There’s no doubt about it – gas prices just aren’t what they used to be. Ten years ago, the average gas price in Boston was just over $1.50. Nowadays, this seems absurd, doesn’t it? You probably want to save your hard-earned money. That’s why we’ve gathered up four great tips on how you can get the most bang for your buck at the pump:
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Keep Your Car in Tip-Top Shape
Your fuel can only be as efficient as the car that uses it, so make sure that your car is poised to use the gas you buy as well as possible. To do this, make sure that you do the following:
- Check your tire pressure regularly – preferably once a month – and inflate to manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
- Use the motor oil suggested in your car’s manual, and make sure to change it as specified.
- Clean out all your junk – carrying extra weight means that your car has to work harder to accelerate and decelerate.
- Be gentle when you drive. Changing speeds smoothly, using your cruise control, and coasting when possible will all help you use less fuel.
By simply following these four simple suggestions, you could increase your car’s fuel efficiency by several percentage points, meaning you will fuel up less, and therefore spend less at the pump.
Be a Picky Patron when Buying
Most people tend to fuel up at a gas station that is most convenient for their route. Instead of blindly pulling in to the most opportune station, do a little bit of price comparing when looking to purchase gas. You can also install an app like GasBuddy (Available on most mobile devices) to help you locate the best gas prices in your immediate area.
This is an especially important step when choosing your regular fill-up spot. If you use an expensive but convenient station once, it won’t break the bank – but making sure that you get the best deal on the majority of your gas purchases can save you a lot of dough in the long run.
Get Discounts on Gas Cards
Once you find the gas retailer in your area that offers the lowest price, you will likely start going there for most of your fuel purchases. This makes it easy to get discounts on your gas – just use a marked down gift card.
There are many places online where you can purchase gas station gift cards for a fraction of their face value, including GiftCardGranny.com and GiftCardRescue.com. These sites, among others, will let you purchase cards that other people don’t need. Since you know that you are going to spend this money on gasoline anyway, the effort you expend to get these gift cards won’t go to waste.
Consider a Rewards Program
A recent trend in gas station rewards is a partnership with local grocery stores in loyalty rewards programs. For example, Stop and Shop has partnered with Shell gas stations to offer a promotion – for every $100 you spend on groceries, you can get $0.10 per gallon of gas purchased at Shell. You inevitably need both groceries and fuel, so this seems to be a perfect pairing.
If you’re interested in saving even more money on your vehicle, consider getting your car insurance policy through Vargas and Vargas Insurance. When you get a quote (by calling 877-550-0025), they’ll make sure that you get the right coverage for your car at the lowest possible price. That way, you’ll have more money to spend on the things that matter most to you and your family.
Photo credit: Images_of_Money / Foter.com / CC BY