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This last week Sheila and I went on a road trip for my birthday! I took some time off work and went on the search for lakes to paddleboard on. We ended up in Colorado for most of our journey (which was amazing!) but given the current state of gas prices, it was a little rough. I’ve probably mentioned it before but I am pretty cheap and love anything that will save me money. Especially on gas! So I wanted to share my favorite ways to save money on the road.
Now keep in mind, that most of these things are small savings that add up. Unfortunately, I have yet to find anything that will save you a ton of money up front. But I promise it’s worth it. You’re going to be spending money anyway, might as well save a little along the way.
Gas Station Loyalty Discounts
Do yourself a favor and join every single gas station loyalty you come across. I made a new email address so my main one doesn’t get filled with ads and used that to join every program I’ve found in my area. As I travel to new areas I join those programs too!
It typically takes a few seconds to sign up and usually, you just add your phone number at the pump. Depending on the company, you may get a few cents off at the pump, earn points for discounts, or a combination of the two!
Search “gas rewards” in your app store and download the apps for your local gas chains. This includes truck stops like Loves, Pilot/Flying J. My phone allows me to disable/put to sleep apps I don’t use often so they aren’t working in the background. Once I need to use the app I just “wake it up” and utilize my rewards!
Get Upside
Get Upside is an app that gives you cash back on your purchases from select gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. I downloaded this a few months ago and recently redeemed a $40 Amazon gift card!
The process is simple, either “check in” at the location or upload a picture of your receipt. Within a couple of days, your cashback is added to your balance. You can redeem it whenever you are ready.
Unfortunately, it’s not available at every store, station, or restaurant. And the cents-per-gallon back fluctuates. The individual stations decide what they want to offer, so currently with high gas prices I’ve noticed much lower offers. Typically I was seeing 12-15 cents per gallon. Lately, it’s been 1-5 cents. But hey, I have to get gas so every bit adds up!
If you’ll be hitting up the occasional drive-thru on your trip be sure to check the app! Some fast-food chains offer cash back and sometimes they’re really good! I’ve seen Popeye’s offer 40% cash back multiple times!
Want to try Get Upside? Use my referral and get a 15-cent/gallon bonus the first time you use the app! Click this link or use promo code JOLENE2345
Grocery Rewards
Just like gas station loyalty memberships, grocery store rewards are great too! Join every single grocery loyalty program that offers gas discounts. Depending on how much you typically spend on groceries these points can add up fast! Especially, if you take advantage of double points promos.
Grocery rewards are often at least 10 cents off per gallon which is a better discount than most gas station programs so take advantage of them! Typically you can’t use grocery rewards and Get Upside together so choose the better deal.
Plan Your Fill-ups
It’s always fun to wing it and just go with the flow. But that’s not a great way to save money! Planning your gas fill-ups will get you the most bang for your buck.
When planning a road trip or looking ahead to the next gas station I consider all of my options. For example, if I see there is a Maverik and a Circle K in the next town I want to get gas I will compare the gas price, discount, and cash back. If the Maverik is $4.89 I know my loyalty will get me 2 cents off per gallon bringing it to $4.87. If the Circle K is $4.87 but is offering 1 cent cash back I’ll fill up there. Sure, 1 cent per gallon isn’t that exciting. But if you’re on a road trip and filling up frequently, it all adds up!
If you have grocery store points available consider those as well. Sometimes the best deal is a little out of the way but in my experience, it’s always worth it!
Planning ahead also takes into account what types of places you’ll be passing through. Tourist towns and the middle of nowhere are often significantly more expensive than other areas. Driving through Telluride a few days ago gas was $5.69!!! But less than an hour away it was $5.09. I knew gas would be ridiculous in such a popular tourist destination so I filled up before I headed that way and waited to fill up again until I was significantly far away. A little planning saved me 60 cents/gallon!
Check Your Tires
Before a long trip, it’s always smart to check the air pressure in your tires. Not only is it smart for safety but it can potentially save you a little gas mileage!
Discount Tire/America’s Tire does it for free and it takes about 2 minutes. If your tires are underinflated you can easily decrease your miles per gallon which means your filling up more frequently. Such a simple fix to save you a few bucks.
What are your favorite ways to save money on the road?
I hope these tips help you save a little on your next adventure. It’s times like this with gas prices raging that being a nomad becomes increasingly difficult. But it’s not impossible.