Gas prices remain volatile, like a rollercoaster, climbing up, darting down, and then right back up again. It creates quite the thrill for your finances every time you pull up to the pump to fill your tank, wondering if you’ll have any money left.

It’s easy to think you don’t have options to control what you pay at the pump, but you do. 

But, did you know you have options to lower the sticker price? While you can’t influence the price of fuel gas stations charge, you absolutely can do something about what you pay.

Here are nine ways to create your own fuel perks.

1. Cash Just Might be King at the Pump

Fuel centers sometimes offer customers an incentive to pay with cash because they, and other businesses, pay bank fees to accept credit and debit cards.

The fees range around 2 cents for every dollar spent.

To avoid those fees, gas stations might discount a gallon of gas by 5 cents. You save money, and the business lowers its bank fees.

Sometimes, you might receive a discount when using a debit card.

For example, Circle K has an Easy Pay program that links your checking account to a loyalty card. When you pay at the pump, the money is transferred out of your checking account, much like a debit card.

You will save around 10 cents a gallon on this program.

When filling up, look to see if the business charges different prices for cash, debit, or cash so you will save the most money.

2. Join a Membership Club

“Membership has its privileges.” That was the marketing slogan of a well-known financial services company.

The statement is also true when it comes to saving gas at club memberships like Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale, and Walmart Plus.

Members will receive discounts when they fill up at the respective gas stations.

BJ’s has a fuel saver program that will give you 10 cents off for every item you purchase on the current list (up to $99 off per fill-up for a maximum of 30 gallons).

Costco offers member-exclusive prices, and Walmart Plus will save you up to 10 cents off at Mobil, Exxon, Walmart, and Murphy gas stations. Sam’s Club fuel centers offer members 5 cents off per gallon.

3. Check the Air Pressure in Your Tires to Improve Fuel Efficiency

How often do you check the air pressure in your tires?

If you ignore your tires, you might be purchasing more gas for your vehicle than you need to due to poor fuel efficiency. 

“Maintaining proper tire pressure is one of the most important — but often overlooked — maintenance tasks for vehicle owners,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy [source]. 

When you inflate your tires based on the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can save up to 10 cents per gallon of gasoline, per the Department of Energy.

Make sure you have a tire gauge in each of your vehicles, and when you fill up your tank, grab the gauge and check your tire pressure. 

4. Your Driving Habits Might Be Hurting Your Gas Mileage

When you drive, do family and friends accuse you of having a lead foot? If you are a speed demon on the road, you might be driving up your fuel costs unnecessarily, according to the Department of Energy [source].

  1. Slow down to save on fuel costs: When you drive fast, your car consumes more gas, which increases your fuel costs. Generally, gas efficiency declines when you drive more than 50 mph. Based on Energy Department estimates, you might be paying up to 18 cents more for every 5 mph you drive beyond 50 mph.
  2. Combine trips to use fewer gallons of gas: Starting and stopping your vehicle for short trips use more gas because your engine doesn’t reach a fuel-efficient temperature. So, if you can combine your trips, your vehicle will not use as many gallons of gas, saving you money.
  3. Eliminate bad driving habits: Just as slowing down is good for fuel efficiency, so is eliminating aggressive driving, like accelerating quicking and stopping abruptly. These jack-rabbit starts and stops not only hurt fuel consumption but also increase the wear and tear on your vehicle. Don’t do it.

5. Carpool With Others to Reduce Fuel Costs

One of the best ways to reduce what you spend on gas is to share rides with others through carpooling. 

When you and others agree to share driving responsibilities, you will spend less on gas and vehicle maintenance, reduce the number of cars on the road, and lessen traffic congestion.

How can you find carpools to join? Ask coworkers if they want to carpool to save money.

Do you have neighbors who you can share rides with? Maybe you don’t work at the same place, but you do work in the same area.

You can also use a web service like Waze Carpool. You can enter your route in the service, see who is driving where, and then ask to join the carpool.

Your state or city might offer rideshare programs, so check out programs in your areas.

Plus, you can also use a different kind of carpooling – public transportation.

Generally reserved for larger metropolitan areas, you might be able to take a bus or train to save on fuel costs.

6. You Can Always Use Personal or Pedal Power

Depending on where you live, you might be able to walk to work or to the store. If so, you can dramatically reduce how much you are spending on gasoline. 

If you work in an office, you might want to keep a change of clothes in your desk just in case it’s hot on your walk to work or you get rained on (you can always carry an umbrella).

If you are walking to the store to pick up some groceries or other items, a shopping cart (that you can use for other purposes, like laundry) will make the trip easier on you.

If you don’t want to walk, then hop on a bike.

It costs more than 20 cents a mile, on average, to cover just the fuel and maintenance costs for a vehicle, according to AAA [source].

If your commute is 10 miles, then you can save around $20 a week, which is more than $1,000 per year.

Not too long ago, your only option would have been a traditional bicycle powered by the force you apply to the pedals. However, you can choose to ride an electric bike for your commute.

No matter what kind of bicycle you choose, you will want a basket and rack over the rear wheel so you can safely transport items, especially if you run to the store.

7. Fill up at a certain time of day? 

Some suggest filling up your tank in the morning or at night when it is cooler because fuel expands as it heats up. Consumer Reports does not think so because gas tanks are stored underground [source].

While GasBuddy doesn’t have a recommendation based on temperatures, it recommends filling up on Monday mornings.

Based on its study, consumers seem to get the best prices per gallon on Monday mornings.

8. Use a Gas Comparison App

While we are talking about GasBuddy, it is an app you can download on your phone that will show you gas prices in your area.

You can quickly see which station is offering the best deal.

UP NEXT: How to Live on Less Money: 42 Hacks to Thrive

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