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Has the gas prices discouraged you?

March 24, 2026 11:25PM
I find myself in a pickle, in the past I have accepted a route of shops at a set rate but now I find myself asking for more money due to the increased gas prices. It's over $4.00 a gallon here, are you asking more because of the added fuel costs?
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More About Gas Station Mystery Shopping
March 25, 2026 03:16AM
I don't use a set rate. I use the IRS mileage rate plus an hourly fee for driving time. Only a part of the IRS mileage rate accounts for gasoline. Most of it is depreciation, insurance, repairs, etc. In 2025, the national average gas price was $3.00 a gallon. Now it is $4.00 per gallon. So the gas portion of the IRS mileage rate has increased by 1/3.

Google says that 20 to 30% of the IRS mileage rate is the cost of gas. So, let's use 25%. 25% of $0.725 is $0.18. 1/3 of $0.18 is $0.06, so having now figured this out, I am going to use $0.79 ($0.725 + $0.06) when I calculate PAD and when deciding whether to take other shops.

I hope this helps, and if I have made an error, please let me know.

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
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March 25, 2026 03:00PM
I have a hybrid, and a tank of gas in it has gone up $10. (It used to cost me $20 to fill it up. Now it costs $30.) So, I either get gas station jobs on the way or I wait for bonuses.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
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March 25, 2026 03:09PM
First of all, it's "have"...

And no, I'm not discouraged because I focus on mystery shopping the petroleum industry so that Big Oil pays for a majority of my gas.

Last time I paid for fuel on my own dime I paid $2.42 per gallon by cashing in the previous month's Kroger fuel points.

Local prices are now hovering around $3.90 before any discounts/perks, though I've seen it as high as $4.09.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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March 30, 2026 12:58PM
Just came home to prices 10¢ higher locally. I did a 4-day loop through Wyoming doing a couple dozen Sinclairs, 3 Shells and 1 Exxon bonused to $100. Only had to spend $17.50 out of pocket for gas, and it was way less than local prices, so I consider that a win.

I'm totally rethinking my approaches:

• I was never one to collect all the various loyalty accounts, but my bad. Shoulda been using all I could unless guidelines forbid it. I've added two loyalty accounts in the last two weeks.

• I need to get in the habit of checking Upside at each gas station shop.

• Normally I would be pissed if I did not cash in fuel rewards each month, but this month doesn't make cents (pun intended). Didn't buy a lot of groceries in February, so I only get 20¢. Costco is still 5¢ less, and I pre-booked a bunch of Phillips 66 stops that are mostly 7-11's, so I will continue to let Big Oil pay for my gas for the foreseeable future.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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March 30, 2026 01:18PM
When gas goes up this high, I plan all my trips differently - personal or business. I try to do all errands, etc in one direction. If it is not a company I can ask for more, I will either skip it or wait till the fee goes up to account for the add'l gas cost.
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March 31, 2026 03:35AM
Yep. I quit doing the "I'm bored" shops. I just call it a day after work and go home.
Costco is $5.55
Chevron & Shell are $6.39-$6.65
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March 31, 2026 09:55AM
Planning personal errands along a shopping route ( or planning your shops on a personal errand route) at least keeps your mileage as a business expense and saves gas.
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April 04, 2026 04:54AM
I sure am. Gas is currently over $6/gallon where I live in California.
Have had to rethink a lot of this, especially as MSC's are wanting to pay less.

This is a business. The companies seeking our services are running businesses. No one can afford to pay to work or just break even unless you don't need the money.

After doing the math, it's honestly not worth it for me to leave my house for less than 3-4 $25 gigs or the equivalent within a 15 mile radius.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2026 04:54AM by SBP.
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April 04, 2026 06:07AM
I have been putting more effort into making sure I don't go out unless there is more than $100 to make. And leaving the house less often.

I still need to go to another county to get my driver's license renewed, and I need a mailing address in GA because my mother is unreliable. And I have a real problem asking for her help because of Satan (my kid's nickname for my younger sister).
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April 04, 2026 06:37AM
Big shoutout to the idiots that have been fooled by the oligarchy.
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April 04, 2026 09:58AM
Here's hoping the IRS will up our mileage rate.
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