Gasoline is a necessity… We hit gas stations on an as-needed basis. And even in today’s remote-work environment, we still need our cars to pick up groceries or run errands.

So if you’re willing to be open-minded and disciplined, here are 11 tips for saving gas money:

  • Buy gas early in the week. A GasBuddy study reports Monday is the best day of the week to buy gas. Since there’s variation across states, you can view GasBuddy’s Best and Worst Days to Buy gas early in the week Buy Gas, By State.

  • Download a free gas-price finder app. GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and Gas Prices by MapQuest are all top-rated apps. They are easy-to-use ways to find the cheapest gas station(s) in your area.

  • Pay in cash. Some gas stations offer lower prices if you pay by cash. They usually advertise it on their price boards, and the difference can be as much as 10 cents or more per gallon.

  • Use a credit card with max gas rewards. See NerdWallet’s Best Gas Credit Cards of February 2024. Make sure to pay off the charges each month to avoid paying interest.

  • Purchase discounted gas gift cards online. Sites like Gift Card Granny, CardCash, and Gift Card Place offer discounted gas gift cards.

  • Sign up for a gas station reward program. Most gas stations (ExxonMobil, Shell, Speedway, etc.) have them.

  • Take advantage of warehouse clubs. BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club price gas cheaper as an extra membership incentive.

  • Keep your car in good shape. Maintain a clean air filter… keep tires properly inflated and aligned… stay on top of oil changes and use the recommended grade. Basically, stick to a regular maintenance schedule.

  • Drive sensibly. Speeding and jackrabbit starts and stops hurt fuel economy. Use cruise control when possible.

  • Use GPS. A navigation app like Google Maps or Apple Maps, will provide the most efficient route to a destination.

  • Consider alternative transportation. Carpool. Ride a bike. Or use public transportation.

Of course, similar to using coupons at the grocery store, these tips will only save you a few cents here and there on your gas prices. But every little bit counts… and over time, they’ll add up to a bundle.

Even better, these tips can help you save at the pump whether prices are up or down. So it’s a great way to turn spare change into a bigger bankroll.

Start Small, Save Big

With inflation still persistent, gas prices could stay where they’re at… or even go higher in the months ahead.

So if you don’t already do them, try a few tips from the list above for about a month. Then compare what you paid for gas this month versus the month before.

These tips above aren’t a silver bullet for rising gas prices… but saving a little bit here and there will add up over time.

Palm Beach Research Group