7 Smart Ways to Defend Yourself Against Soaring Gas Prices

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Gas prices are hitting their highest mark in history.

The national average for a gallon of gas is sitting at $4.68. That’s a new record high, beating the previous high of $4.11 per gallon, which was set in July 2008.

So what does that mean for you? Well, just one tank of gas will cost you $70.20 on average to fill, assuming a 15-gallon tank and a car that uses regular unleaded gasoline. If things keep going like they are, the national average could reach $6 a gallon soon.

With prices at the pump skyrocketing, it’s time to find ways to save without giving up your daily routine. Here are a bunch of ways to offset the price you pay at the pump.

1. Shield yourself against costly car repairs

The advanced safety features on today’s cars are a boon to aging drivers, but they come at a high cost. One repair shop said that 10 years ago, the average repair was $1,600. Now it’s $4,000.

The average driver keeps a car for about 12 years, but a typical manufacturer warranty lasts for three years. Ask yourself this: What would a car-repair bill in the thousands do to my retirement budget?

Endurance offers vehicle service contracts of up to 36 months. Similar to automobile warranties, these VSCs are available in six different tiers, which lets you choose only the coverage you need.

No matter which plan you choose, you’ll get 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car benefits while your vehicle is in the shop. You’ll also get a free year of the Elite Benefits program, which includes key fob replacement, complete tire coverage, a collision discount and $1,000 if your car is declared a total loss.

If your car breaks down or just needs service, just contact Endurance via phone or their mobile app. (Help is available 24/7.) Vehicles up to 20 years old are covered, and you can choose a shop from the network of more than 350,000 ASE-certified repair facilities across the U.S. Endurance pays upfront for the repair, so all you’ll be responsible for is the deductible.

Endurance has a 4.4-star rating (out of five stars) with Trustpilot. A review from ConsumerAffairs.com calls the company “particularly appealing to those with older cars,” and a “solid choice” for all drivers.

Protect yourself from costly auto repairs. Get an instant quote now.

2. Protect your wealth with precious metals

Inflation making you nervous? Don’t panic. But do act.

Many people are turning to gold and silver to diversify their portfolios, and even to save for retirement. Oxford Gold Group can help you do both, with products that are tangible and historically hold their value.

That’s a long history, since people have kept gold as the standard of wealth for thousands of years. No government rules control gold, and it’s an essential ingredient in modern electronics.

Silver is also hot right now, and Oxford Gold Group sells that, too. Want to diversify your retirement accounts? Oxford Gold Group can set up a gold (or silver) IRA, done with strict attention to Internal Revenue Service regulations.

Oxford Gold Group has a 4.9-star rating (out of five) on Trustpilot, and an A+ score with the Better Business Bureau. ConsumerAffairs.com calls the company’s precious metal investment services “a legitimate way” for people to diversify their retirement portfolios. Get your free investment guide now.

3. Grow your money 66 times faster

The average savings account interest rate is 0.06% in the U.S. That’s just sad.

Move your money to Current, though, and you’ll earn 4.00%, the highest savings interest rate in the country. That’s 66 times more interest. You can earn that rate on up to $2,000 worth of deposits for their free account, and up to $6,000 on a premium account.

Current’s banking services are provided by an FDIC member bank, so your account is fully insured.

Current’s basic account is free, there’s no minimum balance and no hidden fees. You’ll also get no-fee withdrawals at more than 40,000 ATMs across the country with its rewards debit card.

Ready to grow your money 66 times faster? Sign up in less than two minutes.

4. Earn 23% investing in commercial real estate

That’s right: People who invested in commercial real estate through Fundrise earned an average annual return of 22.9% in 2021. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results, but still — pretty impressive, huh? Here’s what’s even more impressive: You don’t need to be a gazillionaire to get in on the action. Fundrise lets you start with as little as $10.

The company lets you become a landlord without actually having to be a landlord. It’s like buying stocks: You own a piece of the company, or in this case, a piece of a bunch of buildings.

Real estate has long been an investment favorite. After all, people will always need a place to live — and according to a new study from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, rents in professionally managed apartment buildings were up 16.8% year-over-year by the fourth quarter of 2021.

To sum things up: You’ll be buying real estate without having to be a landlord. You’ll be diversifying your portfolio, and reducing the risk that comes from putting everything into stocks, bonds or mutual funds. And you can get started with as little as 10 bucks.

What are you waiting for? You can sign up and create your account in just a few minutes.

5. Don’t let home repairs drain your bank account

Home repairs aren’t cheap. Whether it’s a leaky roof or a broken appliance, your home can quickly become a nightmare and cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fix.

But you don’t have to worry. Luckily, with a home warranty company called America's 1st Choice Home Club, you can safeguard yourself against giant repair bills. From home appliances to electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, it can all be protected.

Plus, their in-house service team is available 24/7 to help and ensure a hassle-free repair process if anything goes wrong. You can even choose your own technician, or they can send you one from their nationwide network if you don’t have someone in mind.

All over America, homeowners are choosing AFC Home Club for the savings, service and peace of mind that it delivers.

Stop worrying about household breakdowns, and get a free quote in 30 seconds.

6. Get an extra $1.7 million for retirement

A study by investment firm Vanguard found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you enlist professional help.

Of course, there are no guarantees a professional will do better than you, but with that much at stake, isn’t it crazy not to at least check it out? If nothing else, they can help you create a plan, maximize your Social Security, protect your assets and offer you peace of mind by ensuring you’re on the right track.

And thanks to a totally free matching service it’s easier than ever to find the perfect local pro. You fill out a short questionnaire and are instantly matched with up to three local fiduciary financial advisers, all legally bound to work in your best interests.

The process only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be connected with an expert immediately for a free retirement consultation.

Nothing to lose, lots to potentially gain: Take a minute and check it out right now!

(Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a Value on your Value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”)

7. Save $440 a year on car insurance in minutes

You hate shopping for car insurance, right? Well, guess what: Your insurance company knows that. That’s why they can jack your rates year after year, knowing you won’t go through the hassle of calling them on it.

But now you can find a better deal with no hassle at all. You can have The Zebra, an insurance comparison site, find quotes from top companies in minutes.

According to The Zebra, average savings are $440 per year. So if you’re ready to save some serious money, get started now. All you have to do is give them a little info about yourself and your car, and you’re off to the races.

You can do it during commercial breaks! Click here and check it out. Who knows? You could end up hundreds richer.

Bonus: Get smarter with your money in just five minutes

You get it. This is the time to sock away money, to save more, to get your finances in order.

But you also get that it’s not always easy. If there were just one easy thing you could do, every day, to move the needle, to get ahead of the game, you’d do it, right?

Well, here it is: Take five minutes every day and check out the totally free Money Talks Newsletter. More than a million Americans have, and they’ve reported saving an average of $991.20 each by checking our news and advice.

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