Gasoline: How To Save Money On The Necessary Evil

Gasoline.  Something the entire country relies on.  I can actually remember a time when it was $0.97 a gallon.  More recently than that, I can remember a time when it topped $5 a gallon.  And I'm not that old, either.  But, regardless of how much it costs, we still have to have it to get from here to there.  

So, how do we save money on gas?  Well, now pretty much as long as you shop at one of the main gas stations (Shell, Chevron/Texaco, Safeway, Fred Meyer), it's pretty easy to save money on fuel.

Shell:
Get $0.02 cents off per gallon every time when you get the Shell Saver Debit Card.  This debit card just links to your own bank account and works just like your regular debit card.  

Fuel Rewards Network.  Get at least $0.03 off per gallon just for using your FRN card at the pump.  It's easy to sign up for online.  You can get a card at your local Shell or they will mail you one.  You can earn more money off per gallon by shopping at certain places.  

Fred Meyer Rewards Card.  Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend at Fred Meyer.  Every 100 points will get you 10 cents off per gallon the next month.  Right now there is a coupon you can load onto your card that will give you double points.  You can use your rewards points at Fred Meyer Gas Stations or at participating Shell stations (I will call ahead and make sure they take the rewards card before filling up).  You cannot use this in conjunction with your FRN Card, but you can use it with your Shell Saver Debit Card.  You can earn points to get up to $1 off per gallon.

Chevron/Texaco:

I recently found out that you can use your Safeway Fuel Rewards at participating Chevron/Texaco Stations!  For us, it's a lot easier to accumulate Safeway Fuel Rewards than Fred Meyer.  Sign up on Safeway's website and always check their coupon center for Just4U coupons.  They frequently have 2x points and even 5x points coupons you can add to your card.  My favorite part about Safeway is as soon as you get 100 points, you can use your $0.10 off per gallon.  You don't have to wait until the next month.  Again, you earn 1 point per $1 spent (unless you have the multiplier coupons on your card).  Qualifying Gift Cards will get you 2 points per $1.  You can earn points to get up to $1 off per gallon.