to about 8 inches of snow on the ground and about 35 mile per hour winds. Our lane was drifted shut and the road was drifted shut. At about 9 in the morning our electricity went off.

Now no electricity is a major pain but we still had heat because we have a wood stove. Not so for my 83 year old mother-in-law who lives alone in another house about 1/2 mile across a field from our house. After about 2 hours of no electricity her house started to get cold. She has a propane fireplace but was afraid to try to light it. At first I thought I would walk over and light the fireplace and I actually did bundle up and start off across the field to her house. The wind was brutal out in the open and about a third of the way I noticed that most of the snow had blown off of the field and was probably up covering the road. So I went back and got in the Escape to drive over.

The Escape has an automatic four wheel drive system that engages the four wheel drive as needed. This was the first time I would actually put it to the test. Although most of the snow had blown off one side of the hill in the field the other side was waves of drifts but at least I had a run at it and made it over to my mother-in-laws house with no problem. Later in the day I drove through the field up to the road but decided not to try the road because all that snow that had come off the field was definitely on the road. Believe me it is quite possible to get a four wheel drive vehicle stuck because I have done it. The road grader cleared the roads and our lane later that day only to have the wind start blowing hard the next day from another direction and deposit another bunch of drifts across the lane. But the Escape four wheel drive handled it pretty well.

At first the mileage on the Escape was about 24.5 miles per gallon. Then I drove my daughter to the airport in St. Louis, a trip of about 250 miles after you run around and do some shopping and eating. Mileage on the trip was about 26.5 miles per gallon. The dealer had told me that the mileage would begin to climb after about 5000 miles. I am not sure why that is but now at about 4000 miles the mileage is up to about 28.5 miles per gallon. The mileage estimate on the car is about 31 miles per gallon. I think when I start to average 30 miles per gallon I will be delighted and feel like we have accomplished one reason for the purchase of the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Michael Dappert is co-founder of Winco, Inc., a dial-up and Wireless Internet Provider in West Central Illinois since 1996. Anyone can start their own discussion at F

If you are a musician you can promote yourself for free at Musicgig.us.

Best Gas Mileage - Hey! Where Is My Electric Car?

MAN INVENTS 100 MPG CARBURETOR! DISAPPEARS DOWN BLACK HOLE!

ELECTRIC CARS WORK! THERE JUST AREN'T ANY.

BIG AUTOMAKERS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR FUTURE!

Which of the above headlines is false? Are any of them false? Well maybe number one is false. For years there have been stories of inventors that came up with a carbuerator that would get 100 miles per gallon but the thing never came to market. I know number three is false because look at our problem, air pollution. Look at our choices for transportation, a bunch of big gas guzzling cars and trucks.

Well, number two headline is true, mostly. In the 1990's the State of California mandated a small percentage of vehicles sold in the state must release no emissions into the air. Some of the vehicles were leased and some were sold outright. GM had the EV1 which were leased. They canceled the leases and took the cars and crushed them. Perfectly good cars were destroyed.

There was a Ford EV Ranger pickup truck. Most of these were leased vehicles and Ford took most of them back but, I guess some of them are still around and there is a web site for EV Ranger drivers. Also, Toyota made a RAV4 EV which was discontinued in 2003. There are still some of these around and some websites about driving them. And there was a Honda EV car. All of these cars ran on electricity alone. Their range in miles varied but they were more than adequate for commuting, running errands, or just getting about on a daily basis.

I have never seen one of these vehicles. From my reading online about them it seems like they drove and performed about like any other gas powered car. Sure you had to plug them in, but, you have to put gas in a regular car also. What's the big deal? GM has made lots of claims about why an electric car is not feasible. Since they produced a very capable electric car in the 1990's and then destroyed them all you would think they know what they are talking about. Now they say they are going to produce an all electric car called the Volt. Well, probably someone else will do it before they do.

It is rumored that Big Oil destroyed the electric car and it was Big Oil that opened the black hole where the 100 mpg carburetor went. It probably is not that simple. But, the electric car threatened lots of entrenched interests. For one thing, the cars required very little in the way of servicing. No oil change, no anti-freeze, no air cleaner, just brakes and tires. So that whole service industry goes out the window with an electric fleet.

In 2006 the ZAP Xebra began importing from China. There is a sedan and a pickup truck. It is a 3 wheeled vehicle that looks like a toy car. In my opinion this is the kind of attempt that will turn the US public off to the whole idea. They do have some interesting features though, like a solar panel on the roof or over the bed of the truck to trickle charge the battery while running. Still, this is not what the American public will spring for in any kind of numbers.

A viable electric car will first of all have to look like a regular car. I would say the range would have to be at least 100 miles before charging. Top speed will have to be at Interstate Highway speeds or probably at least 70 mph. Also, there will have to be reasonable pickup from a dead stop. It seems like we have already had all these features in several of the vehicles listed above but for what ever reason they are no longer available. Contact your local car dealer and complain.

Michael Dappert is co-founder of Winco, Inc., a dial-up and Wireless Internet Provider in West Central Illinois since 1996. Anyone can start their own discussion at F

If you are a musician you can promote yourself for free at Musicgig.us.

Best Gas Mileage - Driving the Ford Escape Hybrid

In January 2007 I purchase a Ford Escape Hybrid four wheel drive vehicle. The Escape is a mid sized SUV that is smaller that the Chevy Blazer I had been driving for the past 4 years and is rated at 31 miles per gallon or about twice the 15 miles per gallon I was getting with the Blazer. The four wheel drive system is automatically engaged when needed and unlike many four wheel drive owners I actally need four wheel drive to get in and out to the road during the worst winter weather.

Under the hood is a gas engine and an electric motor and in the rear of the vehicle is a large battery that gets charged when you drive and when you brake. Like any new car you can lift the hood and look at what is under there but you might as well just close it back up because you are not going to do anything other than look unless you have the thousands of dollars of equipment needed to work on one of these engineering marvels. You start the car up like any other vehicle by turning the key but you do not here the motor crank and then fire up. There are a couple of clicks back in the back and the motor starts running so you head off down the road.

The instrument panel is like any other car with a speedometer, a tachometer, and a fuel gauge. In addition, there are two more gauges. One is a needle gauge that tells you when the big battery in the back is either assisting the gas engine or powering the vehicle on its own. The other gauge is a digital readout that can be changed to show various types of information about the fuel consumption of the car and the electrical charge in the battery. The most interesting view on this gauge, and the one I usually have in use, is a series of blocks that light up or darken in real time as your fuel economy goes up or down. This type of real time readout has been used on other vehicles in the past and is nothing new. But, since I bought this car with the intention of increasing my fuel economy significantly I watch this little gauge a lot. The most gratifying time is when you are going down the street running on battery power with the gas engine tachometer on zero and the fuel economy gauge is all the way over to the highest fuel economy limit. A little pressure on the accelerator and you can watch you fuel economy drop.

The Escape hybrid system is set to go from a dead stop up to 26 miles per hour on the electric motor. But, this is variable depending on how quickly you accelerate. A quick acceleration will start up the gas motor almost immediately. With a lighter touch and a subsequent slower acceleration I have been cruising at about 35 miles per hour before the gas engine starts up. Going down hill my speed has gone up to about 40 miles per hour before the gas engine begins to run. So economy in this vehicle, and really any other vehicle, is dependant upon how you drive it. What is really apparent when you start to drive in a more economic fashion is how fast everyone else wants to go.

When you want to pass someone or otherwise accelerate the electric motor comes on to assist the gas engine for more power. When you are driving on the gas engine and you decelerate the system charges the battery. Also when you brake the system charges the battery. By the time you come up to a stop light the motor is off and you sit there waiting for the light to change and you are not burning any gas or giving off any emissions or making any noise. I have seen reports of people getting up to 35 miles per gallon with these vehicles and maybe with careful driving techniques I might some day be able to achieve that level of economy.

Michael Dappert is co-founder of Winco, Inc., a dial-up and Wireless Internet Provider in West Central Illinois since 1996. Anyone can start their own discussion at F

If you are a musician you can promote yourself for free at Musicgig.us.

Best Gas Mileage - Where Have All the Carmakers Been?

