Ways to Cut Back on Gas

*Originally published on 2/24/11



With gas prices once again on the rise, drivers are forced to find ways to save money. It isn't easy. With a lagging economy, a higher expense is really the last thing people are looking for. Such is the way of life sometimes, and we just have to roll with the punches.

I'm lucky in that I don't have a commute. Even when I was working the night shift at a bakery, it was within walking distance, so driving to work has never been an issue for me. My other roommates, however, do have a commute and as such gasoline is needed.

The best solution in times like this is not to fill the tank, but to only put in a fixed amount's worth of gas in when you go to refill. Sadly, $10 doesn't get you very far when you're paying three bucks a gallon, so $15 or $20 will probably be a more accurate amount. Cash is also preferable, but if you must use a card, try to make it a debit card as opposed to a credit card.

I try to find deals. A lot of gas stations will have sort of sales to try and get you to buy gasoline from them. I remember that, for a while, Shell stations knocked a few cents off a gallon of gasoline on Tuesdays. It would not be surprising to find that other gas stations had similar incentives. Our local grocery store has a gas station and when you spend a hundred dollars and mark it with your store savings card, they will knock 10 cents off per gallon. This is what we've been doing most frequently.

We've also been cutting the dining trips. More often than not, we simply eat in. This saves money on two fronts, but it also makes each trip to the pump more worthwhile as we don't have to return as frequently. We've also cut our weekly trips to the comic book store out so that we don't burn as much gas.

For bookaholics, a great gas saver is an e-reader like a Kindle or Nook. Rather than make a trip out to your nearby bookstore, all you need to do is hit a couple of buttons and the book you want will be wirelessly delivered to your device.

Those without said device can still save gas by shopping online. If there's a movie, book, or CD that you want, just go online and order it. Have the product come to you.

If you do have a commute that forces you to drive frequently, another way to save gas is to fill up while you're en route to where ever it is that you're going. The less out of your way you have to go, the better. A lot of times, when driving to a destination, all you need to do to detour to a gas station is to make a left or right hand turn. Not only does this save you gasoline, by preventing you from making a separate venture, but it saves time as well as you don't have to make a drastic detour.

It may seem like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to filling up at the pump. You need your car to get around and there are so many factors that come into play that it can get frustrating, especially when it seems like the gas prices are doing nothing but going up. It is important to remember that while they may seemingly have the upper hand, you aren't down and out yet. There are plenty of ways to cut back. Like with most expenses, you have some modicum of control. If you're willing to put it to use, it can save you quite a bit of money.