🪞 Reality Checks
Is the Cheaper Gas Worth the Drive?
The Costco gas line might be costing you money.
Adjust the sliders below. Defaults are set to US averages.
4 mi
0.5 mi20 mi
12 min
No wait30 min
$0.10/gal
$0.02$0.50
14 gal
8 gal (compact)30 gal (truck)
Adjust vehicle and driving details
28 mpg
12 (truck)55 (hybrid)
$3.50/gal
$2.50$6.00
30 mph
15 (city)60 (highway)
🤷
Technically positive, but...
You save $0.90 net, but you spend 20 min doing it.
The Math
Savings at the pump+$1.40
14 gal x $0.10 savings
Extra gas burned on detour-$0.50
4 mi / 28 mpg = 0.14 gal x $3.50
Net savings+$0.90
Drive time (round trip)8 min
Wait time at pump12 min
Total time spent20 min
Your implied hourly rate for this errand
$3/hr
Below minimum wage. Your time is worth more than this.
Putting it in perspective:
- ⛽At $1.40 saved per fill-up, you'd need 52 fill-ups (358 to save $500/year)
- ⏰You'll spend 17h 20m per year on this detour (weekly fill-ups)
- 💰Annual net savings: $46.80 (saved)
- 🤔To make this trip worth $25/hr, you'd need to save $0.63/gal instead of $0.10
MoneyPlainly
Barely worth it
Net savings: $0.90 | Time: 20 min | Rate: $3/hr
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Not financial advice. See full disclaimer.