Tired of Spending a Fortune on Gas? 3 Ways a Walmart+ Membership Could Help You Save

There are certain expenses in your budget that may be fixed, like your rent or mortgage payment. But it's the variable expenses that are more likely to wreak havoc on your personal finances. These include things like groceries, entertainment, and gas.

Now there are several steps you can take to lower your credit card tab for gas. Planning your errands strategically could result in fewer miles on the road, and making a point not to speed could improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency. But if your goal is to save money on gas, then it could pay to join Walmart+. Here's why.

1. You can save money at thousands of fuel stations

One big perk of a Walmart+ membership is that you get access to discounted gas at over 14,000 locations nationwide. And we're talking big savings -- a cool $0.10 per gallon. If you fill up your 20-gallon tank once a week, that's $104 in savings over the course of a year.

Now if you live in a very rural area with limited fuel stations, then your local options may not fall under Walmart's umbrella. But if you live in a pretty central location, then chances are, you'll have access to a gas station that's eligible for this discount.

2. You can drive to the supermarket less often

Even if you're someone who does a good job of planning meals in advance and stocking their fridge and pantry, you can only space out your grocery trips so much. Certain items are perishable in nature. So while you may want to only go to the supermarket twice a month, if you have kids who drink milk, you may not be able to find a decent supply with a 14-day freshness window.

The good thing about Walmart+ is that your membership comes with free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more. That's not a very high threshold. In fact, a week's worth of produce, dairy products, and meat alone might cost more than that, which means that snagging free delivery on fresh food shouldn't be difficult at all.

3. You won't have to drive to Walmart every time you need to make a purchase

You may be someone who tends to run to Walmart pretty often. And while you could just order items from Walmart online, if you're looking at a $6 purchase here or an $8 item there, you're going to be charged for shipping. That's a fee you may not want to pay, and understandably so.

The nice thing about Walmart+ is that you get free shipping on online purchases of any amount. There's no need to meet a minimum. Access to free shipping could result in fewer trips to the store -- and less gas spending in the course of a year.

If you're tired of spending a fortune on gas, then it could pay to sign up for Walmart+ and see how much savings it results in. That said, you don't have to commit to the $98 annual fee right away. Walmart will give you a 30-day trial at no cost, so you can try out the program and see if it's worth the money.

Even if you're not 100% ready to commit to Walmart+ beyond those 30 days, there's the option to sign up for the program on a monthly basis. The cost there will be $12.95, so if you're ready to commit to a full year, paying the $98 as a one-time charge makes more sense. But if you're on the fence, you could always pay $12.95 for a month or so, see how things go, and then sign up for an annual membership if you decide that Walmart+ is worth keeping.