Here is a little secret I just recently learned about saving money on gas. I think you’ll like it, since you can probably save an average of 20 cents a gallon on gas without any special calculations, gas watching or long distance driving (which actually wastes gas). This tip is so obvious, I wonder why I never thought of it before. And if you are traveling this summer, you’ll really want to take advantage of this little piece of advice.
When filling up on gas, avoid the gas stations that are right near interstate exits. These stations know that they will get a lot of traffic from travelers who may be unfamiliar with the area and just need to fill up. The gas prices on these stations are almost always highly inflated. They don’t need to be competitive because they are in high demand. This is true for stations on either side of the exits.
How many times do we fill up near one of these exits, even if we are local. They tend to be very convenient and often offer food, bathrooms and other conveniences that encourage you to stop.
If you are lucky enough to have a GPS system or an OnStar system, finding an alternate gas station should be pretty easy, even if you are in unfamiliar territory.
But, if you are traveling and unsure of the area, try getting off at an exit and then traveling just a short distance away on a main road to see if there is another station. Around here, the stations seem to collect themselves around malls, grocery stores and shopping stations, so you might want to look for stations near shopping plazas.
Another way to avoid the gas gouging at the exit stations is to plan your stops ahead of time. Map out where the gas stations are. You can do this by checking gas prices through an Internet web site or with a widget. Plug in the locations and highlight your stops. Click here to learn all about checking gas prices online.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.
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