Save💲💲💲at the Pump

Posted on April 30, 2023 by Ken
Gas prices declined last fall after oil supplies rebounded and demand cooled.

What’s Happening with Gas Prices?
But prices have been rebounding early in 2023, leaving analysts and consumers
anxious over what could happen next for prices at the pump. The cost of crude oil,
which plays a big role in what consumers pay at the gas pump, that slid during the
second half of 2022 as oil traders anticipated weaker demand & a global economic
downturn.
Another reason prices dropped was a boost in fuel supplies after President Joe Biden
set in motion a record release of oil from global petroleum reserves. In July, the Treasury Department estimated that the releases, both domestically and internationally, reduced gasoline prices by as much as 40 cents per gallon. But oil prices are back on the rise as global demand for crude rebounds, driven by China’s emergence from Covid lockdowns. 
If you have appointments or just want to save money on gas this summer as fuel prices spike again?

There’s concern that oil supplies could be squeezed further by a worsening of the
Russia-Ukraine war. Meanwhile, the U.S. is taking some oil off the market—by refilling
its strategic petroleum reserve. “Concerns are increasing that without additional oil,
supply will tighten in the weeks ahead, especially as the nation starts to move away
from softer demand in the height of winter,” says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum
analysis for GasBuddy.
“Moving forward, it doesn’t look good for motorists, with prices likely to continue accelerating,” De Haan says. GasBuddy has predicted pump prices could hit a national average of $4 before and during the summer driving season, with prices of around $7 possible in California’s largest metro areas. Gas prices may go higher than they were a
year ago. If you need help managing those costs, consider also these smart strategies to save at the pump.

Download Gas Apps
Gas apps are arguably the easiest way to find cheap gas near you.
These apps require little commitment compared to loyalty and rewards programs
that limit you to a specific store or brand of gas station. There are a variety of gas apps
out there to help you make an informed decision about where to fill up your tank next.
Popular apps like GasBuddy, Waze and Google Maps are free and show gas prices in
real-time via a map directly in the app. 
Some gas apps offer complementary rewards programs to help you save at the pump. 
GasBuddy, for instance, offers a rewards program that can save users up to 25 cents
per gallon at the pump.

Read more: 5 Apps To Find The Cheapest Gas Near You
Here, easy ways to score a deal every time you fill up your tank

Tired of shelling out a bundle for fuel? 
While getting gas for your daily commute or filling up before a family road trip,
you’ve probably groaned at the numbers on the screen at the gas pump. 
While prices have come down quite a bit in the last few weeks, they are still
relatively high. The national average $3.615. $4.042 for regular gasoline sits
at $3.87 at the time of writing, according to data from AAA. This is much less than
the average this time last year, but the prices may be even higher where you live.

In California, the average gallon of gas costs an astounding $4.869
Since the early months of 2022, the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia have dramatically affected the cost of crude oil … and the price at the pump. That swiftly led to the most dramatic price increases since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Given the uncertainty over the situation in Ukraine and the volatility in the global oil markets, it’s difficult to know how long prices will stay high.

Related: Higher fuel prices do mean more expensive plane tickets,
but it’s not as clear-cut as you may think

So, what can you do about it as you plan future travel,
or navigate higher prices in your day-to-day driving?

Thankfully, the last few years brought a quiet surge of gas station
rewards and third-party loyalty programs designed to save you money on gas.
This means there are more ways than ever to avoid paying full price.
It’s possible to use one or multiple programs to save big on your next fill-up —
and that’s before factoring in any rewards you earn with your credit card. 
Below are some of the more popular programs, in addition to a few stacking
opportunities where you can use two or more of these programs to fill up.
If you’re strategic, you might even be able to turn a profit on your next trip
to the gas station.

Want to make sure you’re maximizing every purchase like a points expert?
Download the free TPG App to start spending like a pro. \Fuel Rewards, a third-party loyalty program specifically for Shell gas stations, has been an incredibly lucrative way
to save on gas. Once you get to know the program and tailor a few shopping patterns,
it’s not too hard to build up enough rewards (earned in cents off per gallon) to make
your next trip to the pump more affordable.

