Prepaid Gas Cards

Prepaid gas cards have fast become the ideal method of conserving fuel costs. Manageable and easy to use, you can buy gas cards from almost anywhere and the best part of it all is there are 5 to 10 percent savings on gas costs whenever you use a prepaid gas card. It's like having a credit card with its limit already paid for.

And that's where the problem starts. Prepaid gas cards are NOT supposed to be used like credit cards, but most users tend to fall for the gimmick. To take the example of Shell, a Shell prepaid gas card also entitles you to Shell convenience store items as well as Shell automotive products and services. That's all well; like all good marketers, they have given an irresistible hook to their product. Who can resist the ease of buying $50 gas cards and using it not only at the pump but also if you want to get your car oil changed?

With their small denominations, and the apparent ease of use, it's quite easy to overdo things. Many users become so enthralled by the prospect of saving money on gas (not to mention the immense ease of use) that they actually end of spending more on gas through their prepaid gas cards. It starts innocuously when you realize that by the end of third week of the month, you've already spent your budgeted gas money.

The key to preventing such situations is to realize that prepaid gas cards are meant to encourage you to spend less, not more. By rationing your gas budget (and it will take time to get used to), you'll soon find that you're making inroads into your gas bill and have really started saving that 10 percent of your gas bill.

Prepaid gasoline cards are ideal for long trips and even for short, inner city trips. In an ideal situation you would buy a set amount of ‘gas credit' in the form of prepaid gas cards at the beginning of every month and use them as the need arises. No need to carry gas money.

Like hunting for cheap gas prices and changing your driving habits, prepaid gas cards can seem to have a limited impact – their only obvious benefit is their ease of use. But by taking advantage of their price savings, you can add to your overall savings and start to substantially reduce your gas bill.