Friday, August 18, 2006

SAVING MONEY AT THE GAS PUMP!


One would assume, at first glance, that this post is Columbus, Ohio specific, but one would be wrong. While the grocery store chain alluded to in this post is located in Columbus, Ohio, I am also certain that there are grocery chains elsewhere that offer some, if not all, of the following benefits to those who shop there regularly.

The Giant Eagle Supermarket chain, which is located in Ohio and Pennsylvania, offers something called “Fuel Perks” which gives you 10¢ off per gallon at their GetGo Gas Stations for every $50 you spend in their food store. In addition, and here’s where it becomes really interesting, they offer gift cards, the value of which also contributes to the $50 spending qualification. Hence, I can go to the Giant Eagle, spend $50 in groceries AND buy a $300 MasterCard gift card to use for miscellaneous shopping (an alternative to carrying cash if nothing else), and you have just earned 70¢ off per gallon of gas at GetGo. The gift cards offer includes the Amex gift card, MasterCard and Visa. Other gift cards include Best Buy, Sears, Barnes & Noble, and a wealth of others. In addition, Giant Eagle doubles coupons up to 99¢ AND they have the very best produce department I’ve ever encountered outside of California.

My friend Pam pointed out the infinite possibilities of this gift card offering to me and while I know that only readers in Ohio and Pennsylvania can benefit from Giant Eagle’s program (yes, you have to have one of those little plastic savings cards in your wallet or on your keyring as well), I am sure they are not the only grocery chain offering some sort of incentive along these lines to their customers in other states. And if not, why not? If your local stores aren't doing so, ask them why? If you don't ask, you don't get!

My recommendation for the weekend? Get on the “net” and start checking these things out. If you’re grocery shopping anyway, why not shop where you can save money on gas at the same time?

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