this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
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ShowerThoughts

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Sometimes we have those little epiphanies in the shower.. sometimes they come from other places. This is a home for those epiphanies.

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backstory is that i try to fill up my tank more when gas prices are at a low and less as prices go up to make my long term average cost per gallon lower.

now given current events, and empirical reality, gas has only been going up and will continue to go up. we could assume different curves(only constraint being that price per gallon goes up as time goes forward), but if you buy your gas now you will spend less money then you have if you bought it tomorrow, day after, or week down the road. my estimate is that it will be month minimum before it gets cheaper.

now that I have put this out there into the world you should fill up asap, I already filled up before making this post and other people will come up with this idea independently of me.

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[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's not to shame you. It's to point out that collectively it's a bad tactic. Using less fuel, rather than more is better.

Also, if you spend all that time refueling, you'll likely waste more time than the dollars you save, based on an hourly rate.

You do you, though.

[–] solidheron@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm not even seeing how it's a bad tactic collectively. The only alt to buying cheaper gas now would be more expensive gas later that would be true for an individual, entire, family or your neighbors. It's mathematics.

I already pointed that you should be using less fuel regardless of Trump's illegal war with Iran or when gas prices where cheaper. That's strategy not mutually exclusive to tipping off, but independent and complimentary to topping off

You wouldn't be spending all your time refilling you'd just detour to the gas station once a day on your commute because gas prices stay the same for an entire day. I should say fuel up once a day right before you park your car for the day

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Driving to and from the gas station multiple times is not using less, lol. Detours is more driving. Plus the time to do so.

You're basically advocating for hoarding. Letting your tank go to empty and only purchasing small amounts that you need would have the same effect, while spending less and consuming less.

[–] solidheron@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It actually wouldn't. Because you'd because when gas prices get too much for you to afford you'll only have a partial tank instead of near full

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

But you'll have a full tank worth of dollars in your pocket.

[–] solidheron@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Man this is desperation on your end. The idea of a car is that you use it to drive to work so buying gas is a necessity and more important than hording cash

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 1 points 2 days ago

Lol, the idea of a car is to drive to wherever you would want to go. It's very American to default to work.

Hoarding cash is not what I'm saying. I'm saying reduce demand, not increase it. The added bonus is that you have cash flow increase and time increase.

Spend time looking at alternative transport. Walking, cycling, WFH.