How To Get Cheap(er) Gas Without the Meltdowns

There are many ways to the Promised Land

by: Eric Hall

Gas prices are bonkers right now and there looks to be no end in sight. So let’s explore how to reliably get gas on the cheap.

I usually get my gas at Costco but as they only take Visa cards and all the incentives now lie elsewhere I’ve had to pivot to a plan B. And SO there we were my wife and I, with our cars backed into the same Kroger gas pump, enjoying looks from others who must not make filling the tank a family affair.  Here’s the creative way we managed to save 40% off of gas and other ideas you can use to get your savings, too.

The Deal Method Gas Roadmap (hold your laughter and your noses)

1. Gift cards from Kroger for an Airbnb last week à 4,400 Amex Pts and 4,400 Kroger Gas, bought with an AMEX Gold a few days prior
2. Put $100 of gas in the tanks, charged Chase Freedom Flex Mastercard (CFF)
3. 4,000 Gas points equate to $1.00 off per gallon over 4 visits to the pump
4. CFF has a 5% gas only at Kroger, activation required
5. First-year CFF cardholders get 5x (many others are targeted for 5x beyond that year) Chase UR points and another 5x 3^rd quarter as of 7/1

The Math:

$100 paid on CFF

$125 retail à ~$25 Fuel Points Savings (1,000 gas points redeemed)

-$5   5% off CFF

10X Ultimate Reward = 1,000 Chase points, valued at 2 cents/point = $20 when redeemed for travel

Effectively, I’ve just paid $75 for $125’s worth in two tanks of gas, saving 40% off of retail!

AND don’t forget about the 4,400 Amex Points from Gold Card = valued at 2 cents/point = $88

3,000 Kroger points remaining means my wife and fill up 3 more times to capture the same deal

The Bottom Line

You read that right, we just saved 40% off of gas. We’re a little kooky to get it at the same time but the premise is the same and the savings are real!  If you don’t yet have a CFF card, consider getting one to help take the edge off of gas prices during travel season and until the end of September.

How else can this work for you?

• We use the Gasbuddy App to plan a Kroger stop for gas while on road trips.

• If you don’t have gas points, a Kroger family store with a gas station, or prefer another gas station or brand, you can use the Upside App to save on gas at other locations.

• If you’re a Sam’s club member, they’ve just finished 10% off on gas on Saturdays in June but their pumps are hammered and you’re likely to wait. If this was my aim, I’d fill the tank while the family enjoyed shopping in the store. If you’re not yet a member, they frequently run $45 gift cards redeemable at Sam’s and Walmart for $45 membership for new members.

If you liked this post, forward it to a friend fond of deals! We could ALL use a break from these punishing gas prices and everybody loves themselves a deal!

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