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Struggling to Fill Up Your Tank? 5 Tips to Cope With Rising Gas Prices
The price of gas has risen sharply over the past few months, and things aren’t looking like they’ll get better any time soon. How can you still get where you need to go without breaking the bank? Try one or more of these 5 strategies or tips to cope with rising gas prices and save yourself some money at the pump.
1) Do you really need gas right now?
The obvious first step toward saving $$$ at the pump is to drive less, but that isn’t always an option.
Other options include:
Grocery savings cards:
Diesel fuel programs:
Credit card reward programs:
Explore fewer places longer:
2) Spend thoughtfully
Pump prices at the gas station can be stressful, but with a little thoughtfulness, you can often find ways to save money on gas. Sometimes taking a little time before heading out for a fill-up can save more than $2.50 per gallon, by Filling up on the cheapest days of the week. The fact that gas is cheapest on Sundays and Mondays.
3) Track–measure–plan
When we zero in on something to improve, we must track progress. Once you’ve developed a plan for gas savings, measure your success by monitoring the daily miles-per-gallon (MPG) number from your car’s dashboard. Now that you know what areas of your life are contributing to rising gas prices and how much money you’re spending on fuel each week, it’s time to get busy with tips for saving at the pump
4) Go Boondocking
Boondocking is an amazing way of getting free, off-the-grid living. All you need is a place in nature (a campsite), and any source of electricity like solar panels or a generator. And the bonus is, boondocking will save you money too! Staying overnight for free using a membership like Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome can save you $50 or more every time, and you’ll meet some amazing people in the process.
5) Use your phone apps
GasBuddy: GasBuddy boasts of saving people over $3 billion on gas over the last 15 years. They also share fun tips.
AAA
Waze
Google Maps tells you where the nearest gas station is, as well as what time they’ll be closing; while Apple Maps can show you how many gas stations are nearby, what their prices are, and whether they have a rewards program.