How to Save Money by Avoiding Convenience Stores

Being Prepared Can Help You Avoid the High Cost of Road Food

As Americans, we love to get food, snacks, and little necessities at convenience stores.  However, we pay for that convenience in the form of higher prices for many items.   Here's how you can avoid the high cost of convenience stores.

As Americans, we love to get food, snacks, and little necessities at convenience stores. Stores like QuickTrip are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have everything you need to survive. However, we pay for that convenience in the form of higher prices for many items. A quick look at our bank statement shows that we fritter away quite a bit of money at convenience stores. If you want to save money, you can avoid convenience stores by simply being prepared.


Beverages are one of the main things we buy at convenience stores. It is easy to pop in for a soda, tea, or bottle of water. Staying hydrated is important. But, even when fountain drinks are priced as low as 79 cents, you can still save money by bringing a beverage from home. You can buy bottled water or soda by the case, refrigerate it, and make it a habit to grab a beverage on the way out the door.



Snacks are another easily avoided convenience store temptation. Instead of paying for a small bag of chips at the convenience store, buy a big bulk bag of chips at the grocery store. Then divide your less expensive big bag of chips into small "grab and go" sized lunch baggies. The same principle applies for candy, granola bars, and other snacks. Buy cheap at the grocery, divide into smaller servings, and grab a snack bag for the road. This may also help you avoid the temptations of less nutritious snacks at convenience stores.



If you are committed to avoiding convenience stores, you may want to invest in a couple of items for your car. First, a little cooler can help keep those "grab and go" beverages cold. For longer road trips, you may even want to get a mini fridge for your car. A little mini fridge can run off of your cars cigarette lighter or auxiliary power port. You may also want to buy a seat back organizer bag for storing portable snacks. These items will help you stock up your car before you set off on a drive.



By staying out of convenience stores, you'll avoid that little $5 to $10 drain of a munchie run each time you go for a drive. In the course of a month or a year, those little convenience store runs can be a drag on your family budget. You may even find out that the convenience store was where all your money went.