15 Ways to Save Money on Gas

Ready for that road trip? It’s that time of year when gas prices go up. Summertime is when many of us are hitting the roads on our way to the beach, the mountains, grandma and grandpa, the amusement parks, and many other places.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration statistics, retail gasoline increases in price during the spring and peaks in late summer. They found that regular-grade gasoline was on average 35 cents per gallon more in August than in January, based on 2000 - 2019 data.

Are you packed? Keep reading for some excellent ideas and easy ways to save money on gas this summer.

Use an App

The easiest way to save money is to spend less on gas. There are apps for this!

GasBuddy - The GasBuddy app allows you to do so many things. I used GasBuddy recently when many gas stations in my area were out of gas. I was low on gas and didn’t want to run out while looking for gas. I used GasBuddy and found the closest station with gas and drove right to it! EASY.

• Find gas by geography and brand.
• Pay with a GasBuddy card - it’s free and allows you to get GasBack
• GasBack Details - Shop at the brands you like and earn free money for gas. It’s easy and is automatically applied at the pump at gas stations nationwide.
• Gas Tools - Provides gas charts, a gas price map, outage tracker, and more
• Plan Your Trip - Trip cost calculator, gas estimator, and more.

WAZE - I am a big WAZE fan. I use it all the time. It always gives me the shortest route, takes me away from the traffic, saves me time and money on gas, and WAZE offers a carpooling option!

Use Cash Instead of a Card

Look for gas stations that charge a lower price if you pay with cash instead of a credit card. They charge less because they don’t have processing fees with cash. However, it’s worth checking before you pump to see if you can get the cash price when using your credit or debit card. Some stations will do this, so check.

Fill up at the Beginning of the Week

Gas prices tend to be lower at the beginning of the week on Mondays and Tuesdays, according to a 2019 GasBuddy gas analysis.

Use Free or Discounted Gift Cards

Gift Card Granny Gas Cards - Purchases made from Gift Card Granny are 100% guaranteed. You can get up to 10% off at popular gas stations, including BP, Shell, Flying J, and more. All gift cards can be used at the pump and in the convenience store as well.

*NOTE - if for any reason the gas station gift card you want isn’t available, you can purchase Visa and Mastercards for a similar discount.

Raise - Save up to 30% on discounted gift cards from 4,000+ brands. In looking at gift cards, I found Shell, BP, 76, and more. Some were out of stock, but I could set an alert to let me know when they’re available again.

Raise also allows you to buy full-priced gift cards and get up to 15% back in Raise Cash for future purchases. Coupons are also available.

Get Gas Points When Shopping at Grocery Stores

Some grocery store chains offer savings on gas when you use their loyalty cards.

1. Safeway - For every dollar you spend using your Safeway Club Card, you earn 1 point toward gas rewards at Safeway, Chevron, or Texaco stations. Once you have 100 points, you can get $0.10 off per gallon when you fill-up. When you have 1000 points, you get $1 off per gallon.
2. Kroger - For every $1 spent on groceries, you get 1 point. Like Safeway, when you have 100 points, you can get $0.10 off per gallon when you fill-up. At Kroger Fuel Centers, you can get $1 off per gallon when you have 1,000 Kroger points. As a plus, you also earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on gift cards, which gets you more points faster.
3. Winn Dixie - When you have 100 points, you can get $0.05 off per gallon when you fill-up. Winn Dixie also gives you bonus points for buying certain items, and purchasing gift cards earn you triple points.

Other Ways to Save on Gas - Better Driving Habits

1. Ride-Sharing - Go with others. If you live near co-workers, take turns driving to work. Share school and camp carpools with neighbors and friends. Use WAZE to carpool. Less time in your car means less money spent on gas.
2. Use Cruise Control - It doesn’t make sense if there are hills because the car will still accelerate to keep the speed, but, yes, staying on the straight and narrow for an extended time, cruise control makes sense. Cruise control for long summer drives can help save on gas.
3. Slow Down - Staying just below or at the speed limit reduces wind resistance and increases your fuel economy.
4. Minimize Idling Your Car - When your car is parked for more than 10 seconds, turn off your engine. Idling can use a quarter to a half-gallon of fuel per hour, adding up to three cents of wasted fuel a minute. In the winter, don’t wait for your car to heat up before driving. The engine will warm up faster being driven, which allows the heat to turn on sooner, decreasing your fuel costs, and reducing emissions.

Even More, Ways to Save on Gas - Car Maintenance

1. Choosing Motor Oil - Different motor oils will affect your engine’s performance and, therefore, your fuel efficiency. Read your owner’s manual to find out what type of motor oil works in your vehicle.
2. Properly inflated tires - Choosing the right tires and keeping them properly inflated and aligned impact fuel economy. Some experts say your tire choice can affect your gas mileage by as much as 10%. Proper alignment will keep you from burning extra gas when you redirect a car that wants to drift.
3. Tune-Ups - According to the U.S. Department of Energy, taking your car in for regular tune-ups can improve your gas mileage by as much as 40%.

A Final Thought

Are you inspired to get on the road? It’s the time for being in nature, visiting loved ones, and breathing some fresh air.

Don’t let the price of gas stop you. With the above tips on saving gas, you’ll be able to enjoy your time away and maybe have some extra spending money for that additional excursion that you might not normally do.

Have fun and please, be safe out there.