(This is part of Take Charge of Your Money , a partnership between INQUIRER.net and Citibank to help readers handle their personal finances well.)

Question: I am one of the thousands of people who live in Quezon City but work in Makati City. That means I drive some 20 kilometers to work every day, and that's just one way. I tried commuting but it's impossible during rush hour. With the price of gasoline going up, travel to and from work makes a huge dent in my budget. Is there any relief in sight for us? – Josephine P.

Answer: A few weeks ago, it was reported in the news that oil fetched a price of more than $130 per barrel. The price has already risen by 40 percent this year, and market analysts do not expect the trend to reverse anytime soon.

Concerns about the supply of oil for the long term in the world market have been driving up prices. As a result, the price of gasoline and almost everything else have been rising too.

We do not know what the future may bring, but it would be wise to expect the worst: prices of gasoline and other commodities may continue to rise.

Your gasoline expense incurred in going to and from work every day may at least be P4,000 a month (P200 a day x five times a week x four weeks) since you’re traveling from Quezon City to Makati City. If your car has a bigger engine, you may be using up more gas, thus spending more.

In a year, you’re probably spending at least P48,000 on gasoline alone. If things do not get better, expect this figure to increase this year.

Here are some tips that can help:

1. If you can, downsize and use a car with a smaller engine, particularly a 1.3-liter engine. It will use up less gas than, say a car with a 2.0 liter engine. Cars with automatic transmission use up more gas too.

2. Consider switching to diesel or LPG gas for cars. This may involve selling your car and getting another one. Weigh the cost.

3. How about carpool? You’re not the only one driving to Makati from Quezon City every day. As you said there are thousands of you. Find two or three people working in your building who would be open to having a carpool service. You may even share driving duties, which should be a welcome relief given the daily traffic jam.

4. Have your car regularly maintained. Go for scheduled tune-ups, check if your tires are inflated properly (check the guide in your car manual or the sticker by the driver’s door for the correct tire pressure), and make sure filters are clean. A well-maintained car will work efficiently and contribute to fuel economy.

5. Plan your trips. If you’re going to one area, do all your errands there. With this strategy, you won’t have to go on short out-of-the-way trips after work every day. For instance, if you have to go to the mall to buy a schoolbag for your child, you might as well do other things there such as grocery shopping, banking, having a haircut, meeting a friend for coffee, etcetera. This will also maximize your parking fee.

6. When driving, avoid idling the engine too long. If you have to wait in the car while your companion goes to a store, turn the engine off.

7. Maintain a steady speed while driving. Driving too fast then braking hard wastes gas.

8. Wait out the traffic. If you can, wait until traffic gets lighter. Find something to do while waiting for the rush hour to end—you can go to the gym, read a book, or meet with friends. Ask your boss if you can work flexible hours. You can come in at 7 a.m. and leave at 4 p.m. or work at 10 a.m. and leave at 7 p.m. An even better option is telecommuting.

9. Lighten up the trunk. More weight in your car trunk will make your car work harder, using up more gas.

10. At the gas pump, don’t top off the tank. The excess gas may spill and will amount to waste. Just stop filling at the automatic level.

11. When parking, choose a shady spot to prevent gas from evaporating under the heat.

12. Fill up your tank in the morning or evening when the air is cooler. At midday, gas may expand due to the heat and you will end up getting a lesser amount of gas.

13. Do you use a credit card to pay for gasoline purchase? Switch to one that gives fuel rebates and shop for the best rebate offer.

14. Bargain for gasoline allowance as an additional employee benefit. It doesn’t hurt to try asking your boss for this benefit as long as you have been turning in good work consistently.

15. Consider living closer to your place of work. You may either relocate to Makati or find a job closer to home. Not only will you save gas; you will also be less tired with a shorter commute every day.

(INQUIRER.net and Citibank invite readers to ask questions regarding financial matters. Send your questions to personal_finance@inquirer.net or comment through our personal finance blog called MoneySmarts )

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