‘Tis the season for holiday shopping, gatherings and a lot of travel that can add up if you are not careful. We want to help you save this holiday season with the following tips that can help traveling on a budget easier.

Be Aware of Your Driving Habits

How you drive can significantly affect how much you spend on gas as you travel for the holidays. Veteran road tripper Bob Schaller from RoadTrip America, recommends driving with fuel economy in mind to save money on gasoline. His road trip tips include holding a steady speed by using cruise control, and driving at a slower speed. Schaller says you can expect to save 10 to 20 percent on fuel costs. 

The holiday season also means colder temperatures, which can affect your fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage drops 12% at 20°F, compared to 77°F. When driving in colder conditions, it is recommended to use seat warmers and defrosters sparingly and regularly check your tire pressure.

Pack Light

If you want to save on holiday travel, try to pack your car as lightly as possible. Jason Lutterman, a communications specialist at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, says something as simple as remembering to clean out your trunk can save you money. According to Lutterman, every extra 100 pounds in your car decreases fuel economy by up to two percent. Before packing up the car for holiday travel, take out any non-essential items that will drag down your fuel economy.

Plan Ahead

In 2015, AAA projected that more than 46.9 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday. Of those travelers, 42 million would travel by car.

Karen Catchpole, co-creator of the Trans-Americas Journey road trip through the Americas and a contributor to Travel + Leisure Magazine recommends filling up your gas tank midweek when prices are often lower than they are on weekends.

Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs

Save on fuel this holiday season by joining the Fuel Rewards® program. As a Fuel Rewards® member you’ll save at least 3¢/gallon on every fill-up at participating Shell stations.* This year, your holiday shopping could save you even more money at the pump when you shop with participating retailers. It’s as simple as join, link, shop and save! Plus, from now until June 4, 2017, you can earn 10¢/gallon after every 8-gallon fill-up with Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline.** Visit fuelrewards.com and start saving today.

*Fill up at participating Shell stations with your registered Fuel Rewards® card of Alt ID to get 3¢/gal savings on that fill-up if your Fuel Rewards® savings balance is 2¢/gal or less. Use your Fuel Rewards® card or Alt ID to redeem your current Fuel Rewards® savings balance for accounts with 3¢/gal or more. Fuel savings are limited to 20 gallons of fuel per purchase, per vehicle, or fraud limits placed by Shell and/or limits placed on your payment card by your financial institution, each of which may be lower. Dispenser may require a price of up to 10.9 cents per gallon. For purchases of $75 or more, please go inside to pay. Unbranded diesel and alternative fuels may not be eligible. The Fuel Rewards® program is owned and operated by Excentus Corporation. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Not valid where prohibited by law. Please see fuelrewards.com for complete Fuel Rewards® program details and Terms and Conditions. Other restrictions may apply.

**Restrictions apply. To qualify for this offer you must 1) be a Fuel Rewards® member; 2) swipe your Fuel Rewards® card or enter your Alt ID when you fuel at a participating Shell station; and 3) purchase at least 8 gallons or more of Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline between June 6 and June 4, 2017. After every qualifying purchase, you will receive a 10¢/gal reward. It may not be possible to combine multiple discounts and/or rewards in a single transaction. Rewards will be added to your Fuel Rewards® account immediately after making a qualifying fuel purchase. The Fuel Rewards® savings earned through this offer expire on the last day of the month immediately following the month in which they are earned. Redeem Fuel Rewards® savings with your Fuel Rewards® card or Alt ID at participating Shell stations. Fuel savings are limited to 20 gallons of fuel per purchase, per vehicle, or fraud limits placed by Shell and/or limits placed on your payment card by your financial institution, each of which may be lower. Dispenser may require a price of up to 10.9 cents per gallon. For purchases of $75 or more, please go inside to pay. Unbranded diesel and alternative fuels may not be eligible. The Fuel Rewards® program is owned and operated by Excentus Corporation. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Not valid where prohibited by law. Please see fuelrewards.com for complete Fuel Rewards® program details and Terms and Conditions. Other restrictions may apply. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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