Consumer Alert: Gas is skyrocketing! Here’s how to save.
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The price of gas continues to skyrocket. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price in Rochester is $3.50, up eight cents from last week.
Nationally the average price is $3.39, up $1.23 over this time last year.
The reasons are three-fold. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refuses to open the spigots, which is limiting the world supply of crude oil. Demand for fuel has increased dramatically since last year when the pandemic relegated most of us to our homes. And the U.K. is experiencing dramatic gas shortages leading to panic-buying. And when our neighbors across the pond catch a cold, we get the sniffles as well.
Here’s Deanna’s Do List for saving on gas.
- Consider a warehouse club membership. My family has three drivers. At current prices, our membership will save us more than $88 on gas alone.
- Change your driving patterns. Drive the speed limit. Glide to a stop. Start gently.
- Show no loyalty. You may have a loyalty card at a gas station, but it takes forever for you to build up enough points to get a discount. In the meantime, you may be able to get cheaper gas elsewhere.
- Combine trips. Get those errands done in one trip rather than multiple runs.
- Keep your tires properly inflated.
- Use a gas app that tells you where the cheapest gas is in your area.
Here are five favorites:
Waze and GasBuddy are crowd-sourced. That means that people are reporting prices in real-time. I’ve found both really helpful, but I’ve read good things about the other three. All help you find the least expensive gas near you.