SOURCE: Second Rotation

 

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - August 28, 2008) - With gas prices hovering at nearly $4 a gallon and no immediate relief in sight, the best solution is for consumers to cut corners where they can. There are a few undiscovered tricks to help reduce the pain at the pump -- whether it's finding unique ways to earn a little extra gas money or adding new resources to your routine to cut costs or conserve fuel. Here are some useful tips to help ease this economic crunch:

• Earn cash for gas - Gazelle (www.gazelle.com) offers a fast, safe, practical way for people to get cash for selling back their used consumer electronics -- and now help people find out exactly how much gas money they can earn for their unwanted items with the Gadgets for Gas (http://www.gazelle.com/gadgets_for_gas) calculator. For example, a Motorola Razor amounts to 5.2 gallons of gas!

• Advertise for free gas - Some companies have begun paying people to turn their cars into moving billboards -- to subsidize high gas costs. Learn if you qualify at FreeGasHelp.com (http://www.freegashelp.com/).

• Barter for gas - Haggle for free gas, there's an entire movement of people who purchase anything and everything through trade programs. Get the inside scoop via BarterNews (http://www.barternews.com/how_to_barter_for_transportation.htm).

• Find the best prices - Use a free online service to find where the cheapest pumps are located. Get up-to-date prices from GasBuddy (http://www.gasbuddy.com) and GasPriceWatch (http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.asp).

• Gas-rebate credit cards - Gas station rewards programs can take the edge off soaring prices -- some credit cards offer up to 10% in rebates. See a comparison to learn which program works best for you (http://www.rewardprograms.org/types/gas-station.html).

• Ask for gas money - Driving friends to the mall, the movies and the club is getting increasingly costly, ask them to pitch in or find alternative incentives. Read a few off-the-cusp ideas here: http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=cd&story=cd_gas&subject=cd_trip.

• Win free gas cards - There are tons of promotions giving away gas cards as the prize. Google "win gas card" and there will be an entire list of contests and to enter such as Free Gas Giveaway (http://freegas.prizevillage.com) and Good Housekeeping's sweepstake worth $2,500 (http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/sweepstakes/5000).

• Buy gas on the right day - Typically gas prices go up on Thursdays after 10 a.m., so be sure fill up before the weekend demand is high. Read more tips on the best days to buy items here: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/103216/the-cheapest-days-to-buy-certain-items.

• Hypermiling - Learn fuel efficient driving tricks to help you beat your car's EPA rating to maximize fuel economy. Search resources like Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermiling) to become educated on hypermiling techniques such as avoiding braking and maintenance tips.

• Track Gas Mileage - Gain insight into your car's fuel efficiency by answering a few simple questions about your driving behaviors. Both My Mile Marker (http://mymilemarker.com/) and Fuel Frog (http://www.fuelfrog.com/) will help you track your car's fuel economy, the change in gas prices and how much you spend.

Whether you agree with John McCain, Barack Obama or Paris Hilton's hybrid approach to relieving oil dependence, Americans are hoping that changes at the pump come soon after the November Presidential elections.

ABOUT SECOND ROTATION

Founded in 2006, Second Rotation, the company behind Gazelle (www.gazelle.com), is committed to providing an easy, fast and safe way for consumers to get cash for selling back their used consumer electronic(s) and/or recycle them in an environmentally-friendly way. To date, thousands of consumers have used the service as a way to successfully clean out their closets, get cash and even help out a good cause -- all while being green. In addition, gazelle.com empowers consumers to avoid time consuming and risky online experiences that are a pain in the neck and benefit from the immediate insight that a fixed price for used items gives them -- as well as conveniences like free shipping and packaging. Consumers also rest assured that their personal information is kept exactly that -- personal, through a thorough data cleansing process. Based in Boston, Second Rotation is led by a group of successful entrepreneurs and consumer Internet veterans from companies like eBay, BuyerZone and Fairmarket and is backed by premier venture capital firm, Venrock.