Area drivers are using coupons, credit cards, and their own two feet to minimize the impact of soaring gas prices on their pocketbooks.

Wednesday, May 09, 2001

Area drivers are using coupons, credit cards, and their own two feet to minimize the impact of soaring gas prices on their pocketbooks.

Kwik Trip customers are buying lower octane gasoline and clipping coupons for 3cents off per gallon to try to stretch their fuel dollars, said employee Cindy Meislahn.

Customers are asking for more receipts to use for mileage writeoffs, and to make sure they are being charged accurately, Meislahn said.

Customer complaints and gas runoffs have made it hard for gas station employees too, workers said.

&uot;What kills me is the ones that come in and say, ‘Did you guys get a raise today? I see gas went up again,’&uot; Meislahn said.

&uot;They always complain, all the time, but we can’t do anything about it,&uot; said Kwik Trip employee Stacy Freeman. &uot;We wish we could do something about it.&uot;

At Kwik trip, employees change the price when they are notified from corporate headquarters, the women said. Lately, the prices have changed as many as three times a day.

&uot;You go around and you see people’s signs half-done, because they figure it’s probably going to change again that night,&uot; Freeman said.

Customer Vince Bergdale said he has changed his driving habits because of high gas prices, but there is only so much a consumer can do.

&uot;I don’t go as much as I normally do,&uot; he said. &uot;You start planning your trips a lot more carefully. I saw a thing on the Internet suggesting boycotting a couple of the big companies.&uot;

&uot;But you can’t stop driving,&uot; he said.

Bergdale won’t cancel his trip to the Black Hills this summer, but he is concerned about how much it may cost him to get there.

&uot;A guy’s got to take out a loan just to go on vacation,&uot; he said.

Others say they aren’t too bothered by the prices. Tom Cardona said he doesn’t complain too much; after all, he said, a gallon of bottled water costs more than a gallon of gas.

&uot;People always say they’re going to, but I don’t know if they actually do,&uot; Freeman said. &uot;It’s hard. You always have to go someplace. I’m glad I have a little car.&uot;

The Tribune’s Jeff Mulfinger contributed to this report.