Fuel For Thought

CBS 11 News Looks At Ways To Save On Gas

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― With gas prices breaking records every week, even a little savings can go a long way. So, CBS 11 News went to check out some of the ways you can really save.

Keep in mind, prices have gone up -- even since these comparisons were made, but the deals are good everyday.

High gas prices affect everyone who drives. Sometimes, even shopping around for gas doesn't pay off. But there are some ways to save at the pump.

CBS 11 News compared prices at 16 different locations across North Texas, focusing on the gas discounters. The survey included CostCo, Sam's Club, Tom Thumb, Race Trac and Quick Trip in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties.

In Tarrant County, four of the five locations we checked had the same price for regular unleaded gas at $3.47 per gallon. But if you look a little deeper, you can find more savings.

"If you spend $50 or more at a Tom Thumb in a single transaction, you'll get $.10 per gallon as a reward card member," explains one shopper.

She's right. Tom Thumb has a deal on gas if you have their reward card. At the Tom Thumb store on Grapevine Highway, gas was $3.37 per gallon for reward card holders.

In Collin County, Race Trac on Legacy Drive had gas for $3.43 per gallon. It was six cents higher at Sam's Club on Spring Creek Parkway. But those Tom Thumb reward card holders come out on top again. Their price at the Tom Thumb on Independence Parkway was $3.34. So, if you can combine grocery shopping and filling your tank, you'll save a little money.

AAA's David Wainstein said Tom Thumb and other gas discounters can sell gas for less than traditional gas companies like Shell or Exxon because they spend less on marketing.

"So you can charge a certain amount in lower gas prices as opposed to spending thousands of dollars advertising in newspapers or media," Wainstein explains.

Dallas County prices were a bit higher. At Tom Thumb on East Lovers Lane, gas was $3.51 per gallon or $3.41 with a reward card. But the Sam's Club on North Garland Avenue was the cheapest with $3.40 per gallon.

In Denton County, where there is no Tom Thumb, CostCo or Sam's Club, the Race Trac was one cent cheaper than Quik Trip at $3.43 per gallon.

Click here to view an Excel spreadsheet comparing the prices CBS 11 News found at local gas stations.

As for the question everyone is asking, is there relief in sight? According to AAA's David Wainstein, no.

"History is that prices tend to go slightly up as you begin the summer driving season," he says.

Wainstein says another way to save is to fill up during the week, not on Fridays. He says you stand a chance of paying higher prices at the end of the week.

Click the links to the right for more information on gas prices and how you can save.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---