More and more I’m seeing people asking how they can save money because their budgets are being squeezed.
One of my budget categories I've been able to save money and cut back on is gas. I've been able to save money by cutting back on how far and how often I drive. Another way is saving money with each trip to the pump.
Related read: How To Earn Money With Your Cell Phone
I’ve done some research by reading reviews and articles to find the best options for saving money on gas. I found a few options and gave some a try myself to see how they work and how much I can save.
(I am not a financial expert. All information is based on my own experience and research. This information is not meant to be financial advice and is just for educational purposes. This post includes some affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission.)
Now I will caution you won’t get rich or drastically cut back your gas bill by using these apps and programs but it can help to shave a few dollars off each trip and at this point, any savings is greatly appreciated.
Rewards programs
Several of the nationwide or even larger regional gas station brands have reward programs that allow you to save money on each trip or on certain trips to the pump.
I’m part of the Murphy Rewards which is Walmart’s gas station. I get points each time I buy gas or other items (I just buy gas) and when I reach 100 points which can happen quickly I can get $0.10 off a gallon up to 10 gallons.
Other gas stations that have reward programs are
Other gas stations that have reward programs are
Some grocery stores like Harris Teeter and Kroger allow you to earn points when you shop with them so that you can then cash in for discounts at their partner gas stations.
There is also Costco which has its own gas station. My parents are Costco members and will go there to get their gas as it tends to be cheaper.
Apps
I shouldn’t have been surprised but there are several great apps out there that you can use to save some money each time you purchase gas for your car.
Most of these apps work one of two ways when it comes to saving on gas.
Most of these apps work one of two ways when it comes to saving on gas.
- You find gas stations near you with an offer, select the gas station, and once you’ve purchased the gas upload your receipt.
- Or You link your card in the app, find gas stations near you with an offer, select the gas station, and after you purchase the app will automatically add cash back or points to your account.
Below are the apps that I’ve seen most people talking about and/or I have used myself.
I’ve always been able to easily find a gas station near me with some cash back offer. With the Checkout 51 app, I’ve been able to save anywhere from $0.10 to $0.03 a gallon.
Sign up for Checkout 51
Sign up for Checkout 51
Upside
I've been using Upside for a few months and it's really easy to use. I've been able to cash out a couple of times thus far. There are several gas stations around me with $0.10 - $0.16 a gallon cash back offers.
I've also used the app when I've traveled to other towns and states to find the cheapest gas and see which has the highest cash back offer.
I have yet to use this one but have seen some good reviews on it. I mostly haven’t used it yet because the gas offers are very limited in my area.
Sign up for Dosh
Sign up for Dosh
Things to keep in mind
The trick with the apps is to find the gas stations in your area that are on most if not all of the apps and only visit those stations (assuming they aren’t the most expensive in town). Then you can maximize the savings.
It’s a little trickier when you’re traveling. If you’re going to be in one area most of the time you can do the same thing of finding the gas stations that are on most of the apps.
If you’re on a road trip you can still save. You just need to make sure you activate any offers available before you leave the station.
It’s a little trickier when you’re traveling. If you’re going to be in one area most of the time you can do the same thing of finding the gas stations that are on most of the apps.
If you’re on a road trip you can still save. You just need to make sure you activate any offers available before you leave the station.
Related read: 10 Easy Ways To Save Money On Groceries
Additional saving options
Fetch Rewards: You can upload your gas receipt and get points that can be redeemed for gift cards when certain thresholds are reached.
Receipt Hog: Same premise as Fetch Rewards. Upload receipts, get points, and redeem points for gift cards.
Gas Buddy Card: This is a free card from Gas Buddy that securely links to your checking account. You activate offers and then use the card at the pump. The discount is automatically applied at the pump.
Receipt Hog: Same premise as Fetch Rewards. Upload receipts, get points, and redeem points for gift cards.
Gas Buddy Card: This is a free card from Gas Buddy that securely links to your checking account. You activate offers and then use the card at the pump. The discount is automatically applied at the pump.
Parting words
When using these apps and programs the trick is to use multiple savings apps and rewards programs at once and essentially layer them. The more you use, the more you can save.
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