If you drive past a car dealer these days you will see a lot full of big gas guzzling cars and trucks. It is not just American makers but also foreign makers who are sitting on some inventory that I would think they will have a hard time moving.

I was in a Toyota dealer last week. They have the Prius which is a fine vehicle. They also have a hybrid Highlander which is a van that is a pretty big vehicle. But, right in the middle of the show room was a pickup truck that was huge. It had 18 inch wheels and extended cab and it was rated at about 16 mpg.

Our local Chevy dealer has a lot full of big pickup trucks. If gas continues to go up will they be able to sell them? Probably some will sell because this is a rural farming area and some of those people actually need a truck with some power and capacity to haul stuff.

But really, where have these carmakers been the last few years? Yes Toyota has the Prius. And Honda has the Civic. And Ford has the Escape Hybrid, which I own. Saturn has a hybrid vehicle, but all it does is shut the motor off when you are at a stop. Why are there not more of these vehicles being made? I really don't know.

General Motors is working on a car they call the Volt. They say it will be out in 2010. Well that is 2 1/2 years from now. It is a good effort and it might be a cool car. There will be a straight plug in model that runs off of electric. There will also be a model with a gas engine that charges that batteries to run the electric motors. I think there will be another ethanol model also.

Really the Volt is kind of a sad thing since GM had an electric car on the road called the EV1. It seems like most of them were sold out in California and they had a waiting list. Look at these specs, 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, a top speed of 140 mph, and a range of 120 miles. We are not talking golf cart here. Then GM just killed the whole thing. There even is a movie about the car released by Sony Pictures call Who Killed the Electric Car. I would like to see the movie.

There currently is not a major manufacturer producing an electric vehicle. But at one time there was the GM EV1, the Toyota RAV4 EV, a Honda EV, a Ford EV Ranger. These cars were produced in the 1990's and then killed by their manufacturers. If production and development had continued for the past decade we would have a significant number of these vehicles on the road by now.

I would like a car that I could hook up to some solar panels to charge. I have six solar panels I use in the colder months to power fans and blow heat from heat collectors into the house. I could use them during the summer months to charge my car batteries. Or I would be happy to buy more solar panels to hook up to a car to charge it up.

There are some independent manufacturers making electric cars. They tend to be pretty expensive vehicles as far as I can tell. It will take a manufacturer like GM to produce a car with the economics of scale to have the price at a point where the public will buy it. I mean what we need is a car that anyone can buy.

Michael Dappert is co-founder of Winco, Inc., a dial-up and Wireless Internet Provider in West Central Illinois since 1996. Anyone can start their own discussion at F

If you are a musician you can promote yourself for free at Musicgig.us.

Best Gas Mileage - The Only Way To Save Money At The Pump

One of the biggest things on peoples minds these days are the prices at the pump. In reality that should not be the case, as that is something that is out of our control. The thing that people should be thinking about is how they can increase their fuel economy because that is something that they are able to control. I will address a few techniques that can be used to save money at the pump.

The first thing is driving habits. If you accelerate rapidly you will burn more fuel. You should gradually and smoothly get up to the desired speed. Also the faster that you go, the more that the atmosphere pushes against you. So it is important to keep control of your foot on the freeway. Fuel consumption doubles between 55 and 75 mile per hour, so if you can keep it closer to the 65 speed limits in most areas your fuel economy will increase. Take for example the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest production car in the world. For it to get up to 155 miles per hour it only requires 270 horse power for it to get up to that speed. The faster the car travels, the more that the atmosphere builds up in front of it. For it to reach its top speed of 253 miles per hour, it requires another 730 horse power to go that extra 100 miles per hour. The same can be said of the average car, the faster you go the more mother nature tries to hold you back. So keeping the speedometer at 75 or below is crucial to improving fuel economy.

Another way to increase fuel economy is adding a higher flow air filter or cold air intake to the car. What this does is add more air to the same amount of fuel which helps it to combust and use a higher percentage of the fuel putting more power at the wheels instead of out the tail pipe. There are also computer chips and modules that can be added to almost any engine that alter the fueling to make the engine perform more efficiently.

One of the best ways to increase your gas mileage it to improve the flow of the exhaust. So you want to open up the exhaust and let the exhaust flow more freely. The mufflers that come stock on cars are in most cases very restrictive and full of baffles. Most people aren't willing to pay for a full exhaust system for each of their cars, as the up front costs for most are a bit much. There are other options though. One of the best out there is the aero turbine muffler which works on gas and diesel vehicles alike. It has a straight through design free from the baffles and restrictions of stock mufflers. It also has the inner workings similar to a jet engine, so as the exhaust flows through the muffler the speed of the exhaust increases. This takes pressure off the engine and sucks it away making it so the engine doesn't have to push it away like it normally would. This also reduces exhaust temperatures and increases the engines longevity. All of those things add to the fuel economy by making it easier for the engine to do its job. Some people are experiencing up to 25% increases in economy simply by adding the aero turbine muffler.. Also one would expect a straight through muffler to be loud, but with its jet like insides and the swirling or tornado like motion that it adds to the exhaust, the sound is muffled.

In conclusion, the only way to change how much we spend at the pumps is by changing the way we drive, and how hard the vehicle has to work to do its job. This will only become more important as time goes on as the prices of fuel will most likely only continue to climb.

One of the best ways to Increase Gas Mileage is with this Tornado Fuel Saver Muffler. The Aero Turbine is a real Gas Saver - Nathan Young

Best Gas Mileage - Mile High Club Revisited – Sex in the Skies 2007

The Mile High Club has its exclusive members (Britney Speers among them) who know the exhilaration and anxiety of sex in the skies.

However, with the new airline rules and security situation, the game plan has changed, and becoming a member of the Mile High Club is becoming more and more difficult.

Here we revisit the club and new rules of engagement that suit today's security conscious airline staff.

Areas of Possible Sexual Activity

As before, the two areas of being able to engage in sexual activities are the toilets and seats.

The airline staff will be particularly sensitive to two people in a toilet.

Times of entry must be very carefully selected (see below).

The other and classic area of sexual activity is the seats, and only in economy class (where the center arm rests can be elevated).

Two in the Toilet

We highly suggest that two the in the toilet be restricted to long flights (over 4 hours duration) and only those that are dark (night flights).

While most passengers sleep and the airline staff are pre-occupied with their responsibilities (and the cabin lights are dimmed and off.

One of the couple should go first to an appointed toilet, with the second following in about a minute, with a pre-agreed knock signal.

The first of the couple who go to the toilet should loosen their clothing (undressing is not recommended) and be ready to assist the second as he or she arrives.

The Best Positions for Airline Toilet Sex

There are really only two good positions, and this will depend on the make of aircraft.

The toilets of Boing have a usually small counter, while the Airbus has a normal counter.

The woman can brace herself on the counter, and the man facing her can enter her from the front.

Thrusting is all for the man in this position, and it should start regularly and end up fast and furious.

Remember you have only a few minutes of undisturbed time there.

The second position is for the man to sit on the toilet seat, and the woman to mount him astride, even keeping her feet on the floor.

The man can assist in her movement, but she will do most of the movement. This is a quickie position, and the couple should try to finish in less than 3 minutes.

The Best Position for Seat Sex

With the armrest raised, and pillows and blankets in place, the woman will be seated next to the window, with the man behind her, entering her from the rear.

There should be little or no thrusting (not to cause undue attention). Rather, with the man fully penetrating the woman, the couple should press against each other and move their hips slightly.

The man should alternate between hard pressing and soft, and this can go on for some time, even 15 to 30 minutes, pretending the couple are sleeping. No clothing is removed, only moved aside.

The man can embrace the woman, fondling her breasts, and also manually stimulating her clitoris while he is fully penetrated. This can give the couple great satisfaction.

Obviously, the couple should remain as quiet as possible. When orgasm arrives, the couple can remain embraced and the woman penetrated for as long as the man's penis stays moderately erect.

A Word of Caution

Do nothing that can cause undue attention to yourselves.

