Chanpory Rith
Mar 8, 2007
If soaring gas prices are draining your wallet dry, here’s five ways to find cheap(er) gas anywhere:
On your computer
1. Widgets
On the computer, find cheap gas quickly with widgets. For Mac users, the aptly named Gas widget tracks the lowest price for Regular, Plus, and Premium gas grades. If you’re on a PC, check out the less stylish but functional widget, GasWatch.
2. The Interweb
My favorite site for tracking gas prices is GasBuddy.
Just enter a zip code to get gas prices sorted from lowest to highest. I prefer seeing prices on a map instead of a list. So, I use GasBuddy’s map tool to see gas prices on a Google-like map.
Also check out these sites:
On your phone
3. SMS Text Messages
Tracking prices on the computer is nice, but it’s way more convenient to get prices when you’re actually on the go. If you’ve got a mobile phone, this is easy. 411Sync has a myriad of SMS text services. Among them is a cheap gas search.
Here’s how to use it:
- Text the word “gas” followed by a 5-digit zip code.
- Send it to 415-676-8397 or sms@411sync.com.
In a few seconds, you’ll get a response with a list of gas prices.
GasBuddy and MobGas also has their own SMS text messaging but doesn’t offer phone numbers to send to, only email addresses. If your phone supports texting to an email address, send your zipcode to these addresses to get prices:
- sms@mobgas.com
- gas@gasbuddy.com
- gas@fuelgo.com
4. Mobile Web Browser
If you have a smartphone like a Sidekick or Treo, you can also use a mobile web browser to get prices. These mobile-optimized sites will get you results quickly:
In your car
5. GPS System
The ultimate—but costly—-way to get gas prices is with a fancy GPS navigational system in your car. If you’re willing to shell out the bucks, you’ll never miss out on a gas deal. Garmin offers several options with local gas prices as well as weather and movie times:
- StreetPilot C580 ($857)
- Nüvi 670 ($1178)
- Nüvi 680 ($1071)
Of course, the surefire way to save money on gas is to simply not drive. But since I’ll be finally getting my license in a couple of months, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
17 Comments
Alex A.
7:49 am
Unfortunately the Mac’s widget, “Gas,” doesn’t do a very good job of finding Diesel fuels in the area… and there is no particularly widget of finding the cheapest prices on alternative fuels right now (such as B99.9, B100, or even as low grade as B20, etc:.)
And, it seems like you’re getting new to the whole ‘driving’ thing. Welcome to it. I hope you enjoy it. I’d rather be on my bicycle!
Bicycles > cars.
Paul Velocity
6:15 am
Would be nice to see somethinkg like this for the UK market. And you thought your prices were high?
P
11:08 am
Don’t forget MapQuest http://gasprices.mapquest.com/index.jsp?cid=1gaspriceshome We search for Gas, Diesel, Alternative fuels.
(I work there but not on this product.)
Adam C
4:14 pm
Looking to cut back on gas spending? Ride a bike to work. I do it everyday. I save cash and get exercise at the same time.
Remember your bicycle gets infinity miles per gallon.
Jonathan
7:13 pm
Cars>Bicycles….when you live 20 miles from town and have 4 miles of dirt roads to go down.
Alex A.
11:38 pm
Wow, Jonathon, I think you just made a compelling argument TO bicycle more than drive…. that is perfect for a cyclocross set up. There are people out there who live entirely successful, wealthy, and happy lives doing commutes that average 30 miles EACH WAY. In traffic, no less! 20 miles from town with 4 miles of dirt roads? You mean you’re cycling out in the open air most of the way without gridlock and psychotic drivers trying to cut through traffic without signaling? LUCKY!!!
RoyG
3:00 am
“cui bono”?
Who benefits from these services enough to be willing to maintain them? Are they supported by gas companies, thus cutting out the small independent dealer (if there is such a thing anymore).
Advertising supported?
I really am cautious about services that are about telling me where to buy something. . .
