Tips on Finding Places for Lowest Gas Prices

When will high gas prices come down? In the US, high gas prices have increased even more to almost a dollar more per gallon from last year's prices according to the Energy Information Administration. Families have felt the pain of high cost of gas at the pumps. The Internet has opened up avenues for consumers to combat rising gas prices. We can seek out the best prices before leaving our home. Let's take a look at a few of the services available today and take a peek at the future of gasoline prices. Why Saving Money on Gas Makes a Difference

A car was once a status symbol, but certain models have become burdens. We can no longer deny an SUV uses way too much gasoline. We've become more aware and more determined to save money at the gas pump. So where do we start?

If we're thinking of investing any amount of time driving our cars, then we should consider the cost of driving. The fuel efficiency of a car should be a deciding factor on a purchase, but many of us cannot afford to trade in our car for a more fuel efficient model, we must learn to save money on gas.

How much can ten cents a gallon save on gas throughout a year? In 2004, Energy Information Association (EIA) projected average miles traveled per car at 11,000 a year. The average car performed at 20 miles per gallon. This equates to 550 gallons of gasoline used to power the average American car. At prices exceeding four dollars per gallon today, the cost for the year would be $2,200 dollars at $4 per gallon. If the cost was $3.90 per gallon the average driver would save $65 in one year. While this may not seem like much, a quick look at some online sites can help you save that money spending only a few minutes each week.

Using the Internet to Find the Best Gas Prices

Many sites have cropped up in the past few years. These sites allow consumers to enter the price for gas in their area. One such site, GasBuddy.com, shows users the cost of gas in different areas of the US. The GasBuddy.com site states, "Gasoline prices change frequently and may vary by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks. It's important to be able find the service station with the lowest priced fuel." Twenty percent on a purchase can be huge with gas prices the way they are.

GasBuddy.com owns and operates over 180 different websites with prices for petroleum according to region. If you live in Illinois, then you would visit www.illinoisgasprices.com for the latest prices in your area. This type of site helps consumers find the cheapest gas without driving around looking for the best price, which of course wastes fuel.

Of course, to save money on gas you have to be motivated to do the legwork. If you would rather lock in today's prices, because you speculate tomorrow's gas prices may increase, then you can take charge with a membership through MyGallons.com.

MyGallons.com is a new site offering members today's gas prices for tomorrow's purchase. So if you believe gas will continue going on the rise, you can simply purchase gas at today's price and use the special credit card they give when you go to buy gas. You can refill the card at any time - similar to a prepaid phone card or credit card. Once you have the card, you can use it at participating locations. Their site has a map displaying the gas stations in every area of the US that accepts the card. From my search, most gas stations in my area will accept the card.

Buying today's prices really can save money on gas, but it relies entirely on speculation. If a person buys gas at $4.02 and the price drops ten cents on their next visit to the pump, then this tip to save gas doesn't work. The person would instead buy the gas at the pump price and save the card for a rainy day. The MyGallons.com site does charge an annual fee of $29.99, but if you can save money on gas, then it will probably be beneficial in the long run. Imagine if you had bought 100 gallons at $3.25 a gallon, with today's prices you would be saving $75.00 off that purchase alone.

A consumer stepping into a gas station should no longer be uninformed about the way gas prices fluctuate. As GasBuddy.com attempts to show everyone the prices of the corner gas station, so have tried and true automobile service companies, like AAA, done their part in showing gas prices. AAA has a fuel price search, which works similar to GasBuddy.com. You type in city and state or a zip code and a map returns results for the region. If you scroll down, each gas station's price is entered with the corresponding date. Some prices may be outdated, so be sure to look at the date each one was entered.

How to Save Money on Gas

It's no surprise sites like GasBuddy, MyGallons, and others have emerged on the Internet. What should surprise is the number of people who don't use the tools they have to save money on gas. The sites take only a little time to understand, and then you can be on your way to saving money on gas. We hope this article helped you find places for lowest gas prices.