Several different strategies are necessary to find cheap gasoline in my area.
Take Advantage of Technology
Have you ever filled up your tank at the gas station closest to your home only to discover that the station near your workplace had much cheaper gas? To avoid this budget blunder in the future, take advantage of the many gas price comparison Web sites available online.
Gas Buddy is a site that relies on volunteer price checkers to answer the "cheap gasoline in my area" question by reporting which stations have the lowest gas prices in a particular community. The site also provides tips on how to reduce fuel costs, information on how gas prices are changing from month to month, and news updates related to governmental efforts to control consumer fuel costs.
MapQuest, best known for providing travelers with free driving directions, also tracks gas prices around the country by using data from the Oil Pricing Information Service. For your convenience, the site even lists stations that have diesel and alternative fuels available.
Be a Smart Shopper
Gas rebate cards have been around for some time, but it's becoming increasingly common for retailers to offer gas price discounts as a promotional perk to attract and maintain customer loyalty. For example:
- If you pay for your gas with a Wal-Mart credit card or store gift card, you can save three cents per gallon at participating Wal-Mart gas stations. If you happen to pass one of these locations on a regular basis, this may be a simple way to find the best gas prices.
- Hy-Vee, a grocery store chain in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, offers a gasoline discount when you show your grocery store receipt at one of the participating locations. The amount varies from week to week, but it's a nice benefit if this is your normal grocery shopping destination.
- In May 2008, Kroger rolled out a unique customer loyalty program. For every $100 you spend buying items in the store, you can receive 10 cents off per gallon of gas.
- Wawa, a chain of convenience stores on the East Coast, gives a discount of one to five cents per gallon if you pay for your gas in cash. The store must pay additional fees in order to process credit card payments, so cash payments help them save money as well.
Some customer loyalty programs are better advertised than others, so it's a good idea to keep a look out for notices of these perks whenever you happen to be out shopping. You may also want to ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they know of any stores offering deals like this in your local area.
Take a Detour
While it's certainly not worth driving several miles out of your way to save pennies per gallon on gas, a short detour may be a cost effective choice for cutting your fuel costs.
As a general rule of thumb, gas stations in "nice" neighborhoods tend to have the most expensive fuel prices. This is because they must pay more in property taxes, resulting in higher daily operating costs.
Because they know drivers are often in a hurry to get to their destinations, stations located along the freeway tend to have higher than average gas prices. Going just a few blocks further down the offramp can result in a significant savings.
While repair services offered at gas stations are certainly convenient, it's a good idea to remember that these businesses also tend to have higher fuel prices. If your vehicle is in good working order, keep driving until you hit the next station.
Cheap Gasoline in My Area
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