How moms can save money on gas
With gas prices rising nationwide there has been quite a debate on how to deal with the cost. Everyone is looking for tips on how to save money on gas.
Gas is pretty much a utility. It’s not something you can haggle over.
But it is something you can get a better deal on. Imagine if you had to chauffeur 10 children around like the Eborns.
It’s helpful to:
1.Join a gas club
2.Get a gas credit card
3.Plan your day/errands
4.Use a gas app
5.Fill up during the day.
6.Don’t let your tank go down to ‘E’
Join a gas club
I had no idea what these were until I moved to North Carolina. In some states grocery stores have their own gas stations. Sam’s Club, Walmart and Harris Teeter all offer savings on gas.
See if Groupon offers a deal on the membership to these stores. If not bite the bullet and get the membership for yourself and one other driver in your home.
I paid about $20 for myself and my husband. It has more than paid for itself. Gas at a regular gas station is currently $4.19 but with our deal through Sam’s Club we pay $4.09 per gallon.
Trust me it all adds up!
Gas Card Deals
This deal is for anyone with decent credit and steady employment. Apply for a credit card where any gas station you have in your town offers. Exxon offers a card and so does Shell and BP.
These cards offer cash back and other promotions throughout the year.
Some of these gas cards allow you to use the cards as regular credit cards so it is a win-win situation.
Please be mindful of the terms and interest when carrying a balance. Interest rates recently went up in America so be mindful of your finances.
I am giving these suggestions for you to save money, not go into debt.
Schedule your errands
This might be one of the most important tips. When you plan when and how you will drive around town you can save so much time and gas!
Those last minute trips to the store by not planning your meals can cost you these days. When moms ask how moms can save money on gas I try to give them common scenarios.
If little Timmy has a football game at 5pm, try to do your shopping after the game.
Another scenario would be picking the children up from school. Stop by the grocery store before or after getting in that car line.
Keeping a cooler in the car to extend the time that you can be out with perishable groceries is also a great hack.
A good rule I like to follow that I learned from growing up in NYC is when you leave the house don’t come back until later in the day. You can get so much done by not going back home.
As a SAHM I tend to spend my down time at the library, bookstores and in Kirkland’s. Haha!
I enjoy my time away from the home and an hour browsing around stores can save so much time and energy. That is of course if you do not shop excessively while there.
Try to run all of your downtown errands on the same day and conversely all of your uptown errands on the same day. The zig zagging across town is what kills the gas and honestly drains moms day in and day out.
Even if you are part of the Gig economy and do driving jobs like Instacart this can make a big difference in your profits. Use my code to sign up for Instacart to start earning while you are already out running errands! Code: TCMERE56102
Gas apps to save gas
This is new for most of us but very helpful. Smartphone hacks you need to know about!
I listened to the radio one week and heard them talking about a gas app. We all know about Honey and Rakuten.
I have been using Rakuten for years so much that it has legit become a stream of income. Sign up for Rakuten so you can save as well.
But yeah, gas apps. Apparently there are apps that will give you points and cash back.
Try:
- Gas Guru
- Waze
- AAA TripTik Travel Planner
- MapQuest
- GetUpside
- Fuelio
- BPme Rewards
What time of the day to get gas?
As told to me by someone in the petrol industry. It is best to get gas early in the morning when it is cooler.
Gasoline expands when heated like all liquids. This is the philosophy behind this action.
The gasoline will be more dense in the coolness of the early morning hours. In theory you will get more energy per gallon than later in the day.
Some reports also say that the gas prices are cheaper early in the morning. It all depends on your region.
It does not hurt to give it a try. Keep a mental note if it is beneficial after about 2 weeks.
Don’t go to empty!
Another really good piece of advice with gas is to not let your tank go down to ‘E’.
Sadly I have to admit that I have done this a handful of times. I thought it made more sense to “fill up” the entire tank. Welp, I was all kinds of wrong.
According to industry leaders when you run a car on an empty gas tank you create problems.
There is no way to lubricate the gas pump that uses fuel.
Ultimately what happens is that this increases the chance for the engine to overheat.
Another issue is that it increases the chance of dirt and sediment at the bottom of the tank to get drawn into the gas pump.
Conclusion
Ultimately you want to follow these best practices on how to save money on gas.
Take notes on what works for you and what may seem like a waste.
Advice can be so regional but I wanted to share just in case you needed a starting point on how moms can save money on gas.
Most of us never know where to start and often just figure that if we don’t have the money to spread around we are at a loss.
There are always ways to maximize your dollar.
Read more about my lifestyle and tips as a SAHM and a homeschooling mom here on the blog.
Leave a comment below if you have more tips, affiliate links to share or even if you have found this info to be false or unhelpful.
I am so thankful for the parents in this community. Thank you for reading!
Gwendolyn Bailey says
Great advice! I will surely try some of these tips. Any savings, even though seemingly small will benefit all of us. Thank you for sharing!
kamiyatara says
Absolutely! Thank you for reading!
Eighty Mph Mom says
This is huge! We need these gas hacks for sure. I have heard of GetUpside but couldn’t remember the name. Thank you!