FUELREWARDS.COM
Sign up for instant Gold status, which gets you 5 cents off per gallon on your first fill-up. This stacks with any additional Fuel Rewards you earn — all the way up to making gas nearly free.
Fuel Rewards has dozens of national partners where you can use a linked credit card
to shop and earn cents off per gallon on your next fill-up. There is also a dining rewards program, shopping portal and plenty of promo offers (like T-Mobile Tuesdays) allowing you to earn Fuel Rewards.

Related: Gas prices are dropping, but here are a few ways to save even more
Shop through the online portal and earn at least 5 cents per gallon. Link your Dunkin’ rewards account and earn an additional 10 cents per gallon. Eat at your favorite local restaurant in the dining rewards program and earn 10 cents per gallon.
With those savings, in addition to having Gold status, your next fill-up will be
at least 30 cents off per gallon. All Fuel Rewards fill-ups are capped at 20 gallons and
once you start pumping, your savings are used, whether you pump one gallon or 20. 

Circle K Easy Pay
Another way to save at Shell is with Circle K Easy Pay Debit.
This program allows you to save 30 cents per gallon for the first 100 gallons
or 60 days, depending on your location, after which you’ll save 10 cents per gallon.
Here’s how it works: You get a physical Easy Pay card that’s linked to your checking account. You then use that card to pay for your fill-ups, with all savings automatically deducted. Cards are PIN-protected and become locked after three failed login attempts. The only downside is that you can’t earn credit card rewards this way.

Pilot-Flying J myRewards Plus
Pilot and Flying J have a joint loyalty program called myRewards Plus which lets drivers earn rewards on fill-ups and other purchases. Through Oct. 31, you can get a discount of
10 cents per gallon on all fill-ups when you pay for gas with the myRewards Plus app.
This promotion should work at all Pilot and Flying J locations around the country.  
Related: The 8 most underrated loyalty programs and tools you should use 

Upside
This third-party app hit the scene a couple of years ago and has expanded significantly.
It now includes restaurant and grocery store rewards, as well as savings at the pump.
You can claim offers in the app to save a certain number of cents per gallon.
After you claim an offer, you have four hours to fill up at the specific station you selected, using a linked credit card. Cash back earned from the fill-up will then be placed in your Upside account, which you can cash out whenever you like.
I like Upside because fill-ups with savings are good for up to 50 gallons.
Related: How to use these 7 credit cards to maximize your domestic US getaway   

Pay with GasBuddy
The Pay with GasBuddy program continues to evolve rapidly and improve.
It used to offer Shop Your Way points, but now it offers several levels of cash
savings per fill-up. It introduced deals you can claim at specific gas stations
right before you fill up, as well as a “gas back” shopping portal in the app.

Similar to Circle K Easy Pay, payment occurs with a physical card GasBuddy
mails to you that is connected to your checking account. You pay with it at the pump.
The amount you pump, minus any GasBuddy savings, is deducted from your checking account. Stack Gas Savings with This Ultimate Guide to Saving at the Pump (gasbuddy.com)
GasBuddy also offers a Pay with GasBuddy Premium option where you can save up
to 40 cents per gallon after enrolling. This service costs $9.99 per month and guarantees
that you save at least 20 cents per gallon (on up to 50 gallons per month).

It also offers additional perks like roadside assistance.  
According to a GasBuddy Study, you will save $250 a year by filling your tank on Monday compared to other days of the week. Why? Demand for gas increases on Thursday based on weekend travel. By Monday when demand drops stations have to lower the cost to bring customers into the stores. Sunday’s are the second cheapest day of the week for fuel. 

Wish you can predict when the cost of gas will go up or down. You can!
All it takes is finding out the current price of crude oil, which is the main ingredient in gas. At  Crude oil – 2023 Data – 1983-2022 Historical – 2024 Forecast – Price – Quote – Chart (tradingeconomics.com) If the price goes up. you will have three days to purchase gas before prices at the pump rise. If the price drops, you can see the price drop in about three days. The reason?

