Paying for gas is one of the most costly parts of our life. While it is difficult to avoid paying for gas you can defiantly help reduce the stress it puts on your wallet. Using one or all of these methods can save a lot of money at the pump.

Pay with GasBuddy

When GasBuddy started out, it was just a simple website where people could submit the amount they paid for gas and be entered in a lottery for a $100 gas card. This allowed the website to crowdsource gas prices from all over the country and help you find the cheapest gas.

They have come a long way since then and now have an app and a special gas card. Pay with GasBuddy is basically a debit card which links to your checking account. When you join Pay with GasBuddy for free, you will save 10¢/gal on your first fill and a minimum of 5¢/gal on all future fills.

GetUpside

GetUpside is an interesting little app that helps you save gas in a novel way. Instead of requiring you to get a special card or input a code at the pump, the app just asks that you fill up at a specific gas station.

When you open the app you will see a list of gas stations which are participating in the GetUpside program. Your savings will range from $0.10 to $0.35, depending on which station you choose. Once you have selected a gas station, simply fill up using whatever payment you want and then snap a picture of your receipt.

GetUpside will calculate how much money you should have saved and then send you that amount through PayPal.

Gas Reward Programs

Most gas station chains will have their gas reward program that you can join. The reward program that you should join will depend on your location and what gas stations are closest to you. I have listed the two largest program below.

Circle-K Rewards - This excellent rewards program gets you 10 points per gallon at the pump plus 20 points per dollar spent on eligible products at the gas station. When you earn 2,000 points, you’ll get two dollars in cash back. The Circle-K Rewards program also offers other member benefits, like clubs and special offers.

- This excellent rewards program gets you 10 points per gallon at the pump plus 20 points per dollar spent on eligible products at the gas station. When you earn 2,000 points, you’ll get two dollars in cash back. The Circle-K Rewards program also offers other member benefits, like clubs and special offers. Speedway Speedy Rewards - This program is similar to the Circle-K Rewards program. It gives you 20 points per dollar spent in-store plus 10 points per gallon at the pump. You can choose monthly perks each month, including coupons for food or drinks at Speedway. Points are also redeemable for Speedway coupons. You can sign up for this program here.

- This program is similar to the Circle-K Rewards program. It gives you 20 points per dollar spent in-store plus 10 points per gallon at the pump. You can choose monthly perks each month, including coupons for food or drinks at Speedway. Points are also redeemable for Speedway coupons. You can sign up for this program here. BP Driver Rewards - With this cash-back rewards program, you’ll get 10 cents off per gallon for every $100 you spend on BP fuel. The BP Driver Rewards program is flexible, too, because you can also choose to add the points to your MileagePlus miles. Plus it offers 200 bonus miles when you make your first transaction after you link your debit or credit card.

- With this cash-back rewards program, you’ll get 10 cents off per gallon for every $100 you spend on BP fuel. The BP Driver Rewards program is flexible, too, because you can also choose to add the points to your MileagePlus miles. Plus it offers 200 bonus miles when you make your first transaction after you link your debit or credit card. Shell Fuel Rewards - The Shell Fuel Rewards program is somewhat unique in that it has a tiered approach. The more you fill up at Shell, the better your rewards. When you have Silver status, you’ll save three cents per gallon automatically. If you shop more and get to Gold Status, you’ll save at least five cents per gallon.

In the past, I have written about how you can sell your receipts for cash. You can check out the article if you want to learn more about the individual apps, but I will include a synopsis below.

CoinOut - The most famous of all the receipt scanning apps because it was featured on Shark Tank. The app has no withdrawal minimum and allows you to redeem through PayPal or with Amazon gift cards.

- The most famous of all the receipt scanning apps because it was featured on Shark Tank. The app has no withdrawal minimum and allows you to redeem through PayPal or with Amazon gift cards. ReceiptPal - Credits you for every four receipts (no matter what they are) and allows you to connect your Amazon account to earn more points.

- Credits you for every four receipts (no matter what they are) and allows you to connect your Amazon account to earn more points. Receipt Hog - You will earn a different amount depending on how much you spend. If your receipt does not earn you points you will get a chance to play a game a slot game to earn a random number of points.

The amount you earn won't be per gallon, but scanning your receipts after every fill-up can still save you a lot of money.

Putting It All Together

The real secret to saving a large amount of money every time you fill up is to combine several of these programs together. They do not interfere with each other and when combined you can save a huge amount on gas.

Use GetUpside to find the cheapest gas near you. Use the corresponding fuel rewards program for the gas station before you fill up. They usually ask you before you swipe your card. After filling up use your GasBuddy card to pay. Take a picture of your receipt with GetUpside and the cash back receipt apps.

If you do this every time you fill up, you will save between $0.30 and $0.50 a gallon.