How to Link My Easy Pay Circle K With My Checking Account Online
Editor's note: This post has been updated with new information to reflect current gas prices.
From your commute to a family trip to filling up a rental car at a destination, you've probably groaned at the price you're paying at the gas pump.
The national average for regular gasoline sits at $4.19 at the time of writing, according to data from AAA. This is a dollar over the average this time last year, though still lower than what we saw around Memorial Day weekend.
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The prices may be even higher where you live, or at your summer destination. In California, the average gallon of gas costs $5.59. In New York, the average is roughly $4.51.
Since the early months of 2022, the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia have had a dramatic impact on the cost of crude oil … and on the price at the pump. That swiftly led to the most dramatic price increases since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the prices have only gone up.
Related: Higher fuel prices do mean more expensive plane tickets, but it's not as clear-cut as you may think
Prices were already high even before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Lack of supply resulted in a gas shortage last summer, leading U.S. gas prices to hit a seven-year high, a sharp departure from the cheap pandemic-induced prices in 2020 when road trips and outdoor adventures became a staple among travelers and families opting for transport by car versus an airplane.
Standing with Ukraine: How you can join us in supporting the country now
Given the uncertainty over the situation in Ukraine and the volatility in the global oil markets, it's hard to know how long prices might continue to climb.
So what can you do about it as you plan summer travel, or navigate higher prices in your day-to-day driving?
Thankfully, a quiet surge over the last few years of gas station rewards and third-party loyalty programs designed to save you money on gas means there are more options than ever for finding ways to avoid paying the full price you see on the sign. It's possible to use one or multiple programs to save big on your next fill-up — and that's before factoring in any rewards you earn with your credit card.
These are my favorite programs, in addition to a few stacking opportunities where you can use two or more of these programs to fill up. If you're strategic, you might even be able to turn a profit on your next trip to the gas station.
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Fuel Rewards
A third-party loyalty program specifically for Shell gas stations, Fuel Rewards has been my most lucrative way to save on gas. Once you get to know the program and tailor a few shopping patterns, it's not too hard to build up enough fuel rewards (earned in cents off per gallon) to make your next trip to the pump more affordable.
Since 2018, I've crossed the $1,800 mark in savings from the program.
Sign up for instant Gold status, which gets you 5 cents off per gallon on your first fill-up. This stacks with any additional Fuel Rewards you earn — all the way up to making gas nearly free.
Fuel Rewards has dozens of national partners where you can use a linked credit card to shop and earn cents off per gallon on your next fill-up. There is also a dining rewards program, shopping portal and plenty of promo offers (like T-Mobile Tuesdays) to earn Fuel Rewards.
Related: How I saved $1,000 on gas fill-ups in 1 year
Shop through the online portal and earn at least 5 cents per gallon. Link your Dunkin' rewards account and earn an additional 10 cents per gallon. Eat at your favorite local restaurant in the dining rewards program and earn 10 cents per gallon.
With those savings, in addition to having Gold status, your next fill-up will be at least 30 cents off per gallon. All Fuel Rewards fill-ups are capped at 20 gallons and once you start pumping, your savings are used, whether you pump 1 gallon or 20.
Circle K Easy Pay
Another way to save at Shell is with Circle K Easy Pay. This program allows you to save 30 cents per gallon for the first 100 gallons or 60 days, after which you'll save 6 or 10 cents per gallon, depending on your location.
Here's how it works: You get a physical Easy Pay card that's linked to your checking account. You then use that card to pay for your fill-ups, with all savings automatically deducted. Cards are PIN-protected and become locked after three failed login attempts. The only downside is that you can't earn credit card rewards this way.
Related: The 8 most underrated loyalty programs and tools you should use
Pilot-Flying J myRewards Plus
Pilot and Flying J have a joint loyalty program called myRewards Plus which lets drivers earn rewards on fill-ups and other purchases. Through Oct. 31, you can get a discount of 10 cents per gallon on all fill-ups when you pay for gas with the myRewards Plus app. This promotion should work at all Pilot and Flying J locations around the country.
Upside
This third-party app hit the scene a couple of years ago and has expanded significantly. It now includes restaurant and grocery store rewards, as well as savings at the pump. You can claim offers in the app to save a certain number of cents per gallon.