The new rules of engagement encourage stealth and intelligence, and if you can achieve it, enjoy the wonderful experience of sex in the skies

MORE FREE INFO

On all aspects of how to get more from sex and relationships and more sexuality visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at

Best Gas Mileage - 6 Gas Saving Tips

With gas prices being as high as they are these days many of us are doing our best to save gas and lower our ever increasing fuel bills. Sadly, not all of us can just run out and buy the newest hybrid or other gas saving vehicle that promises to get great gas mileage. Instead we have to make due with the car that we have and try to get the most out of each dollar that goes into the fuel tank.

Below you'll find a list of some commonly mentioned tips for saving gas on the internet:

1- Keep Your Call Well Tuned

A well oiled machine is a better running machine. One obvious and great way to keep your fuel bill lower is to make sure that you maintain your car and keep it working properly. Change your oil regularly and keep the engine running smoothly.

2- Keep Tires Properly Inflated

By keeping your tires properly inflated you can possibly improve your gas mileage by at least 3%. But what is the right level for your tires? Your best bet is probably to follow the advice of the tire manufacturer. Another reason to keep your tires properly inflated is safety. According to Trust My M even having your tires under inflated by 6 psi could lead to tire failure, and having it over inflated by 6 psi gives the tire a greater chance of being damaged by potholes and other road hazards.

3- Plan Your Trip Ahead of Time

Driving around for no reason is a great way to increase your fuel bill, because you're using gas that you wouldn't need to use if you would simply plan where you are going, and then stick to that plan. Don't waste gas unnecessarily by just driving around town. Another great way to save on gas is don't let the car just sit and run for long periods of time, whether its to heat the cabin in the winter or cool it in the summer.

4- Buy Gas on Weekdays

This one varies a bit per area, but lots of times gas is more expensive on the weekends. So plan to buy your gas on a weekday rather than a weekend and you should be able to save a couple of cents per gallon.

5- Lighten Your Load

Unless you plan on driving on some really slick roads sometime soon and need extra weight for stability, get rid of any excess weight in your car. Look in your trunk and see if you are hauling around any heavy items that don't need to be there and put them somewhere else besides the trunk.

6- Use a Fuel Additive

There are several on the market, such as DurAlt, that have been proven for years to increase your gas mileage. Do some research and find a trusted additive that has been proven over time to work.

Start to use some of these general tips and you should be able to increase your fuel mileage and efficiency by enough to make a difference in your bill. It will mean making a few lifestyle changes but in the end you should start to see a difference in your overall fuel cost.

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner of FuelAdditiveS one of the few places online where you can purchase DurAlt Fuel Conditioner, a fuel additive that is proven to help you save gas and spend less in the long run at the pump

Best Gas Mileage - Discover Credit Cards: Online Offers Reviewed

With over 50 million cardholders, Discover is one of the top credit card companies in the United States. After making its debut in 1985 as a division of Sears, the Discover Card quickly grew in popularity among consumers. And it's easy to understand why: Discover offered benefits such as the "Cashback" program, which allowed cardholders to earn money for using their card. This rewards program and others offered through Discover have continued to improve over the years. Here are three popular Discover cards on the market today.

Discover Platinum Card

If you're looking for a card with cash back benefits, the Discover Platinum Card may be a perfect fit. This card offers a 5% rebate for items purchased at participating locations, including restaurants, gas stations and clothing stores. You can also earn up to 1% cash back on general purchases.

Besides the cash back rewards, the Discover Platinum Card offers a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first year. If you have a sizable balance on your current card, transferring it to the Discover Platinum Card could be a smart move. You'll be able to pay off the balance over a few months and stay interest free. You'll also get to choose from over 150 card designs and will not have to pay an annual fee.

Discover Gas Card

If you spend hours on the road each week, the Discover Gas Card may be the right card for you. Through its rewards plan, you can reduce your gas budget. The Discover Gas Card offers 5% cash back on gas and auto maintenance purchases. You can earn up to 1% cash back on all other purchases. The card also includes a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for twelve months and no annual fee.

Discover Miles Card

If you're searching for a credit card with great travel benefits, the Discover Miles Card is one of the best. Every month that you make a purchase during the first year you will receive 1,000 bonus miles. This can add up to 12,000 bonus miles in a year! That's a great reward for using your card each month.

With the Discover Miles credit card, you will earn one mile for each dollar that you spend. You can then trade in the miles for airline tickets. There are no blackout dates for plane tickets. This, plus the additional benefit of no annual fee, sets the Discover Miles Card above other travel cards. Start off with a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers and then enjoy the travel rewards.

Keep in mind that these cards are usually available for those with good to excellent credit. If you have poor credit, you will want to look into a different card option. However, if your credit history is good, you can make the most out of your Discover Card options.

Starting with the cash back program, Discover has consistently offered high bonuses for using their card. If you have good credit and want a card with excellent benefits, a Discover Card is what you need. Apply today and let the rewards come piling your way.

To View Discover Credit Card Offers, click the following link: . Ed Vegliante runs , a directory helping consumers to compare and apply for credit cards.

Best Gas Mileage - 1995 Toyota Corolla Gas Mileage Problem And The Idle Air Control Valve

I have a 1995 Toyota Corolla that normally averages 38 miles per gallon. I usually keep track of the mileage at each fill-up and noticed the mileage dropping slightly each week. I really didn't think anything of it at first I thought it could be the weather or possibly the gas itself. But the problem persisted until the car was getting only 30 miles per gallon. I knew something must be wrong so I took it to Toyota to have them check it out. They found nothing wrong either electronically or mechanically. The car only has 80,000 miles on it so I figured that it couldn't be wear causing any problems not yet at least. When I was in the car business it was not uncommon to see a Toyota Corolla with 200,000 miles on it and still running strong.

During closer observation of the engine I noticed that it idled fast as though it was cold after I had been driving it for several miles and the temperature gauge was in the normal range. In the same conditions a few miles down the road the idle was normal then after that it went to fast idle again. I went to the dealer again and asked them what it could be and they said that they have never heard of that happening. I decided to investigate the problem myself to avoid expensive diagnostic costs. I checked a maintenance manual for the car and found that there was an (IAC) idle air control valve that let air bypass the throttle body when the engine was cold to allow for a faster idle. Once the engine was up to temperature the valve would close and the idle would return to normal. I checked and changed the easy things first, PCV Valve, air cleaner, etc. to no avail.

I decided that I was going to have to remove the Idle Air Control valve and check its performance. It resides directly below the throttle body and has coolant lines running through its housing to provide water from the cooling system to the thermally activated motor that turns the Idle Air Control Valve on and off. I was working on the engine when it was cold so not too much water leaked out. When I got to the valve shaft I noticed some corrosion on it and cleaned that off, otherwise it was operation normally.

After putting the IAC valve back together I drove the car to see if there was any change and there was not. It still idled erratically. As the engine was warming up, however, I noticed that the temperature gauge went way down when the thermostat opened up them gradually returned to its normal range. That seemed odd so I got a temperature probe and dipped it into the coolant to see exactly where it was and found that it was approximately ten degrees cooler than it should have been. At that point I just let the engine idle for fifteen minutes and the idle went to normal and the coolant temperature went to its operating range. That told me that the problem was the thermostat. I replaced the thermostat with a genuine Toyota part even though it is more expensive it is worth the money because it is exactly like the old one and the gasket pattern is the same. To replace it with an after market thermostat would require a different gasket type and I didn't want to take the chance of causing another problem just to save five bucks on a thermostat.

The gas mileage returned to its normal 38 miles per gallon and the idle slows as soon as the engine runs for around ten minutes and the temperature gauge is steady. It's as good as new or maybe even better.

Bob Crane is a Nutrition Consultant and involved in introducing an extraordinary new Internet Work at Home Based Goji Juice Business System.

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Best Gas Mileage - DurAlt Fuel Additive Review

In today's market place there are a lot of different products on the market that claim to help you get more mileage out of the gas that you put in your gas tank. One question that I always have when I see an ad for one of these products is "how do I know this product actually works?" In this article I am going to review an additive that has been on the market since 1985. The name of this product is DurAlt.

DurAlt entered the market in 1985 as a strictly commercial product. It was put into limited use mostly by large truck fleets and in marine harbors as an after-market bulk treatment fuel conditioner. Since 1985 it has been marketed in different ways, including some private labels. Two of the most prominent private labels that have used DurAlt Fuel Conditioner are the Harley-Davidson Genuine Fuel Additive and Freedom Fuel Additive.

