Recently, a few gas-exhausted drivers have admitted to me they've been filling their tank just halfway when they need to fill up. While it means more trips to the gas station overall, paying the partial price each time is somehow less painful than paying for one tank at a time.
One friend commented that even though she can afford it, she simply can't bring herself to purchase a full tank in one trip. Have you been filling your tank half-way to ease the psychological pain?

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I always fill up completely. I've heard that cars get better mileage when they are at least half full so I fill up the whole way as a cost-saving measure.
1I also always fill mine up all the way...I have a budget for my gas and i never usually overspend on it...so it doens't matter.
2I always fill up, but fortunately I only live 3 miles from work and don't have to get gas that often anyway.
However, My fiance has taken to filling halfway, and I don't know how it doesn't drive him crazy to have to go to the gas station twice as often!
3i always just fill it all the way in the hopes that it'll last longer, but my fiance always fills his half way - or part way. i've almost never seen him fill the tank up the entire way - and i'm not sure why. it can't be a money thing cause you're filling up 2x as often when you only go halfsies - but i guess for some people - it makes you feel better when you're paying $30 rather than $60
4No... gas is pretty cheap here.
5I fill it all the way... I don't like going to the gas station that much
6i used to do this a lot when i was younger (even though gas was wayyy cheaper) because i was short on cash, but my mom told me that it can be bad for your engine if you never fill up your tank all the way... something about gasses buidling up in there? not sure how true that is, but now i ALWAYS fill it up all the way.
7I always fill up all the way. I have a gas budget too and if it comes down to it I would just stay home rather than only fill up half way. It's totally a mental thing anyway you still have to use the same amount of gas either way
8I always fill up because I figure gas will just keep getting more expensive...better to buy it now than later.
9I totally do this. I know it's dumb, since it just means I have to go to the gas station more often, but I just can't stomach sinking $80 into the tank all at once
Gas prices are a lot better these last few weeks than they have been for a while, though.
10I hate going to the gas station, so I fill up my gas tank. I wouldn't have ever thought to fill the tank half way to "ease the pain"--I pretty much know what to expect when I fill up my gas tank.
11I'm glad I don't drive to work. We fill up the tank of the car though.
12i only have to fill up usually once every three weeks. i drive to work, but it's only 6 miles from my home. i do a lot of walking since i live in a city & places like Target & the grocery store are super close so unless we take a road trip somewhere, we're really not spending enough on gas to complain about it. especially since both cars average close to 30 mpg.
13I always fill up all the way! Although I have been trying to stop to get gas before my tank gets too empty (I used to let it dip below 1/4 of a tank all the time.)
14yes, I fill up partially now!
15I used to fill up all the way b/c its more economical but now that I am jobless, I have to take what I can get...
we fill up £20 a day, which is £100 a week - 1/3 of my wage! but we fill up £20 a day to keep a check on my beau's driving, as when he drives like a silly racecar driver he runs out of petrol on the way home and has to fill it up himself LOL
But driving normally £20 is plenty. thats the only reason.
16Er, NO!
You see, my brain doesn't just sit in the space between my ears, I like to USE it.
Unless you don't have enough cash to fill up (which is a legitimate excuse) you are wasting time and money doing half a tank at a time.
I know I'm being harsh, but it simply astounds me how stupid people are. A few seconds of logical thought just seems to elude them.
17I find that when I fill it up all the way I end up taking many more unnecessary trips because I feel like I've got a while before I run out. When I only fill it halfway, it makes me monitor myself more.
18It depends on if I have other things to do with my money. Most times it's halfway but on paydays I will fill it up completely. At the present time gas in my area is around $3.64 per gallon.
19I never buy gas, my heart goes out to those of you that do.
20I'll fill it up when I can but I try not to go past half a tank to begin with. The first half of the tank gets the best mileage and after that it goes south. I have an older car so at this point i couldn't tell you what the mpg is. I could try to figure it out but either way, it's lower than what it used to be. It takes more gas to get to philly than before.
21i do it sometimes not as a psychological means but if gas drops 10 cents one day i'll fill up no matter how empty i am, just cause i know it might be back up the next day!
22i hate going to the gas station, so i always fill up. it's not like it makes a difference on the ol' pocketbook
23I'm like Melo. I fill up my gas tank the second it hits 1/2 tank. That way I can fool myself into thinking I'm not spending as much AND keep the mileage at its best.
24people filling up halfway isnt always STUPIDITY. Sometimes its for a good reason. About to get a new car though, so petrol filling will be whenever i like, the cheapest place is on the way home thank god!
25I'm with fanciful, I'll more quickly use up a full tank of gas just because I have it. Plus HAVING the full tank sitting in your car actually ends up costing you more as more weight in the car. Also, I haven't had a full tank since gas hit $4. I can't afford it.
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