Gas is one of those recurring expenses that adds up fast—but without proper tracking, it’s easy to lose sight of just how much you’re spending each month. If you’ve ever been surprised by how often you’re filling up (or how quickly your fuel money disappears), it’s time to take a more intentional approach. Tracking your gas budget doesn’t have to be complicated—and it can even help you save.

Here’s how to estimate your monthly fuel needs, monitor your spending, and use a few simple tools (including cashback apps like Ibotta) to keep your costs in check.

Step 1: Estimate Your Monthly Fuel Needs

Start by getting a baseline. A quick way to estimate your monthly fuel budget is:

1. Calculate your average mileage per week.
2. Know your car’s MPG (miles per gallon).
3. Use your local average gas price.

Example:

If you drive 250 miles/week and your car gets 25 MPG, that’s 10 gallons/week. Multiply by 4 weeks = 40 gallons/month.

At $3.75 per gallon, that’s about $150/month in fuel.

Having a rough estimate gives you a target to budget around—and helps you catch overspending early.

Step 2: Use Budgeting Apps to Track Spending

Once you’ve set your fuel budget, keep an eye on it with user-friendly apps designed for expense tracking. A few popular options include:

• Mint: Automatically tracks gas purchases by syncing with your bank account. You can set fuel budgets, get alerts, and see trends.
• Drivvo: Built for drivers, this app tracks fuel fill-ups, cost per mile, maintenance, and more. Great for rideshare and delivery workers.
• Fuelly: Helps you log every fill-up, calculate real MPG, and track fuel economy over time. Especially helpful for noticing when your car’s efficiency drops.

Using these apps together gives you both a financial and mechanical view of your fuel use.

Step 3: Cut Costs with Cashback Apps

Tracking is step one—saving is step two. By using cashback apps like Ibotta, you can offset gas expenses through grocery and essential purchases.

Here’s how:

• Activate offers before shopping at stores like Kroger, Safeway, or Walmart.
• Earn cashback on groceries, many of which are tied to fuel rewards programs.
• Redeem fuel points or apply cashback earnings toward your next gas fill-up.

Even $5–$10/month back in your Ibotta wallet can reduce your net fuel cost—without you changing where you shop.

Final Thoughts

Tracking your gas budget doesn’t require spreadsheets or complicated systems. With apps like Mint, Fuelly, and Drivvo, you can monitor every fill-up, understand your car’s fuel use, and set clear monthly limits. Combine that with cashback from Ibotta, and you’ve got a simple but powerful system for keeping your gas spending under control.

Start small, stay consistent, and watch how quickly intentional tracking turns into meaningful savings.