There’s usually a lag period how quickly station owners respond to the fixed price. 
Also gas prices are usually lower in locations where other gas stations are close by.
That’s because competition keeps prices in check.
According to a study from the University of California, Santa Barbara fuel is priced
lower at convenience stores that sell coffee, subs and foods because the amenities
subsidize the cost of the gas, allowing owners to charge less for gas.

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Grocery store fuel points

Nowadays, almost every nationwide grocery store has its own fuel points program
or has partnered with an existing national gas station brand’s program to offer fuel
savings for your grocery shopping. The newest entrant is Walmart +, Which is ….
Walmart’s subscription service offering free two-day shipping on Walmart.com
orders and other perks, similar to Amazon Prime.
A subscription to Walmart + costs $12.95 per month. Here’s the great thing about it:
monthly fee is reimbursed as a perk of The Platinum CardŽ from American Express.
(Cardholders get reimbursed with a statement credit after they pay for Walmart + each month with their Platinum Card. The cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.)

Related: Save 10 cents per gallon at Mobil and Exxon with Walmart +

You get savings of up to 10 cents a gallon if you fill up at Exxon-, Mobil-,
Sam’s Club- or Murphy-branded gas stations. Find the full instructions here.
There are several other grocery chains offering gas discounts for being a member.
Kroger is a very popular option in the South. Between regular family grocery shopping
and taking advantage of 4 fuel points per dollar on gift cards, it’s pretty easy to max out
the $1-per-gallon savings the program allows. You can even buy third-party gift cards
from the Kroger gift card-specific website. It regularly has gift cards for sale at discounts
or with earnings of 4 fuel points per dollar. 

Stack programs
You can stack two or more of the above programs on a single fill-up
to compound savings and make gas particularly cheap. Here are a few strategies:
Fuel Rewards plus Pay with GasBuddy: The two programs operate independently of each other, allowing you to lower the price at the pump with Fuel Rewards. You’ll then have less cash than you pump deducted from your checking account when paying at a Shell station with your GasBuddy card. If you earn enough Fuel Rewards to make fill-up basically free, GasBuddy still gives you the savings based on the pre-discounted price of the Shell gas — meaning you can make a profit filling up your tank with gas.
Kroger plus Pay with GasBuddy: The same principle as above applies when filling up
for a discount using Kroger Fuel Points and then paying with your GasBuddy card.

Fuel Rewards plus Circle K Easy Pay: 
Like the two strategies discussed above,
you can earn Fuel Rewards when paying with your Circle K card.
Stacking with Amex Offers: From time to time, American Express offers promotions on gas purchases. For instance, we’ve seen Amex offer 400 bonus Membership Rewards points when spending $40 on gas. These stack with gas station and third-party loyalty programs, though you must pay with the Amex card you linked the offer to. As such,
you can’t stack Amex Offers with Pay with GasBuddy or Circle K Easy Pay.

Related: Best credit cards for gas purchases
With the average price of gas over $4 for the first time in fifteen years, you might be struggling to afford to fill your tank up. But luckily, learning a few tips and tricks can help save you money on gas. Here are some easy ways to slash your fuel costs and boost your bottom line.

Get more bang for your buck
First, track the cheapest gas prices through a free app, such as Gas Guru.
“And bring cash — at many stations, you’ll save 10 to 15 cents per gallon,” says budgeting expert Andrea Woroch. If you are in the market for a credit card with rewards, look at your end-of-year credit statement to see which category you spend most on overall — it may not be gas, says Woroch. “You may end up earning more points with a card that gives you flat-rate rewards, like 2 percent on everything you buy. It depends on your spending habits.” Go to CardRates.com to compare rewards. 

