Thursday, November 1, 2007

Sometimes Frugal, Sometimes Not

I was riding in the car with someone today and he had to stop to get gas. He choose to stop at a station that only accepts cash. Also, it was located in a slightly inconvenient spot, requiring a left turn to get in to it and a right turn, u-turn, left turn combination to get back in the direction we were headed. I commented that I would not have stopped there. I would have gone to the higher priced station (4 cents higher) located on the right hand side of the road that accepted credit cards. He was surprised that I wouldn't go a little out of my way to save money since I was so frugal in other areas. I have to admit, this is one area where I am willing to pay a little more for convenience. I don't stop at the highest price stations but I do stop at the stations like Circle K and Quik Mart which are not the very cheapest.

I look for other things when stopping for gas: Accessibility, safety, credit card readers that work, and the station can't be crowded. I often stop at the station near my property in the rural part of town. It is on the right hand side of the street. It has multiple entrances and exits. It is rarely crowded. The street that it is on is also rarely crowded. I fill up when my tank is only half full so that I am never close to running out of gas and I can fill up when I have the time and the opportunity.

I guess it is just one of those things I am willing to pay more for.

2 comments:

Mary said...

I know exactly what you mean. I don't go to the super-high priced gas stations, but I also don't go to the super-cheap ones if they are inconvenient for me.

The station has to be on the right side of the road, it has to be easy to get into and out of, and it can't be crowded. I'm not willing to sit and wait, even if it's just for one car.

Oh and I also get my gas before it gets low, so that I can chose when it's convenient and when it's not. I also hate that urgency when you're gas is running out and you have to get someplace quick.

squire said...

I want a station on my side out the road or at least one where I can enter and exit at a red light and still "pay at the pump".