Real Savings on Grocery Gas Discounts?

How about those gas discount cards you get offered at grocery stores? Are they a real savings or just another come-on to get into your pockets? Here's a few comments from a contributor who can clear the matter up for you:

We've all got them. Those plastic cards with the names of large grocery chains and warehouse stores printed on them. Those bits of plastic are good for in-store discounts, and they are very valuable for that. Some of them go one step further and offer cents off on the gallon at their own pumps as well. Both of these are excellent marketing tools for the corporation, and they benefit you as well.

However, there is one point where you, the buyer, should beware.

If the store offers a gas discount for simply having a card or for buying a gift card with no surcharge, you've got yourself a deal. The trouble comes in when the store requires a minimum purchase in order to get the discount. One store in a nearby town gives a discount of 10 cents per gallon on a single fill up when you purchase $100 in groceries.

If you took them up on that deal, how would you actually save? This store has great prices on milk and eggs, and they often run terrific specials on meat items. However, their bread is pricey and their produce, although beautiful, is far more expensive than the local superstore. When you purchase $100 worth of groceries there, you will undoubtedly spend an extra $20-$30 over what you'd spend at the cheapest grocery in town.

How much can you save at the rate of 10 cents per gallon? This depends on the size of your tank, of course. The average car has a 15 gallon tank. At the rate of 10 cents per gallon, you'll save $1.50 on that fill up.

Even at that, there are a couple of ways you can still win at the discount gas game. 1. Only purchase items that cost less than other stores, such as the deep discounts on meat and milk. 2. Bring your boat or your dual tank truck when you fill up. With a 50-gallon fill up, you'll save $5.00. Does that make it worth the trouble? Only you can answer that question.

And now I'd like to invite you to check out Penny Pinching Meals, a cookbook that will save you time and shrink your food budget with your family happy and satisfied. See the free video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXdaHLb0RAo

Rosey Dow is CEO of http://www.ExpertsinFocus.com