You always hear "it would cost more to stop and start my car than I'd save by going to two stores"...but how true is that? I can't seem to phrase the question in the right way to google it, nor can I find the answer on a credible website.

If I'm shopping at a grocery store, how much would I have to save on a couple of items to make it worth ALSO stopping at a drugstore for shampoo and toothpaste as opposed to buying them at a higher price at the grocery store? (Not counting time and effort, just actual car costs)

In other words, does it cost 50 cents to stop and start the car? A dollar? Two dollars? I'm assuming that the amount includes not just gas but wear and tear, etc.

Well, for me it's not about how much $$ I'd save anymore. It's about if I have the energy to go to another store. As much as I'd like to save as much money as I can I simply don't have the energy to make several stops and still be able to put away all that I've bought.

Now, if you're talking major money......like over $20 (that's major money for me )......I'd be willing to figure out a way to do it or have someone else do it for me. But, as it stands right now I try to get all my shopping done at one store. Everything else is done online (pet food, cat litter, vitamins, some personal products) because it's actually cheaper.

I say call Click and Clack next weekend. They will know the answer.

www.cartalk.com Love those guy's

Ok, that is just way too much thinking for me this morning.

But, I will say that we have a grocery store in town that has awesome prices on produce - I mean awesome. However, it is about a 30 minute drive from my house. I calculated that I would not save much by going there once I factor in time and the $0.55 a mile to get there. It's cheaper for me to go to the store closest to my house.

Good question, Blessings. I don't know but I tend to believe what Trish & Kelly said....It's cheaper, in the long run and easier on your body, to do all the shopping with one stop.

Starting and stopping your car is not that expensive. The expense is how far extra did you have to go to get there and back. If it isn't on the way I won't go there. If the extra driving cost you a half gallon of gas, did you save $2?

a lot will depend on the car too, I think the fuel injected ones are more efficient than the carburetor fuel systems of the past.
Maybe that saying came about back in the carburetor days.


How you drive , how much farther the distance, stops & starts /city vs highway.. all plays a part.

short trips are harder on the engine if it doesn't get warmed up enough - oil takes a while to warm up to best operation temps - for engine protection.
If you usually only take short trips let the engine idle a few minutes before you get going. Especially if you have to go uphill or accelerate quickly right away.

Huh.......I guess my Dad did know what he was talking about all those years ago! He used to tell me the same thing.

my friend will drive 20 miles out of her way to save 10 cents on a bag of sugar. dont you waste more gas than you would have saved on the 10cents?

mine is about the energy as well. do I have the strength to get to store #2?

I have two places I go to do all my shopping. Well, three if you count the Internet. Publix, Rite Aid and the Internet. If I can't get it at any of those places I do without. So far I haven't had to do without.