Thinking About Saving Money
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
July 6, 2016 12:06am CST
I’ve had many conversations with friends and coworkers about things people don’t think about when they think about saving money.
I am now receiving less money and find myself thinking about things that on the surface sounds like I’m saving money but in reality I’m not.
Gas in Idaho is cheaper than the gas in Washington state. I live six miles from a gas station in Idaho. Should I drive to Idaho for my gas? It is eighteen cents cheaper in Idaho than a gas station two miles from my house.
Here are the things I have to consider. I often drive in the direction of the gas station two miles away. I rarely go to Idaho therefore to go there would be a special trip. It is estimated it costs sixty-three cents a mile to operate a vehicle (this includes gas, oil, tires, insurance, wear and tear on the vehicle). A round trip is twelve miles. So if I go to Idaho for gas it is costing my sixty-three cents times twelve miles or $7.53. My car normally takes sixteen gallons when the low gas light turns on. That means I’ll save $2.88 over the gas station two miles away.
Since I will already be driving past the gas station two miles away it’s not costing me anything to stop there. I’m not making a special trip to get the gas. Therefore instead of saving money it’s costing me $4.65 to go to Idaho.
Why don’t people think of this? Most people only look at the cost of gas. If that was all that was involved then it would cost me about a $1.18 for the trip. A savings of $1.70. It’s the hidden costs that people don’t think of.
Now if I have to go to Idaho anyway, that is a totally different story. And if I need gas at that I’ll get it in Idaho.
When you are thinking of saving money do you ever stop to figure out hidden costs?
9 people like this
13 responses
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
6 Jul 16
Yeah, that sounds a lot like my gas-buying situation. I think we're about 20 cents higher than one of the stations at the Sam's Club that's about 6-7 miles from our apartment. I wouldn't bother making the drive out there if it weren't for the fact that I shop at the Sprouts store next door regularly. I save so much on fresh produce at Sprouts that it makes the trip well worth going out of my way. If it weren't for that... nope, I'd find the effort alone to be more costly than it was worth.
If you happen to have a smartphone, the Gas Buddy app is pretty awesome for finding deals at local stations. I think they might have a website, too, but if you have the app you can get points for reporting prices and enter to win daily prizes.
2 people like this
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
6 Jul 16
@RichardMeister Costco is a bit closer than Sam's Club, but I find it a lot more inconvenient because their fuel island is constantly lined up across the parking lot. Sam's Club's pricing is about the same, maybe a few cents different, but I rarely have to wait for a pump to become available.
I loved having Gas Buddy on my tablet when we were driving across country a few years ago. It's crazy how the prices near the interstate were so much higher than similar stations just a mile or two away were!
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
If you're going there anyway, then it is worth it. I do most of my grocery shopping at Costco. Their gas in nearly as cheap as the gas in Idaho. But I don't make any special trips to Costco just to get gas. If I'm not going there before my low gas light turns on, then I'll get my gas elsewhere. I used to work in Idaho so I would fill up on my way home on Fridays.
I referred to the Gas Buddy website to write this since wasn't going to go over to Idaho just to check on gas prices.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
@yukimori Here's a little secret about Costco gas station that a lot of people don't know. They open up earlier than the store (the one here open's at 6 a.m.) and are open on weekends about an hour longer than the store.
The gas prices near the freeway has always been higher than anywhere else because they know most people just want to get gas and get back on the freeway. People don't want to be bothered with running around in an unfamiliar city looking for lower gas prices. Maybe sites like Gas Buddy will change that if more people start going to stations with lower prices.
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
6 Jul 16
I think about the hidden cost all the time when grocery shopping. A lot of people think just because an item is on sale it is the better deal but that isn't always the case. Sometimes it cost, even more, to buy the item on sale. My dad and I went to the store and there was a can of chili on sale but it was cheaper to buy two cans of the other brand and we got more chili that way.
2 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
You're right. You need to watch for that sort of thing.
@annierose (21583)
• Philippines
6 Jul 16
I do that too especially when I am in the grocery store. I am saving my money also by not buying things that I really do not need. In fact, I have the same set of formal clothes that I wear on my job. And when I buy my shoes, I make sure it has good quality so I do not have to buy new shoes every now and then.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
Those are good ideas. Many people run for one grocery store to another to get lower prices on item without thinking about the gas and wear and tear on their vehicle. They are probably spending more on their cars then they are saving on groceries.