Nabeel
11:02 am
I drive a lot and am always looking for cheap gas but i have learned that it doesn’t matter that much. the price difference is usually in cents and all one ends up saving is a few cents and hardly the amount saved reaches a dollar (comparing between gas fills)
So instead, try this for saving gas. Drive 10 miles slower (55 from 65) and it only adds up approx. 10 minutes or less to arrival time.
sk
9:52 pm
Check out a new website:
http://www.bullseyepredictions.com
They use predictive analytics to do a 3 day forecast of gas prices.You use it to decide which day is cheapest for a fill-up. A 3 day forecast is all you need - you always need gas and knowing that it will be cheaper in 2 months time doesn’t help you. But being able to bring forward or push out your purchase according to the prevailing prices is doable and makes you feel you are putting one over the gouging oil companies.
-sk
sk
9:55 pm
Check out a new website:
http://www.bullseyepredictions.com
They use predictive analytics to do a 3 day forecast of gas prices. You use it to decide which day is cheapest for a fill-up. A 3 day forecast is all you need - you always need gas and knowing that it will be cheaper in 2 months time doesn’t help you. But being able to bring forward or push out your purchase according to the prevailing prices is doable and makes you feel you are putting one over the gouging oil companies.
-K
Lisa
7:34 pm
Great resources! I’ve linked to this article from my website, Work at Home Mom Revolution.
Art Luff
6:25 am
Gas prices here in South Florida are as bad if not worse than other parts of the country. This is a great resource. Thanks!
Art
Tahrey
9:06 am
Alex: I hope never to have a 30 mile commute… at least not one I either have to cycle or sit in traffic for, as the average speed of either means something like 2 to 3 hours on the road every day. Ouch. That’s something I’d definitely try to use a train, or at least a bus for (mind you I’m lucky enough to live in a country, and an area within such, where public transport is half decent and jobs/services are a little more closely spaced)
My current commute is about 10 minutes tops, and for the last few years was generally 30-45 (or, an average speed of 40-60mph if t’were 30 miles) by a mixture of car, bicycle and public transport. I don’t know how I’d be able to find all the extra time to work such a distant job; I’m starting an evening college course that begins at 6pm tomorrow, for one thing…
Tahrey
9:08 am
(i think what i may have been trying to get at there was: an awesome way to reduce your fuel/travel costs is to reduce your daily distance… even though riding the bike doesn’t cost in fuel, you’re still going to have to eat to replace the burnt calories, and you have to make your own calculations of how much your TIME is worth!)
Alex A.
9:25 am
Tahrey -
True, eating does take time. Are you suggesting eating while you drive… some of the worst drivers on the roads are those occupied with grabbing more to stuff into their mouths. Or, are you suggesting eating while on public transport? In my city, and in every city I’ve visited around the world, there is no eating while on board public transport. …and, wait a minute, aren’t you eating anyway? Riding a bicycle is not costing me any more in food than people who drive. In fact, it gets even better: I can virtually eat whatever I want and I don’t have to worry about “fatty” foods or “heavy” foods, they’re earned and burned off easily.
Furthermore, in terms of this “extra time” you’re saying you don’t have, perhaps a matter of perspective. I ride a 30 mile commute (15 each way, approx). Get off of work at 5:30 - this leaves enough time for me to get something to eat, cycle about 10 miles to another part of town where I spend 2 hours coaching youth soccer (and I’m involved, running around, not just standing there), then cycle another 5 miles back home… then usually meet up with a friend for dinner (more cycling to meet up), or go to a show/reading/whatever, get back homew with NO “extra time” wasted and plenty of opportunity to get a full night’s rest.
Perhaps you need to learn to plan your time better. ;) Sure, reducing my daily distance would be useful - but not everyone can do this. Some of us work in neighborhoods that our pay can not afford, so we live in places we CAN afford… and maybe even prefer to live in.
Paul G
9:32 am
BTW if it makes you feel any better, the current price for a US Gallon of “Gas” is $7.60 (£1.03 a litre) in the United Kingdom, and that’s at the cheap supermarket pumps!
zanyanna
9:15 pm
Thanks for sharing this information! You have provided some excellent tips on how to find the best price on gas!