Keeping up with strategies to stretch your dollars at the gas pump is important, especially for Californians who spend dozens of hours in traffic each month.

Another perk? Getting the most out of your fuel means reducing your carbon footprint, a win-win for your wallet and our planet.

Here, we delve into some savvy yet often overlooked methods to reduce gas expenses using a combination of statistics and personal experience.

1: Choose Your Refill Days Carefully

Many Americans aren’t aware that the day of the week that you choose to fill your tank can affect how much money you’re spending.

According to a gas price comparison app GasBuddy, Monday is the best day of the week to buy gas if you’re looking for low prices. Friday is the second-best day.

Remember, this only applies to averages; Many factors can impact gas prices on any given day. But statistically, Mondays are your safest bet.

2: Make the Most Out of Apps

Speaking of price comparisons, many app options are available right on your smartphone. Apps such as GasBuddy, Fuel Forward, Gas Guru, Waze, and AAA Mobile make finding affordable gas prices easier.

Because prices can vary from gas station to gas station just blocks or even across the street from each other, having these apps handy can help you save money and time.

Spare yourself the weekly drive around the neighborhood for the cheapest station.

3: Regular or Premium?

The labels of “regular gas” and “premium gas” are a little misleading. The key difference lies in the octane rating, a way to measure the fuel’s tendency to ignite from the compression force of the piston.  

Unless you’re driving a high-performance car that specifically calls for premium gas, there’s little benefit to using it in a standard consumer car.

It doesn’t burn cleaner, nor is it more energy efficient. It just costs more.

4: Avoid Topping Off Your Tank

Not only does trying to fill your gas tank to the very top cost you extra money, but it can also be harmful to your vehicle. It can damage the onboard refueling vapor recovery system (ORVR), a charcoal canister that collects and absorbs fuel vapor during the refueling process.

The ORVR is typically designed to last the full lifetime of your car.

However, topping off too often can saturate the system, requiring expensive repairs. So next time you’re at the pump, don’t worry about catching that perfect even dollar amount!

5: Tighten Your Gas Cap

Another tip for saving money and improving safety: Make sure your gas cap is adequately tightened after refueling. Leaving it too loose or off too long can allow vapor to escape into the air.

Most modern vehicles come with an alert light or message when your gas cap isn’t tight enough, but you should always check it yourself at every refuel.

6: Opt for Little Towns

Gas stations make a point to target people who are traveling long distances and have fewer options.

It’s common to see higher gas prices in major cities, just off highway exits, and near airports.

If you need to refuel while on a road trip, consider taking a little detour through the town rather than filling up at the first gas station off the exit. This way, you can save money and get the most sightseeing out of your trip!

7: Join a Gas Loyalty Program

Most gas brands and some grocery stores offer loyalty programs with discounts on gas and cash back on store purchases and car washes.

The premise is simple: The more you spend, the more points you earn and the more you save in the long run.

If you frequently use a particular gas station brand, joining its loyalty program is worth considering. Just keep in mind that your points only apply to that specific company.

8: Get a Gas Rewards Credit Card

Alternatively, you can get a gas rewards credit card that works anywhere through your bank of choice. Gas rewards cards earn rewards points or cash back for each dollar spent on gas, typically at a rate of 3% to 5%.

There’s also that lovely welcome bonus!

But as with any credit card, always shop around and read the fine print. Consider rules and caps, the card’s annual percentage rate (APR), and any additional fees.

9: Don’t Wait Until You’re Almost Out

Waiting until the last possible moment to get gas is not only a risky gamble for getting stranded somewhere, but it also limits your options.

You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re so desperate for gas that you must accept the nearest station, which could be nonsensically expensive.

Once that low fuel light comes on, it’s time to listen. Don’t be responsible for limiting your own options.

10: Carpooling is Cool

In some cases, leaving your vehicle behind altogether can be the best option.

Why take two cars if you’re all heading the same way anyway? 

Get to know your neighbors and your coworkers. Take turns driving and split the gas bill. Besides, isn’t traveling more fun when you have company?

11: Consider Different Payment Methods

Certain gas stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash instead of using a credit card. You can sometimes save between 10 to 15 cents on the gallon, occasionally even more.

That said, keep in mind your cash back credit card could offer similar rewards.

Take the time to do a little math and calculate whether it’s cheaper to pay with cash or make use of your credit card’s cash back program.

12: Check Your Tire Pressure

There’s never a bad time to check the air pressure on your tires. Having even one slightly deflated tire can negatively affect how smoothly your vehicle runs.

This means that your car requires more power (aka gas) to get going.

Checking your tire pressure is especially important when traveling long distances, where a flat tire would be an extra-big inconvenience. Always keep a spare tire handy!

13: Slow Down

Flat tires are a bad way to slow down; avoiding being in a hurry to get where you’re going is a good way. That’s because the faster you drive, the more gas your vehicle guzzles.

By adopting more eco-friendly driving habits, you not only save money but also reduce your carbon footprint.

