More Ways To Save on Gas

Previously, I mentioned Shell's Fuel Rewards program that awards you with points redeamable for gas discounts for making qualified purchases both at the pump and online. Today, I will discuss a current promotion for Exxon Mobil Speedpass customers for 10 cents off a gallon of gas through June 2013.  You must register at their website to participate in the promotion.

If you are not familiar with Speedpass, its a free fob (sorry, don't even know what else to call it) that they give you for signing up that links to a credit or debit card to pay for your purchases at Exxon.  The next time you are paying at the pump, or buying snacks in their convenience store, simply wave the fob over the Speedpass device and presto, you have paid.  I think it's a great device for the sake of convenience, safety, and comfort.  Rather than fumbling through a wallet to dig out a credit card and pay, wouldn't you rather have your loved one wave the device, quickly pay, and get back in their car?

Speedpass' promotion is for a limited time, but how about an on-going program to save gas money?  Safeway will help you out.  Safeway's program provides reward points everytime you shop at their store that can be redeemed for discounts at Exxon.  How does it work?  Let this infographic to the left show you.

While I have not tried this program yet, I have used Shell's in conjunction with Giant grocery store.  It worked great and definitely took a few bucks off my gas bill.  It is possible that with the current Speedpass promotion, you might be able to "stack" your savings by using both Safeway's and Speedpasses' programs.  Try it and let me know what happens.

--The Edge

New program to save gas money

Consumers have another tool at their disposal to help them save money on gas, but with a new twist.  Shell's new Fuel Rewards program expands opportunities to earn gas savings while shopping both online and in the store.  After registering, just use your linked fuel rewards network program card(s) and you will be credited for your purchases based on the dollar amount spent with affiliated retailers.  You can still save money using their existing grocery rewards savings program as well.

Watch the video below to learn more:

After earning credit for your purchases, you can apply them at the pump using your Fuel Rewards card and watch your price per gallon sink.  According to the Fuel Rewards website, consumers save an average of $.33/gallon (presumably a month since the credits do expire). With average gas prices nationwide at $3.82/gallon as of today, not a bad discount return for what you were going to spend anyway.

More tips for saving money at the pump

Yesterday, I mentioned a few different ways in which you could save money each time you buy gas.  Today, I will examine another which I have discussed in the past, Giant Food Store's Gas Rewards, and build upon it with yesterday's post.

For some time now, Giant grocery store (which is basically East Coast) has had a deal with Shell Oil called Gas Rewards.  The premise is very simple:  register with the program, shop at Giant, and earn points when you shop.  Points are earned at a rate of 1 point/$1 spent.  Once you hit a threshold of 100 points, that's good for $.10 off a gallon.  Shop a lot?  Rack up enough points and you can save up to $2.20/gallon in one visit!  Their website has a very helpful tutorial in case you need more explanation, but once you visit the gas station, pop in your Giant Bonus card and the price per gallon will go down as you redeem points. 

Here is the fun part.  Just as you can double dip using the Exxon/Mobil's Speedpass promotion using a gas rewards credit card, you can do the same with Giant's program.  Again, let's look at another example.  Using the national average of $3.85/gallon, and, assuming you have earned enough points in Giant's program, coupled with 5% cash back, your cost could be as little as $2.09/gallon!  You will feel like you entered a timewarp. 

There are some restrictions, of course.  Points are only good for 30 days, and since it takes 100 points for $.10/gallon savings, and with each point costing $1 in purchases, it would take about $2200 in grocery shopping a month to take full advantage of the program.  A bit challenging even for the largest of families.  Even without realizing the full savings ability, there is still a potential to shave money off each gallon--and, you would be buying the groceries anyway!  You might as well get something for them.

If you read this far, don't get discouraged if you don't have a Giant in your neighborhood.  There are other stores that have similar programs as well.  Just look for them and feel free to report back what you find.  I will list them in a future post.

Fight rising gas prices now...

Gas prices seem to be climbing again, with the national average now at $3.85 ($3.50 a year ago), according to AAA.  Besides driving a more fuel efficient car, there are a few things you can do to save money at the pump, temporarily, and long term. 

First, consider a gas-oriented cash back card.  Here are a few examples from CreditCards.com, that will pay you back at every fill.  Second, for a limited time, but only at Exxon/Mobil stations, you can receive a $.15/gallon rebate on gas when you use their SpeedPass key fob, which is free.  If you don't know what this is, it's a small plastic device that fits on your key ring that is linked to your credit card.  Instead of pulling out your card to pay for gas and other purchases, just wave it across the tiger symbol when you see it

Here is an interesting double-dip idea: while the SpeedPass promotion is going on until May 31, you could receive both your regular cash back on your gas purchase at an Exxon/Mobil, plus the $.15/gallon rebate.  

Let's look at an example:

Buy 10 gallons of gas @ $3.85, normally, $38.50.  $.15/gallon rebate would be $1.50. off that, but you would also get 5% cash back on the $38.50.  $38.50 * .05 = $1.92, added to $1.50 means that you are getting back $3.42.  Subtract $3.42 from $38.50 and now your cost is $35.08, or $3.50/gallon.  Not bad!

Stay tuned for another promotion that I will be talking about in a future post where you can save even more money on gas.

