Here Are The Best Ways To Save Money On Gas

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Drivers trying to save money at the gas station can try many different ways to spend less of their hard-earned money each week.

The savings can add up quickly, helping commuters save hundreds of dollars a year that can be used to pay down debt or increase savings.

Here are 26 ways to save on gas bills.

3. Use Cash

Many gas stations give drivers discounts if they pay with cash instead of credit cards. Discounts are usually a few cents per gallon, but the savings add up when you drive a long way.

1. Fill up on Mondays

An analysis of GasBuddy’s fuel price data from 2014 to 2017 showed the lowest average gas prices on Monday.

2. Avoid Filling up on Thursday

Every Wednesday, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent statistical arm of the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., releases its weekly report, and if the data is unexpected or predicted, it could affect natural gas prices the next day.

4. Avoid Stations Near the Freeway

Gas stations near highways or main roads are handy, especially when they’re already empty. You pay for convenience, so fill it out carefully and try to fill it near you.

5. Fill up at Discount Warehouse Stores

Stores like Costco COST or Sam’s Club offer discounts for their members. Every penny counts.

6. Get a Credit Card From an Oil Company

Shell RDS and others. A and Chevron, CVX, have gas stations and also have gas cards. Bonuses from card issuers can help cover the cost.

7. Sign up for a Rewards Credit Card

Lending companies are competitive and eager to keep you in business. Some of them will offer nice rewards to lure you, like B. 10 cents a gallon for the first 90 days. Check when it ends.

8. Find Out When the Cashback Bonus Periods Are

Credit card issuers like Discover DFS offer seasonal cashback bonus periods to give you more money to spend at different retailers. For example, from April to June 30th, Discover will offer a 5% cash-back bonus when people start driving more for their weekend getaways.

9. Check Out Grocery Store Gas Stations and Offers

Grocery stores like Kroger KR offer rewards for using gas stations. Shoppers earn one gas point for every dollar they spend.

10. Buy Gift Cards

As the number of gift cards sold at grocery stores increases, it may be a good idea to stock up on gift cards throughout the year. At stores like Kroger, consumers earn twice as many fuel points for every dollar they spend.

11. Avoid Driving During Rush Hour

If you can occasionally skip traffic jams, you can increase your gas mileage. Stop-and-go traffic reduces the fuel efficiency of a vehicle.

12. Keep a Steady Speed

If you drive at the same speed, your car will use less fuel and save money. Changing your speed can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%.

13. Use Cruise Control

Use cruise control on the highway during your commute or weekend trip. Cruise control is a great way to maintain the same speed for hours.

14. Refrain From Higher Speeds

It’s tempting to drive at high speeds, especially when there’s less traffic. Vehicles are most economical when traveling between 30 and 50 miles per hour. Going over 80 km/h means you use more petrol, which costs you more money.

15. Don’t Idle Your Car or Truck

If you are waiting to pick up a friend, try not to leave your vehicle idle for more than a minute. The longer the car idles, the more fuel is wasted.

16. Check Your Tire Pressure

Experts recommend checking tire pressure monthly. If you forget, at least check when the seasons change. If your tires are underinflated, your car will use more fuel.

17. Remove Items From Your Car

It’s easy to leave heavier items like sports equipment in the trunk or back seat of your car. The less weight your car or truck can carry, the less fuel the vehicle uses and you save money.

18. Use Less Air Conditioning

It’s harder to save on gas when you live in a hot climate. The more you use the air conditioner, the more fuel your car uses. Just turning on the air conditioner can increase your fuel consumption by 20%.

19. Avoid Driving on Empty

Avoid it even if you think you can easily drive another 20 or 30 miles after the dash is empty. Your only option may be a gas station near the highway, which means you may need to pay an extra 10 cents a gallon to fill up. Your gas gauge could also be wrong, leaving you stuck.

20. Plan Your Route

You can save gas by driving less. Always running errands or doing chores at the last minute like dry cleaner pickup or lunch consumes more gas. Plan a route that lets you do several of these errands at once, rather than driving home or back to the office after doing one.

21. Spend Less Time Warming up Your Car

With newer models, drivers have to spend less time warming up the car. Just 30 seconds to a minute is enough. Plus, you’re just pumping unnecessary greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and wasting fuel.

22. Brake Less Often

Keep a normal distance from the car in front, especially during rush hour, so you can drive without braking. The more you brake, the more fuel is used. Avoid accelerating and braking too often.

23. Get a Tuneup

Have a mechanic check that your engine is running reliably. Perform maintenance at least once a year so your car uses fuel more efficiently and saves gas.

24. Buy New Filters

Have your mechanic install new filters for your oil and air conditioner regularly, especially if you live or work near areas with lots of construction sites, dirt roads, or a dry climate. A clean filter helps your car use the oil more efficiently.

25. Fill up Before You Reach Another State

Each state levies different tax rates. If you travel to another state, you could easily end up paying more because their government has a higher fuel tax.

26. Use Apps

Download apps that provide useful information like gas prices in different parts of the city so you can plan. GasBuddy.com provides real-time information from its database of over 150,000 front-yard convenience stores.

 

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