1 person likes this
@annierose (21583)
• Philippines
7 Jul 16
@RichardMeister Well, we do not have a car. I am just commuting to go to the grocery store. There is a market near our house and instead of riding a tricycle, I prefer to just walk from our house to the market. It is a great way to exercise.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
7 Jul 16
@annierose Walking is a great way to get your exercise. I live too far away from any stores to walk.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55664)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Jul 16
I do think about it, but I don't actually figure out the numbers. We are always driving all over the place, so I figure out what needs to be done and what can be done in the particular areas we will be hitting up. Luckily we live where we can find the same stores "almost" anywhere . . . multi Targets, Costcos, Walmarts, grocery stores - and loads of gas stations . . . I just have to juggle the options so I'm not wasting time or gas.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55664)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Jul 16
@RichardMeister I don't go to Walmart all the time - only if I happen to be out that way. It's a toss up between Walmart or Target. Even though everyone says Walmart has the best prices, I still feel like Target has a wider option of brands (I should say "better" brands).
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
8 Jul 16
@much2say A couple of weeks ago when my brother and I picked up our mother she wanted to go to Walmart and get some slipper. We spent quite a bit of time there looking for something she wanted. She didn't like anything so we went to Target and she got slippers there.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
7 Jul 16
That the best way to do it. I don't live too far for any of the stores you mention but I never go to Walmart.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Jul 16
Yes, i always do . We have to take into consideration , the expenses that goes with it , in order to truly save .
And i can say , that you truly are a great saver , because you take the minute to think it over if you will truly be saving much . I am like you too . 
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Jul 16
Yes, it's a good idea to give it a little thought before spending more money than you are going to save getting something at a discount.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
Yeah, it would be wiser to choose a healthier snack.
2 people like this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
7 Jul 16
I do the same thing with shopping. I can pick up the dog food where I work but it is a full $1.93 more than the same brand at Walmart. But Walmart is about 6 miles away. Unless I have other things to pick up at Wally World, I usually buy the dog food at work. I think I ignore the savings because I just don't want the hassle.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Jul 16
If it costs you more to drive there then you're not really saving.
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Jul 16
Here in the U.S. it's penny wise and dollar foolish. Yes, there are people who will spend a dollar (in your case, a pound) to save a penny. Not intelligent thinking.
@psanasangma (7287)
• India
7 Jul 16
Yes, saving money is important when we have limited source of income
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10095)
• United States
11 Jul 16
I live in Oregon and some stations are higher than others but if I'm in need of gas, I look at where I am headed and if I have to go further or out of my way. I also use Safeway rewards that add up and only a couple stations (Texaco and Chevron) take them. Some buy in bulk thinking it's the cheapest way but they tend to forget the cost of memberships and not factor in that and having to buy more food then they need at one time. (Costco)
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Jul 16
I'm careful about what I buy at Costco. Most people don't know that if they get the executive membership what they get in return. I've gotten back my membership fee in refunds or close to it ($10 shy).You can also get auto and home insurance and ID protection through Costco. Discounts on rental cars and even discounts when buying a new vehicle. It is true you need to make sure you don't over-buy and end up throwing food away. I buy meat and freeze it. Their milk usually has a use by date of a month and i can drink it faster than that. I buy a lot of canned foods that can set on the shelf for a year or more. I also buy frozen vegetables. When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables I can put them up at the little fruit/vegetable stand just down the road from me. Then while I'm at Costco I can get gas cheaper than anywhere else without driving out of my way to get it. But I won't make a special trip there just to get gas.Then there are other things Costco carries. I bought my tv, computer screen, printer, power backup, paper shredder, refilled my ink cartridges, bought new ink cartridges, wipers for the my vehicles and a host of other things other than food. And no matter how busy they are I have never encountered a cranky cashier.
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
6 Jul 16
It may come with age.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Jul 16
You are right about your gas situation. You cannot be fooled by coupons either. Many times it is an illusion you are saving as the item may be priced higher than a competing item that is still cheaper after the coupon is taken into consideration.
1 person likes this
