2022 Pump-Savings Tips

With the high flying gas prices, here are some good tips on how to save some money at the pump.

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Gasoline is a necessity… We hit gas stations on an as-needed basis. And even in today's remote-work environment, we still need our cars to pick up groceries or run errands.

Rising gas prices hit even harder for people like my neighbor, who's on a fixed income. And like many of us, he wants actual solutions… not a political blame game or speculative market plays.

So if you're willing to be open-minded and disciplined, here are 11 tips for saving gas money:

• Buy gas early in the week. A GasBuddy study reports Monday is the best day of the week to buy gas. Since there's variation across states, you can view GasBuddy's Best and Worst Days to Buy Gas, By State.

• Download a free gas-price finder app. GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and Gas Prices by MapQuest are all top-rated apps. They are easy-to-use ways to find the cheapest gas station(s) in your area.

• Pay in cash. Some gas stations offer lower prices if you pay by cash. They usually advertise it on their price boards, and the difference can be as much as 10 cents or more.

• Use a credit card with max gas rewards. See NerdWallet's Best Gas Credit Cards of March 2022. Make sure to pay off the charges each month to avoid paying interest.

• Purchase discounted gas gift cards online. Sites like Gift Card Granny, CardCash, and Gift Card Place offer discounted gas gift cards.

• Sign up for a gas station reward program. Most gas stations (ExxonMobil, Shell, Speedway, etc.) have them.

• Take advantage of warehouse clubs. BJ's, Costco, and Sam's Club price gas cheaper as an extra membership incentive.

• Keep your car in good shape. Maintain a clean air filter… keep tires properly inflated and aligned… stay on top of oil changes and use the recommended grade. Basically, stick to a regular maintenance schedule.

• Drive sensibly. Speeding and jackrabbit starts and stops hurt fuel economy. Use cruise control when possible.

• Use GPS. A navigation app, like Waze, Google Maps, or Apple Maps, will provide the most efficient route to a destination.

• Consider alternative transportation. Carpool. Ride a bike. Or use public transportation.

Of course, similar to using coupons at the grocery store, these tips will only save you a few cents here and there on your gas prices. But over time, they'll add up to a bundle.

And when gas prices eventually come down, you'll continue to save at the pump if you follow these tips. So it's a great way to turn spare change into a bigger bankroll.