Get gas here

No need to spend more, here are your city's cheap gas finds in South Florida.


If you live in Boca Raton, try:

• NexStore at 8081 Congress Ave.: $2.49 a gallon
• BP on North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road: $2.57 a gallon
• Chevron on Yamato Road & Congress Avenue: $2.61 a gallon

If you live in Deerfield Beach, try:

• Citgo on Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard: $2.45 a gallon
• Shell on Powerline Road & 4th Street: $2.47 a gallon
• Marathon on Powerline Road & Green Road: $2.51 a gallon

If you live in Boynton Beach, try:

• BJ's on Boynton Beach Boulevard: $2.35 a gallon
• Mobil on Jog Road & Hypoluxo: $2.38 a gallon
• Shell on Boynton Beach Boulevard & Congress Avenue: $2.43 a gallon

If you live in Delray Beach, try:

• Murphy USA on Military Trail: $2.44 a gallon
• Gas One on West Atlantic Avenue: $2.45 a gallon
• Shell on Congress Avenue & Linton Boulevard: $2.50 a gallon

If you live in Hollywood, try:

• Citgo at 2000 Sheridan St.; $2.46 a gallon
• Shell at 1554 S. Federal Hwy.; $2.53 a gallon
• Texaco at 5600 Washington St.; $2.59 a gallon

If you live in Coral Springs, try:

• Citgo at 8268 Wiles Road; $2.45 a gallon
• Shell on Lyons Road & Sample Road: $2.47 a gallon
• U-Gas on Coral Ridge & University Drive: $2.49 a gallon

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, try:

• Shell on Sunrise Boulevard & Powerline Road: $2.44 a gallon
• Hess on West Broward Boulevard & NW Seventh Ave.: $2.44 a gallon
• Shell on Davie Boulevard & Saint Andrews Avenue: $2.54 a gallon
• BP on Broward Boulevard: $2.46 a gallon

If you live in Davie, try:

• Shell at 2400 S. University Dr.: $2.39 a gallon
• U-Gas at 4997 Volunteer Road: $2.41 a gallon

If you live in Miami, try:

• Valero at 7045 NW 27th Ave.: $2.31 a gallon
• Marathon on 87th Street & Sunset Drive: $2.39 a gallon
• BP at 1000 Biscayne Boulevard: $2.54 a gallon

All gas prices found at www.miamigasprices.com .

Good gas mileage

Here it is! A list of the top fuel-efficient cars as compiled by AOL Autos.

1. Honda Insight: 60/66 miles per gallon
2. Toyota Prius: 60/51 miles per gallon
3. Honda Civic Hybrid: 49/51 miles per gallon
4. VW New Beetle TDI: 37/44 miles per gallon
5. VW Jetta TDI: 36/41 miles per gallon
6. Toyota Yaris: 34/40 miles per gallon
7. Honda Fit: 33/38 miles per gallon
8. Toyota Corolla: 32/41 miles per gallon
9. Honda Civic: 30/40 miles per gallon
10. Scion xA: 32/37 miles per gallon
11. Hyundai Accent: 32/35 mpg

However, while many of the cars listed above are hybrid and save you gas money, CNN Money says, "According to Consumer Reports' analysis of six hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles, they will lose 2 percent to 3 percent more in value over five years of ownership than otherwise identical non-hybrid vehicles." This depreciation factor may end up costing hybrid owners more in the long run than the amount they save on gas if trading in the car is an option.

Is Florida gas cheap or expensive?

I never realized the extent to which gas prices are covered in the media until now. Yesterday's South Florida Sun-Sentinel ran a cover story on the issue, like AOL did today on its welcome screen. Here's a list of where to move if you want to pay less for gas:

The 10 cheapest states for fueling your car on average per gallon of regular gas:

• Minnesota: $2.20
• Michigan: $2.20
• Kansas: $2.20
• South Carolina: $2.18
• Iowa: $2.17
• Kentucky: $2.16
• Indiana: $2.16
• Ohio: $2.15
• Oklahoma: $2.14
• Missouri: $2.11

The top 10 most expensive states to fill a tank of regular gas on average:

• New York: $2.67
• Colorado: $2.69
• California: $2.77
• Washington: $2.77
• Oregon: $2.77
• Idaho: $2.79
• Utah: $2.80
• Nevada: $2.81
• Alaska: $2.96
• Hawaii: $3.14

Florida didn't make it to either list. From here-on-out I'm grateful that I don't live in Hawaii. This list was compiled by AAA and the Associated Press.

South Florida gas bargains

If you need gas, go get some because prices are dropping!

