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[feline groovy]

Some great advice.

Although some people won't take it since they love to complain. 

'Be prepared for months of these high prices': How to save money as gas prices smash records

USA TODAY      March 7, 2022

Got sticker shock at the gas pump? You're not alone.

The national average price for a regular gallon of gas topped an eye-popping $4 a gallon for the first time in more than a decade as fuel costs soar over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

According to data from popular fuel-saving app GasBuddy, the US national average set a new all-time record Monday: $4.104 a gallon, wiping out 2008's record of $4.103 a gallon.

In a sign of the times, the GasBuddy app, overwhelmed by traffic from bargain-hunting drivers, was inaccessible off and on Monday. 

"The higher prices this time will likely stay around far longer," GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan tweeted.

Americans will be paying stratospheric prices at the pump for the foreseeable future, according to Jack Gillis, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America.

“Consumers need to hunker down and be prepared for months of these high prices,” Gillis told USA TODAY.

Here are some easy tips on how to save money at the gas pump.

Find the cheapest gas near you with GasBuddy, AAA apps

Gas prices can vary as much as 10 cents to 15 cents a gallon even within a few blocks or miles. Use apps such as GasBuddy, Gas Guru and the AAA Mobile App to find the lowest gas prices wherever you are. You can also check Waze.

“There are clear price differences within most people’s driving range to find the least expensive gas in your neighborhood,” Gillis said.

Fill up at Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart and Kroger's 

Wholesale club stores Costco and Sam’s Club and grocery stores such as Kroger’s offer discounted gas. Typically, you need to buy a membership or enroll in a discount program. Using the Walmart app, Walmart+ members get a 5 cents a gallon discount and access to member prices at Sam's Club.

Pay in cash at the pump

You can save 5 to 10 cents a gallon when you pay in cash. That can add up over time, averaging about $1 in savings each time you fill up a 12-gallon tank, according to GasBuddy. But beware of gas stations that charge a surcharge for using a credit card because they may charge higher prices.

Get points, cash back from credit cards

GasBuddy says most people prefer to pay with a credit card. Less than 6% of drivers pay with cash when they fill up their tanks, a GasBuddy study found. Gas cards and gas rewards credit cards provide much larger discounts than cash.

Check to see if your credit card has any deals on gas purchases. Some will give you double points or cash back. For example, you can get 3% cash back at gas stations with the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express. One of the best is the Sam's Club Mastercard will give you 5% cash back on gas, up to $6,000.

You can compare credit cards with the best gas perks at Bankrate. One caveat: credit cards that offer discounts for gas purchases might not be the best option if you don’t pay off the balance each month. 

Sign up for gas loyalty programs

Sign up for loyalty programs and gas cards, GasBuddy recommends. Nearly all gas stations have a loyalty program. You can often link those rewards accounts to a gas card. 7-Eleven has a program that gives you a discount of 11 cents a gallon for the first seven fill-ups on all fuel grades.

Best time of day and week to buy gas

According to GasBuddy, the best day to save money at the pump is Monday which has the lowest average gas prices in most of the country. The most expensive days in most states? Thursday followed by Wednesday.

“Though there is variation in daily gas prices across different states, the consensus is that filling up at the beginning or end of the work week, on Monday or Friday, is the best way to save money. Following Monday, Sunday is the cheapest day to fill-up,” Gas Buddy's De Haan said. 

GasBuddy estimates you can save $50 to $100 a year by filling up on the cheapest days of the week. You can check the GasBuddy site for the cheapest and most expensive days of the week for your state.

Theoretically you might save a little extra by filling your tank in the morning or evening. (Gasoline is denser when temperatures are cooler). But GasBuddy says the savings would probably be “marginal.”

Earn free gas cards

You can earn free gas gift cards by taking surveys for apps like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, but be prepared to spend a good deal of time and to hand over a lot of personal information such as your age, job, income and shopping habits.

Improve fuel efficiency

“The way you drive can have a real impact on your fuel efficiency,” Gillis said. "It's amazing how so many of us still drive with one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas." 

Yet that kind of behavior behind the wheel can reduce fuel efficiency by 30%, he said. We could save $1.42 a gallon at today’s gas prices if we just cut it out.

Don’t speed. Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%, according to AAA. 

