My last trip to the gas station cost me a whopping $55. I was in shock. That was until I read that the current national average is around $3.37 per gallon.
I know gas prices have been on the rise, but it seemed like one day I was paying $2.50 per gallon and the next more than $3. This is not good for morale (or my bank account), so I decided to do some research and see how we can save money on gasoline. Follow these three easy tips and you’ll be on the path to riches – or at least a more fuel-friendly freeway.
“There’s an app for that.”
Technology never ceases to amaze me. Not only can we now unlock our cars using our Smartphones, but we can also find the cheapest gas station no matter where we are. Check out Cheap Gas! for iPhone to help you find the cheapest gasoline nearest you and even map a route to the cheapest station. Another great app for iPhone, Android and Windows phones is GasBuddy, brought to you by the popular website, GasBuddy.com, which provides gas prices for your local stations.
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Get rewarded.While there are plenty of credit cards out there that help you earn rewards (Chase Freedom Visa and Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards to name a few), there’s another great loyalty program of which everyone should take advantage. The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest traditional supermarket retailer, and Shell, top-selling gasoline brand in the United States, have teamed up to launch a customer loyalty grocer rewards program that provides shoppers the opportunity to earn savings on fuel when using their Kroger loyalty card. Your savings will vary based on how much money you’ve spent at Kroger, but you can save up to 10 cents off per gallon for every 100 Fuel Points you earn simply by swiping your loyalty card at the register.
In addition to Kroger and Shell, a lot of gas stations offer rewards for your patronage. Check in with your local station or the one you tend to stop at most frequently to see if you can get rewarded for loyalty.
Be a better driver.
As if you needed another reason to stop tailing your fellow drivers, you’ll also be a more fuel-efficient driver if you follow these safe-driving practices:
- Keep your ride smooth. Don’t break or accelerate too quickly. If you’re in traffic, don’t speed up only to slam on your breaks.
- Avoid idling, which gets exactly 0 miles per gallon, stopping unnecessarily and driving at inconsistent speeds.
- Minimize air drag by reducing tops, racks and other dead weight.
For more tips and tools to help you save on all of life’s expenses, check out Quizzle.com, where you can get a personalized Debt Payoff Plan to help you get out of debt faster and save potentially thousands of dollars in interest. And check out these other great money-saving articles:
- Is Your Home Draining Your Wallet?
- 3 Ways to Boost Your Social Security Benefits
- 8 Money-Saving Tips for College Student
- I Need a Forklift to Carry My Keys… But I’m Saving Money
- Best Time to Buy Guide
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