Spend Smartly at the Pump

Gas prices have already cracked $4 in a trio of states, and some experts are predicting they could skyrocket to $6 by the spring. Short of buying a bicycle and pedaling to work every morning, what can you do to keep high gas prices from eating a hole in your budget? There are actually plenty of ways to conserve gas: Take the junk out of your trunk, keep your tire pressure up, don’t drive like a Daytona 500 contestant, or ditch your SUV for a compact. But even if you do all of these things, you still need to pull up to the pump sometimes. That’s where these suggestions come in.
Warehouse Clubs

Membership-based stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have discounted gas. In some cases, you can use affiliated credit cards to get a double-dip discount: Pay less at the pump and get a cash back bonus. For instance, the Costco-branded TrueEarnings American Express card lets customers earn 3% cash back on up to $3,000 in gas a year.
The caveat: You have to be a member to get the deals. A basic membership at Costco is $55 a year, BJs is $50 and Sam’s Club is $40.














