How do you get 21^st Century Gas at 20^th Century Prices? It’s really easy…when you know the secret. Here is how you get started on the road to savings and, as we said in 1973, “sticking it to the Man”.

• First, if you don’t already have one, go to your local Kroger store and get a Kroger Plus Card and register it at the Kroger.com site.
  
  
• Second, present your card when you check out and get a point for every dollar you purchase.
  
  
• And third, purchase your gas a the Kroger pump or at most Shell Oil stations and select the Rewards option.

For every 100 points you rack up, you will receive a 10¢ discount at the pump. I’m single and I can get a 40¢ discount without much effort. Your maximum discount at a Kroger pump is limited only to your number of points and the price per gallon. At the Shell station you can get a maximum of $1.00 per gallon (though some may only award 10¢ max). You can get a maximum of 35 gallons per purchase. (This means you can fill up at least two cars at a time.) Points do expire if not used so you should keep up with them as you go. Your points are shown at the bottom of your Kroger receipt or you can go to the Kroger.com site and check your points (after you’ve registered).

But if you want to make the big bucks, and here I mean at least a dollar $1.00 per gallon every time, you have to go a couple of extra steps.

• Go to Kroger.com where you can then load coupons to your card digitally (once you’ve registered). This will automatically apply the coupon when you present your card and buy the product (note that the coupon has an expiration date). The coupon you are looking for is the 2X Fuel Point. This will double you points when you shop on Thursday through Saturday (this applies to everything EXCEPT gift cards). This coupon will have an expiration date but they pop up on a regular basis so check before you shop. (This may be discontinued as I have not seen it recently.)


• But here’s the real winner. You know those gift cards that you pass at the end of the aisle (except maybe at Christmas)? Well, those will add 2X the card value to your points everyday. However, if you download the 4X Fuel Points on Giftcards coupon, you get quadruple points. Going to Lowe’s this weekend? Or Target? Stop on the way and get a $100 card and you get 400 points. When you gas up, if you get 15 gallons, you save $6.00 (more if you have more points). Shop at Amazon.com on a regular basis like me? I buy $400 at a time and then register them to Amazon. Going to Olive Garden for dinner? Well, you know the drill.


• Look for those special weekends when Kroger offers 4X points on gift cards. Just be careful that you don’t rack up more points than you can use. As an alternate to swiping your card at the pump, you can use an Alternate ID, usually your phone number. So your kids can access your points (you’re probably paying for it anyway).


• And, just an extra little bonus. If you pay Kroger with your credit card and your credit card gives points, the purchase will add points to your card. (Cards don’t usually add points for cash advances, but, at least for now, they don’t know the difference.) My card points are worth $1.00 per hundred points, so I get another $4.00 in credit card points when I purchase an Amazon card and pay with my Visa.

Again, remember that your points expire and also that not all Shell stations participate. (On a recent trip I stopped at two that did not include Kroger rewards.) Look for the Kroger Plus logo on their sign.

People, THIS IS FREE MONEY, IT IS NOT ILLEGAL and IT IS NOT TAXABLE! (Not Taxable! Now you’re really “sticking it to the Man” and it could mean another 25-35% in tax savings!)

So let’s review your possible savings if you compile 1000 points per month:

1. $15.00 - If you purchase a minimum of 15 gallons (could be more)
2. $10.00 - If your credit card gives $1.00 per 100 pts
3. $6.25 - If you are in the 25% tax bracket (15+10)X.25
4. $31.25 - Total savings for each fill-up

If you have multiple cars (your spouse, a kid or two) and you fill up three cars twice a month, then you can save as much as $2250 per year. (For the math challenged, that’s $31.25 X 3cars X2fill-ups a month X 12months.) That’ll pay for vacation (where you will save more money.)

So, remember these points and get the FREE MONEY:

• Get the card and register it
• Get the coupons (when available)
• Use the card when you shop
• BUY THE GIFT CARDS
• Buy your gas at Kroger for Max savings
• Or stop at Shell and select Rewards at the pump
• Use your card or Alternate ID
• Watch your points so they don’t expire without use
• Look smug while pumping your gas at 1980 prices!
• Thumb your nose at Shell, your credit card company and UNCLE SAM.

If you don’t shop at Kroger, never mind.