Long stretches of highway can be tempting to speed through, but for the biggest gas-saving benefits, stay below 75 mph. Even better, keep your lead foot driving below 65 mph.

14: Lighten Your Load

Car clutter isn’t just an aesthetic concern; it also affects fuel efficiency. Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle, especially heavy ones.

Every pound of excess means higher energy expenditure, so streamline your car’s cargo to maximize fuel savings.

As convenient as it might seem, your car’s trunk isn’t a good storage space. It’s just weighing you down.

15: Plan Your Trips Ahead of Time

Strategically planning your routes can help minimize fuel consumption. Combine multiple errands into a single trip to reduce needless driving.

Check traffic conditions beforehand and consider alternative routes that are shorter or less congested.

Avoid rush hour traffic whenever possible, as frequent stops and slow-moving traffic can burn unnecessary fuel. Sometimes it’s worth avoiding the highway altogether.

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If we really are what we eat, North Dakota residents—and Americans as a whole—are mostly made of meat, potatoes, and bread.

At least, that’s what the list we’re about to show you seems to suggest. 

That might not be surprising, given the number of burger joints in any given U.S. town. Still, there are some items Americans eat in massive amounts that you might not expect. 

While you can probably guess a few of the items on this list, we doubt you could name all of them.

Americans clearly enjoy their hamburgers, but there are a lot of other foods that Americans eat 20 or more pounds of each year.

1: Potatoes

The humble potato is the number one vegetable Americans consume.

Whether fried, mashed, roasted, or baked, we can’t get enough of this starchy tuber. 

According to the USDA, Americans consume close to 50 pounds of potatoes per person per year. Most of them are in the form of french fries. 

2: Tomatoes

USDA data shows tomatoes are the second most commonly consumed vegetable in the U.S. Americans eat about 31 pounds of them per year. 

That said, Americans aren’t eating that many raw tomatoes.

Instead, we’re consuming a lot of pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, and other prepared forms.  

3: Chicken 

Chicken is such a versatile meat; it’s no wonder we love it so much!

Whether you like it breaded and fried or prefer a lower-calorie grilled chicken breast, there’s a style for nearly every carnivore. 

Per Statista data, Americans consumed 98.9 pounds of chicken per capita in 2022. Projections show that the number could increase to 107 pounds or more by 2033. 

4: Cheese

It seems Americans can’t get enough cheese. Data shows US per capita cheese consumption hit record highs in 2022 at 42 pounds. 

According to YouGov surveys, cheddar cheese is the favorite for most Americans.

However, American cheese comes in at a close second. 

5: Ground Beef 

Ground beef is a staple in many dishes Americans eat. We enjoy it in hamburgers, tacos, and meatballs. 

Though the popularity of ground hamburgers has decreased in recent years, they remain incredibly popular.

According to Statista data, Americans consumed just over 59 pounds of ground beef per capita in 2022. 

6: Bread

The average American consumes about 53 pounds of bread per year.

When you think about how many things bread is in, this number makes a lot of sense. 

We eat bread with breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the U.S. From French toast to sandwiches to dinner rolls, there’s no doubt Americans love bread products. 

7: Corn

Corn is consistently one of America’s largest crops.

We plant millions of acres of it every year, and while much of it goes to feeding cattle and making ethanol, we also eat it in large amounts. 

USDA data shows Americans consume about 35.5 pounds of corn products per person per year.

From popcorn to corn chips, we’re big fans of corn-based products in the U.S. 

8: Sugar

Walk through any grocery store in the U.S., and you’ll find sugary sweeteners abound. Sugar is in everything from soft drinks and ice cream to salad dressing and yogurt. 

Though World Health Organization guidelines suggest keeping added sugars to a minimum, Americans still consume a lot of sweets.

Per the American Heart Association, the average American ingests about 60 pounds of sugar each year. 

9: Milk

Milk has long been a staple of the Western diet. We consider it essential for our children, our cereal, and our coffee. 

When you consider how prevalent this form of dairy is, it makes sense that we consume about 130 pounds of it per person, per year.

Believe it or not, this figure reveals a significant decline from 1975, when the average American drank over a cup a day. 

10: Rice

From pilaf to sushi, Americans enjoy rice in a variety of dishes. Though our rice consumption is nowhere near that of many other countries, it’s relatively high. 

According to the American Rice Federation, Americans eat about 27 pounds of rice per person each year.

The U.S. grows far more rice than we can eat, though; we’re the fifth-biggest rice exporter in the world. 

11: Pork

Statista data shows Americans eat about 51.1 pounds of pork per year. Though it’s far from our favorite meat, there are many forms of pork that Americans enjoy.

We put it in meatballs, enjoy it in sausages, and, of course, we consume a lot of bacon. 

Interestingly, pork consumption was down in 2022, but producers expect it to rebound in 2024. Pork is often less expensive than other proteins, and in times of high inflation, Americans may choose to eat it in greater quantities. 

12: Apples

They say there’s nothing as American as apple pie. It turns out that saying may be true. Americans love apples more than any other fruit. 

