FAIRFIELD, Conn. Gary Carigliano saw something no one had seen in Fairfield in months Monday afternoon. As he filled his tank at Shell on Black Rock Turnpike, the sign advertising the stations price had a 3 in the first column, supplanting the 4 that had held the spot since April. Still, Carigliano wasnt exactly thrilled to pay $3.97 instead of $4.
It just puts a damper on things, Carigliano said of the still-high gas prices. People arent getting raises and more money when the prices go up. It makes it difficult.
Nevertheless, the cost of gasoline finally seems to be falling after a rough spring. As of Monday afternoon, Star Fuels at the corner of Black Rock Turnpike and Jennings Road posted the lowest price, at $3.95 per gallon. Irving and Shell on Black Rock Turnpike were close behind at $3.97. Even the Mobil station on the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield was a cent below $4.
One caveat comes with the majority of those prices, however: bring cash. The companies that run the technology allowing customers to pay with credit cards at the pump collect a surchargeusually about $.10for each sale. Gas stations such as Star, Irving and Mobil are offering better deals to customers who pay with cash. Others, such as Cumberland Farms ($4.03 at both stations in Fairfield) just raise their flat price a few cents.
Carigliano says that work and errands keep him from cutting back on time on the road. But he still finds ways to save money while traveling from his home in Trumbull to his job in Fairfield every day. He buys his gas at Shell to save money through a deal with Stop and Shop, which gives discounts to frequent shoppers. And his wife uses an iPhone app to hunt for the cheapest gas in the area.
Many of Fairfields drivers, however, are still hesitant to go back to their old habits. As a retiree on a fixed income, Nick Casceillo says hes had to cut back his driving because prices are just too high. For example, though he still takes his car on the quick trips around Fairfield, hes decided to take the bus on occasional trips to Connecticuts casinos.
We still have to watch our pennies, Casceillo said. Because not only does the price of gas goes up, the cost of everything else goes up with it.
How do you cope with high gas prices? Will you drive more now that prices have dropped? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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