My full-time job on the DFB team allows me to work remotely from anywhere with high-speed Internet access, so earlier this year I made the decision to give up my permanent residence and travel full time.
I generally house sit in the cities I visit, and I drive between them. I have stayed overnight in four different states in the past 10 days — and that means one of my biggest expenses on the road is gas.
While we can’t control the price of gas, and it doesn’t really go on “sale,” there are some things I do consistently to try to save where I can. Sure, it’s a few cents per gallon here and there, but those cents add up.
Know the Regional Trends
Gas prices in the U.S. vary from state to state, and even from town to town, based on the tax rates in various places. Crossing a state line can sometimes mean an immediate swing in gas prices of up to 25 cents or more a gallon. I know, for example, that gas in Georgia is going to be cheaper than any bordering state, and that gas in North Georgia is generally 10-15 cents less per gallon than gas around Atlanta.
So, I make a habit of always filling up in Georgia when I can. If you aren’t familiar with the gas price trends in an area, you can use an app like GasBuddy to see the gas prices ahead of you and help you decide where to stop.
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Gas Station Rewards Programs
Simply put, I join every one of these I have the chance to. Yes, I’m giving my personal info to businesses and getting on their “list.” Yes, I have to download an app for each one of them. There are trade-offs, but I have found it is worth it.
Some recent deals I have gotten:
- 10 cents off per gallon with Pilot Rewards
- 5 cents off per gallon with Shell Fuel Rewards
I also pay attention to the additional items I can get in store with gas station rewards programs. For example, Casey’s General Stores are offering a free item for their reward members each day in December with no purchase required. The items are things like candy bars I can use as stocking stuffers. And Wawa is currently offering free coffee on Tuesdays for its rewards program members.
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Supermarket Fuel Points
This is another no-brainer for me. Many supermarket chains offer programs you can join for free to earn points toward fuel discounts every time you buy groceries. The program I use the most is through Kroger, where you earn points each month that you can redeem for cents-off per gallon the next month.
Kroger fuel points can be redeemed at Kroger gas stations and also at many Shell stations. Other supermarkets including Piggly Wiggly, Giant Eagle, Tops, and Safeway offer similar programs.
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Gift Card Sales
I find these to be the very biggest savings you can realize on gas, provided you have the funds to take advantage of the sales. Retailers sometimes have sales on gift cards that can be used in locations where gas is sold.
The deal I look for anytime I am in the Southeast is through Publix. The store frequently offers $10 off $50 RaceTrac gift cards with a purchase. That is a 20% savings on gas — you’re not going to find that any other way than through this kind of deal.
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Car Maintenance
Yes. Everything you read about saving money on gas says that a well-maintained car will burn less gas, and it’s absolutely true — regular oil changes, air filters that are not clogged, and other maintenance keeps your car burning gas as it should.
There’s one of those maintenance factors that you can check regularly that will influence your gas mileage: Your tire pressure. Be sure that you’re watching it and keeping your tires inflated.
While a lot about gas prices is not in my control, there are the ways I employ to save as much as a I can.
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How do you save money on gas? Let us know in the comments!
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