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Why the day you buy gas matters more than you think

• Fill up on Sunday. GasBuddy says Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most states, while Wednesday through Friday are usually the most expensive.

• Avoid price spikes. If prices jump, waiting a few days could save 15 to 45 cents per gallon in states with weekly price cycles.

• Stack your savings. Compare prices with gas apps, use fuel rewards, and check warehouse club stations for even bigger discounts.

If you fill up whenever your gas gauge gets low, you could be paying more than necessary.

According to a new analysis from GasBuddy, Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most U.S. states, while Wednesday through Friday tend to be the most expensive. Simply shifting your fill-up by a day or two could save you $0.04 to $0.09 per gallon without changing anything else about your routine.

That may not sound like much, but over the course of a year, those savings can really add up especially for commuters or families with multiple vehicles.

Why gas prices change during the week

GasBuddy analyzed a year's worth of fuel prices and found that many stations follow a predictable weekly pricing pattern. In many markets, prices gradually climb during the workweek, before easing as the weekend approaches.

Some states including Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and parts of the West Coast experience what's known as price cycling. Prices jump sharply on one day, then slowly fall over the following several days. If you can avoid filling up right after one of these spikes, you may save $0.15 to $0.45 per gallon by waiting until prices settle back down.

Six easy ways to save at the pump

• Fill up on Sunday: If your schedule allows, make Sunday your regular gas day. Many people commute Monday through Friday, so stations in many markets gradually increase prices during the workweek. By Sunday, prices have often drifted lower after competing for weekend business. If you cant get to the station on Sunday, Monday is often another good option while Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday tends to be the most expensive days to fill-up.

• Use a gas price app: Before leaving home, check an app like GasBuddy, Upside, or AAA Mobile to compare nearby gas stations. As youve probably noticed, prices can vary significantly, even between stations located across the street from each other.

• Don't wait until your tank is nearly empty: Keeping at least a quarter tank of gas gives you the flexibility to wait for a lower-priced day instead of filling up during an expensive midweek spike.

• Stack your discounts: Use grocery store fuel rewards, warehouse club gas stations, gas rewards credit cards, or cashback apps to lower your final price even further.

• Watch for price spikes: If gas prices suddenly jump and you have enough fuel to wait a few days, you may be able to catch the next downward swing, particularly if you live in a state with price cycling.

• Compare warehouse club prices: If you already shop at Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's, check their gas prices before filling up. They're often $0.10 to $0.30 per gallon cheaper than nearby stations, though it's still worth comparing prices to make sure the savings justify any extra driving or waiting.

The actual increase will be announced in October

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Senior Citizens League now projects a 3.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, up from this year's 2.8%, reflecting higher inflation.

• The advocacy group says even a larger COLA would still leave many retirees struggling, with average Social Security benefits well below estimated monthly living costs.

• A new TSCL survey finds 44% of older Americans now rely entirely on Social Security for retirement income, the highest share reported by the organization.

A stronger-than-expected increase in Social Security benefits may be on the horizon next year, but a seniors advocacy group warns it still won't be enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said its latest estimate puts the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at 3.8%, one full percentage point above the 2.8% COLA beneficiaries received this year. The projection follows the latest inflation data, which showed continued price pressures as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), the inflation gauge used to calculate Social Security's annual adjustment.

The COLA, which will be announced in October, is based on the CPI-W data for July, August, and September.

If the forecast proves accurate, the average monthly retirement benefit would rise by about $77, increasing from approximately $2,026 to $2,103 beginning in January 2027.

But TSCL argues that the increase would still fall well short of what many retirees need to cover basic expenses.

Essential costs keep rising

According to the organization, the estimated monthly cost of living for a single older adult is roughly $2,700, including average housing costs and other essential expenses such as food, transportation, and healthcare. That leaves the average Social Security benefit hundreds of dollars below what many seniors need to meet everyday expenses.

The group's newly released 2026 Senior Survey paints a picture of growing financial dependence on the program. It estimates that 24.8 million older Americansabout 44% of retireesnow rely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income, up from 39% a year earlier.

The survey also found that 57% of seniors live on less than $2,000 per month, while 13% survive on less than $1,000 monthly, levels TSCL says leave millions vulnerable to poverty and financial hardship.

Delaying medical care

"We're seeing inflation on the rise when more than half of seniors already can't afford basic living standards," TSCL Executive Director Shannon Benton said in a statement, adding that many older Americans are forced to delay medical care because of costs.

Benton said a larger COLA may sound encouraging compared with this year's adjustment but argued it does not erase the gap between retirees' incomes and their actual living expenses. She called on Congress and the White House to consider increasing Social Security benefits beyond annual inflation adjustments.

While TSCL updates its projection monthly, economists caution that the estimate could still change depending on inflation trends over the coming months. A cooling in prices could lower the final adjustment, while persistent inflation could push it higher before the official announcement in October.