When a new car comes out and we like it, we are mostly amazed by it’s great features, and beautiful body style.  Just last year we were hit by a huge problem.  Gas prices reached over $4.00 for the first time ever.  We were limited where we could drive because we didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg, jobs were switched to 4 days per week instead of 5, etc.  Gas prices really affect our lives and how much money we spend.

So, those amazing features and that beautiful body style are nice, but they may not be the top priority anymore when it comes to car.  There is no way to predict the future, so whether those prices will come back or not, we’re not sure.  Although, it’s important to keep that in the back of your head and see how it affects you.

How Gas Mileage Makes a Difference:

Lets say you make $3,000 each month being $36,000 a year.  Your car payment is $300 a month, and you pay $100 for insurance.  Therefore your car payment is $400 a month.  Although, that doesn’t include how much money you need to spend on maintaining it and gas money.

If gas were to reach $4.00 per gallon for a second time and your car gets 15 miles to the gallon, you’re going to have a problem.  Lets say your car holds 10 gallons.  So every time you fill up its’ going to be $40.00.  You will only be able to drive 150 miles per tank.  What if your job is 20 miles away, and you drive there and back?  That’s going to cost a fortune to do everyday. 

This only counts for going to work, what about all the daily errands that need to be ran?  It is safe to safe you will be paying a large part of your paycheck on your car.  Just the $400 a month to have it, plus who knows add another $200 in gas per month that really adds up and takes away from your saving money.

A car with bad gas mileage is foolish, and should be thought about for a second time.  Don’t let all your money go to gas.  Once again, who knows when those prices will be back or if they’ll be even $5 per gallon in the future!