Finding cheap gas near you is pretty important, with the skyrocketing cost of living and gas prices now at record highs. Indeed, according to AAAthe national average is now over $4.25 per gallon for regular gasoline.

In an ideal world, we would be able to take public transport or drive an electric car, but the majority of us still need to buy gas and we don’t want to spend all our salary to fill our cars. Here are some tips and tricks for finding cheap gas near you.

Use GasBuddy and the GasBuddy card

There are plenty of apps designed to help you find cheap gas near you. But GasBuddy (Android, iOS) is the best known app, allowing you to search your area for the nearest and cheapest gas pumps.

Although that’s not all. GasBuddy also offers money back offers when you spend money on everyday purchases. These funds are added to your GasBuddy account and can be redeemed for gas purchases with the GasBuddy card. Paying with the card can also earn you up to $0.25 on every gallon of gas, and costs nothing to receive or use.

GasBuddy also offers paid subscriptions that promise to offer up to $0.40 off every gallon of gas – with guaranteed savings of $0.20 on your first 50 gallons and $0.05 off per the following. A GasBuddy Plus subscription costs $8 per month, while a Premium subscription costs $10 per month and gets you three roadside assistance calls each year.

Download GasBuddy for android | iOS

Use AAA’s Gas Price Monitor

AAA is more than just a breakdown service; his website also has a bunch of useful information and tools, including one that lets you check gas price state to state and county to county. The best part? It’s updated daily, so you know the information is reasonably accurate.

In other words, if you’re in a position where you can cross borders in your search for cheap gas, that’s a good place to start. Just know that the further you have to drive, the less the savings will be. So don’t rely on AAA tool and only AAA tool to fill your tank

AAA can also calculate the Cost gasoline while travelling. So you can determine if the trip is worth it or, at the very least, how much you should expect to pay.

AAA Gas Price Monitor | AAA Travel Cost Calculator

Compare prices with Google Maps and Waze

Google Maps and Waze have lots of information on businesses and locations, but did you know they also keep a record of gas prices? All you have to do is search for “gas station” or press one of the dedicated search buttons, and both navigation apps will bring up a list of gas stations in your area.

You can’t sort by gas price, but you can tap on each result and see what fuel they sell and how much they cost per gallon. Also, since both apps are designed for navigation, it only takes one click to get directions. Google Maps is also configured to choose the default most energy efficient routesaving you money by using less gas.

Unfortunately, Apple Maps doesn’t seem to offer this feature, although Google Maps and Waze are available for free on iPhones.

Download Google Maps for android | iOS

Download Waze for android | iOS

Use GetUpside

If you want to be able to do more than just compare gas prices, then GetUpside (iOS, Android) is something you might want to consider. The app gives you the ability to compare gas prices around you, but that’s not its main purpose – rather it’s designed to save money via cashback offers. Unlike some competitors, you don’t need to provide your bank details in the process.

The idea with GetUpside is that you earn money every time you fill up with gas. Although prices may initially be more expensive than nearby gas stations, the fact that you pick it up after the fact could make all the difference. However, GetUpside is quick to Remark that the rapid increase in the price of gasoline means that cashback offers are no longer as lucrative as they once were.

But it’s still worth checking out and determining which pump will be the friendliest for your wallet. Plus, having the app means you can get cashback offers at other businesses, like stores and restaurants.

Download GetUpside for android | iOS

Get a Costco or Sam’s Club Membership

Buying in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club is already a great way to save money, but did you know that signing up for a membership can also get you a gas discount?

You can find Costco and Sam’s Club locations across the US, and a bunch of them also have member-exclusive gas pumps, which are generally cheaper than the rest of the area. The amount you will actually pay will vary from location to location.

Membership in Sam’s Club (or the more expensive Walmart Plus) gets you up to $0.05 off a gallon of fuel. Meanwhile, Costco sells fuel at wholesale prices and manages to offer gas that’s still cheaper than what you’d pay elsewhere. Of course, the downside is that you have to pay for a membership to get those savings.

The cheapest Costco subscription is “Gold Star” and costs $60 per year for two membership cards. That means you and someone else can save on gas for an entire year and have the ability to shop at Costco stores around the world. Don’t forget the $1.50 hot dogs either.

Sam’s Club is charging right now $45 for an annual subscription, which can be shared with another person, and you will be reimbursed with a $45 gift card. In other words, membership is basically free and you get access to Sam’s Club stores on top of all that.

Sign up for a Costco subscription here

Sign up for a Sam’s Club membership here

Buy gasoline on the right day

Believe it or not, you may be able to save money on gas by buying your fuel on certain days of the week. Combined with some of the other methods of finding cheap gas near you, you could be in for some serious savings.

A recent survey of GasBuddy found that average gasoline prices were generally lower on Mondays across much of the United States. Sunday was the second cheapest day, on average, while Thursday and Wednesday are the two most expensive days.

Consider going electric

While it’s counterproductive to tell people to ditch petrol altogether, rising prices are making the prospect of owning an electric car more attractive. After all, you don’t have to worry about gas prices if your car isn’t using it.

Electricity is also considerably cheaper than gasoline, even with the rising price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels. Indeed, according to US Department of Energythe average price of gasoline is significantly higher than the cost of an equivalent amount of electricity in all 50 states.

Electric cars aren’t an option for many people, especially with the rising cost of buying electricity, but studies show that electric vehicles are cheaper to run in the long run. With gas prices as they are, now is a great time to grab an electric vehicle and swap the fuel pump for a charging cable.