Drivers were able to tell us what it cost to fill their tank and the per-gallon price they
paid during their most recent trip to a gas station—if that trip had been made the day of
our interview or the day before. If it was any further in the past, then confident answers
were replaced by tentative estimates. Many were uncertain because when they paid by
credit card they didn’t always look at what they spent. Most households confessed to
having no idea of their fuel costs over any period of time—weekly, monthly, or annually.
They did not budget, manage, or track fuel costs in any systematic way