Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group
March 11th, 2021
As the country braces for higher gas prices, Gas Buddy is sharing ways to save money at the pump by simply changing our habits when we fill up.
Gas Buddy released their annual Pump Habits Study and found that nearly a third of Americans care more now about saving money on gas than before the start of the pandemic. Here are four great tips for saving money at the pump.
Make sure to check station prices every time you get gas: drivers can save $200 per year by checking gas prices in their area before their fill-ups.
Don't always go to the same station: shop around for gas stations with lower prices. Four out of five drivers have a station they regularly go to. While 58% of drivers say they go there regularly because they think it has the cheapest gas around, nearly 30% of them say that the reason they go to the same station is because it’s the closest one to their work or home, regardless of price.
Sign up for gas station loyalty programs: 44% percent of drivers do not belong to any gas station loyalty program, a similar percentage compared to 2019 (43%) and 2018 (45%).
Pay with debit cards or cash: credit cards continue to be the most popular payment method (46%) in line with previous years. Yet consumers continue to carry credit card debt. Using debit cards is the second most popular way to pay at the pump (24%), however it often get charged the credit price and have no cashback rewards associated with them. Also, most people pay interest on credit card purchases. Six percent of respondents use cash at the pump.
