A Pain in the Gass (Part III)

Memorial Day reminds
me of family trips to Florida , fun in the sun, or taking a boat ride on the
river.  Once a year my family would pile into our lime green
and wood panel station wagon and set out for some good times. 
My brother and I would play games in the backseat and take naps with
visions of hotdogs and smores dancing in our heads. I suppose kids today climb
into the back of the family Hummer and plug into their I-pod. 
The real question is after working our tails off for the family
vacation….can we still afford it?
 
Ok, maybe that’s
laying it on a bit thick but I’m feeling nostalgic today.  As
summer quickly approaches I am wondering how I’m going to afford my much needed
vacation.  The price of gas has made a great impact on our day
to day lives and it has made me consider some strategies when it comes to my
bottom line.  After reviewing my current financial status it
dawned on me that I really should be using a gas rewards credit
card.  If you have to pay big bucks at the pump you might as
well make your money work for you right? Not using a gas rewards credit card is
almost like spending an extra 5% on gas.
 
According to the
Department of Energy retail gas prices continue to rise to their highest levels
ever, with an average of $3.23 per
gallon and it’s unlikely that they’ll come down any time
soon.
 
So how am I going to
make my dream of a vacation a reality?  There are several
things you can do other than buy a new car.  I got a tune up
on my car which can save up to 25% in gas usage.  I bought a
digital tire gauge and checked my tire pressure. You can lose up to 6% for every
single pound your tire is under-inflated. I just applied for my first gas
rewards credit card.
 
Gas reward credit
cards offer rebates in the form of points or cash back.  The
way to maximize any reward card is to use it for everyday purchases and
bills.  I plan to use my gas card for all purchases from
utilities to gas so that I can earn cash back.  By paying the
gas card balance in full each month I have just given myself a 5% raise for
being a good consumer.  See you at the beach!
 
Andrea Stradley,
Senior AnalystFrankford Financial