RISING GAS PRICES

I often travel 50-60 miles to do shops if the pay is good. Hopefully, gas prices won't get too expensive (along with other stuff).

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I've been focusing on procuring local shops I can travel to by bicycle, and that was before the recent gas hike. Not paying for gas and putting wear and tear on my car were factors. Getting in better shape was also a motivator. It"s winter in South Florida, so I should be on a bike while the weather's good.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
Why I specialize in petroleum industry projects. I'm happy to let Big Oil pay my way.

The last gas I bought on my own dime was cashing in grocery fuel points for 65¢ off per gallon.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
Like Cool, I get most of my gasoline from shops and discounted severely with grocery fuel points. I did pay nearly $3 per gallon yesterday because "someone" didn't put gas in my car before we left to go our shops. I'm NOT a fan of paying retail for gasoline, especially after a huge price spike.
I drove 356 miles today (normal day). I am hoping gas prices won't get too expensive!!

@firenwater29 wrote:

I often travel 50-60 miles to do shops if the pay is good. Hopefully, gas prices won't get too expensive (along with other stuff).

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
Yep. Getting fuel covered by shops has spoiled many of us. Just like paying for Panda on my own dime will not happen even if I want it. It is too easy to get it all reimbursed.
I used to do Shell gas stations for a now defunct (I guess) company. Maritz maybe. They were alright.

All the gas jobs here seem like a bunch of detail work and pay nothing.

I don't do a bunch of road tripping anymore. I have a lot of 40-50 mile days, some less.
Yep. I have a car that's pretty efficient on gas, but even with that, I sign up for basically every gas station rewards program, couple it with a rewards CC, and if I can also stack a deal from an app like Upside, I will.
I was home for 2 days, went out today and regular gas is $0.30 more per gallon than it was on Sunday. Tomorrow we are going out to collect gasoline from bonused gas station shops.. I'm planning on bringing back 10 more gallons than we use.
Gas spiked to $8/gallon overnight this past weekend in California after several months below $5 for the first time in years with cheapest ethanol-based within 20 miles on the high end of $6-7 now. Prices fluctuate throughout the week (higher when most are gassing up for the week ahead), but this was the highest I've ever see it in my entire life, and there are additional concerns now that the shipping routes have been compromised.

Reimbursement for gas station shops hasn’t changed in a long time, and many shoppers are reporting longer payout timeframes. 20-50 miles on freeways (double for back roads) is dangerous here and too far to bike.

Even with a good route of gas stations I wouldn’t be able to cover my costs of $20 and under assignments.

Just got off the phone with my favorite scheduler. They can only bonus based on the contract agreed upon before… things changed…after they’ve gone unclaimed long enough.

She suggested we communicate the concern now so there are enough shoppers involved to motivate bonuses sooner.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2026 09:45PM by SBP.
Gas is a factor for me. I do have a minimum that I work for and I do compute the cost of gas when figuring routes.
I'm not seeing anywhere that's $8 even in LA for regular gas.


@SBP wrote:

Gas spiked to $8/gallon overnight in California after several months below $5 for the first time in years. Cheapest ethanol-based within 20 miles is on the high end of $6-7 now.

Reimbursement for gas station shops hasn’t changed, and many shoppers are reporting longer payout timeframes. 20-50 miles on freeways (double for back roads) is dangerous here and too far to bike.

Even with a good route of gas stations I wouldn’t be able to cover my costs of $20 and under assignments.

Just got off the phone with my favorite scheduler. They can only bonus based on the contract agreed upon before… things changed…after they’ve gone unclaimed long enough.

She suggested we communicate the concern now so there are enough shoppers involved to motivate bonuses sooner.
I saw 3.89 yesterday. Expecting to see over 4.00 maybe today. Now of course that is just pure greed and does not reflect what they could be selling at to still profit.
Agree, but $3.87 is a long way from $8


@87Supra wrote:

I saw 3.89 yesterday. Expecting to see over 4.00 maybe today. Now of course that is just pure greed and does not reflect what they could be selling at to still profit.
Interesting. Prices in my area (southwest) started going down yesterday.
None of the gas they are selling was made from oil that might be sold from the higher barrel prices.
Pure greed all the way around.

I think CA is usually about a 1.25-1.50 higher than Detroit for various reasons. 8.00 is just excessive greed, probably in an area with few people and stations, which is what I assume is happening.

It is, however, the epitome of the American Way,
@viv0412 wrote:

Agree, but $3.87 is a long way from $8


@87Supra wrote:

I saw 3.89 yesterday. Expecting to see over 4.00 maybe today. Now of course that is just pure greed and does not reflect what they could be selling at to still profit.
@ShopperGirly wrote:

Interesting. Prices in my area (southwest) started going down yesterday.

