Originally Posted 6/17/22

$6.25 per gallon of gas. Yup, that's what it was when I last filled my 10-gallon tank. I may be dating myself here, but I remember fondly when gas prices were under $2.00 and $1.25 or less. You can Google when that was. (Hint; 1900s). However, I have awakened to the fact that the cost of filling up my tank is the most expensive cost of running my business. Having a mobile business as I do has compelled me to research how to survive and save money in this current economic climate that has forced ridiculously high gas prices. Most articles I have found said the same things. So, let's get into how you can have a mobile business and not go bankrupt due to soaring gas prices.

Most of us, more experienced drivers, know the common ways to save on gas. Some of them include using the AC less, making sure you take care of your car with regular visits to the mechanic, addressing any alignment issues, or replacing tires with low tread. Well, summers here are in the mid-hundreds, sometimes for months straight, and not using my AC is not even an option. I bought this car because my last one didn’t have AC and was quickly falling apart. I agree with the rest of that short list and have seen major differences when staying on top of the care of my vehicle.

The first article I want to introduce is from USA Today's website. Titled; “9 Ways Your Small Business Can Save on Fuel Costs; Gas Rewards Programs, Online Meetings, and More,” written by Rhonda Abrams. It does just that… gives us 9 tips. Let's get into them.

1. Drive Less: Ok, that makes sense, unless, of course, your business is a mobile one, like mine. It is counterproductive and will lessen my revenue if I don’t drive. So that tip, for me, is out.

2. Use a Gas App to scope out the best deals: The article links GasBuddy and Gas Guru, I have checked them out, and they are pretty helpful.

3. Go Digital: An awesome idea, but it implies I won’t need to leave my office. I am a mobile business, and going digital with zoom or phone calls isn’t possible. California prevents me from notarizing documents online. Another one I have to take off my list.

4. Look for Gas Reward Programs: Many credit and debit card companies have specific accounts that give you a percentage of the money you spend on gas back. Or they add up to help you towards another goal. Check out this article from Compare Cards by Lending Tree about the Best Credit Cards with Gas Rewards.

5. Reduce Shipping Expenses: This applies to me due to having to send docs to the California SOS for Apostille work, and though I shop for the most economical shipping prices, this doesn’t save me money on gas costs.

6. Keep Your Car in Shape: Yup, one we mostly already know.

7. Switch to Hybrid or Electric Vehicles: This is a great tip if you can afford it. I wouldn’t suggest going into debt to do it but your choice. Also, considering the cost of an electric car requires more than just the car. You need to install a system that lets you charge at home. Unless your home is run 100% on Solar, you can incur an additional cost. However, if I could do this, I absolutely would. In California, efforts are to replace all gas vehicles in the next 10-20 years.

8. Lighten Your Load: This is easy for me, but what if your mobile business drives diesel and shipping materials and supplies nationwide. Is there a way to do that? To lessen your load? I am sure there is. Something to look into if that is a concern for your business. I guess I could lessen the load on my car if I lost a few pounds (or more than a few), but I don’t think that's what they suggest.

9. Encourage your staff to ride bikes or take public transportation: This is great for your staff, but if your mobile business can’t sustain itself on a bike or by using public transportation, like mine, then this tip goes out the window as well.

I like the tips offered by this article, but I wondered if there were other ways to save some money. In the article; “How to Save Money on Gas When the Prices are High” from the Small Biz Trends Website, there are some tips we haven’t yet explored. Anthony Maina, the author of this piece, lists a whopping 21 tips. We aren't going to visit all 21, but I wanted to pull a few that we could add to our functional tip list.

Don’t Use Premium Gas: This is a great tip. I have never used premium gas, but if you do and your car can survive without it, it is a great way to save a couple of cents per gallon on your gas bill.

Ease Up on Gas and Breaks: All you Nascar drivers, you heard the man. Take it easy. As my son is learning to drive, some things are happening to me. One, I have an annoying backseat driver commenting and criticizing every move I make in the car. Two, I am way more aware of the rules of the road. You know, the ones you skip over once you've been driving a while? Yea, I see you. Give yourself a break by not punching the gas or slamming on the brakes. Wouldn't our highways be a better place if we all did that?

Pay Cash at the Pump: Most gas stations give a small discount for using cash. Do you know why? Same reason I give a small discount when people pay for my services with cash. Credit Card Transaction Fees. I like to pull cash out of the bank every week for my gas budget just for that reason. Yes, you have to see the cashier; not as convenient. But let's weigh the importance of convenience to our wallets.

Combine Errands: I love this tip. As I don’t live in the main metropolitan area near me, when I leave the house for work, I am normally driving 20-80 miles one way. So the idea that I can batch my appointments with my errands and social get-togethers is a great way to make that drive worth every penny.

There are a ton more tips in this article, and I encourage you to take a moment to read all of them here.

With all that being said, the truth is it stings right now. The prices are high, the weather is getting warmer, and for those of us with a mobile business, it will be a thing for a little bit longer. However, we don’t have to just roll over and take it. There are things we can do to mitigate the growing gas bills. I would love to hear how you work around it or what you do to help save money at the gas pump for your mobile business.

If you ever want to contact me, email me or call 559-212-4706.

Till Next Time-

Jennifer Cooper- JKC Mobile Notary