If you live in Boca Raton, try:

• NexStore on Congress Avenue: $2.55 a gallon
• Murphy USA on Military Trail: $2.59 a gallon
• BP on North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road: $2.65 a gallon
• Chevron on Yamato Road & Congress Avenue: $2.69 a gallon

If you live in Boynton Beach, try:

• BJ's at Winchester & Boynton Beach Boulevard: $2.48 a gallon
• Chevron on Hagen Ranch Road & Boynton Beach Boulevard: $2.75 a gallon

If you live in Delray Beach, try:

• Gas One on West Atlantic Avenue: $2.59 a gallon
• Shell on West Atlantic Avenue & Congress Avenue: $2.67 a gallon

If you live in Deerfield Beach, try:

• Citgo at Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard: $2.55 a gallon
• Mobil at Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard: $2.62 a gallon
• Marathon at Powerline & Green Road: $2.65 a gallon

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, try:

• Texaco at Southeast 17th Street Causeway & Cordova Road: $2.41 a gallon
• BP at State Road 84 & Southwest 4th Avenue: $2.54 a gallon
• Citgo at Broward Boulevard & Northwest 7th Avenue: $2.57 a gallon

If you live in Hollywood, try:

• U Gas at 901 N. State Road 7: $2.49 a gallon
• Citgo at 6381 Johnson St.: $2.49 a gallon
• Mobil at Sheridan Street & Park Road: $2.56 a gallon

If you live in Sunrise, try:

• Texaco on Oakland Park Boulevard & Nob Hill Road: $2.36 a gallon
• Amerika at 6481 W. Sunrise Boulevard: $2.49 a gallon

If you live in Coral Springs, try:

• Citgo at 8100 Wiles Road: $2.62 a gallon
• BP at Sample Road & Coral Ridge Drive: $2.65 a gallon
• Texaco at 8161 Wiles Road: $2.65 a gallon

If you live in Miami Beach, try:

• Superior on 63rd Street & Collins Avenue: $2.55 a gallon
• BP at 1402 Collins Ave.: $2.65 a gallon

All gas prices were found on MiamiGasPrices.

Starbucks raises prices...but why?

Starbucks is the most popular coffee spot in South Florida. Sure, Dunkin Donuts is popular, but it does not pull in the clientele at all hours that the hotspot Starbucks does.

I just watched the morning edition of Miami News Channel 5 and one of their stories caught my attention. Starbucks plans to raise its prices Oct. 6, 2006 by five cents for most drinks. Why? News Channel 5 says it is because of the rise in fuel and energy costs. Hmm, sounds a little like what happened with FPL and other businesses this summer.

I found an article on ReviewJournal.com called "Public buzzing after Starbucks raises prices" and it quotes CEO Howard Schultz as telling CNNMoney that "Starbucks hasn't raised its prices since 2000." He attributes the cost to rises in health care, coffee and dairy prices.


An AP business story on Yahoo News quoted Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O'Neill as saying, "The company decided to charge more because costs, including fuel and energy, are going up."

Nice to know my grande chai tea latte is going to bring me closer to spending $4 on a drink now. Too bad it just doesn't taste the same when you try making it at home.

Regular Unleaded, Medium, or Premium?

What to choose? With three options at the pump, it is hard to know which to choose. A friend of mine asked me the other day, what is the difference between different octanes of gas? I had no idea. A girl I work with has an SUV and she is supposed to use premium gas; however, she said she has been using regular gas since day one and hasn't experienced any problems.

I went to Wikipedia, one of my favorite sources of random information, and found an answer. In the U.S., different octane grades range from 86-87 for regular, 89-90 for mid-grade and 90-94 for premium unleaded gas. The difference lies in the fact that high octane fuels "allow for a higher compression ratio - this means less space in a cylinder on its combustion stroke, hence a higher cylinder temperature which improves efficiency." High octane fuel also reduces the amount of hydrocarbons put out, which causes less pollution while getting better performance. Premium gas also has additional compounds put in it that allow for reduction of friction in the engine cylinders ; overall improving the engine and output. This kind of explains why a high-power, quick-maneuvering SUV may need a higher-octane fuel than a more basic, get-you- where-you-need-to-go-Honda, for example.

In a USAToday article titled "Why use premium gas when regular will do?" this issue is debated and it turns out that premium gas does not really make a huge difference in car performance. "Engines designed for regular fuel don't improve on premium and sometimes run worse. And today's engines designed for premium run fine on regular, too, their makers say, though power declines slightly." So, what are we supposed to do? I say use whatever you can afford and get regular tune-ups; and you should be good to go.

Looking for cheap South Florida gas?

