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CNET
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- CNET
Traveling for Memorial Day? Save on Gas With These 15 Tips
You can't control gas prices but you can control how much you spend to fuel up. patty_c/Getty Images Memorial Day weekend is a popular time to travel and this year is expected to see record crowds, according to AAA. That increased demand can bring increased prices. The national average for gas prices might be down from last year at this time but certain areas of the US, like California, are seeing a steep price hike at the pump right now. If you're among the 87% of travelers taking a road trip, higher fuel costs can put a real strain on your holiday budget. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save on Memorial Day travel. Here are 15 smart hacks to save at the pump -- this holiday weekend and all year-round. Read more: Memorial Day Sales 2025: What to Expect and Where to Save Right Now ⛽ Compare prices Prices vary from gas station to gas station so it pays to look at several options. Use apps like GasBuddy and Gas Guru to compare prices at nearby stations and go for the cheapest one. 💵 Pay with cash Many gas stations charge a processing fee -- typically five to 10 cents per gallon -- if you pay with a credit or debit card. Paying with cash is an easy way to avoid this added cost. 🗓️ Fill up early in the week Gas prices tend to change from day to day. In most states, the cheapest day to buy gas is earlier in the week -- from Sunday to Tuesday -- according to data from GasBuddy. 🗺️ Map out fuel-efficient routes Fuel efficiency varies depending on traffic, the simplicity of the route and road conditions. Choosing the most fuel-efficient route can reduce how much gas you use over time. Google Maps has a feature that evaluates fuel efficiency so you can choose the route that consumes the least gas. 🤑 Sign up for a fuel rewards program Many grocery stores offer fuel rewards programs. For example, Kroger pays 1 point for every dollar spent at its stores. You can redeem 100 points for 10 cents off per gallon at Kroger/Fred Meyer gas stations. Other major grocery stores with fuel rewards programs include Piggly Wiggly, Safeway and Stop & Shop. 💳 Join a membership club Many membership clubs -- including BJ's, Costco and Sam's Club -- have their own fuel stations with discounted prices. You usually pay a membership fee to join the club and use their stations, but the savings could be worth it. ✋ Don't drive aggressively Learning to drive differently can boost your highway gas mileage by 15% to 30% and your city mileage by 10% to 40%, according to the US Department of Energy. Stay safer and reduce your gas consumption by: Accelerating slowly Avoiding idling Braking gently Leaving plenty of space between vehicles Maintaining a steady speed Shifting gears strategically Using cruise control for longer trips 🫰 Skip premium gas Premium gas can cost more than 50 cents more per gallon than regular gas. If your car is designed to run on regular gas, it won't perform any better on premium so the splurge isn't worth it. However, if your car is designed for premium gas, paying extra makes sense. Regular gas could damage the engine and lead to higher vehicle maintenance costs. ⚖️ Lighten your load Every extra 100 pounds you carry or tow can boost your gas costs by up to 3 cents per gallon, according to the DOE. So remove extra items from your vehicle and unhitch your trailer when you're not using it. 🔧 Keep up with regular maintenance Your car will get its best gas mileage if you take care of it. Change your oil regularly -- using the manufacturer's recommended motor oil -- and replace the air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles to help your car run more efficiently and cut back on gas costs. 📉 Check your tire pressure Underinflated tires can cause drag as you drive so your car needs to work harder. Keeping your tires properly inflated can increase fuel efficiency by up to 3.3%, according to the DOE. ❄️ Cool your car smartly Using your car's air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by more than 25%, according to the DOE. That said, rolling down your windows creates wind resistance, which can also reduce fuel efficiency. If you're choosing between using AC and rolling down your windows, the best option depends on how fast you're driving. When driving under 55 mph, opening your windows is the best option for gas savings. If you're driving 55 mph and over, roll up your windows and turn on the AC. 🎁 Buy discounted gift cards You can purchase discounted gift cards on sites like CardCash and Gift Card Granny. Look for gift cards to your gas station of choice as well as other local stations. 🛒 Combine errands Run errands efficiently. Instead of taking multiple trips, hit several stops in one trip. Choosing the right timing for errands also helps. If you get stuck in rush-hour traffic, you'll sit in the car longer and use more gas. Find other ways to get around There are plenty of ways to get from point A to point B besides hopping in your car. If you're going somewhere nearby, try walking, biking or even investing in a moped. For further destinations, consider public transportation or carpooling with co-workers (when you're back at work post-holiday).