Review: Proctor and Gamble eStore

Some time ago, I wrote about P&G launching an eStore to compete not against grocery stores or e-drugstores per se, but assuming against other consumer products companies, such as Unilever, maker of Lever 2000 soap and other products.  P&G's hook?  $5 flat rate shipping, no matter what you buy.  Since the store has been functioning for some time, I figure it was time for a review and comparison.

The first thing I noticed was a slick, clean, and easy to use interface. Products are categorized logically and have a large picture so you know exactly what your buying. The second thing I noticed was the site offered digital coupons, which was a nice surprise.  So far, so good.  But most importantly, let's talk about prices.  How do they compare with other online stores?

Here are a couple of items and how they stack up (without coupons):

Item	Store	Price	Shipping	Total
Gillette Dry Skin Hydrator Body Wash - 16 oz	P&G eStore	$3.99	$5	$8.99
	Drugstore.com	$4.99	$5.99	$10.98
	CVS.com	$4.99	$5.49	$10.48
Tide 2X Ultra Detergent Spring & Renewal	P&G eStore	$8.49	$5.00	$13.49
	Drugstore.com	$8.39	$5.99	$14.38
	CVS.com	$9.39	$5.49	$14.88

The results from this limited experiment are clear: the P&G eStore wins out on a few sample products.  However, there are a few things to consider as well in price comparison with the other online retailers.  First, after spending $25 (any time) at Drugstore.com, you get free shipping on select items, and the coupons that the P&G eStore listed are also available digitally with Drugstore.com, too.  Drugstore.com promo codes via Retailmenot.com or other coupon sites can lower your costs, and you can earn "Drugstore.com Dollars" for for savings on future purchases.  Moreover, by shopping through a portal, such as Ebates, you can receive cash back for your purchases.  Drugstore.com also participates in the Shop Runner program, which for $79/year, you get "free" two day shipping with no minimum purchase and special savings offers.  Several retailers participate in this program.

Second, CVS.com has free shipping after spending a whopping $49 on selected items, they do not seem to have digital coupons for the P&G products as does the eStore and Drugstore.com, but they do have Extra Bucks you can earn just by buying their products, which can be used for future savings.  You can also earn Upromise dollars by shopping at CVS.com, and use promo codes to save even more.  Just visit Retailmenot.com or Evreward.com for any available coupons.

Bottom line: you have a few viable options to choose from when shopping online for these products.  I would stay away from CVS.com if your purchase is going to be under $49.  Paying for shipping will mitigate your savings.  If you are planning on spending more than $25 anyway, then carefully compare Drugstore.com and the eStore.  You will have to pay $5 shipping, but the savings could make it worth it.  If you have the time, also check if you are better off just buying the products at the brick and mortar store using regular coupons.  Depending on how savvy you are, you might even get them for a lot less, or even free.

Looking beyond "points," "miles," or "cash" when comparing credit cards

Shopping for a credit card can be really simple: you prefer frequent flyer miles over cash back, don't want to pay an annual fee, or have an enormous APR (if you carry a balance).  Easy.  But, complicating your comparison and decision-making process is the difference in additional, behind the scenes, benefits that come pretty standard as well, but vary.

Although they do not seem to be widely published beyond their website, read the inside guide to your credit card and see if it offers such benefits as roadside assistance, trip cancellation protection, identity theft protection, rental car benefits, concierge service, and others.  If it does not, consider switching to one that does.  The rental car coverage alone, typically in the form of CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) can save $10-20/day when renting a car, if you don't carry car insurance normally of course.  Suddenly, that annual fee is not so terrible after all.

It's surprising that credit card companies, at least in my brief research, don't publish these features up front.  Typically, a big bold ad in the newspaper, web, or bus stand advertisement touts earning (well, you don't earn necessarily, more like are refunded) cash back, points, or miles.  Not much is mentioned about being stuck in a jam and how the card can liberate you from some frustration associated with that situation.

Yesterday in my inbox, there was an offer for saving 50% off of Mastercard's shopping mall for a limited time of course.  If I hadn't opted in to see their promotional emails, or visited the website on a lark, I would be missing a great opportunity to save.  Why not promote these benefits more? 

To save you some research, I found a couple of links that will help narrow your field and make the decision easier, hopefully.  VISA's site conveniently lists each card's "other" benefits.  While you are it, check out their discount page if your card qualifies.  Here is Disover's, Mastercard's benefits page, and American Express' sites discussing their additional features and benefits, too.

Of course, one way to ensure that you have ultimate protection, convenience, and benefits is to obtain a card from each company and use them accordingly.  Not a bad strategy if you can maintain discipline and don't mind juggling bills a bit.

Save money on gasoline with Giant Food gas rewards

The BP oil spill may still be continuing, but you can save money while supporting another oil company instead.  (I am going to go out on a limb and say BP will be raising prices whenever they can get away with it for as long as possible.) 

But, back to the good part about saving money.  For some time now, Giant grocery store has had a deal with Shell Oil called Gas Rewards.  The premise is very simple:  register with the program, shop at Giant, and earn points when you shop.  Points are earned at a rate of 1 point/$1 spent.  Once you hit a threshold of 100 points, that's good for $.10 off a gallon.  Shop a lot?  Rack up enough points and you can save up to $2.20/gallon in one visit.  Their website has a very helpful tutorial in case you need more explanation, but once you visit the gas station, pop in your Giant card and the price per gallon will go down as you redeem points. 

Although they are everywhere, visit this site to find your local station.