You've come to the right place. Here is my weekly update on the lowest prices at the pump in South Florida.

If you live in Boca Raton, try:

Mobil: Yamato & Boca Raton Boulevard: $2.89 a gallon
Chevron: Yamato & Boca Raton Boulevard: $2.75 a gallon
Chevron: Yamato & Congress Avenue: $2.69 a gallon


If you live in Deerfield Beach, try:

Mobil: Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard: $2.75 a gallon
Shell: Powerline Road & 4th Street: $2.72 a gallon
Citgo: Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard: $2.71 a gallon

If you live in Coral Springs, try:

Sunoco: Sample Road & Woodside: $2.75 a gallon
Hess: Coral Springs Drive & Royal Palm: $2.69 a gallon

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, try:

Citgo: 1785 E. Sunrise Blvd.: $2.69 a gallon
Hess: 1600 S. Federal Hwy.: $2.66 a gallon

If you live in Miami, try:

Sunoco: 10260 NW 7th Ave: $2.47 a gallon
BP: 1000 Biscayne Boulevard: $2.69 a gallon

All gas prices found on Miamigasprices.

Is BP really environmentally friendly?

Everyone's seen the commercials and the blinding yellow and green signs outside this popular gas station BP. BP is known to be environmentally friendly, a "green" gas station. I went to their official Website to take a look at what makes them so environmentally friendly. Under their goals and values, the first one I saw was "business and to maximize long-term shareholder value by selling goods and services." Sounds like just another fuel company to me. Toward the bottom of their goals and values, they mention "Our values include aspirations to conduct environmentally sound operations and to overcome the perceived trade-off between global access to heat, light and mobility and the protection and improvement of the natural environment."

Something that caught my eye was a CBS news article titled "Former BP Exec Pleads The Fifth
Amid House Probe On Alaskan Oil Spill, Pipeline's Monitor Stays Silent." I couldn't pass this up. I am a BP customer mainly for the embarassing reason that I like the gas station's colors. As you can see above, I also found gas at a Fort Lauderdale BP for $2.71 per gallon the other day. Talk about a deal.

However, the article above discussed how former BP executive Richard C. Woollam refused to answer questions under oath to a House subcommittee that is investigating the largest oil spill this year in North Slope, Alaska allegedly due to lack of pipeline corrosion monitoring. "Lawmakers said BP's mistakes in Alaska — as well as its responsibility for a deadly refinery fire last spring — were particularly unacceptable given the industry's record profits and the relatively inexpensive measures that might have prevented the oil spill."

Many BP employees were claiming that they warned Woollam at the time that the pipes needed refurbishment since he was in control of their monitoring. Many were afraid of Woolam's authoritative attitude, CBS said. BP is planning investigations of corroded pipelines and the estimated cost of maintenance will be $195 million. Woollam is currently on paid leave and is undergoing counseling, CBS news reported.

I find it ridiculous that this man is still affiliated with this company, even if he is not supervising anymore. He did not perform his job and it resulted in an oil spill, which affects the environment and costs to consumers. If BP has to come up with almost $200 million, it is sure to be from a hike in gas prices.

My point? Gas prices are part of a much larger political and social environment. What happens in South Florida can be a result of actions in Alaska or Iraq.

Credit cards can save you money

This month's issue of Redbook magazine offers some great tips on saving money on everything, including gas. Not only did they mention sites I use, www.gaspricewatch.com and www.gasbuddy.com to find bargain deals at the pump, they give helpful advice on how to cut down on costs.

• If you're on vacation and need to find cheap fuel in an unfamiliar area, go to one of the sites above and simply type in the zip code you are in.
• Over 60% of car trips in 2005 were under one mile. As a whole, $3.7 million a day would be saved if drivers hit the sidewalks walking or riding their bikes.
• Check your tire pressure and make sure it coincides with the number your car manuel gives you. Full tires mean less fuel used.
• Avoid braking rapidly and drive under 60 mph to save at least $240 a year.

These tips are great advice, but did you know that actually using credit cards can save you money at the pumps? The Discover Platinum Gas Card gives buyers 5 percent back on their fuel purchases. Chase Cash Plus credit card will save you 5 percent on gas purchases and groceries. Both of these cards don't have annual fees and cut the APR on your first year of purchases.

Happy saving!

Cheapest Gas in South Florida

South Florida gas prices have been dropping in the recent weeks. News Channel 5 cited today that the average price of gas right now in Palm Beach County is $2.87 per gallon, attributed to the decrease in tourists and weather. Here is a list of places to get the most for your money from http://www.miamigasprices.com.

