The frustration around delays and flight cancellations at airports around the country, especially at Newark International Airport, has led people to choose driving as the preferred form of transportation. Not to mention, many of us are back in the office on a hybrid schedule – so commuting to work and the need to drive is often unavoidable. Although it is great to see the price of gas come down recently, there’s no denying that there has been a steep increase in fuel costs — and there’s no saying when gas price may spike again in the future. These above-average prices have made the typical road trips and everyday living come at a much higher price than usual. The Hoboken Girl has compiled some pro tips and tricks to save you some money on your vacations, weekend getaways, commute to work, and everyday car trips. Plus, we’ve covered where to find the cheapest and most affordable gas stations in Hudson County to help you drive on a budget. Keep reading to learn gas-saving tips and the cheapest gas stations to use to in Hudson County + beyond.
Smart Ways to Save Money on Gas
Check for Peak Travel Times
First things first: always check for peak travel times. If possible, it is best to avoid highways like 601 Observer Highway, NJ 139, NJ 495, I 280, and Newark Avenue during peak commuter times (7-10AM and 4-7PM) to avoid sitting in traffic and wasting fuel. If your manager allows for flexibility in work hours, we suggest commuting after the rush hour period has passed — or if there’s a way to take back roads to work, try opting for that. Also, if you’re stopped for more than 60 seconds, turn off the car. Research shows that idling can cost you up to half a gallon of gas per hour.
Carpool
Remember the good old days when you used to carpool to and from after-school activities, games, practices — or simply pick up your friends on the way to the movies or the mall? Well, carpooling is back in style. Not only is it a fun way to meet people and be social, but it can certainly help you avoid driving so much. Start by asking your fellow coworkers, friends, and neighbors, or use local community groups online to see if anyone is commuting to the same area as you. For instance, if a fellow coworker of yours lives nearby, you can try coordinating with them one day on the way to and from work. The same thing goes for a friend who works in a town close to your office. As long as it is not more than a few miles out of the way, carpooling is a great way to try to save on gas.
Drive the Speed Limit
Sorry, lead foot friends, but driving the speed limit and avoiding hard starts and stops whenever possible is a great way to save money on gas. Easier said than done, especially because time is of the essence and we all want to get from Point A to Point B as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, that harsh acceleration increases fuel consumption and ultimately leads to more trips to the gas station. We recommend putting on a good podcast to help you enjoy the journey and driving as close to the speed limit as you can.
Time Your Gas Purchases
There’s a method to the madness: buying gas on the right day of the week and trying to pay with cash when possible are both secret weapons for saving money. Thursday is the worst day of the week to buy gas, followed by Wednesday. GasBuddy studies show that Mondays have the cheapest prices, so it’s best to fuel up earlier in the week instead. During a lunch break at the beginning of the week is a great time to stop at a nearby gas station while picking up food.
Use Reward Programs
Take advantage of reward programs. Warehouse clubs like Costco, Walmart, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club offer discounts on fuel with their memberships. Gas prices at club stores are proven to always be lower, ranging from 5-25 cents less per gallon. (according to GasBuddy), and prices seem to remain low even when the national average starts to increase. Luckily, there are various locations throughout Hudson County. Costco has locations in Bayonne, BJ’s Wholesale Club is in Jersey City, Sam’s Club is in Secaucus, and Walmart is in Secaucus, Kearny, North Bergen, Bayonne, and Union (to name a few). For instance, Costco memberships are available for anyone 18 years of age or older and a Gold Star membership costs $60 per year. This gives you two membership cards, fill-up privileges at Costco fueling stations, and access to in-store and online shopping.
Keep Windows Rolled Up
Yes, it’s okay to crank up that AC! Nothing screams summer or beats the feeling of a hot day, with the windows down and music blasting. But, unfortunately, rolling down the windows actually creates more drag on the engine than it does when you drive with the air conditioning on. Maybe save those windows down, warm weather moments for local, shorter drives to save some fuel.
Pay with Cash
Most gas stations charge a slightly lower price per gallon if customers pay with cash rather than a credit card. This is due to the credit card processing fees they incur. Some stations will let you customers pay the cash price if they’re using a debit card, but it’s always best to have cash on hand for this reason.
Use Apps to Locate Cheap Gas Stations
Apps like GasBuddy and Waze are great for locating the cheapest gas stations. In fact, sometimes driving the extra mile to the next gas station can actually save up to 30 cents per gallon. In addition, the BPme Rewards app is one of the best fuel reward apps out there, and new users can save 50 cents per gallon on their next fuel-up when they sign up to the BPme Rewards app using the promo code SAVINGS1. A huge savings to start with — plus, you’ll save 5 cents per gallon on every future refuel, too.
Cheap Gas Stations in Hudson County
And speaking of… we’ve rounded up the cheapest gas prices in Hudson County.
(Current prices for regular unleaded as of August 15th. Click here for our source.)
- Diesel & Gas, 210 14th Street, Jersey City ($3.79)
- Fuel 4, 596 Grove Street, Jersey City ($3.81)
- BP, 8012 Tonnelle Avenue, North Bergen ($3.89)
- Gulf, 7400 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen ($3.89)
- US Gas, 359 Belleville Turnpike, Kearny ($3.89)
- Costco, 21 Goldsborough Drive, Bayonne ($3.91)
- Speedway, 1401 Willow Avenue, Hoboken ($3.99)
Locals Know Best
As a bonus, we sat down with a frequent local commuter to get her take on gas saving tips. Jessica Ciampa is a Hoboken local and an elementary school teacher who has been commuting from Hoboken to Westfield since 2017.
Hoboken Girl: What time do you typically commute to and from work?
Jessica Ciampa: When I leave Hoboken around 6:45/7AM, I never hit traffic unless there’s a major accident on either the Pulaski or Route 1&9 (which happened twice and took me almost 5 hours to get to Westfield which is normally 35-40 minutes). I always take route 22 to avoid tolls to save money, but that is tricky sometimes too with accidents since it’s another 2-lane road like the Pulaski. Coming from Westfield to Hoboken is unpredictable — if I leave anytime past 4PM, I hit over 1.5 hours of traffic on average; however, if I leave before that, I’m usually safe to make it back in 45 minutes.
HG: Is there a specific gas station you tend to go to in Hoboken?
JC: I try my best to get gas outside of Hoboken for a variety of reasons — but if I use a gas station, it’s usually the one on the way into Hoboken by the Dunkin Donuts. Overall, I don’t mind the commute, but because of the unpredictability of significant traffic, I suggest always checking multiple different apps to figure out the fastest route.