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
7 Bills To Get Rid of During Times of Inflation
While inflation is often treated as just a fact of life, the past few years have seen extraordinarily high rates of inflation that have changed the financial landscape, driving up prices without a lot of relief. Learn More: Find Out: With a new presidential administration already making sweeping changes, it's unclear whether inflation will keep cooling or if it might start to skyrocket again. One way to be prepared for increasing costs is to look at the bills you can reduce or cut altogether. Here are some suggestions. Cable is becoming something of a dinosaur in the streaming era and more expensive for those who still use it. Cable packages can range from $50 to more than $120 per month, and it's worth asking yourself if you really need it. In this case, you may trade out for just a couple streaming services that give you as much as you need, or look for free services like Pluto TV. Additionally, you might be overpaying for your phone service. First, compare plans with other providers — maybe you can get more individual phones on a better plan or find one that offers better rates for things like roaming or international calling. Read Next: There's never a good time to carry high-interest debt like credit cards, but high-inflationary times also reduce your purchasing power, so debt becomes a double whammy. Do your best to pay down, pay off or consolidate high-interest credit card debt by picking a repayment method that works for you. If possible, you might be able to do a balance transfer to a card with a 0% APR for the first year or some set time period, but prioritize paying it off as soon as you can. Truthfully, many people may not even realize all the little subscriptions and memberships they're paying for but not actually using. From streaming entertainment, such as Netflix or Disney+, to magazines and news subscriptions to cloud storage and apps, there are likely at least a few of these that can go. While you might not be able to do anything about how often you drive or how much it takes to fill your gas tank, you can search for cheaper gas and avoid costly premium gas if your car doesn't need it. Apps like GasBuddy, GasGuru or AAA's TripTik can help you find the cheapest gas in your area. But you can also pare back on things like car washing and detailing (DIY it at home), extra roadside assistance if it's covered by your insurance or your credit card, and even look into finding a cheaper auto insurance. High inflation is a time for frugality, which might mean adopting a whole new approach to how you shop for groceries and meal plan. The most immediate cuts should include things like meal kit services, food delivery services (which come with additional fees) and dining out. Plan your meals in advance so you only shop for what you need for the week, when possible, and opt for store-brand and bulk over name-brand and single purchase items. Shift your shopping to stores known for their low prices, like Aldi, Costco or Sam's Club. If you've still got the option to cancel unnecessary extended warranties on electronics and appliances, go for it — every extra dollar saved can go back into an emergency fund. Also, revisit your insurance policies for coverage you don't need, such as travel insurance or extra roadside assistance. By just taking a concerted look at how you spend, you'll likely find ways to immediately cut back, giving you the financial stability to weather any coming high-inflationary periods. More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing 3 Changes That Could Be Coming to Social Security Now That Congress Is Republican 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks This article originally appeared on 7 Bills To Get Rid of During Times of Inflation Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Five tips on how to save the most money on gas in Palm Beach County
Fuel prices aren't as high as they were a few years ago, but gas is like any other commodity — and people are always looking for a way to cut expenses here and there. Everything counts when it comes to your monthly budget, and even if prices drop in 2025, everyone can use additional savings. Aside from more cost-effective transportation options such as walking, biking, public transportation or ride-share services, there are some ways you can save at the pump. Here are five tips to help drivers: One of the more popular apps is GasBuddy, a super-helpful crowdsourcing tool that updates pricing information at virtually every gas station in the United States. You can download the app for free and look at local prices instantly. You can also set up a pay account, which issues you a debit-like card that links to your checking account. There are other gas-saving apps such as Google Apps, Waze, MapQuest Gas Prices and Gas Guru. Many gas stations will charge the consumer with the credit card a processing fee, so paying with cash will often result in a slightly lower price per gallon. The other advantage of paying with cash is that you avoid the possibility of card-skimmer fraud. Many card readers on pumps are unattended and are easily manipulated by criminals. Palm Beach County always, on average, sells the most expensive gas, but that is because Boca Raton and areas west of that municipality are so high. There are parts of Lake Worth Beach and northern West Palm Beach that offer significantly cheaper prices. Generally, anything in the western suburbs is higher-priced than stations adjacent to Interstate 95. Why are prices so high here? A year in the life of gas prices at one Palm Beach County station Gas stations will adjust prices based on demand. Customers preparing for weekend trips on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays or right before holidays generally see the highest prices of the week. Sundays are also a good option. According to GasBuddy, the best day to buy gas in Florida is Monday and the worst day is Thursday. We asked the experts: Can the President of the United States really influence gas prices? Most gas loyalty programs are free, and they can help you save money over time. It's best to choose a rewards program from a station that you frequently visit — that way you can get the highest return. According to CNBC, some of the best gas rewards credit cards are PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express and Citi Strata Premier Card. Each card offers at least three times points or 3% cash back on gas purchases. More: Why I've only been to this gas station twice in 14 years - and it's only a block away James Coleman is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jcoleman@ and follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JimColeman11. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Five tips on how to save the most on gas prices in Palm Beach County
