If you live in the Chicago are, and you want to find out ways on how you can save on gas, these are tips that you can use.

Buy your gas in Northwest Indiana

Buying gas in the South Suburbs of Chicago, particularly in Cook County, is always a pricey proposition.  Gas prices in this area are as high as anywhere in the country, and often the highest. However, for those who live or travel along the Interstate 80 corridor, relief from high gas prices is not far away.  All one needs to do cross over to Northwest Indiana to communities such as Hammond, Munster, and Highland to find gas prices that can be as much as thirty to forty cents cheaper per gallon.

Some reasons why gas is more expensive in Illinois

Two main reasons can be given for the more expensive gasoline in Illinois.  One of the reasons is that taxes on gasoline in Illinois ”like most everything in Illinois “is higher than in Indiana.  The other reason for the more expensive gas is that the blends of gas that are sold in Illinois are required to be of a cleaner variety by law.  Such cleaner blends are simply more expensive to refine; consequently, the added cost is passed along to the consumer.

Added gas-savings tips for the savings for the watchful consumer

If the watchful gas consumer plays his cards right in Northwest Indiana, not only will he receive the basic savings of buying gas in Northwest Indiana as opposed to Illinois, he also will be able to take advantage of maximum gas savings if just keeps two other thoughts in mind.  First, he should not buy gas on Tuesdays after 9:00 AM in the morning, at least not when crude oil prices have been rising in the past week.  Area gas stations begin raising their prices after 9:00 AM on Tuesdays; you can almost set your watch to it.  If you want your maximum gas savings, make sure you buy your gas on Monday, or at least before 9:00 PM on Tuesday.  The second thought to keep in mind is that the cheapest gas stations in Hammond-Munster-Highland area are area-wide Speedway stations and the independent stations, particularly the ones located on Indianapolis Boulevard off Interstate 80.  Speedway also has a points program that adds even more gas savings to the attentive gas buyer.  Take advantage of these savings if you travel through or live in the Chicago area.