JoeBailey.ORG

Ok, we’re all taking trips this year, it could be for summer break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, whatever… Now, that gas is a major issue, how can you save money on the road? Well, there are now ways to find out where the gas prices are the best while you’re on the road. Granted, technology is changing so it will take a little work.

First things first, you must be comfortable with maps. Second, get your directions. Once you have directions, follow the instructions below and you’ll see where you should stop and fill up your gas tank.

• Go to www.gasbuddy.com
• In the top navigation, go to “Map Gas Prices”
• Type in your zip code and press the “Go” button.
• Now that you see a map of gas prices in your area, simply move the map along your route to see the gas prices.

What we found?
We’re going to avoid filling up in some states, therefore, we’re filling up before we enter the state and once we leave.
Some cities have better gas prices either entering or leaving the city.

Ok, let’s cut to the chase. We’re all looking to save money right now because gas prices are getting so high. Here are a few tips:
1. Dump the trunk: Empty out any unnecessary things from your trunk and the car.
2. Who’s driving what? If you have two cars, determine if you need to switch cars on certain occasions to save money on gas.
3. Join a club. We’ve joined a Costco that has a gas station. Prices are always cheaper there. Time your routine to pass by there and get gas cheaper.
4. Do you really have to drive? Make a mental list of those places you drive. Do you really have to drive there? Or, can you combine trips. One big thing we found saved us time and money were services such as Netflix and Concierge-To-Go. Netflix, of course will send you your movies through the mail. We’ve saved a ton of time and money using this service. Concierge-To-Go is a dry cleaning to your door service. The dry cleaning prices are the same and we save at least 30 minutes of time per week without having to go and pick up the dry cleaning.
5. Drive in the slow lane. Yes, it’s a pain. But, by driving slower in these lanes, it saves money on gas and is less stressful. You will also use the accelerator and brakes less often.
6. Monitor your gas mileage. Some car display systems tell you the used miles per gallon. Keep this information in the display at all times. Getting more miles per gallon becomes a game after a while.
7. Pick a different time to drive into work. Sometimes changing your work schedule can save you both time and money.
8. As always, carpool or use public transportation if you can.
9. Keep your car in tip top shape. Make sure your tires have the correct pressure and all maintenance has been done.
10. Use online tools such as gasbuddy.com to find the most cost effective gas.

Above all, when travelling this summer, don’t get caught paying too much. Some states charge more for gas than others. For example, we’ve found that North Carolina charges more for gas than South Carolina and Virginia, so we always fill up before or leaving the state.