Whenever a new fuel additive or conditioner comes out on the market, its amazing how many of them have outlandish claims about what they can do for your gas mileage, but have very little in the way of backup data. This is one very important area where DurAlt shines above most of the other products out there. DurAlt has been tested and approved by many independent laboratories and companies including Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, Columbia University, and Total Fina Elf.

Here are just a few of the benefits that have been tested and proven for gasoline engines:

Increases fuel mileage 8-12% on average

Reduces Octane Requirement by 3 to 4 numbers

Reduces engine knock

Inhibits the formation of combustion chamber deposits

Protects against fuel system corrosion

Increases lubricity, extending life of fuel pumps and top end of engine

Protects injectors

Reduces hydrocarbon emissions

Improves fuel stability during storage

Protects storage tanks from rusting

Reduces engine maintenance costs

DurAlt has also been proven to work in diesel engines as well. Here are some of the proven benefits for diesel engines:

Increases fuel mileage up to 8-12%

Increases lubricity, extending life of injection pumps & top end of engine

Protects injectors

Increases cetane by 2.5 numbers

Up to 20% decrease in emissions

Improves fuel stability during storage

Protects storage tanks from rusting

Ideal to use for bulk treatment

Up to 20% decrease in engine maintenance

For those of you that are worried about what effect using a product like DurAlt might have on the environment, DurAlt has also been reviewed by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and other environmental organizations. The EPA has said that DurAlt does not pose any greater health or environmental risk than unleaded gasoline. They have said that is it 'substantially similar' to unleaded gasoline, and so it is no more dangerous than the gas you already put in your tank.

From its proven benefits to the companies that have tested it, DurAlt is a product that is definitely worth your consideration if you are looking for a product that is proven to actually do what is says it will do: help your car run better!

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner of FuelAdditiveS one of the few places online where you can purchase DurAlt Fuel Conditioner, a fuel additive that is proven to help you improve your vehicle gas mileage.

Best Gas Mileage - Another Way to Improve Your Gas Mileage

For several years now gas prices have been constantly changing. One week we're at a new all-time high, then the price falls again, but before you can blink the prices go up to a new all-time high. And at this time there doesn't seem to be any certainty on the horizon that prices are going to return to what used to be 'normal' levels. People everywhere are looking for ways to make their gas last longer, thereby improving their fuel economy and reducing their fuel costs. Here are a few tricks that are commonly being mentioned:

- Improve your car's aerodynamics by closing the windows when on the freeway.

- Keep tire pressure at an appropriate level,

- Use your AC less, it wastes gas,

- Slow down,

These are all good tips that everyone should probably implement, but sometimes you might wonder how much of an effect they'll really have. But honestly, if even one of these tips improves your average mpg by 1, it would be worth it.

There is another way that you can very easily improve your gas mileage without having to be so careful about everything you do: use a proven fuel additive. Notice that I didn't say just any fuel additive, but a proven one. It's very common these days to hear or read something that talks about some new fuel additive that claims to give you a 35% increase in your car's MPG. The question I always have is can they back up their claim with tests and data from independent companies. And unfortunately, most of these companies can't. There is however one brand that does have plenty of information from independent tests to back up what they say: DurAlt.

DurAlt has been on the market since the 80's, and you may have seen them in stores already under a different name. Harley Davidson's fuel additive is really DurAlt, just in a different package. Unlike most fuel additives on the market, DurAlt has plenty of data to back up their claims. Their claims are reasonable as well. Their studies have shown that by using their product most cars will see an average of 8-12% increase in mpg among other benefits. So in the game of saving money on gas, DurAlt may just be that extra touch that a lot of us have been looking for.

There are several other benefits with using DurAlt as well. Besides just improving your fuel economy, DurAlt products have also shown to reduce the required octane number for your engine by 3-4 numbers. In other words you get similar performance from 85 octane as you would from 88. So either way, with a proven product like DurAlt you have the possibility to save a lot of money on your fuel costs.

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner of FuelAdditiveS one of the few places where you can buy the DurAlt Fuel Additive.

Best Gas Mileage - How the Volvo XC90 Got its V8

The Volvo XC90, since its introduction to the market, has been a success story for the Ford Motor Co. owned brand – the Sweden-based car manufacturer Volvo. Its cutting edge design and its package of safety systems makes this model a sure hit for buyers. While power from its engine is enough for the normal demands on it, competitors in its class continually raise the bar when it comes to power and the company is developing new concepts and design for their engines to cope up. A solution is needed in order for the company to be a serious competitor in the crossover SUV market which is showing no sign of slowing down in spite of expectations against it doing so.

The acquisition of Ford Motor Company of the brand proved invaluable in finding the solution to the power problem that the company is facing - that is power in their cars. The original engines employed by the Volvo XC90 are a 2.5-liter in-line, five-cylinder engine with 208 horsepower; and a 2.6-liter in-line, six-cylinder turbocharged engine with an output of 268 horsepower. Both designs are compact and could easily fit into the car's ample engine compartment. However, the problem is that the Volvo XC90 is larger and heavier than other Volvo cars which employs the same engines. The power produced by both engine even the souped up six-cylinder one is just enough to give the car decent acceleration and speed, and this shortage of power is being exploited by its competitor which uses much bigger engines thus having more power.

While increasing turbo boost can significantly increase power, it would not work with the Volvo XC90 given its size. Its towing capacity will also be reduced to make sure that the turbocharger will not be overworked. Using a bigger engine is also an option, using a V8 engine just like its competitors would surely increase the vehicle's power but a problem arises again. A big V8 engine would not fit in the car's compartment which is designed to accommodate in-line engines. This is where the Ford Motor Company comes in. Its extensive resources will give the Volvo model the V8 engine it needs for more power.

A Ford car once used an unusual V8 which was designed based on Ford's Duratec V6. This V8 engine is unusual since it uses a 60-degree angle between the two banks unlike most V8s which uses a 90-degree angle for balance. This production of the engine was discontinued since it has low sales. The engine produced 237 horsepower which will be no improvement to the original turbocharged in-line six-cylinder but the design of the engine can be used to develop a larger engine. And this is what the company did, joining forces with Yamaha, and they have produced a 4.4-liter V8 engine which gives 43 more horses than the original engine.

The uniquely designed V8 is a great step for the company; they now have more power to hide under the hood of their Volvo XC90, and along with it come a wide array of reliable parts like the Volvo distributor rotor which makes sure that all 8 cylinders will fire on their proper order. The development of the V8 for the Volvo XC90 is a great leap forward for the company, with it the Volvo XC90 has become a serious competitor in its class.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field and has great knowledged in Volvo distributor rotor .

Best Gas Mileage - Save Gas by Changing your Driving Style

Do you think that your fuel mileage is only a product of the type of car you drive? Well, think again. Of course, a Sports Utility Vehicle will eat up more gasoline than a small economy car or even a hybrid. That is just simple Physics. But even if you do drive a large gas-guzzler, there are numerous things you can do to your driving style in order to improve your fuel economy. In the short term, the savings may not seem like a lot, but over a year, you can save hundreds of dollars on gas by following the simple driving tips mentioned in this article.

The basic principle behind saving fuel is to use the engine as little as possible, obviously. In other words, you want to keep the engine revolutions as low as possible while maintaining a normal driving speed for the particular road that you are on. Using the engine as little as possible also involves taking advantage of common traffic situations and road conditions in order to let your car coast instead of using the engine.

Let's look at some specific examples. If you are driving a car with an automatic transmission, you can't really do much to save fuel while cruising on the freeway since the transmission selects gears by itself. If you drive a manual, you should keep the car in top gear when cruising on the freeway. You probably learned that when you first started driving a manual transmission car. Another important tip is to get into the top gear as soon as possible. That is, try shifting up earlier than you usually do so that you do not rev the engine as high before shifts. This doesn't seem like it would make much of a difference, but over many up shifts, you will save an appreciable amount of fuel.

