Dealing With The Crazy Price Of Gas And How To Economize Your Fuel Budget

by Dan Rosandich

Fuel economy and gas consumption go pretty much hand in hand with drivers of most vehicles today. From the hockey mom going to the grocery store after work or the long distance truck driver who's self employed and keeps an eye on how much he spends on gas every day, it's a sure bet that most everyone is looking for the best gas prices advertised. A pretty basic tip is simply compare the top listing for 87 octane that most service stations and convenience stores put at the tops of their signs. Aside from noticing the lowest price listed, you go into "think mode" and wonder how many gallons to pump in.

The most logical advice is to fill it up, for various reasons. Most directly, the price fluxuates so fast these days, it could rise a couple cents or even ten cents to fifteen cents a day later, if not a few hours later. It makes no sense to pump in a "dollar value" like five or ten dollars worth, thinking that would suffice. You most definitely stand a good chance of running out of gas on the side of the road with this mind set. And by filling up or topping off, you grasp the full value of the going price for gas at that specific time you fill up. And you ensure yourself that your car will get the best gas milage and value for the amount you afforded to put in your tank. In fact, for those living in a northern climate or in the upper Midwest during the colder or winter months, a full tank or keeping it topped off is more than recommended. This prevents any potential moisture build up or condensation in your tank and/or fuel line. If you are living in a cold climate, you may also want to consider taking an additional precautionary measure by adding a can of heet or an isopropyl alcohol based moisture preventative product to add to your fill up.

This will definitely enhance your mileage and help your fuel budgeting along the way. Paying for your fill up is yet another aspect to consider when considering the current price of gas. Why pay with a credit card if you only go to the gas pump and put twenty dollars worth of fuel in your vehicle? Credit cards charge you interest for the use of their card and you already pay enough when considering what a gallon of gas sells for, so why add to that amount? The only credit cards to buy your petroleum with, should be the ones that are issued directly by the dealer with whom you regularly buy from. This way, you can expect discounts they offer, such as those types of a discount which are based on the number of gallons you buy in a month or how many bonus "points" you earn by filling up or topping off at their pump. In summation, the best rule of thumb when dealing with gas prices is to simply use your best intuition and seek out the most reasonable dealer in your area or one you encounter while on the road. With such a vast difference in pricing from one station or convenience outlet to the next, it pays to keep your eyes open and your wits in high gear.

Find The Current Cost Of Gas In Your Area

Article submitted Sunday, October 26, 2008 & read 79 times.

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» left by Judi Lake (3 years 106 days ago.)

Dan, thanks for an informative article needed for the days we are in -- my, I can remember when it cost me $3.50 to fill my car up for one week -- well, in all honesty, it was a Triumph Spitfire, but still gone are the days of low gas prices. Good article!
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» left by Anonymous (3 years 106 days ago.)

Judi:

I bet you wish that Triumph Spitfire was still in your garage - it'd be a classic for sure....and STILL giving it's owner great fuel mileage. I want to also reiterate that most Citgo stations (at least in upper midwest) are notoriously higher on their gas prices. Avoid them at all costs...especially after learning it is Hugo Chavez who they buy their supply from! I have nothing against Citgo but it leaves a bad taste in one's mouth when you learn this. Especially after his speech from a couple years ago at the U.N., when he came after President Bush....and referred to him as "The Devil" (and I don't agree with all of Bush) but he comes in our back yard talking like that while taking your hard earned dollars for his petroleum. If you can avoid Citgo gas, do so...it will be worth it. Viva la Triumph!

Dan
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