If you’ve filled up your vehicle recently, you probably noticed something that’s hard to ignore: gas is expensive again. Too expensive actually.
And this isn’t just a feeling. It is real!
According to Statistics Canada, gasoline prices were 22.8% higher in August 2026 than they were a year earlier. Transportation prices overall were up 7.5% year over year.
There are plenty of reasons for this. Gasoline prices are influenced by crude oil prices, refining capacity, seasonal demand, geopolitical events, taxes and even the Canadian dollar. Many of those factors are completely outside our control.
But here’s the thing about budgeting:
You don’t necessarily have to control the price to control the expense. If gas costs more, there are really only two things you can do: pay less per litre or use fewer litres.
I’ve written about gas savings before on BudgetSense. In fact, one of the simplest changes I’ve personally made was to drive less. By combining errands, coordinating family activities and eliminating some unnecessary driving, I was able to reduce my weekly driving by roughly 10–20%. My annual mileage eventually fell by about 18%.
With gas prices once again putting pressure on household budgets, here are seven things you can do
Here are 7 actionable tips and steps to cut gas costs, aligned with the core philosophy of BudgetSense.ca-focusing on financial efficiency, smart tracking, and small habits that compound into major savings:
1. Maintain Optimal Tire Pressure (The 4% Efficiency Boost)
Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, forcing your engine to burn significantly more fuel just to keep the vehicle moving. Checking your tire pressure once a month and keeping them inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI can improve fuel efficiency by up to 4%. It is one of the simplest, zero-cost maintenance habits you can adopt. Start with this since it is the easiest to implement.
2. Consolidate and Batch Trips
This is one I have come to master. Instead of running several standalone errands throughout the week, combine them into single, efficient trips. Cold starts burn more fuel because the engine takes time to reach its optimal operating temperature. By planning your routes and batching errands-grocery shopping, bank visits, and pharmacy stops-in one loop, you eliminate unnecessary cold starts and drastically reduce total mileage driven.
3. Track Mileage and Driving Trends
As highlighted on BudgetSense, keeping a log of your odometer readings (monthly or annually) creates visibility around your driving habits. When you measure how many kilometers you drive, you become much more mindful of optional trips. Cutting unneeded driving not only saves fuel at today’s high pump prices, but also reduces wear and tear and protects your car’s resale value.
4. Smooth Out Your Acceleration & Avoid Hard Braking
Aggressive driving-rapid acceleration, speeding, and abrupt stops-can lower your gas mileage by up to 15% to 30% on the highway. Drive with a gentle foot, coast toward red lights when safe, and use cruise control on highway stretches to maintain a consistent speed.
5. Clear Out Unnecessary Trunk Weight
Carrying extra items in your vehicle adds dead weight that directly impacts fuel economy. For every extra 100 lbs in your car, fuel efficiency drops by roughly 1–2%. Take 10 minutes to clean out your trunk, removing unnecessary gear, sports equipment, or tools that don’t need to be in the vehicle daily.
6. Leverage Gas Price Apps and Cash-Back Rewards
Don’t buy fuel on impulse at the nearest station. Use fuel-tracking apps (like GasBuddy or Tomorrow’s Gas Price Today) to find the cheapest stations along your normal route, and stack those savings with cash-back credit cards or loyalty programs. Saving 5 to 10 cents per liter might seem small on one tank, but over a year of fill-ups, it adds up to a noticeable sum.
7. Shift from “Cheapness” to Efficiency (Alternative Commuting)
Being resourceful isn’t about giving up comfort; it’s about making your money work smarter. Where possible, replace short vehicle trips with walking or biking, coordinate carpools for recurring commutes, or work remotely on designated days. Every trip you replace keeps cash directly in your pocket while reducing vehicle maintenance. If you drive to downtown, consider taking the subway, as it would likely cost less, not to mention saving you all the traffic.
In fact, I encourage you to make these part of your driving routine, even when gasoline prices aren’t as high as they are today. Because even when prices come down, sooner or later they’ll come back up when the next crisis hits. Unless, of course, you decide to switch to an electric car—but that wouldn’t necessarily be a much cheaper alternative.