Also don’t brake hard or aggressively accelerate as all of those burn gas faster, GasBuddy says. Turn off your A/C and roll down the windows. 

Keep up with vehicle maintenance and do routine inspections, AAA says. Make sure your tires are properly inflated.

Travel light: Take anything you don’t need out of your vehicle. For every 100 pounds you carry around, you lose 1% to 2% in fuel efficiency, or 8 cents a gallon, according to Gillis.

Fill your tank with regular, not premium 

If regular gas is all that’s recommended for your vehicle, then that’s all you need, AAA says. Filling up on premium doesn’t improve your fuel economy and just costs you more money.

Drive less

Plan ahead. Map your route before you leave, AAA recommends. Take the most fuel-efficient route on Google Maps. Combine errands to avoid extra trips.

Avoid rush hour and anticipate road conditions.

Shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute. According to AAA, a car engine consumes one quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling. A warm engine only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. 

When possible, car pool, ride a bike, or take public transportation.

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[Kachina624]

Some people literally have money to burn and don't care how much expensive gas they use.  I feel sorry for those with long commutes who can't car pool.  They have no choice and it will really hurt them.  I use very little gas and only fill up about once every 3-4 months, maybe longer.

[CoffeeNut]

Yesterday SamsClub had their gas 40 cents cheaper than anyone here in town.  There was a huge and I mean huge traffic jam of cars.  They were blocking the entrance and intersections. 

[fthunt]

Those big Big SUV's might be having second thoughts... those that tower over all other vehicles in a mall parking lot.

Those must swallow plenty....................(gas of course)

[Duckncover]

When you see the long lines, you know the gas is cheaper...but saving 5 cents a gallon isn't worth it to me if it means I have to idle in a line for half an hour.

[elated]

With high gas prices, everything will go higher than it is. Wheat has risen from $255 per bushel to $850. So, we know how to save some on gas prices but our pocket books will be very lite after all these increases. Very sad what has happened.

[Dar321]

Thanks for posting. My family is struggling already, but at least another country isn't isn't invading my neighborhood. 

[Snowpuppy]

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@fthunt wrote:

Those big Big SUV's might be having second thoughts... those that tower over all other vehicles in a mall parking lot.

Those must swallow plenty....................(gas of course)

---

I got one of them. Need it to haul stuff and 4WD here is a must. It's paid for, been paid for and ins is cheap.

It'll cost more to commute when/if we're called back to the office.

This too, like 2008 will pass.

[spumoni99]

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@Snowpuppy wrote:

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@fthunt wrote:

Those big Big SUV's might be having second thoughts... those that tower over all other vehicles in a mall parking lot.

Those must swallow plenty....................(gas of course)

---

I got one of them. Need it to haul stuff and 4WD here is a must. It's paid for, been paid for and ins is cheap.

It'll cost more to commute when/if we're called back to the office.

This too, like 2008 will pass.

---

Exactly everyone forgets about 2008.

[Queen of shop]

@feline groovy  Thanks for posting these tips. Maybe it will help some younger people here. As for me, I lived through the odd even license plate gas rationing of the 70's. I did my college homework on those lines.

Having been through that, it became my lifestyle that some of the posted tips have mentioned. I always map out my route around town and only do errands once a week.

As history has shown us, the prices will go down again. I don't get sticker shock anymore. I don't complain either. It is what it is. The early 2000's rocked high gas prices also. Having said that, I am grateful that I have a car and the ability to buy gas.

It's funny how QVC tells us that for the price of one latte, we can get an item home on easypay. Same applied to me in the 70's with gas prices. Starbucks OR QVC weren't even invented yet. So as an end result, I have NEVER been in a Starbucks to this day and I give great respect and thought to my money with easypay. I don't use it. If I can't pay for something I want, I figure I don't need it.

In the 70's I would get a cup of coffee or tea at a sweetshop. Tea was 10 cents and coffee was 15 cents. Doesn't sound like a lot but at time it was if you did it daily. There was also no bottled water like we see everyone carry around nowadays. I had a small thermos and used that for coffee in the morning and rinsed it out at lunch and filled it with water. There is always a solution. My saved dimes paid for the gas increase.

I wasn't raised poor. I was raised to use my common sense.

Good luck to everyone getting their gas. It will change back again. Trust