I used to check petrol prices several times a day, have a look at the petrol checking apps, note the stations that were regularly cheap and track when the cycle was at its lowest - but it’s an awful waste of time and I am so glad to have removed myself from this habit.

Petrol prices vary 10c to 40c, I never wait until it’s below about 1/3rd, so the 40L tank rarely fills more than 30L, so that is a saving of $3 to $12 and I only fill the tank up about every 2 weeks, so that is a saving of $1.5 to $6 per week.

This amount is no longer important enough to think about. The petrol drops below half way and I refill at the next convenient petrol station. That’s it. No more repeatedly checking fuel apps, talking about prices, getting upset about variations, lining up for ages at the cheap ones, driving across town to the cheap one, waiting days to get petrol and all of this just eating up time in my life.

Sure, not everyone has gone total black out but there are plenty of people that just need to get petrol now, they don’t want to drive out of their way, they might just need a quick top up, say $10 worth etc.

I would say, worry a lot less about it. Some have their prices higher and others have it lower. If you want to save the money and that amount of money has an impact in your life, go to the cheaper one… but don’t worry that there are higher prices, just go to the cheaper one. I am lucky enough to not to worry about the cheapest ones, I just pop into one on my way home and don’t care about the extra $2-$5 a week that I am paying. I am paying for peace of mind…