Sevenmoneymistakes at the gas station

Editor’s note: This article was written by Craig and originally appeared on Clark. com.

How often you go to the gas station may have changed during the coronavirus pandemic, but whether it’s once a week or once a month, there are several things you can do to save money, protect your vehicle and avoid identity theft. In this article, I’ll outline seven things that could prevent you from getting the most bang for your buck at the pumps. Let’s look at some mistakes that may be hurting your wallet.

1. Filling Up on the Wrong Day

If you’re one of those people who only fifill their gas tank on payday, you could be throwing money away. Monday is actually the best day to buy gas because it costs less, and prices begin to rise on Friday through the weekend.

2. Paying With a Debit Card

Swiping a card is the easiest way to pay at the pump, but make sure you use a credit card instead of a debit card. Money expert Clark Howard always recommends that we pay for gas — and everything else — with a credit card because it carries better consumer protections. The fact is that once you pay with a debit card, it’s much harder to get your money back if there’s a problem.

3. Using the Wrong Credit Card

If you’re not thinking about which credit card you’re swiping at the pump, then you might be missing out on valuable rewards. The Sam’s Club Mastercard, for example, offffffffffffers 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi offffffffffffers 4% cash back on gas. A simpler cash back credit card like the Citi Double Cash can help you earn 2% cash back on everyday purchases.

4. Not Using the Type of Fuel Recommended for Your Vehicle

Every vehicle comes with a fuel type recommendation, which is usually included in the owner’s manual. If you don’t follow it, then there’s a very real possibility you could be wasting money. For example, if your car doesn’t specifically require premium fuel, then fifilling it up with higher-octane gas — CarFax.com says premium fuel is about 60 cents more a gallon — is a waste of money because it offffffffffffers no benefifit.

5. Shopping at the Gas Station Food

Mart

If you fifind yourself buying groceries or other items from the gas station food market, then you’re most likely paying a higher price than you would if you purchased those same items from a supermarket.

6. Not Being a Rewards Member

If you do fifind yourself continually buying food when you stop for fuel, you may want to join a gas station loyalty program to mitigate the damage to your wallet.

7. Not Using a TopTier Gas Station

Anothermoneymistake you might not realize you’re making is not using Top-Tier gas in your car. Top-Tier fuel helps extend the life of your vehicle because it has a higher concentration of detergent, which is good for your car.

Here at Clark. com, we want you to save money at every opportunity. By making some simple adjustments at the gas station you can keep put more of your money in the bank and less in the tank.

ClarkHoward helps you save more, spend less, and avoid rip-offffs. VisitClarkHoward. comformore info, or get his best-selling books signedwith free shipping at GetClarkSmart.com. Listen toClarkHoward weeknights from6 to 8 p.m. onAM1290andNews 95.7 WHIO.