After you claim an offer, you have four hours to fill up at the specific station you selected, using a linked credit card. Cash back earned from the fill-up will then be placed in your Upside account, which you can cash out whenever you like. I like Upside because fill-ups with savings are good for up to 50 gallons. My wife and I both wait until our cars are empty and then fill up at the same pump simultaneously. (Remember not to put the handle back on the pump between cars or that will end your fill-up and your savings).
Related: How to use these 7 credit cards to maximize your domestic US getaway
Pay with GasBuddy
The Pay with GasBuddy program continues to evolve rapidly and improve. It used to offer Shop Your Way points, but now it offers several levels of cash savings per fill-up. It has introduced deals you can claim at specific gas stations right before you fill up, as well as a "gas back" shopping portal in the app.
Similar to Circle K Easy Pay, payment occurs with a physical card GasBuddy mails you that is connected to your checking account. You pay with it at the pump. The amount you pump, minus any GasBuddy savings, is deducted from your checking account.
Pay with GasBuddy Premium memberships allow you to save more per gallon and offer additional perks, like roadside assistance.
Grocery store fuel points
I believe almost every nationwide grocery store now has its own fuel points program or has partnered with an existing national gas station brand's program to offer fuel savings for your grocery shopping.
The newest entrant is Walmart+, which is Walmart's new subscription service offering free two-day shipping on Walmart.com orders and other perks, similar to Amazon Prime. A subscription costs $12.95 per month. Here's the great thing about it: That monthly fee is reimbursed as a perk of The Platinum Card® from American Express. (Reimbursed with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.)
Related: Save 10 cents per gallon at Exxon Mobil with Walmart+
You get savings of up to 10 cents a gallon if you fill up at Exxon Mobil-, Sam's Club- or Murphy-branded gas stations. The full instructions can be found here.
There are several other grocery chains offering gas discounts for being a member.
I use Kroger here in the South and between regular family grocery shopping and taking advantage of 4 fuel points per dollar on gift cards, it's pretty easy to max out the $1-per-gallon savings the program allows. You can even buy third-party gift cards from the Kroger gift card-specific website. It regularly has gift cards for sale at a discount or with 4 fuel points per dollar earnings.
Stack programs
You can stack two or more of the above programs on a single fill-up to compound savings and make gas particularly cheap. Here are a few of my strategies:
- Fuel Rewards plus Pay with GasBuddy: The two programs operate independently of each other, allowing you to lower the price at the pump with Fuel Rewards. You'll then have less cash than you pump deducted from your checking account when paying at a Shell station with your GasBuddy card. If you earn enough Fuel Rewards to make fill-up basically free, GasBuddy still gives you the savings based on the pre-discounted price of the Shell gas — meaning you can make a profit filling up your tank with gas.
- Kroger plus Pay with GasBuddy: The same principle as above applies when filling up for a discount using Kroger Fuel Points and then paying with your GasBuddy card.
- Fuel Rewards plus Circle K Easy Pay: Like the two strategies discussed above, you can earn Fuel Rewards when paying with your Circle K card.
- Stacking with Amex Offers: From time to time, American Express offers promotions on gas purchases. For instance, we've seen Amex offer 400 bonus Membership Rewards points when spending $40 on gas. These stack with gas station and third-party loyalty programs, though you must pay with the Amex card you linked the offer to. As such, you can't stack Amex Offers with Pay with GasBuddy or Circle K Easy Pay.
Related: Best credit cards for gas purchases
Bottom line
Other nationwide gas station chains have their own programs. They each typically have limited-time savings or a sign-up bonus. In addition to the featured programs, there is basically no reason to pay full price for gas no matter where you are. If not using Pay with GasBuddy, make sure to use a credit card that earns great rewards at the pump and you'll compound your savings even more. Also, if you're looking to stop paying for gas altogether, you could try an electric or hybrid vehicle, not only helpful to your wallet but beneficial to the planet far beyond your time on the road.
Read more: If you're tired of high gas prices, here's how to rent an electric (or hybrid) car
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh, Sean Cudahy, Clint Henderson, Caroline Tanner and Benji Stawski.
Featured photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-ways-to-save-on-gas/
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