Avoid pricier days
You may have heard prices at the pump surge on Fridays, as folks hit the road on the weekend. That used to be true, but trends are shifting, says GasBuddy spokesperson Nicole Petersen. “Our annual study for 2022 shows that the cheapest day of the week is still Monday, but the most expensive days are now Wednesday and Thursday,” she reveals, surmising that over the pandemic, our habits have changed, with more of us making midweek plans to travel or take short trips. “This is the first year we’ve seen such a shift, but it remains true that the best time to fill up is early in the week.” 

Stack savings
“Fuel rewards programs — at participating stations like Shell, Exxon,
and BP — are your secret weapon,” says Petersen. And she does mean secret!
“Our survey found that 46 percent of people don’t belong to a loyalty program —
it’s an underutilized tool because it saves drivers $50 to $100 per year,” Petersen notes.
“Sign up for a loyalty program at, say, Kroger or Stop & Shop, and for each dollar you spend on groceries, you’ll earn one fuel point at participating stations,” adds Woroch.
“For every 100 points you rack up, you’ll earn ten cents per gallon.” Don’t stop there:
Download a cash-back app, like Fetch Rewards. “They increased fuel rewards from five
to 20 points per receipt — 1,000 points earns you a gift card,” Woroch says. 

Drive smart and ‘bundle’ trips
Taking several short trips consumes almost twice as much gas as “bundling” several errands in one outing. That’s because the engine burns through more gas from a cold
start and is more fuel efficient when the car is already warm, says AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross.
And before you head out, lighten your load: “At highway speeds, 50 percent of engine power goes to decreasing aerodynamic drag, so removing gear from your trunk will boost fuel efficiency,” Gross adds. Indeed, ditching “dead weight” can save you three cents per gallon — and every bit counts! 

Be highway savvy
You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: Go easy on the pedal.
“Speeding lowers fuel economy by 15 to 30 percent,” says Petersen.
Indeed, for every five mph we drive above 50 mph, we waste 22 cents per gallon.
Also smart: Turn on your A/C if you’re going over 50 mph. “At highway speeds,
rolling down windows decreases fuel efficiency by 20 percent,” Petersen explains.

Skip ‘tanker time’
If you pull into the station and spot a tanker truck supplying the gas terminals,
come back another time, or go to the station across the street, advises Gross.
“The truck stirs sediment in the underground tanks, reducing the quality of
the gas and decreasing fuel efficiency.” 

In short, all it takes is a few clever strategies and easy tweaks
to your driving habits to save you plenty at the pump. 

Bottom line:
With gas prices still well above the rates we
were accustomed to during the height of the coronavirus pandemic,
it’s best to take advantage of the various ways to save money on gas.
Most nationwide gas station chains have their own loyalty programs which typically have limited-time savings or a sign-up bonus. In addition to the featured programs, there is basically no reason to pay full price for gas no matter where you are. If not using Pay with GasBuddy, make sure to use a credit card that earns great rewards at the pump, and you’ll compound your savings even more. And if you’re looking to stop paying for gas altogether, you could also try an electric or hybrid vehicle, which is not only helpful to your wallet but beneficial to the planet far beyond your time on the road. Hyundai Will Produce the Most Affordable Electric SUV After Its Rival Kicks the Bucket (msn.com)

Hybrid SUVs Dominate the Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs of 2023,
Top 10 Longest-Lasting Hybrid SUVs For 2023 (msn.com)
** Rivian Battery REVEAL!! – Search (bing.com) **
The Best Plug-in Hybrid Cars of 2023 (msn.com)
Read more: If you’re tired of high gas prices,
here’s how to rent an electric (or hybrid) car

Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Andrew Kunesh,
Sean Cudahy, Clint Henderson, Caroline Tanner and Benji Stawski.
Drive to a gas station that sells coffee to find the cheapest gas fast, head to a gas station that also has a convenience store (such as 7-Eleven or Wawa) where they sell coffee, subs or other foods, or a car wash that also has gas pumps.
According to a study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, fuel is often priced lower at these locations because their amenities subsidize the cost of gas, allowing owners to charge less. Pay with this card You may know that you can find the cheapest gas near you by using the free GasBuddy app or logging on to GasBuddy.com. 

Now you know ❓
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