Another neat trick that saves fuel on the freeway is tucking in behind another vehicle (preferably larger than yours) in order to let the car in front of you "break" the air for you. That way, your car does not have to fight as hard against the air resistance, and you save fuel since your engine is not being stressed as much as usual. Of course, be careful when you're using this technique! Maintain a safe driving distance between you and the car directly in front of you. This technique is most effective at 70 mph or greater.

Arguably the most important aspect of saving gas is the way that you accelerate and decelerate. When you accelerate, try to give your car plenty of room to come up to speed so you don't find yourself pushing the gas pedal to the floor when you're getting onto a freeway or coming out of a parking lot onto a busy street. In essence, try to make all of your motions very slow and gradual, not jerky. Pretend that there is an egg lying under your gas pedal. If you press down too fast, the egg will crack, but if you press down slowly, the egg will roll out from under the pedal.

Being gradual also applies to steering in addition to acceleration and deceleration. When you steer in a fast or jerky way, you scrub off speed because the tires are fighting to maintain grip with the road. By making smooth, gradual turns, you maintain the momentum of the car and do not have to use the engine as much to make up for speed losses.

Finally, one of the easiest tips to learn and get used to is coasting. I see people all the time accelerating when there is a red light in front of them and then getting on the brakes when they are right in front of the light. There's no reason to race up to a red light when you know you're going to come to a stop anyway. Simply let your car coast, and then use the brakes when you are close to the red light. This will save you fuel as well as protect your brakes from abuse. With these easy-to-follow tips, you should get great fuel savings from any type of car.

I specialize in racing suspension tuning for the Nissan S platform cars (e.g. 240SX, 180SX, and Silvia). For more information, visit my Nissan 240SX performance website at You can also find useful articles at my online automotive magazine. Feel free to reprint this article.

Best Gas Mileage - The Three W's of Oxygen Sensors

Unless you are an automobile mechanic or work around car parts, you probably do not know anything about oxygen sensors. Of course, the name itself gives a pretty big clue, but still leaves a lot to the imagination. The fact is, oxygen sensors are very important to the overall function of a vehicle. The following are what could be referred to as the three W's of oxygen sensors:

What is an Oxygen Sensor?

An oxygen sensor is actually a probe that is mounted inside a vehicle's exhaust. This device is used to measure the ratio of air to fuel inside the exhaust after the combustion process. The sensor sends out voltage information to the engine's computer every few seconds so that it can make adjustments as needed. If there is a perfectly balanced mixture of air and fuel, the output voltage will be around 0.45 volts.

If there is less oxygen in the mixture than needed, it is said to be a rich mixture. The oxygen sensor will report a higher voltage reading of 0.8 volts or above. When the sensor reports a reading of 0.3 volts or below, the mixture is considered to be a lean one. Upon receiving a too high or too low voltage reading, the engine's computer will command the mixture to go either lean or rich, causing it to become balanced again.

Why Replace the Oxygen Sensor?

The function of an oxygen sensor is to measure the air/fuel mixture. It is important that this mixture stay as balanced as possible because it affects the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. The air/fuel mixtures in today's fuel injected vehicles can go back and forth between rich and lean very quickly. Therefore, it is essential for the oxygen sensor to be able to respond appropriately.

Along with better fuel efficiency, having a fully functioning oxygen sensor is good for the environment. A more balanced air/fuel mixture leads to fewer emissions and helps reduce air pollution. If you care at all about the threat of global warming, this should be as great of an incentive for you as getting better gas mileage.

The oxygen sensor can also harm a vehicle's catalytic converter if it is not working properly or has failed. This cannot only cause a decrease in power and gas mileage, but lead to expensive repairs as well.

When Should the Oxygen Sensor be Replaced?

Because emissions from vehicles play such a big role in air pollution, oxygen sensors have become standard equipment. In most vehicles made after the mid 1990s, there is a dash light or check engine light that alerts drivers when their sensor or sensors may not be functioning properly. When this happens, it is best to have the vehicle checked by a mechanic to ensure which sensor (there can be between 1 and 4 sensors) needs to be replaced. For those who do not have a dash light, an emissions test may be necessary. If your vehicle doesn't seem to be performing like it used to, (not as much power or getting worse gas mileage) a faulty oxygen sensor may be to blame.

Depending on where the sensor is located, the replacement procedure can be easy or it could be quite hard. Do-it-yourself mechanics will most likely need to purchase a special socket with a slit in the side for the oxygen sensor wire. Of course, any professional mechanic can perform this procedure as well. Replacing an oxygen sensor will cost somewhere between $50 and $300 but may be well worth the money because of better fuel efficiency.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what an oxygen sensor is, why it is important, and when it needs to be replaced. Pay attention to dash light warnings or other signals your car may be giving you through its performance or lack thereof. A properly functioning vehicle can save you money in the long run, and just might help save the environment.

Quinton Becker is an automotive writer. If you need an oxygen sensor or any other Honda parts, then please take a few moments to review the D auto parts catalog to see how much money Drivewire can save you. Most car owners will save as much as 70% on their auto part purchases.

Best Gas Mileage - Performance Parts Can Help With Better Horsepower Or Gas Mileage

Today there are more performance parts available for your Acura, and other high performance vehicles, than ever before. Finding Acura parts or parts for other premium automobiles can be a little bit of a challenge, but once you find the right performance parts, your car and your ego will thank you. There is a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you have found the best performance parts money can buy, for your car.

Considering the Required Skill Set for Do-It-Yourself Mechanics

Deciding on which of a variety of performance parts to choose depends on what type of power you are looking for and if you plan on installing those parts yourself. Everyone has their own level of mechanical ability, and if you decide to install the parts yourself, you will need to be comfortable with your mechanical skills.

For example, installing larger fuel injectors can be a lot of work for the backyard mechanic. To complete an installation of larger fuel injectors, you will need some specialized tools and you will need to have a fair amount of time to dedicate to the project.

Other projects are much simpler and can quickly and easily be completed by the backyard mechanic. For example, if you purchase a high-flow air filter for your car or some rapid-fire spark plugs, you will not need any specialized tools. Installing performance parts such as these does not require a lot of time for most people either.

Increasing Your Horsepower

Some performance parts can result in great gains in horsepower for your car. Some of the types of performance parts you may be considering can include camshafts, high flowing cylinder heads, nitrous oxide, etc. However, you can also add parts that will result in smaller gains, but will provide great payoffs in the long run.

For example, a higher flowing fuel pump may only result in a small immediate horsepower gain, but if you decide to add a larger throttle body at a later time then the high flow fuel pump will be well worth it. These performance parts, much like all of the parts of your car work in sync with each other and adding one without the other may not provide as good of results as you had expected.

Measuring Your Performance Gains

Adding one of these performance parts at a time can be a great option for those who are on a budget. Adding one part at a time is also a great way to measure the horsepower gains that each of the individual parts provide to your car. Further, if you install one part at a time and you experience any operational problems, it is easy to track the problem down to your latest modification. If you add a handful of parts all at once, it can be difficult to determine which one was the culprit.

Whether you are looking for a quarter mile monster, or simply want to have a little more acceleration when entering the freeway, some of these performance parts may be just what you have been seeking to make your car come to life.

Fuel Efficiency Gains

Performance parts can not only add to your horsepower, they can also add to the efficiency of your car. This means that some of the performance parts can actually improve your gas mileage, if you can keep your foot off the gas! A more efficiently operating vehicle will also last longer if you keep it well maintained.

Replacing Factory Parts With Performance Parts

The inevitable reality is that at times you will need to replace some of the parts on your vehicle. Due to general wear and tear, parts will need to be replaced. It makes good sense at these times to upgrade to high performance parts instead of going with the standard factory parts, especially if you are looking for that extra boost in your horsepower.

These performance parts are often better in quality than the factory replacement parts. The cost difference is generally minimal, and when you add in the fact that they outperform the factory replacement parts, it is really no contest. The companies that produce the high performance parts know that you have choices as to which parts you buy for your car. Because of this, they go the extra mile to not only add power, but also to also create parts that are a higher overall quality than the factory parts.

Check out some of the performance parts available for your automobile and get that boost in power that you want.

Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. To find some really attractive prices on performance parts for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those hard-to-locate Acura parts for your model of Acura, then please visit DriveW You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as the become available at: You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

Best Gas Mileage - Honda's Great Gas Mileage Blunder

From its inception, Honda Motor Co. has been more concerned with fuel economy and emissions than any other manufacturer. This has been evident since Honda entered America's automobile market in 1971 with the "n600." This was a 2-cylinder car that easily achieved 45 miles-per-gallon. They have repeatedly had at least one model of automobile, per generation that has superior gas mileage. These range from the CVCC, the CRX HF, the Civic VX, and most recently the Insight Hybrid.

In the last decade, however, Honda appears to have departed its small car and gas mileage roots in search of bigger profits. The change coincides with the death of Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Automotive. When Soichiro Honda died in 1991, an observable change in Honda's business model and priorities surfaced.

With the change of priorities, the economical cars by which Honda was known vanished, only to be replaced by giant trucks, vans, SVUs, and luxury cars that would make our grandparents jealous. The company that was once known for making "those little cars" became the company that made "those big cars." The new Honda appeared to be in direction opposition of what the old Honda was about.

When Honda was busy making giant money-makers, Toyota decided to take a chance and develop something truly amazing: the full-sized hybrid. While Honda later followed suit with a smaller commuter vehicle, it was too late. Toyota had the hearts and minds of people who cared about fuel economy, emissions, and safety. The name Honda reminded people of the giant Odyssey, or the once small but now large Civic. Toyota, on the other hand, sparked images of the clean, efficient Prius and the all electric RAV4.

Honda is now trying to clean up its image, by producing a version of the Civic that runs on natural gas, and even introducing the first commercially available hydrogen-powered vehicle. While these are all giant steps in the right direction, Honda still has a long way to go to make up for a decade of bad decisions.

Honda jumping on the big car bandwagon proved to be a mistake, one which has affected Hondas market share ever since. Profits may be up, but consumer confidence is down, at least compared to Toyota. The history and good name of Honda will definitely help it get back on top of the efficiency game, assuming that they still want the honor. It will prove difficult, however, to win the back the hearts and minds of people after such a disappointing blunder.

Matt Timion owns and operates GasS An avid Honda and gas mileage ethusiast, he owns and maintains a number of Honda automobiles, including a classic Honda n600.

Best Gas Mileage - The Importance of a Cars Gas Mileage

This article is for people who don't know a lot about cars. Car gas mileage seems to be a rather strange and insignificant concept, one that at least causes some confusion. Many people don't fully comprehend how truly important gas mileage truly is. They feel as though car gas mileage has nothing to do with them, it has no real meaning, other than some formualic calculation that some like to conjure up.

But this is not the case and I soon came to discover that when I decided to buy a used car. Measuring the cars gas mileage is very important for owners of new cars, as well as for those having bought a used one. The mileage shows how many miles the car has actually traveled. Every car has a certain degree of durability on the roads.

You have to strictly measure the mileage so that you know exactly how to drive it, when it is appropriate to sell and at what price. The exact condition of the car is shown on its mileage, so you have to strictly calculate it so that you know where are you standing. No-one can be sure that their car won't break up in the middle of a deserted road at two o'clock in the morning. If it happens, there should be posed the question WHY you haven't calculated this at time.

Calculating cars gas mileage is not a matter of technical or mechanical ability. It is a matter of sheer rationality. You have to know how many kilometers your car has run, so that you are prepared if the worst comes to the worst. Perhaps it is best to keep a strict note of every time you go to a gas pump. You have to know and write down the date, the car's mileage, and the amount of gas you have pumped up into the tank. The proportion between the mileage and the amount of gas shows you how much gas your car uses for one kilometer.

This is important, and you always have to know it before buying a used car. Perhaps you will come upon a "greedy" car, which takes a lot of gas to make a certain track. This is sure to wear your budget thin. There are reports for all kinds of cars on such sites as epa.gov, which show you precisely the cars gas mileage. You should definitely consult them and calculate the exact figures before attempting to buy either a new car or a used one.

Another important thing is that cars gas mileage can be important indicator if there are gas price increases. For example, if you are travelling from Texas to Washington, and you see that prices for gas are different, you may well calculate what sum shall you need to get there. If the prices are higher, and you car consumes a lot of gas, perhaps you will be deep in the red before you get to your destination.

Measuring the cars gas mileage gives you another advantage, which is hard to acquire elsewhere. It helps you bring your confidence that you can control all the money that you sepnd on your car. Being a driver doesn't only mean that you go into your car and drive to where you wanna go. It means a totally changed attitude towards the world. You browse the whole vehicle industry before you buy a car.

You understand the car parts and learn to dismount them. You start calculating the money you will need for your car. Measuring cars gas mileage is escpecially useful for careless teenagers, who have just procured a license. It teaches the young drivers some very important things about the global economic cell we are all put to live into.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning cars. Learn more at Cars Gas Mileage

Best Gas Mileage - High Fuel Prices, a Chance for Business Opportunities?

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England have increased the interest rates in the first week of August 2006. They have argued that the rising oil prices have caused a higher inflation. If the political leaders of this world meet in these days, they state that they are concerned about the climbing oil costs. They fear that the economy could be affected in a negative way. The daily press also reflects these fears.

More Innovations Thanks Former Oil Shocks

The history of former oil price shocks 1973 and in the beginning of the eighties has displayed, that these events have boosted innovation. New buildings can be designed today in a way that they use a fraction of energy compared with the seventies or eighties of the former century. Old buildings have been renovated and energy has been saved. Jobs and income opportunities have been created in a lot of small businesses that help to save fuel and energy.

Domestic Expenses Instead Of Fuel Imports

The trend to more energy independence has a benevolent effect for the economies of the industrialised countries. Higher costs of oil and fuel imports help pushing the efforts of a better energy efficient use of the energy. Domestic companies, most of them small businesses and engineering firms, develop solutions for an energy efficient use. Farmers detect new opportunities. They grow plants for the production of bio-diesel and ethanol that can serve as complementary fuels to gasoline or petrol. Step by step more money flows in the domestic market. The oil sheiks still get a lot of money, but an increasing share of the energy related expenses will be spent inside the domestic economy.

Green Investment Funds Are Booming

The above thesis is underlined by the boom of green investment funds. These are funds that invest in energy efficient running companies. Most of these companies create higher return-on-investments than the average. Their stocks show an over average performance at the stock markets.

New opportunities arise in the field of renewable energies. Photovoltaic firms, wind power energy companies grow very fast. Their shares perform dozens, if not more than hundred percent a year. Investment funds that specialise in these branches are very popular.

Use the Challenge

The added value of all these activities remains in the domestic economy. Entrepreneurs, "energy-farmers", employees, and investors in these branches get more money in their pockets. They need to spend it, what propels the domestic market. If the challenge of rising oil and fuel costs is used, more and more people can benefit. An example is the traffic. High fuel prices will enforce more fuel economy and methods to a better gas mileage, e.g. more miles per gallon or more kilometres per litre. This will be another great "battle field", because the fuel consumption still increases in the field of traffic. The use of energy will only be affordable in the future, if it is done energy-, cost- and eco-efficiently.

Lil Waldner is a business economist. She is experienced in project management and marketing. She has worked as an editor for several newspapers and she has written booklets and essays on economic and public issues. More about: Fuel Freedom International or Save Fuel Success Stories

Best Gas Mileage - How to Improve Your Gas Mileage and Performance by Pushing a Button

Have you ever wished that your car, truck or SUV had more horsepower? Every driver appreciates more power for climbing hills, accelerating onto highways and passing slow-moving traffic. How about better fuel economy? The rising price of gasoline has made motorists conscious of the cost of a fill-up.

Now it's possible to improve performance and stretch fuel mileage as easily as changing TV channels with a remote control. Almost every vehicle on the road today uses an onboard computer to control the operation of the engine, transmission, and other systems. By reprogramming this electronic “brain” with specially developed software, a car or truck owner can add horsepower and get more miles per gallon.

Just as personal computers, PDAs and iPods have revolutionized the way that people get information and entertainment, reprogramming devices are changing the way motorists upgrade their vehicles' performance. A handheld automotive programmer is the key that unlocks the enormous potential of today’s vehicles by giving drivers the ability to reprogram and personalize the onboard computers that control virtually all aspects of their vehicles’ operation.

