Today, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.28. A year ago, the average price was $1.99, 1.6 times lower than the current price. It is expected that the national cost will remain high throughout the end of this year.
“Gas prices may inch a little lower this week, following the recent declines in the oil and gasoline futures market,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA, in a press release. “Despite the setback, significant upward pressure remains in the oil market. Prices are still at 7-year highs and are likely to remain elevated through the holiday season, which will in turn keep upward pressure on prices at the pump.”
There are ways to save money on gas that can be done every day. Personal driving habits are a big factor in fuel consumption and making changes can help save money and fuel. AAA recommends avoiding prolonged idling, reducing repeated acceleration and braking at traffic lights, and using cruise control to maintain a constant speed when possible.
One of the best ways to save money on gas is to know the prices differences among gas stations near you. Apps like GasBuddy and Waze help users find the locations of the least expensive gas stations.
Many gas stations offer rewards programs that will allow you to earn points or save cents to use toward future purchases, which can be useful in saving extra money.
“In order to save the most money on fuel, drivers should pay attention to the time of day and day of the week they fill up,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, in a news release. “By avoiding peak fill up times, Americans could save millions of dollars – not to mention avoid waiting in dreaded gas station lines.”
In Florida, the best day to buy gas is on a Monday and the worst day is Thursday. Going in the morning rather than the evening can help save money and avoid long lines as well.
