Look at the sign at your local station. Gas is hovering around a national average of over $3.50 a gallon, and if history is any guide, it’s only going to get worse as we head toward the summer driving season.
According to AAA, spring is notoriously the time refineries switch to more expensive summer fuel blends, which drives up costs across the board.
But you don’t have to just sit there and take it. I’ve been covering consumer finance for a long time, and I can tell you that using your smartphone is the easiest way to fight back against rising prices. You’re already holding a powerful tool to reclaim some of that money.
5 cash-back apps to ease the pain
1. Upside: Upside is arguably the heavyweight champion of gas cash-back apps right now. You open the app, find a participating station near you, and claim an offer before you pump. Pay with your regular credit or debit card, and you’ll earn cash back — sometimes up to 25 cents a gallon depending on your area.
2. GasBuddy: You probably know GasBuddy as the crowdsourced map that tells you where the cheapest gas is hiding. But if you sign up for its free Pay with GasBuddy card, it links to your checking account and acts like a debit card at the pump. You’ll save a few cents on every gallon automatically.
3. Checkout 51: Most folks think of Checkout 51 for groceries, but it also has a robust gas rewards program. You check the app for participating stations, select an offer, and upload your receipt within 24 hours. You accumulate credits in your account, and once you hit $20 in credits, you can cash out and get the funds via a check in the mail.
4. Station-specific apps: Don’t ignore the major brands. Companies like ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell have their own dedicated apps. The BP Earnify app, for example, can save you 5 cents on every gallon.
If you’re loyal to the station at the corner of your neighborhood, downloading its proprietary app is a no-brainer.
5. Receipt Hog: Receipt Hog isn’t strictly a gas app, but it’s a great secondary layer of defense. Whenever you get a physical receipt from the pump or the convenience store inside, snap a picture of it in the app.
You earn coins that eventually convert to PayPal cash or Amazon gift cards. It takes seconds.
Stack your savings
The real trick here is layering these strategies. You can use an app like Upside to find a good deal, pay with a rewards credit card that already gives you cash back on gas, and then scan the printed receipt into an app like Receipt Hog. It’s an easy habit to build.
If you want more strategies to keep your gas budget intact, read our recent reporting on the best days of the week to fuel up.
The bottom line is that you don’t have to pay full price just because the sign on the corner says so. Take a few minutes to download these tools and keep more of your own money.
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