The amount of gasoline, in millions of gallons,
that Americans burn a day—more than
a gallon for every man, woman, and child.
But there’s good news: New technology and old-fashioned common
sense can transform your driving
lifestyle and cut your costs in half, or
more. Here’s how.
Learn to Share
Typically touted as a transportation
alternative for the young and the car-
less, a car-sharing service that rents
vehicles by the hour or day makes
sense for older drivers, too—espe-
cially those who can combine it with
biking, walking, and mass transit.
Market leader Zipcar operates in 15
metropolitan areas and on more than
230 college campuses, and rental
giant Hertz recently launched a
similar program, Hertz on Demand.
About 12 percent of Zipcar’s 605,000
members are over 50—among them,
retired financial manager Patricia
Hogan, 74, of Cambridge, Massachu-
setts. Her annual car costs are now
about $1,400 a year, less than half of
what she once spent to keep her old
Toyota on the road. “I love driving,
but I wouldn’t own another car for all
the tea in China,” says Hogan.
Keep It Running
Gone are the days when many drivers
felt as if they needed to replace their
vehicle every few years: Today’s cars
“380” SOURCE: U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION; ENVELOPE SOURCE: ROYAL CARIBBEAN, EPA, BOEING, AMTRAK
FROM TOP: ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW HOLLISTER; ILLUSTRATION BY STEVE SANFORD (PHOTO: TED MORRISON STUDIO).
Back of the Envelope
*A vehicle’s mileage multiplied by the number of passengers traveling in the vehicle
HAVE FUN
BEING FRUGAL
Join the Savings Challenge and have a chance
to win prizes. Go to aarp.org/savingschallenge.
