Everyone has been complaining about the rising cost of a gallon of gas and it looks like there is no sign of relief. The best price in gas that I have found in my area (New York) is at $3.60 a gallon! My husband has about a minute commute in a pick up truck and he spends so much money each week in commuting.

I went on the prowl for a way to reduce gas costs and here is what I came up with.

1. Citgo Gift Cards

Specifically Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppers, but be sure to check your local areas for gift card deals. Before pumping head into the store to purchase a Gift Card! On that gift card put the same amount that you would be pumping into your vehicle onto the card, then when you pump gas and use that gift card 5 cents will automatically come off at the pump!! If you were to purchase 10 gallons that is a 50 cent savings, if you were to do this once a week for 52 weeks that would mean a $26 savings!!! Paying for a gift card you can still use your credit card, cash and even if your store accepts a check.

2. Wholesale Club

Specifically Bj’s, check your areas for wholesale clubs that have gas stations they will have similar deals. For being a Bj’s member you save anywhere from five to eight cents off a gallon! Members only can get the savings at the pump. If you only pumped your gas at Bj’s once a week for 52 weeks (10 gallons each time) this would be a savings of  $26-$41.60 a year minus the cost of being a Bj’s Member. Personally I think it is worth it to have the membership for the savings in club and at the gas pump

3. Grocery Store Incentives

In my area we have Price Chopper Supermarkets that offer gas station incentives, but other grocery stores do this too like Tops Grocery Stores. At Price Chopper for every $100 you spend in groceries you can get ten cents off each gallon of gas (max of 20 gallons.) Each week if you check the ad there will also be incentives! The extra incentives are if you spend a certain amount of money on specific products then you can get additional savings! After you cash out you can see your Gas Savings amount at the bottom of your receipt. Then when you go to participating Sunoco Gas Stations you swipe your card and get the savings!

4. Be Smart in Filling Up Locations

Have you ever noticed how expensive gas is on the thruway? If you fill up before going into a major city or even on the thruway you can save yourself some serious cash! Gas stations near exits or even heavily populated areas will be a lot higher because the demand is higher, a rural area has less demand. Drive a few miles pas the exit to save yourself some money.

5. Maintenance of your vehicle

Keeping up with the maintenance of your card severely affects your gas mileage, we all want the most out of our gas mileage! Here are some awesome tips that I found on the Federal Trade Commission that I am putting in to effect!! Keeping your tires inflated and aligned can increase your gas mileage by 3%, a simple engine tune can increase gas mileage by an average of 4%, and clean out your trunk if you have an extra 100 lbs in the trunk it can actually decrease your gas mileage by 2%!

6. Follow the Speed Limit

This is one that I struggle with because I have a lead foot. Did you know that your gas mileage decreases 20% when you drive over 60 miles and hour?

7. No Warm Up

One thing I do on a chilly morning is to let my car warm up for at least ten minutes every morning, statistics show just by letting a car idle for 15 minutes you lose one quart of gas!!! According to experts the car engine will warm up faster while in motion. I will now bundle up and reduce my warm up time to less then five minutes.

8. No Road Rage

Are you one of those people who accelerates on the gas pedal then slams on the brakes? It takes 20% more gas to accelerate to normal speed from a full stop than it does from four or five miles per hour. Change your patterns by accelerating slower, watching to traffic further ahead to avoid stops.

9. Play the marketing game

One night after work check around your town at the different gas stations for pricing. Gas stations are in competition with one another and by spending five minutes you will know the cheapest price in town!

10. Other Gas Incentives

Some gas stations offer other incentives such as gas savings when you purchase lunch, car wash, or even for specific products in their store!

I hope that you learned some new tips on saving money on gas whether at the pump or with simple maintenance. My number one gas savings is combining all my errands into one trip chosing the most economical route to get to each place. In my research I learned some new tips too and I am putting them into effect!

Be sure to enter to win Free Gas for you and a friend!!