The truth is you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or a computer technician to install these programs with a device like the Hypertech Power Programmer. Plug a cable into a connector under the dashboard and the programmer does the rest automatically. It asks a few questions about your vehicle and the changes you would like to make to the onboard computer. You answer by pushing the Y (“Yes”) or N (“No”) buttons. The programmer then downloads its software to the vehicle’s computer in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee.

Why don’t the factories provide this tuning? Because they tune for the masses and must compromise their tuning. They don’t optimize it for towing, hauling or other conditions where an additional amount of power would be beneficial. That’s what Hypertech has done for two decades as the leader among tuning companies.

The basic idea is a brain transplant; the factory-installed program is uploaded and stored, allowing it to be restored at any time. The programmer then installs new software developed on computerized chassis dynamometers and validated in road tests to improve performance and fuel economy. Depending on the vehicle, this software swap produces gains of up to 113 horsepower over the factory tuning – without even opening the hood. With more power in reserve, many drivers no longer feel the need to keep the throttle on the floor and report an increase in fuel mileage.

Sophisticated devices like the Power Programmer give owners of gasoline-burning trucks and SUVs a choice of tuning programs for regular and premium fuel. With the price of regular gasoline averaging 20 cents per gallon less than premium, that’s a significant savings. Diesel owners get a choice of three different power levels; the maximum power setting can be used safely while towing up to the vehicle’s maximum weight rating.

Programmers also give motorists the ability to customize the computer to suit their specific driving styles and to complement modifications such as larger tires and wheels. The Power Programmer can adjust automatic transmission shift points and shift firmness electronically. Firmer, faster gear changes noticeably improve acceleration, and the quick shifts also extend transmission life. The Power Programmer can correct the speedometer and odometer readings when non-stock tires are installed, and that can prevent you from getting an expensive ticket.

Power Programmers are available from many automotive parts stores, RV dealers, outdoor sports outlets and mail order and online retailers.

Detailed information and a dealer locator can be found on the Hypertech Web site,

It's said that life is a journey. With a programmer, the journey can be faster, safer and more economical. - ARA

Best Gas Mileage - Discovering New Breakthrough in Travel !

Ever wondered how so many ordinary people like you and me are able to travel the world 3 times over? And these people live amongst us. Our relatives, close friends, peers, ex-schoolmates are just but to name a few. Well, it's now possible with the advancement of new technologies.

What I am about to share with you are real examples how people have made world travel highly affordable. Things that you can you personally do by yourself. And I am pretty sure you will not be able to sleep tonight once you realize how easy this magic formula works. It's no rocket science. It's something you can do today.

To travel you need to save enough of cash. Period.

But with the current inflation and rising energy costs, it is almost impossible for ordinary folks like us to even save a penny. What more a thousand dollars.

Fortunately, there is always a solution. The solution I am proposing would be one that will counter the rising energy costs - both for electricity and gas. Imagine if you can just slash your monthly electricity and gas bills by just 20%, in a year you would have saved several hundred of dollars. But how to save?

For electricity, start using energy efficient appliances. The ones with Energy Star logo printed on them. Due to production cost cutting, many electrical appliances were manufactured with substandard components. This will cause highly inefficient use of electricity. Inefficient use of electricity means WASTE.

Start using energy saving and fluorescent lights with one additional electricity saver device. Energy saving and fluorescent lights need ballasts to light up. Ballasts are highly non-efficient. Therefore, to maximize energy savings, each home must have an electricity saving device which can be easily bought online for less than $60. This device can also lower the energy consumption of air-conditioners, fans, refrigerators and all AV equipment.

As for gas, plan your trips well. For unplanned trips, you will oftentimes ended up traveling further than you should have. Carpool with friends is another great idea. So is taking public transportation. Gas companies produce different grades of gas. Premium grade gas is very expensive and do not usually provide you the equivalent of premium price you pay for. Stick with the Regulars.

Also, get yourself a magnetic gas saver. It has helped millions of people all over the world saving gas. Those who have tried will tell you this is a miracle device that you cannot live without. It gives you a fighting chance against the escalation of gas prices. This device usually is sold at less than $30 and is truly value for money.

Follow these simple steps and I know you'll be able to see the world for free! See you in Bali next year!

Mandy E Woods is an expert in Energy Saving devices and an associate with

Find out more about Fuel Saver from

Best Gas Mileage - Improve Your Gas Mileage

Does the cost of gas have you fuming at the pump? If carpooling and public transportation are not the answers for you, you'll be happy to know there are ways to improve your fuel economy no matter what type of car you are driving.

Here are some good habits to practice for better gas mileage, from XenT

* Drive safely. Aggressive driving wastes gas fast. Hard braking or jackrabbit takeoffs can waste gas and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

* Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gas you waste and the more money you lose at the pump. Each mile per hour you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 10 cents per gallon, according to DOE.

* Keep it covered. Your gas cap, that is. About 17 percent of cars have missing or damaged gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

* Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter chokes off the air and causes too much gas to be burned for the amount of air. This wastes gas and causes your engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

* Shed the pounds. Using a loaded roof rack or trunk increases fuel consumption. Remove all unnecessary weight.

* Treat your engine right. Using a synthetic engine treatment, like XenTx Extreme Engine Treatment, is a great way to get better gas mileage. XenTx in your vehicle will reduce friction. Lower friction means your engine can produce more power with less effort. It has also shown to increase horsepower and torque and extend the life of your oil changes.

* Maintain good tire pressure. Driving with tires that aren't inflated properly can cost you a mile or two per gallon.

* Replace spark plugs. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug can cause misfiring, which wastes fuel.

* Use the right grade of gasoline. Check your vehicle owner's manual to find out whether your car will run fine on regular grade. Regular grade fuel costs 10 percent less than premium grade.

Dave Marcis is a retired champion NASCAR racecar driver. He has scored five Winston Cup victories. For more information, go to www.XenT - NU

Best Gas Mileage - How to Improve Your Gas Mileage in You Car

Best Gas Mileage - Tips to Improving Gas Mileage For Your Cleaning Business

Best Gas Mileage - Discover Credit Cards: A Look At The Top 3

Although Visa and MasterCard might be the forerunners of the credit card industry, Discover card has been increasing in popularity over the last decade or so. Except for student credit cards, most Discover cards have a comparatively low APR, and they never have an annual fee. They have also been commended for customer service and for fraud prevention. With more than 50 million cardholders and more than 4 million merchant locations, Discover is proving their critics wrong. When they first opened in the early 90's, their competition scoffed and it didn't look as though they would make it in the credit card industry. They were hoping to brand a new trend in credit cards, and they have succeeded after years of marketing and communication.

Here are three popular Discover credit cards:

The Miles Card from Discover Card

The Miles Card is one of the most versatile frequent flier credit cards in that it allows you to earn miles as well as gift certificates or cash back. Customers earn one mile for every dollar spent, and can choose how they want to redeem their points.

Discover recently increased the bonus miles card holders can earn with the Miles Card to 12,000. On both purchases and balance transfers, the introductory rate is 0%. There are no blackout dates and miles can be redeemed both online and over the phone. In addition, you can redeem your points for flights on any airline. Discover might not offer some of the fringe benefits that accompany Visa and MasterCard credit cards, but they make up for it in rewards.

Discover Platinum Gas Card

With gas prices rising nearly every day, many consumers are turning to gas rebate cards to offset the amount they're spending at the pump. Gas rebate cards, such as the Discover Platinum Gas Card, offer cash back rewards for every dollar you spend at gas stations.

The Discover gas rebate card is singularly unique because of its double-reward program. Typically, customers earn 5% cash back on all purchases at gas stations, but if you redeem your cash back rewards with select merchants, you receive double the original amount. Discover offers a 0% introductory APR of 0%, which applies to both purchases and balance transfers.

Customers also enjoy 0% fraud liability and free online Bill Pay. This card does require excellent credit, however, and they do have a minimum spending limit to receive the full 5% cash back. This card has a $50,000 credit limit.

Discover Gold Card

The Discover Gold card is one of the oldest Discover credit cards, and is still popular today. Like the platinum card, the Gold card allows customers to earn up to 5% cash back on purchases at select merchants and the cash back doubles if used within the Discover Merchant Network.

