Ask the Money Coach: 10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Gas for Your Car

If you’re like me, you’ve definitely noticed that you’re paying higher prices at the pump to fill up your car.

In fact, gas prices have edged higher in the past two weeks in October, with the average price for regular gasoline now at $3.46 per gallon, That’s up 64 cents a gallon from a year ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Even more dismaying, some experts say gas prices in 2012 won’t decline.

Since we’re all trying to save a buck, here are 10 easy ways you can save money on gasoline:

1: Consider an “off brand” gasoline station.

You may be used to buying gas only from Chevron, ExxonMobil, or some other well-known oil company. But many experts will tell you that gas is gas. For example, experts at AAA in California did blind testing of “brand name” gas versus “off brand” gas and found no difference.

They tested samples of each type of gas for fuel economy; emissions; performance and drivability — and they were exactly the same. Unlike a few decades ago when cheaper gas was harmful to your car and its performance, that’s not the case today. Why? Regulations requiring cleaner, better-performing fuel apply to nearly all gas companies. So that no-name station offering gas that’s 10 cents or cheaper per gallon may be worth a try.