Every time the price of gas rises, my local TV station checks out the stations around town and then announces which ones have the lowest prices. People race across town to get the best deal, lining up to save 5 or even 10 cents a gallon.
I have nothing against saving money but I don't think people really analyse how much they actually save.
Let's say your tank holds 15 gallons. Saving 10 cents a gallon means you saved $1.50. Let's pretend your car gets 25 miles to the gallon. If you drive 5 miles out of your way and then idle in line for 15 minutes, you probably use at least $1 in gas getting your deal. You'd be better off to get gas at a nearby station and skip your latte that day for some real savings.
And while we're talking about people saving gas, I have a request for hypermilers. The slow acceleration doesn't bother me but I would appreciate if it those of you who have decided that going 10 miles below the speed limit is the answer to your gas woes would GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY. Drive in the slow lane, please, and I'll try not to steal any wind velocity as I pass you.
3 comments:
I completely agree. My tank holds 14 gallons, but of course I do not wait until it is bone dry to fill up. I usually get gas when my gauge shows 3/4's empty and that means about 10 gallons, according to car math. Don't most people do that? So driving across town for a 10 cent savings really only means $1.00 and all the wasted gas. I think it is much more sensible to know which stations in my general area usually have lower prices and buy gas "locally". (Also at the stations in the areas where I work or often have doctor appointments, errands, or visit friends.) I may only save 50 or 60 cents at the pump but I keep a lot more in my gas tank. And I can still have that latte. :-)
Karen
I don't even bother to look at the price any more. It seems strange to quibble over a few cents when I'm paying $3 more a gallon than I was 5 years ago.
And if you could try across the years and save that $3, I'd be right behind you. :)
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