Becoming Coupon Savvy: Considering the cost of gas

This is something I've been thinking about for a long time.  I hear often, I don't drive to "_____" for my shopping because it isn't close to my home and gas is so expensive these days.  Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand that this is a concern.  You don't want to spend more money simply because of going to a different store that is further away.

However, I would strongly encourage you to calculate the cost of the gas you would use.  When you calculate the difference between the store closest to you and the store further away, you may be surprised to find it isn't much more of an expense.  If the store further away allows you to save a lot more money, then the extra gas would be worth it.

Since I started couponing, I have loved shopping at Meijer.  They are so coupon-friendly and I can really save a LOT of money shopping there.  Since my recent family relocation, my closest Meijer is a long ways away from me.  It is an extra 30 miles drive from where I was shopping nearby.

• 30 miles extra one way = 60 total extra miles
• Roughly 15 miles/gallon (probably get better than this)
• 4 extra gallons of gas to make the trip
• Roughly $3.50/gallon = $14
• Saved $110 in my shopping trip (hadn't consistently saved that much in one trip at my local stores)

As you can see, the extra travel was well worth it.  Now, I probably will only make that trip 2 times a month, but in the end, we will have saved more money than if I wouldn't make that trip.

I'm not encouraging everyone to drive an extra 30 miles to a different store, but definitely think through the actual cost before you turn away from shopping at a specific store.

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