The Bottom Line EXTRA: Get your gas as cheaply as you can

Thanks for that resource. Gas prices are killing budgets in our area...cause our public transportation system SUCKS...you pretty much HAVE to drive unless you have all day to get where you're going.

Jennifer,

Thank you so much for the heads up and the info!

Note: If the country is so worried about buying oil outside the country then why don't the oil company's stop shipping all our oil over seas just for the mark up.

On a lighter note; I'm thinking of getting a horse as the feed seems a bit cheaper these days.

Thanks for the laugh Philip. Not sure if you meant it or not, but the horse idea is stellar. ; ) Also, good point about oil exports (or exports of any other American-made product). It's an ironic economic reality.

And thanks for the comment Jill. Thank goodness that Portland, Oregon -- where I live -- has a pretty good public transportation system. It still takes longer, but there's using a route that's a straight shot to wherever I'm going.

We let our medical insurance go as could not afford it, We eat lots of rice and stir fry to stretch the food budget. Beans and pasta too or the rest of the family does. I am not allowed to eat the pasta or beans. Going to can things again this year and without sugar. We don't eat out and shop for our clothes at yard sales. Except for underware, socks and shoes and we make them last as long as we can. We are not going to travel anymore than necessary anywhere.

GREAT information, Jennifer - as always!

The average price of gas in Salem, Oregon is $3.38. Yikes!

Beans and pasta - to bad there is not a way to bottle gas from that kind of diet. My wife would be happier is there was.

Oh thanks so much for posting this. I have no idea where to find the lowest prices for gas in my area and with moving this coming week and already making trips up and back with stuff to the new house we are feeding our car almost more than our household. :D

I always refer to www.gasbuddy.com, another good source. I drive to the Washington coast nearly every month, so check out the cheapest prices for the places on the way where I know I will need to buy gas. I got gas for $3.22 here in Spokane this week. I try to be careful when running errands but just have to do some driving.

Yes Bob, that could be a factor in inflation. Right now the Federal Reserve is keeping the rate stable, and mortgage rates are about .6 percent less than they were one year ago, but the combined impact of all of the above could be soon contribute to the very real inflation that's caused not by rates set by the fed but by the cost of the actual goods we purchase every day. Milk just went up 30 cents a gallon here, as has gasoline over the past few weeks. I think we're on our way....

Thanks for the other gas price source Wilma. I figured there were engines like this but hadn't actually used one until I stumbled on this as a resource for energy reporters at the American Press Institute's website. $3.22 is still a great price comparatively for the West Coast (the highest prices in the nation, with a tipping point of $5 versus the national tipping point of, I believe, $4.18 elsewhere in the nation), so here's wishing for you that it stays....

Jamie, I do hope this resource helps. Moving is a bear (as a military child we moved a lot, so I know). Here's hoping you settle in with few problems, and that your car learns to control it's appetite.... ; )

Funny Donald. Thanks for taking the time to read the comments, and respond. (There probably is.)

Faith, I should have filled the tank at $3.25, and now it's in the $3.40's here. So, before using the MSN finder, I ended up stopping at a gas station that sold it for $3.39 per gallon, which as I told the attendent was one or two cents less than any other place I could find nearby. (I should have just gone to my regular station though, because I ended up paying more in the long run since the convenience store items I needed where then more expensive.) I found a gas station using the MSN finder that has it at $3.28, so I will check that out next time I fill -- and I'll leave my grocery items for the grocery store.

Shepherd, it sounds like your family is having some touch economic times right now. My thoughts are with you. (I'll have to check out your blog to see if there's a reason you can't eat beans and pasta while the rest of your family gets its carbs.) In the meantime, I've started darning my socks rather than tossing them. It's not the Depression yet, but it wouldn't hurt us to start conserving more and wasting less.

Yay, this article is featured on the Gather.com homepage under Money. Thank you Gather!

Yes, Jennifer - definitely leave your grocery items there and pick them up at the grocery store instead.

Congrats on the Gather homepage feature!

Great resource, thanks! Finally a site that does a good job of showing all the gas stations in my area.

Thank you Faith! And Diane, I'm so glad to find out that this MSN gas station finder is a good resource for you. Here's hoping we're all on our way to saving money on the price of a filled-up tank!

Thanks for the info! We can use all the help we can get with prices the way they are nowdays! I frequent a grocery store that normally gives anywhere from 3 to 10 cents off a gallon with a receipt from the store.

Nice item to have featured that can really help some of us.

Hubby has no choice but to drive to work. There is no mass tranist or public transportation where we live. We can not afford two car payments so we are stuck with him driving our SUV to work. (we have 4 children and seriously needed the space inside that the SUV provided, or I would have a smaller vehicle.) It cost him almost $70 for a fill, that is ridiculous...

Hmm cheapest in my area is listed at $3.35

Thanks for topping our tank with some great info. Excellent piece, as always, Jennifer.

My pleasure Lisa. Thank you!

Shawnee, I'm guessing that like me you're on the West Coast. Prices here are the highest in the nation. It sounds like you're in a real pickle as far as driving time goes. Have you considered switching to a sedan, better mileage with the same seating you'd find in an SUV? I drive an older BMW sedan that's been a dream to drive.

Dan, that sounds like a great deal. Safeway offers cents off gas with purchases from its store, but regrettably doesn't have a store-branded gas station anywhere near where I live (though it does have a Safeway). Albertson's is close by, and does have a store-branded station, so maybe I'll check that option out as well. With the cents off coupons plus the gas fair finder comparison, this option could come out ahead.

Thank you! We can afford to drive so little now. A trip out to the capital costs us a literal arm in a leg in gas alone, now.

I shop at Safeway for groceries and I'm always getting their "10 cents off per gallon" discount, so that helps a lot for me.