If you live in Boca Raton, try:

$2.76 per gallon unleaded: NextStore on Congress Ave.
$2.85 per gallon unleaded: BP on the corner of Glades & Butts Road
$2.89 per gallon unleaded: Chevron on Camino Real & Powerline Road

If you live in Boynton Beach, try:

$2.76 per gallon unleaded: Hess on the corner of Military Trail and Hypoluxo
$2.87 per gallon unleaded: Mobil on the corner of North Congress Avenue and Boynton Beach Boulevard
$2.78 per gallon unleaded: Chevron at Military Trail and Hypoluxo

If you live in Delray Beach, try:

$2.76 per gallon unleaded: Citgo Northeat Atlantic Avenue and Federal Highway
$2.79 per gallon unleaded: Murphy USA at Military Trail south of Linton

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, try:

$2.69 per gallon unleaded: Chevron at 17 Street Causeway & Cordova
$2.75 per gallon unleaded: Hess at 1600 S. Federal Hwy.
$2.75 per gallon unleaded: Sunoco at 84 Avenue & Oakland Park Boulevard
$2.82 per gallon unleaded: BP on Broward Boulevard, east of I-95

If you live in Coral Springs, try:

$2.82 per gallon unleaded: Texaco at 8161 Wiles Road
$2.89 per gallon unleaded: Mobil at 5740 Wiles Road

See You at the Pump

Good news on gas prices! I actually pumped a full tank of unleaded gas at $2.87 per gallon at the Chevron station on the corner of Military Trail and Hillsboro Boulevard. I was beginning to become accustomed to spending around $3.05 and attributed the fall in gas prices to the unofficial end of summer.

Eager to find out what is really going on, I found an article titled "Natural-gas futures close at 20-month low" on Marketwatch.com. We haven't seen prices this low since March and it has alot to do with the tensions between the United States and Iran's uranium enrichment program. No major conflict arose while the U.N.'s deadline passed for Iran to end their program, relieving market tension. Apparently, good ol' Ernesto also had something to do with the drop in gas prices. Marketwatch relates this occurance to the expectation of rain along the East Coast, thus lowering the demand for energy.

However, I found some bad news in another Marketwatch article titled "Winterizing your portfolio." Reporter Kevin Kerr lists certain commodities for investors to add to their portfolios this winter in order to make a profit. He mentions natural gas and oil as being top commodities year-round because of their maximum use. Heat and air conditioning are generated from oil and natural gas. He mentions that crude oil prices have gone up because of the temperature extremes and because of "geopolitical events" between the United States and the Middle East. It looks like our nation's political environment has alot to do with why those prices have been so high this summer.

My advice is to fill up now--you never know when our next fight with Iran is going to happen.

Fueling FPL

It was a few weeks ago. I was aimlessly opening up my mailbox when I realized that my Florida Power & Light bill was sitting inside. I never have too much fun opening this envelope up because it usually means a big chunk of change is going to drop out of my bank account.


I was expecting my bill to be around $90 like it always is. However, when I looked at the "Amount Due" box I nearly had a heart attack. This month I owed FPL $148.25. Why was this so? I hastened to open the colorful pamphlet enclosed in my bill and noticed the cover story read "FPL Prepares Customers For Summer's High Bill Season, Offers Tips to Keep Costs Down." I felt like this story was written so conveniently just for me.


FPL says, "Customers will notice even higher bills---19-28 percent higher---even if you use the same amount of electricity as you did last year." Disheartened, I read on and got to the part where FPL says the reason our bills are so high is because of the rise in fuel costs. Even if I used my air conditioning less than last year and turned my lights off when I left the house, my bill would be substantially higher this year. It is something we cannot really control. FPL says that 54% of its customers energy bills is directly because of fuel costs. They claim that they make no profit on the fuel costs because it is "a direct pass through." It is pretty frightening when I actually believe them. I worked in catering at a local store and my boss raised all of the prices in the store by about 8 cents because everything was costing him more. The vendors that brought him his supplies and products were adding fuel costs to their deliveries and bills since they drive from Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton. There does not seem to be a choice in the matter. Fuel costs are a domino effect and affect everything.

FPL offered some hints on how to keep your energy bills lower:

• Switch your thermostat to "auto" and try to keep it on 78 degrees or higher.
• Turn off ceiling fans when you don't need them. These generate alot of electricity.
• Unplug cords from electrical outlets when they are not in use.
• Change your lightbulbs to fluorescent bulbs.
• Change your air conditioning filter monthly to make it run efficiently while costing you less.

Until next time, stay cool and remember that summer in South Florida will be over approximately in November.