"Gas Budget Prototype" MUST READ

Many of you may wonder how and what to do with the money you save on Hypermiling.  Even though integrating 3 mpg - 6 mpg saved due to great hypermiling skills, you may be surprised that it is a slight bit tricky to "see the money in your pocket".  This is a prototype, but i hope this will help put that money saved at the pump in your budget.

2 things:  1.  I am heavily influenced by approaches of Dave Ramsey towards budgeting.  Google him if you need help with these ideas.  It's really a great system.
2.  FORTUNATELY due to gas being low at the time of writing ($2.39 in my hometown) i am analyzing a Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.  Scenario 1 is where we are now.  Hypermiling is important but not as important as when gas is $4 a gallon or more.  Scenario 1 looks at what i call my "threshold" of pain before the price is up there.  that threshold is for now at $2.87  Since 2.87-2.39 = 48 cents, it is nice to be below that threshold of pain, and that means you can "save" about 48 cents/gallon.  More to come on budgeting, but an easy way to use that 48 cents is to put it into your savings account. 

SCENARIO 1:  Price of Gas:  $2.39
Money saved below threshold (which is $2.87) 48 cents/gallon

est 15 gallons of gas used per month means $7.20 / month saved due to "wonderfulness of being below threshold".

SCENARIO 2:  Hypermiling replaces threshold bonus
Price of Gas:  $4.00
Money saved below threshold ($2.87) is ZERO
Money saved hypermiling 3 mpg up to 6 mpg bonus = 4.4cents/gallon - 8.8cents/gallon

est 15 gallons of gas used per month means 66 cents- $1. 36  saved per month, no "wonderfullness" but due to Hypermiling techniques.

I compute the hypermiling bonus based on getting 27mpg avg. before hypermiling, then adding 3 mpg-6mpg is a 1.1-2.2% increase.

BUT MAD MAX, what if i'm in the middle?

The easy answer, is that you can compute a medium range, then "adjust to taste". 
7.20 /month + $1.10/month = 8.30  / 2 = $4.15/month saved, right around $3/gallon.

At any rate, saving $4 a month EXTRA based on what you already save monthly, AND I EMPHASIZE! based on DAVE RAMSEY PRINCIPLES, really adds up.

Conclusion:  saving money at the pump is a great way to realistically add savings to your monthly budget.