I'd write more, but my car's running out in the parking lot, and I'm in Illinois ($4/gallon now). Luckily, I just upped my limit on the Discover Card - it's the card that breaks your back, you know.

Enjoy your weekend with loved ones, all. Remember all the troops who fought for our freedom this Monday too, and pray for a resolution and an end to the conflict to come soon.

-JC

Thanks- gas prices are so high now it is affecting what people buy.

Faith- we have a grocery store in town that does that too.

Public transportation here is not very reliable, so my husband really has to drive to work. But we are planning every trip we have to make, so we can make the most out of a tank of gas. I can't remember the last time I bought myself a new outfit.

Time to get out those empty gallon milk jugs.

Right I think gasoline prices are going to bring the economy to a screeching halt.

thanks for the website!

I may go back to distance walking...it's a little more time, and in Texas, a lot more sweat--but these extra pounds would disappear! Thanks for the heads-up, Jennifer!

Thanks.

Philip,

Make that 2 horses!

Ah, finally a breather after Memorial Day and catching up on work. I'll respond to the top comment after my last one first, and work my way down:

What heartfelt thanks Jennifer N.! I see that you're in Wisconsin. Maybe I'm out of the loop on this, but how far is it from your house to the capital, and why are you traveling there? Anyhow, thank you so much for leaving a comment. I really hope this gas search engine helps you find the cheapest stations to stop off at in your travels.

Faith, it is so good to hear from you. I know I haven't been keeping up on your blog like I should. It's good to hear that you're able to use the grocery store discounts for your gas. You bring up Safeway thought, which brings up another gas-related point: Did the price of milk at your Safeway go up 30 cents per gallon -- $1.98 to $2.28 I think -- before Memorial Day. (It was "coincidentally" the same day that MSNBC came out with a report that the price of milk and meat would increase before this Memorial Day, thanks to increased transportation costs from fuel.) I'm trying to figure out if MSNBC was reporting it because it already happened, or if retailers took the MSNBC report as a cue to go ahead and raise prices. Just the investigative journalist in me....

John/J.C., I think Discover has it's new slogan. I can see it on television commercials now: "Discover, it's the card that breaks your back." Quick, copyright it.... ; ) Thank you so much for stopping by and for wishing us all the best through the Memorial Day Weekend.

More to come....

Jennifer, I had heard of such sites but hadn't found one as simple to use. Our family will be checking this on a regular basis.

We live in a small town but even short trips can add up so anytime we get in our vehichle we chart out where we're going and in what order. Actually it should save us on our food budget because the thought of burning gas just to get something for supper doesn't feel too appealing so we get creative with what we have in the house!

Do the folks who say we're just in Iraq for the oil, or the US has a special "deal" or is stealing it, do they wonder why gas is heading for $4 a gallon?

And guess who's profiting Richard? As Pulitzer Prize winner Nigel Jaquis taught me, follow the money and you'll find your story.

Trish, it's nice to see you here. I'm so glad this search engine will be a valuable resource to you and your family. I'm with you on getting creative rather than making a special driving trip to the grocery store. I've been faced with that several times, and either walk (it's 10 blocks away) or have a "ship wreck" night -- a fun tradition my uncle started where we make a meal using only the ingredients found around the house.

I nearly forgot to address the previous post that I had left unanswered. So here are my responses (better late than never?):

Kathy, do you use the gas station at your grocery store using the cents off coupons? I'm curious to know if this is working for you.

Aurora, it's been a while since I've been clothes shopping as well, so I know the feeling!

Enoch, why exactly do we need the plastic jugs? I'm guessing it's so we can stock up now when gas is cheaper. Gas prices have actually gone down in my neighborhood over the past week, so it just may be time to "buy low"...

Shelley - who spends too much time working - L. and Annette E., thank you for your comments.

Lydia, I just got a bicycle that's the perfect substitute for distance walking. When it's hot, like yesterday, the breeze feels so wonderful as I riding along. Oh, you could always get a horse... (Thanks Susan O.)

Lydia,
And just WHO is profiting? And where do you get your information? I suspect you are just "blowing smoke." And I'll bet I can guess your answer, right out of left field, with nothing to back it up.

thanks for this!

My pleasure Mandi! Thanks for highlighting this issue again today in your newest posting, Saving for the Average Person: Ways to Improve Gas Mileage. Great advice there Mandi on how to make the best use of the gas we do have to buy.

!!!Please Read And Repost!!!

**Don't Speed On June 1st**

As you may have noticed, the price of oil, gas, and food has begun to skyrocket. This has really made life difficult for most of us. What I propose is that we make June 1st, 2008 a day in which we don't speed while driving. Yes, you may have to leave a little earlier, but the benefits are great. If we all decide not to speed on June 1st:

Our fuel usage will be lower (your gas mileage goes up when you slow down).
The demand for gas will be lower and will help drive down gas prices (the "don't buy gas on May 19th" scheme didn't work since people would either buy gas the day before or the day after, which only raised prices and didn't lower demand).
The price of food will be lower (the increased fuel prices affect truckers and raise the price of our food).
There will be fewer accidents (with more people driving slower, the roads will be safer).
You will help fight global warming (by decreasing the amount of gas we burn, we will lower the amount of carbon dioxide that goes into the atmosphere).
You will save money (by helping to lower the price of gas and food, you will save money and help others to save as well).
For all of these reasons and more, I would like to propose that we make June 1st, 2008 a day that we don't speed. Pass this along to everyone that you know and get the word out!

Thanks!!

--Dan H.

!!!Please Read And Repost This As A New Article!!!

Wow, quite the comment Dan H. I missed it before now. Anyhow, thought I'd drop by with a link to a site offer fuel economy ideas: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/. Wishing you all the best!