Going to a different suburban area tonight. Interested to see what I can see.
Nah, I'm calling bull$$$ on this posters claim.


@87Supra wrote:

None of the gas they are selling was made from oil that might be sold from the higher barrel prices.
Pure greed all the way around.

I think CA is usually about a 1.25-1.50 higher than Detroit for various reasons. 8.00 is just excessive greed, probably in an area with few people and stations, which is what I assume is happening.

It is, however, the epitome of the American Way,
@viv0412 wrote:

Agree, but $3.87 is a long way from $8


@87Supra wrote:

I saw 3.89 yesterday. Expecting to see over 4.00 maybe today. Now of course that is just pure greed and does not reflect what they could be selling at to still profit.
In sunny California north of the Golden Gate we are past $6.00 per gallon.
@ewalsh wrote:

In sunny California north of the Golden Gate we are past $6.00 per gallon.

I didn't think you guys had sun north of the bridge, just fog. Thought they kept the sun in LA with the smog.
Saw 3.79 for the highest today but I was on the freeway mostly and did not pay real good attention.

I would call the average in my area 3.49 credit. 3.39 cash.

I was happy I did not see 4.00.
saw $4.59 in Nevada

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on
I'm seeing $1 per gallon more compared to a week ago They are supposed to eventually release reserves that would replenish oil supplies for 90 days. But in the short term, with more tankers burning, it will likely go higher.
This post is directed to any shopper NOT in need of payment within a few days. The jobs I am proposing pay in 30 to 45 days and entail neither gas nor auto repair work,

In Feb., I completed a computer shop and a phone call for Curinos AKA Informa. I did not track the hrs., but guesstimate a total of 4. My money, $195, arrived this week. Communication, as always, was first rate. Every week, I receive offers from the company, most for which, unfortunately, I do not qualify. This week, though, I was assigned another phone call for $75. I encourage all to at least investigate these opportunities.
Curinos favors iPhones for most projects. But I still get a coveted assignment now and again.
Helena comments--Curinos favors iPhones for most projects.

Bob agrees--Fortunately for me, the phone shops I complete are where I call the company direct without any involvement with Curinos.
I recently started using the Upside app, and I haven't had any issues using my Kroger fuel points at Shell and getting the full discount from Upside. Upside also has Five Guys, so I have been claiming those before doing shops there.

I get most of my fuel points from bonus offers that Kroger sends my way. Most of them are for 200 extra fuel points on select gift cards. When filling up, I bring my containers and purchase 35 gallons. So, that's like $7 back in fuel on a gift card for something I was going to buy anyway. Plus while not much, the 1.5% cash back from my credit card does add up. It's even better with another card when they have grocery stores in the 5% cash back category for the quarter. Oh, and then I'll get some offers on top of that for 5% back (usually up to $4.50) on a single purchase at Kroger, so I'll buy gift cards then as well.

It sounds a bit complicated, but it doesn't take much effort once you get past those few clicks and then making sure you use the right card to pay for your order.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2026 04:30PM by jp43209.
@jp43209 wrote:

I recently started using the Upside app, and I haven't had any issues using my Kroger fuel points at Shell and getting the full discount from Upside. Upside also has Five Guys, so I have been claiming those before doing shops there.

I get most of my fuel points from bonus offers that Kroger sends my way. Most of them are for 200 extra fuel points on select gift cards. When filling up, I bring my containers and purchase 35 gallons. So, that's like $7 back in fuel on a gift card for something I was going to buy anyway. Plus while not much, the 1.5% cash back from my credit card does add up. It's even better with another card when they have grocery stores in the 5% cash back category for the quarter. Oh, and then I'll get some offers on top of that for 5% back (usually up to $4.50) on a single purchase at Kroger, so I'll buy gift cards then as well.

It sounds a bit complicated, but it doesn't take much effort once you get past those few clicks and then making sure you use the right card to pay for your order.

Nice tip about Upside also being available for the 5G.
I have heard of couples who let the Kroger points build up and bring two cars, line them up trunk to trunk, and fill er up with the really good discount.
A couple of months ago we split the Kroger fuel points because we had enough to get our gas for 1 cent per gallon like it says on the banners. So instead I split the points, we got 70 gallons of gasoline for $1.39 per gallon. that month. We only had 1500 points to use in March. we filled up all of the cans one time. I think we're doing a bit better this month, but gasoline is going up so fast we may end up paying the regular price ($2.49 - $2.65 per gallon) even while using all of our points.

My son has UPside, he gets money from them a couple times a year. They are adding a lot more restaurants and stores recently. My son has started checking at every store either of us go to.
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