Saw $4.09 on Taylor’s Ferry in SW Portland the other night. And it’s February. Gas peaks in the summer, so $4 gas might seem cheap in just 4 months. Some tips for finding cheap fuel in Portland.
1. Apps and websites.
You can discover average price in your local zip code using: Gasbuddy.com or Gaspricewatch.com. Your iPhone or Droid has applications that track gas prices. Read reviews in your app store for a good one.
2. Drop that “easy-to-pull into” station.
Gas stations off major streets have higher prices. Look for stations in harder-to-find spots. And don’t fill up in expensive neighborhoods (the Sylvan Chevron is always 30 cents over average).
3. Wednesday.
Stations bump prices on weekends when people have time to fill up and are on long trips. Prices tend to be lowest in the middle of the week.
4. Fred Meyer cash rewards.
This progam has proven to be popular, and for good reason. Their stations are already low-priced, they have plenty of attendants, and they’re generous with the discounts. Fight the temptation to drop in for ice cream, snacks, electronics, and other errands you weren’t planning.
If you put in the effort you can save about 25 cents per gallon consistently. That’s $260 a year…enough for a full detail from Ace!