USDA data shows that in 2021, we consumed about 45 pounds of apples per person.

However, most of the apples we ingest are in juice or cider form rather than baked in a pie. 

13: Fish 

Seafood may be America’s least consumed whole protein, but we still eat quite a bit of it. The USDA estimates that Americans eat just over 20 pounds per person each year. 

Our taste for fish has increased in recent decades.

Over the last thirty years, American consumption of fish and shellfish has gone up by thirty percent. 

14: Onions

If you spend any time cooking, you’ll find onions play a significant role in many recipes. They’re sauteed into sauces, diced on top of chilis, and, of course, deep-fried alongside hamburgers. 

According to the National Onion Association, our love for onions has been on a steady forward trajectory for the last few decades.

In the 1980s, Americans were consuming a mere 12.2 pounds per person. Now, we consume more than 20 pounds per person each year. 

15: Pasta 

Americans consume about 20 pounds of pasta per person each year. While that’s nothing compared to our friends in Italy (they consume over fifty pounds per person), it’s still a lot. 

According to the North Dakota Wheat Commission, the way we consume pasta in the U.S. is changing.

There’s more demand for artisanal and organic products than ever before. Millennials, especially, are often demanding their pasta be locally sourced, handmade, and produced from non-durum wheat. 

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Much like Gilligan’s unexpected extended tour, not all real-life trips go as planned.

These travelers discovered that it takes more than a coconut phone to get rescued, and some survived using remarkably inventive methods.

1: Fyre Festival 

Thousands of travelers expected the party of the year on a beach in the Bahamas. Instead, they ended up stranded.

Billed as the hottest music festival of 2017, complete with luxurious perks like arrival via private plane and gourmet catering, Fyre Festival proved disastrous as guests who paid up to $100,000 per ticket slept on bare, wet mattresses, ate cold cheese sandwiches, and tried in vain to fly back to Miami. 

What Happened? 

In a bid to lure the internet’s elite to the hottest music event of the season, businessman Billy McFarland cut corners and defrauded thousands of ticket-buyers to the now infamous Fyre Festival.

He’s currently serving a six-year prison sentence. 

That’s what you get when you try to plan an event in four months that should’ve taken at least a year.

2: Not Quite Home for the Holidays 

In late December 2022, a mechanical issue caused a United Airlines flight from LA to Sydney to make an emergency landing on Pago Pago Island in American Samoa.

But unlike Gilligan’s crew, these passengers were treated to hotel rooms and free beers on the beach while they waited for a new plane to arrive just a day later. 

3: Day Trip Turned Disaster 

An island-hopping outing turned into a rescue mission when a group of local college students ended up stranded in the Philippines more than 18 miles from their home port.

Luckily, the local disaster management team was able to rescue all 18 students just a few hours later. 

4: Real-Life Castaway 

In February 2021, a routine Coast Guard flyover of the Bahamas resulted in the discovery of three castaways on a deserted island.

The trio had survived for 33 days on a diet of coconuts, conchs, and rats. 

5: Vacation Nightmare 

Thousands of Korean tourists found themselves stranded in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam as “super-typhoon” Mawar devastated the South Pacific.

While local airports were shut down for days, no casualties were reported from the severe storm. 

6: Living on Lemons 

In August 2022, a 51-year-old Brazilian gardener was rescued from uninhabited Palmas Island off of Rio de Janeiro.

He had been swept off a seaside observation point and dragged two miles to the deserted island, where he survived for five days on lemons and seawater. 

7: Stranded by Choice

After his catamaran capsized near the coast of Italy’s Budelli Island in 1989, Mauro Morandi fell in love with the island and decided to replace its newly retired caretaker.

Thirty-two years later, in 2021, Italy’s Robinson Crusoe (as he was affectionately known) was evicted by the national park service. 

8: An Unexpected Journey 

Mexican fisherman José Salvador Alvarenga has the unfortunate distinction of holding the record for longest solo survival at sea. He drifted over 6,700 miles from the fishing village of Costa Azul to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, where he was rescued.

The ordeal lasted 438 days and resulted in the death of Jose’s fishing partner. 

9: Message in a Bottle

Six sailors were rescued from a deserted island off the coast of Brazil after being stranded for 13 days.

The Brazilian Navy found the crew thanks to one of the oldest tricks in the book: a simple message in a bottle with the crew’s location, families’ phone numbers, and a plea for help. 

10: Happily Alone 

Three years into an ambitious 8,700-mile hike along Great Britain’s coast, Welsh hiker Christian Lewis found himself stranded on the remote Scottish Shetland Islands in March 2020 as the world shut down.

Instead of panicking, the hiker was in heaven, living in a cottage on the deserted island, waiting out the metaphorical storm with his dog, Jet. 

Survival Skills

So, what should you do if you find yourself stranded on a deserted island?

According to adventure tourism group Desert Island Survival, you’ll want to stay calm and remember the five pillars of survival: shelter, water, fire, food, and mindset. 

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