Customers can choose between three unique card faces and enjoy 0% fraud liability. Stores within the Discover Merchant Network include Red Lobster, Sharper Image and the Sunglass Hut. As with most Discover cards, there is a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the Gold card.

The Gold card requires a good credit rating and there is a minimum spending limit in order to receive the full 5% cash back rewards. The card offers up to $25,000 in auto rental insurance coverage and up to $500,000 in travel accidental death insurance.

Discover Card is the newest credit card company, but it is growing in popularity as they continue to offer excellent customer service and valuable rewards programs. Take a look at our top three Discover cards and choose the one that works for you.

Click here to find Discover Credit Cards. Ed Vegliante runs www.Credit-Card-S a credit card directory helping consumers to compare and apply for credit cards.

Best Gas Mileage - Fight High Gas Prices By Improving Your Car's Fuel Efficiency

Not everyone buys their cars based on the car fuel efficiency alone, but it would be safe to presume that it is one of the foremost considerations.

It is much more than a mere technical obsession. The running cost of the car, not to mention the maintenance aspect, depends solely on the car fuel efficiency.

One of the very first questions that car users ask each other is, "What is your car fuel efficiency?" And naturally! Everyone who drives a car is bound to be concerned about car fuel efficiency.

Most people whine and cry about their car fuel efficiency, but seldom do little else! People believe that it is the responsibility of the car manufacturer or the mechanic to keep the car performing at its optimum efficiency. But little do they realize that there is a whole lot that they themselves can do to ensure their car fuel efficiency.

If you drive on a very low gear for instance when a higher gear would work just as well, it is natural that the fuel efficiency will drop. So learning to understand the efficiency levels of driving and following them well will go a long way in ensuring car fuel efficiency.

For one thing, they can drive carefully and in accordance with the manual for efficiency. The car manual exists for a reason. And that is to ensure that the gear changes and the driving speeds work in tandem to give your car the maximum fuel efficiency.

Another way to increase the fuel efficiency is to use the air conditioning in the car only when it is absolutely critical. This way, not only can you make your car go longer on lesser fuel, but you can also ensure that your battery life is enhanced.

So remember to drive with your windows open for the purpose of ventilation rather than close all windows and set the air conditioning on full blast. It is a matter of dollars and sense!

Still another way to ensure that your car is fuel efficient is to ensure that you have filled your tires to the optimum level. If your tires are not filled with enough air, the friction levels increase dramatically.

When this happens, it takes more power for the car to move the same distance than say, when the tires are filled to the optimum level and make the car travel along smoother. Although this is clearly specified in the manual, not many people pay heed to it. Following these simple steps will surely increase your car fuel efficiency.

Learn how to increase yourcar fuel efficiency.

Best Gas Mileage - Increasing Gas Mileage Products

With the steady increase in gasoline prices, everybody is looking for a way to save money at the pump. Some will drive miles out of their way to save 3 cents on the gallon--about a 1% savings for today's prices. Still others try to walk, bike, or take public transportation more--but that isn't an option for everybody. So, people are looking at increasing gas mileage products as a means of saving money.

What are some of the increasing gas mileage products and how can you use them? Some of the products are air filters that go into the car's air flow system to make your engine work more efficiently. Some popular products are the Fuel Genie and the Tornado Fuel Saver. These increasing gas mileage products claim to work by improving the air circulation in the engine and thereby making a better fuel air mixture. Their up to 28% savings in gas is backed by a 120 day money back guarantee.

Other fuel saving products are chemicals that go right into the engine's fuel tank. Some products work by cleaning the fuel system and others work by altering the fuel's chemical mixture. STP, for example, has a complete line of engine cleaning systems to clean and maintain the engine. These products prevent deposits from building up on the fuel injectors, carburetors, and combustion chambers, thus increasing efficiency and cutting back on loss of power. Some products, such as GTA Fuel Enhancer, alter the fuel in order to make the fuel burn more efficiently. Whatever the reasoning behind the different products, their main goal is the same: to burn fuel more efficiently to save money, and incidentally, reduce emissions and pollution.

These products are easy to use. Simply add the increasing gas mileage products into your tank before you fill it up. If using on consecutive tanks, of gas, just make sure to run the tank almost to empty, as the products are designed for a specific number of gallons of gasoline. Many of the additives require 1 or more fuel tank fill ups to reach their maximum potential, though you could start seeing payback in fuel costs immediately.

So, the next time you're at the auto parts store, consider picking up some increasing gas mileage products. They're easy to use, many will also help you prevent excessive pollution from chemical waste, and they could pay for themselves in gas money!

Articlewriter makes it easy to learn about gas mileage. More articles can be found at

Best Gas Mileage - Why Gas Prices Go Up and Down

There are five primary factors that effect the price you pay for gas at the pump. Prices generally increase when the world crude oil market lowers their inventories. Also, when demand exceeds refinery capacity gas prices increase.

The first factor that makes up the price of gas at your local station is crude oil suppliers. This makes up about 59% of the price you pay for gas and it is determined by the world's oil-exporting countries, particularly OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The amount of crude oil that these countries produce determines the price per barrel of oil.

The next factor that effects gas prices is the cost of refining the crude oil. This makes up about 10% of the total price of gas.

The third factor is the cost of transporting the crude oil to a refinery, then the refined gas to a distribution point and finally to your local gas station. If you are buying a brand name of gasoline, the cost that company spends in

marketing the or brand will also be added to the price you pay to buy from that brand. This makes up around 11% of the total price.

The forth factor accounts for about 20% of the total cost of gas, and it includes federal and local taxes. State, local and city taxes vary, accounting for some of the fluctuation you may see in gas prices in different geographical areas.

The fifth factor is the markup at your local gas station. Obviously your local gas station is in business to make money and has employees to pay. So you know that they must make money on every gallon of gas they sell. You may be surprised however to learn that the amount is generally not more than 10 cent and may be as low as a penny per gallon! Some states do have laws governing station markup and require a minimum percentage markup to protect small stations from being put out of business by larger companies

who may want to undercut them.

Lisa Beers is an expert in increasing gas mileage for

any vehicle. To contact her or find out more about

increasing your gas mileage visit:

Best Gas Mileage - Save Money On Gas

I'm the owner of an auction website and work full time in a blue

collar job, so what makes me an expert in gas saving tips? For

the past 12 years I've been driving an average of 30,000 miles a

year. That's a lot of money spent on gas and whatever amount

can be saved definitely adds up over time.

The biggest way to save on gas is to consider a change in your

daily driver. I recently traded in my V6 Honda Accord for a 4

cylinder Civic. This one change alone saves me approxiately $55

a month in gas and at the same time lowered my monthly car

payment $64. Combined that is a savings of $119 a month. I also

have the advantage of starting with a brand new car again and no

maintance fees for another 2 years.

When traveling along your daily route observe the price per

gallon at the different stations. Many people don't shop around

and you would be surprised how much the prices flucuate from

one station to another. My daily commute takes me through two

different states, one state being much lower in price due to

lower taxes on gasoline. Plan your fuel fillups so you can

fillup everytime at the lowest prices.

Two words, car pool. This will be a huge savings. Check around

at work and see who lives in your area. If there isn't anyone

you can post messages in the local supermarkets, churches, etc

and seek out others who commute to the same area that you do.

In addition to the huge savings in reduced fuel usage you will

save a ton of miles on your car. Another plus would be if you

travel through tolls. Not only will you pay half the time,

but when you do pay, you will pay at a reduced toll rate

because of your car pool.

Your driving habits make a difference in your mpg's. Try to

leave 5 minutes earlier and stay as close to the speed limit as

possible. Slowing down will add miles to your tank and make your

journey a safer one. On long, level steady roads turn on your

cruise control. This "luxury" contraption will keep your car

engine at a steady pace, taking away the flucuations in speed,

improving your gas mileage.

I know these tips if followed will increase your mileage and

lower your fuel costs. They do for me no matter what the gas

price is. Drive safe and always wear your seatbelt!

About the Author: Joseph Garrio works in law enforcement and

owns his own auction and shopping website where you can buy

or sell items from your home. Visit it at