The price of gasoline moves up and down, but mostly continues to get higher. If you want to reduce the amount of cash you pay to fill your tank each month, you need to change some of your driving habits for the better. Here are some suggestions that may help.
Buy Gas at the Right Time of Day (and Week)
Few people realize that time of day matters when it comes to pumping gas. When the gasoline is cooler, it is denser, so more of it goes into your tank than when it is warmer. In other words, purchase your gas on the way to work rather than on the way home and you’ll end up with more.
Whether it’s because the big oil companies know people drive more on the weekends or it’s more random than that, you may notice that prices tend to rise from mid-week through the weekend. Fill your tank during the early part of the week to get a lower price at the pump.
Gas stations have to cover the costs of lots of things besides gasoline. They likely work with a valve maintenance system when filling the underground tanks and have to maintain the pumps, too. All of this can factor into the overall price you pay.
Consolidate Trips
If you don’t drive as much, you don’t use as much gasoline. Rather than running to the hardware store every time you need a screw, take a few minutes to see if there are other things you need as well. Consolidating your trips by getting everything you need at once will help you save on gas.
Everyone likes to save money. Doing so on gasoline can be very satisfying. Thinking about what you need before taking a trip to the store and timing your gas purchases can help reduce your costs.
