By this summer (or even sooner), gas prices will creep up to $4 per gallon. It pains me to think about it, standing at the gas pump watching the grand total quickly tick to almost $70 to fill up. And because we live in Southern California where you must drive everywhere just to get somewhere, we may be filling up at least three to four times a month (for just one car - we have two). Do the math and that's a big chunk o' change. And when you live on one income, you need all the change you can get.
It's inevitable that gas prices are going to rise so I've been thinking about ways to find extra money for gas. Barring digging in my couch for loose change or begging on a street corner, I thought of some creative, free and easy ways to save money or earn a few dollars. Here are a few suggestions:
1) Get Cash Back for Pumping Up. If you're already spending a fortune on gas, you might as well get something back for it. With certain credit cards, you can earn rebates on gas purchases.
Chase Freedom will give you 3% cash back, while Citi Dividend Platinum Select MasterCard can earn you up to 5% cash back. Discover Card also gives you cash back on your purchases. American Express offers free miles for every purchase, which is just as good as cash for some people. But just remember to pay your credit card balances in full just as if you were using your debit card, or you'll be paying interest on already steeped gas prices.
2) Earn Points, Get Free Gas Cards. On Mypoints.com, you can earn free gas cards from Shell ranging from $10 to $50. Mypoints.com is a website that rewards you with a certain amount of points for online purchases from select retailers (e.g. Target, Old Navy, etc.) as well as participation in online surveys, games, reading e-mails and more. In turn, you can redeem points for rewards from more than 100 merchants (including Shell). If you're an avid Internet shopper, this is a great deal.
3) Enter Free Gas Giveaways or Promotions. Check out your local radio station for free gas giveaways. For example in Southern California, you can enter for a chance to win $50 worth of free gas from Movin' 93.9 by registering on their website www.movin939.com/contests/freegas.aspx. Also, Big Bear Lake Resort Association (BBLRA) is offering a free $100 gas card for guests booking five or more nights at a participating lodge, or a free $50 gas card for guests booking a three or four nights stay at a participating lodge. The free gas offer begins April 20, 2008 and ends November 23, 2008 (non-holiday).
4) Clip coupons. Saving 35 cents here or 50 cents there may not seem much, but it does add up especially on items you normally buy. Check the Sunday newspaper for current coupons, or take a look at these online sources: www.boodle.com, www.smartsource.com, www.couponbug.com If you have an aversion to scissors, then check out your local grocery store online to see if they offer P&GeSaver, which loads coupons onto your club card.
5) Save Money with Fellow Bloggers. I stumbled upon Money Saving Mom, an awesome blog that offers incredible and creative tips and ideas on saving at grocery stores, drugstores, retailers and more! From this website, I have learned how to score major deals at CVS (e.g. on my last trip I spent a mere $5.16 on two packages of Huggies Pullups, 6 Sunsilk shampoos, 3 Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotions, 1 bottle of Excedrin, 1 gallon of milk and 3 toe dividers) as well as get free samples from retailers such as Starbucks. She also provides information on how to earn extra money without getting another job (see her March post Increasing your income without getting a new job). I also like BeCentsAble - this site offers a weekly section called "The Grocery Gathering" which lists some great blogs covering individual grocery store deals. Always be on the lookout for money saving blogs - every little bit of knowledge can help put more green in your wallet!
5) Recycle. Save your aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass for some easy cash. On my last trip to the recycling center, I earned $15 for just bringing in plastic water bottles, milk cartons and glass. Currently I think you can get at least $1.75 a pound for aluminum cans. It may take a while to start up a collection, but you'll be doing something good for your pocket and for the environment too.
6) Drink one less latte. Try living without Starbucks (or Coffee Bean) for just one day. If you do this, you'll save about $12 (or more if you're a Venti drinker) per week or almost $48 a month.
7) Brown bag your lunch. You could possibly save $5-$7 a day if you brown bag it. That's a savings of $25 to $35 per week - equivalent to a 1/2 or 3/4 tank of gas, depending on your car!
8) Sell on Ebay or Craigslist. Take a look around your home and see if there is anything you don't use anymore that could possibly turn into some cash on Ebay or Craigslist. Many people have success selling the following: vintage concert T-shirts, sports team clothing, designer brand purses, and collectibles like figurines or commemorative plates. But do your research first - check your items to see how much they fare on Ebay or Craigslist to make sure you 'll turn a profit.
Those are my top 8 ideas - if you have an idea, please share in the comments section!
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