Grocery store/Gas station "perks"-discounts

[elessar78]

Our local Grocery Store chain also owns Gas Stations and they have this program called Food Perks and Fuel Perks. Every time you put 10 gallons of gas in your car from their stations you get 1% in "food perks" discount. At check out, the cashier asks if you want to use your "food perks". Conversely, for every $50 of groceries you buy at their stores earns you 10 cents off a gallon of gas.

So, is it better to accumulate your percentages and wait for a big grocery bill? Or will the savings even out over time if you use your 1-2% each time you go to the grocery store (assuming that you get more than a gallon of milk)?

We have very short commutes (10 miles round trip) so we probably gas up once a week for $30. Is it better to save up the fuel discounts for long drives and such? Or just use 'em as we got 'em?

[jpg7n16]

I typically don't bother. The real question is, "even if you save 1%, is it worth it to shop here vs somewhere else?"

From other things I've read, Walmart and Target are much more than 1% less than most grocery stores.

Forget Name Brands, Best Generic House Brands: Target vs. CVS vs. Safeway? | Food & Drink | Home & Decor | LearnVest - Where life gets richer
Shows that WalMart and Target win on several product categories, easily beating 1%

Wal-Mart, Dollar General lead pricing in Atlanta - grocery prices, market statistics; Atlanta, Georgia - Statistical Data Included | DSN Retailing Today | Find Articles
From 2002, shows that WalMart at that time could save over 10% on a basket of common household groceries. I've been searching for a more up to date article, but I think it gets the point across just fine.


And there has to be a cap on those 1% credits. Otherwise, after 100 trips, they'd give you the whole store for free.

[madworld25]

Our local Giant Food store works with Shell gas station to offer savings on gas, they have a point system based on the groceries you purchase. Plus they run weekly specials where you earn double points on certain items or a set amount of points when you purchase a large group of items. Depending on the amount of points you earn you can save .10 - .30 on each gallon of gas. Honestly I don't find it to be worth it either, if I need to grab a few things while I am in that shopping center I will go to Giant, but I never go out of my way to go there. I like to go to ALDI for my groceries, they sell only generic brand food and you have to buy the plastic bags, bring your own, or use boxes but the savings are worth it, we spend maybe $150 a month for me and my boyfriend.

[MonkeyMama]

I'd just run the numbers to see what makes the most sense for your habits.

The grocery store we shop at anyway gives us 25 cents off per gallon - it's cheaper than Costco. We hoarde up the coupons for our more gas guzzling vehicle (er, I guess I should say because it has a bigger tank to fill), though if we have more than we need, then my spouse used them on his gas sipper. But they don't offer the reverse. Which I think it would just be more confusing (& more work to pick which is better...)

{We'd shop there either way, but probably wouldn't get gas there without the discount}.

[fe2o3ez]

[quote=elessar78;310422]So, is it better to accumulate your percentages and wait for a big grocery bill? Or will the savings even out over time if you use your 1-2% each time you go to the grocery store (assuming that you get more than a gallon of milk)? [quote]
Honestly, for groceries, I don't think it matters much, since they represent dollars off. There are only two scenarios where it would make a difference:

1. If the rewards were scaled - If 10 points equated to 10 cents off the first $100, 15 cents for the next 50, 25 cents for everything over $200, etc. In this case, you can see that saving them up for a big shopping trip would make more sense.
2. If the rewards were given as a percentage, rather than cents.

For gas, though, it is usually best to wait until your tank is almost completely empty, as you are saving a certain amount per gallon (and thus, the more gallons you purchase, the more you save!). Doesn't matter whether it is going into a gas guzzler or a gas 'sipper', just how MANY gallons you are purchasing. Same gas, same discount.

[madworld25]

I really like the suggestions here. I think I am going to have to run the numbers as well and see which stores near home also have a gas station connected. The only problem is that the nearest Costco is about 50 min drive from where I live! I wonder if it would still be worthwhile to 1. get the membership 2.make all of my purchases there 3. get gas 4. and then spend a chunk of the gas just getting back home? I was recently at a Shell station last night and gas has jumped to $4!! Unbelievable.