You couldn’t help but notice the big price bump at the gas pumps following Hurricane Harvey and in anticipation of Irma. As of Wednesday, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts was $2.735, up 36 cents from the prior week, according to AAA’s daily survey. Prices went up higher in only nine other states, AAA reports.
The surge will, no doubt, soon subside. But similar prices spikes are likely to happen again — caused by weather events, terrorist attacks, or even tweets from the White House.
But the kids still need to go to school and errands still need to be run, so there’s not much for the average consumer to do about such sudden upturns, right?
Well, maybe. There are ways to cut down on your gas consumption — and spending — without leaving the car in the driveway. Some of the most commonly cited fuel-saving strategies will, in reality, save you no more than pennies. Others, however, offer more substantial payback. Here are three particularly promising options.
1. Switch up the routine. If you are a two-car family, make sure the person doing more miles is driving the more fuel-efficient vehicle. Consider these numbers: Filling up a 12-gallon tank on a small sedan that gets 35 miles per gallon would cost about $32 and take you 420 miles. A 20-gallon fill-up on an SUV that gets 20 miles per gallon costs $54 to travel just 400 miles.
Moving your miles to the smaller car whenever possible can yield significant savings.
2. Relax on the road. Sure, it’s Massachusetts, where the predominant driving style can be called . . . assertive. But chilling out behind the wheel can yield financial rewards. Essentially, every time you accelerate to pass, you are using gas to create forward movement. When you then slam on the brakes for a red light at the last minute, you’re wasting that gas. That kind of driving pattern can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 40 percent, according to FuelEconomy.gov.
3. Fill up strategically. Use an app like GasBuddy or Gas Guru to find the least expensive gas in the vicinity. Also, choose gas stations that offer discount programs. With a Stop & Shop card, for instance, every $100 you spend in the store earns 10 cents off a gallon of gas at Stop & Shop and Shell stations. The Shaw’s supermarket chain has a similar program in partnership with Sunoco. Cumberland Farms offers 10 cents off per gallon to customers who sign up for its SmartPay program, though this option does require you to provide checking account information.
Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.
