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Is the Deal Worth the Drive?

By Nadine Cheung Posted 1:25PM 10/05/12 Savings Experiment, Shopping, Travel Industry |
Savings Experiment: Driving for Cheap Goods

How far would you drive for a deal?

Did you find our video on driving for deals helpful?

Good deals can be found in plenty of places, but could the cost of going the extra mile outweigh your savings? Here, our experts break things down to dollars and sense.

The average price of a gallon of gas right now is $3.97. If your car gets approximately 23 miles per gallon, that means you're getting about 6 miles for every dollar you spend on gas.

Let's say your local supermarket, which is just .5 miles away, sells detergent for $5. Then you find a deal for the same product priced at $4.50, but the discount retailer is 12 miles away. It will cost you an extra two dollars to get there, which negates the 50 cents you're saving on the detergent. You're spending actually spending more than you're saving.

Beyond the cost of gas, you're also using up extra time, putting more wear on your tires, and using up oil life. Sure, the effects may be small, but if you're often driving out of your way for deals, they can add up.

So, when it comes to getting a bargain, calculate your drive first and make sure the distance is worth the deal.
Tagged: best deals, cars, gas, hidden costs of sales, saving money, saving on gas, Savings Experiment, SavingsExperiment, Travel & Autos, travel and autos

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166 Comments

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sptt144

Stupid article. My 9 month old baby could shovel that crap obvious logic out.

December 29 2012 at 3:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cslinz62

Who needs discount stores when you've got Ebay. Ya know?

December 29 2012 at 2:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jsimons4109

I own a small retail store. I have this conversation weekly. I am told that a store 50 miles away (100 miles round trip) has the same thing for $2 less. I do my best not to out right laugh in the faces of some of these people. I really am at a loss when people try to justify their logic. Not only are they wasting gas, they are depriving the city or town where they live of the sales taxes that keep the town running.

December 28 2012 at 6:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rexitalia

Usually its not worth the drive...

December 26 2012 at 4:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
photoking0313

I have no sympathy for these clowns who drive out of their way to shop at Chinamart. The fact of the matter is that if you have time to cut coupons and check prices to save .50, you are screwed.

December 26 2012 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
janka51

the truth about discount stores is to stay away from anything that has discount wrote on it

November 28 2012 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to janka51's comment
baracklsevil

"wrote" on it?

December 27 2012 at 1:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lngfoto

I live close to a discount store, it cost me more money in gas money, not to save a few pennies.

November 28 2012 at 8:43 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
ifcsouthlyon

Clowns get paid to write this tripe, when I read it I feel the need for a shower.

November 28 2012 at 6:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tim5484

Did the experts type this story too. "You're spending actually spending more than you're saving" They can't make a sentence but can tell you how to plan your discount shopping. lol

November 28 2012 at 5:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank

I hope you are not driving to a store to get one item. We shop at 3 levels - COSTCO once every 4 - 6 weeks where we stock up on a variety of goods, Walmart - once every week or two and then the local food stores for produce and sale items. Bottom line is know your prices, watch for sales (especially non-perishables) and do not go shopping when you are hungary.

November 28 2012 at 2:34 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply

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