The gas tank is nearly empty, begging to be filled, and the nearest gas station charges an arm and a leg. Your wallet is losing the battle against gas prices.
For some students at UB, it is becoming necessary to stretch their gas mileage and save some money at the pump.
"I drive an SUV, and I spend at least $60 a week in gas to get here," said Rich Brydalski, a senior history major from Hamburg, a Buffalo suburb about 25 minutes south of campus.
With such a long commute, dishing out that kind of cash isn't a choice for Brydalski.
"It's not an option, there's nothing I can do," he said. "I have to get to school, school is important."
Brydalski said he avoids hefty gas bills by using his girlfriend's car, which has better gas mileage, whenever possible. Additionally, he works a mile from his home, which also alleviates the pressure of high gas costs.
Bill Olesiuk, a freshman economics major who drives home to Rochester every weekend, has resorted to using public transportation.
"I used to drive when I went down to South Campus, now I take the shuttle," he said.
Junior communication major Kristina Aquilino said she used to be able to fill her gas tank with $20, but now it takes almost $30.
"I don't go out as much and try to get other people to drive me around," she said.
Andrew Tarnowski, sophomore political science and music major, said he scouts out the cheapest gas stations, namely the Indian Reservation near his home in Lewiston. His car is also fuel-efficient.
"I drive a Ford Tempo, which gets 20 miles to the gallon," he said.
For such cash-starved students, there are further ways to improve gas mileage and waste less money on gas.
According to www.fueleconomy.gov, by simply staying within posted speed limits and slowly decelerating and accelerating - instead of rapidly starting and stopping - gas mileage can be improved by as much as 33 percent. Driving at high speeds at longer distances eats more gas.
Keeping cars in tune by regularly changing the oil, as well as checking and replacing air filters and spark plugs, can improve mileage by as much as 4.1 percent. They also suggest that tires should be kept properly inflated to avoid road resistance.
According to the site, using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil and avoiding peak rush hours, which can make commutes longer, using up more gas, is another way to save on fuel costs.
Carting around extra items that weigh 100 pounds or more can reduce gas mileage by as much as one to two percent. It also recommends that motorists rid themselves of things like the roof rack and last year's garage sale finds.
Grabbing a bucket of water and a sponge and keeping cars squeaky clean improves aerodynamics.
The Web site www.ftc.gov recommends avoiding topping off the gas tank because in the heat it will expand, causing it to overflow. And using cruise control will help to maintain a constant speed.
When possible, rely on air vents to circulate air instead of air conditioning, which sucks up gas.
According to www.faqfarm.com, preventing excessive idling and combining errands into a single car trip can also save on gas.
The Web site www.get-cheap-gas.com recommends paying for gas with a rebate credit card, which can save up to 10 percent on every gas purchase - look into the Discover Gas Card.
It is recommended that motorists fill up with non-brand name gas in the morning, when the temperature is cooler and the gas hasn't yet expanded.
If the cost of your next long distance road trip has you worried, go to
www.fuelcostcalculator.com to figure out the miles, gallons and fuel cost it will take to get there.
In the meantime, count out the pennies from your piggy bank and dream that your car ran on electricity.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
