The two ways to save money buying gas is to pay less and use less.  One of the best ways to use less gas, pay the best price and maximize savings is to plan ahead. Organizing when and where you fill up will go a long way to reduce the amount of gas you use.

Plan ahead to take advantage of other purchases when buying gas. Check out coupons in your local area that offer money off certain items, like convenience food.  If you purchase your fuel at a service pump that has a convenience store attached then you can use your money-saving coupons for convenience purchases.

Although you are not saving money on your actual gasoline purchase, just by combining your convenience purchase with your fuel purchase you will find some money saving benefit by shopping and fueling up at the same location. You will be saving on your convenience purchase and you will be conserving fuel by not making an extra trip.

You can save money on your gas purchase if you plan when and where to fill up. Don’t wait till you are almost empty to fill your car. Plan ahead where and when you are going to purchase fuel.  Save by trying to fill up once a week at a gas station that you have discovered that sells at a good price.

If you let your tank get too close to empty you may find that you are forced to buy gasoline at a higher priced station to avoid running out of gasoline.  If you plan your purchase ahead it will allow you to take advantage of the lower  priced stations.

Scouting out the best fuel prices as you drive can save you plenty. Keep a look out for stations around your house or on roads you travel often and note the prices and locations in a notebook.  Soon you will know where the best deals are. You will have created your own local database of prices without using any additional gas to do it.

Sometimes waiting to buy fuel can save you money. (Note: Most of the year this holds true but sometimes this is not the case such as late spring and summer when the price just keeps going up till memorial day.) If on a particular day you cannot find the price you were looking for, wait a day or two and you may still find your price. The price of gas is constantly changing. A few days could make a difference.  Again if you plan to fill up well before your tank is close to empty you will have the flexibility to be able to wait till you find the right station with the right price.

A little advance planning can go a long way to help control your fuel costs.  It may seem like a small thing to do.  Just remember all the small things you do to help save gas and money will add up to big savings over time.