Welcome! It looks like you're new here. Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed so you don't miss a thing! Thanks for visiting!

Messages have been circulating this week through text message, email and social networking sites about an organized gas strike for today, May 2nd. I myself have gotten several texts and a forwarded email about it in recent days. The premise of the strike is for everyone to avoid purchasing gas today to show our displeasure with the ever-escalating cost of fuel. Personally, I am all for any type of organized efforts to lower the price of gasoline and if you feel that not purchasing gas today is a way to achieve that, then by all means participate.

My issue with this tactic is that it doesn’t really effect the overall consumption of gasoline at all; since most people will get the gas they need before or after the strike. The key to making a statement (and affecting the bottom line of the oil companies) is not using any gasoline for a day or a weekend. That way, with reduced consumption, comes reduced need and hopefully lower prices. For instance, I won’t be doing any driving today and plan on walking anywhere I need to go; something I need to incorporate more into my daily life anyway. Since this strike was going on today I thought you all might like to hear about it, and act accordingly if it’s something you see as worthwhile.

On the subject of gas prices, I know we’ve mentioned ways to find the cheapest gas around to save money at the pumps, but I’ve recently discovered some additional ways that you can make your money work for you and show savings filling up your tank. Numerous grocery stores run programs where for every $X amount you spend using your store card, you will save 10 cents per gallon at participating gas stations on your next fill up. Both the Price Chopper and Stop & Shop have these programs down where I live, and are interesting options to consider.

Smarter grocery shopping is a great way to save money, but it may also make sense to find which of these (or other) stores has the best prices on the merchandise you want to buy and shop there exclusively. As you spend more at one store, your savings at the pump will increase. Over the course of a month, you could easily save upwards of 50 cents per gallon just by doing your shopping at one particular store. Something you should consider, at the very least - I know I am.

(image courtesy of planebuzz.com)

Popularity: 17% [?]