This may be old news to some - this is the first time we tried this. In our case, the local grocery store with its own gas stations is Giant Eagle, but other chains across the country are forming the same combos.

Anyhow, the Chase Freedom card is currently running a promotion this quarter giving 5x for gas purchases. This past weekend we went into the Giant Eagle GetGo gas station (which is a separate building adjacent to the grocery store) and purchased $100 in Giant Eagle gift cards. We then went over to the grocery store and did our weekly shopping with the gift cards. The clerk said that all credit card transactions at the gas station are list as "fuel station", so I am guessing that we will get 5x for our grocery purchases by using this method. Later in the summer the Freedom card will be giving 5x for grocery purchases, so we will reverse the process and buy gift cards from the grocery store to buy gas at the GetGo station.

You found out the secret!

Take it a few steps further-- use your GE Advantage card while buying groceries to get cheaper gas... And when fueling up to get % off grocery bills.

And, even further-- during the grocery cashback promo, buy gift cards for other stores / restaurants you frequent at Giant Eagle using your Chase card, while still earning fuel perks with the advantage card.

Oh, we went through that at Christmas. With all the gift card purchases at Giant Eagle from different members of the family (at least $3000 - mostly Amazon cards) at the DOUBLE BONUS rate of $.20 off per gallon per $50 purchase, we are just about through redeeming the FuelPerks we accumulated (they were set to expire at the end of February). And we definitely max out the FuelPerks by filling up the car with the biggest gas tank + a few gas cans for the full 30 gallon limit.

I'd say we wound up with at least (3000 / 50) x .20 x 30 = $360 in free gas from purchases we were going to make anyway - definitely a great deal! ^

With regard to the first post, I think it helps those using cards which only give out a bonus for, say, gas purchases (Ink Bold). Others may have cards which only give a bonus for groceries, not gas. Hopefully this strategy will help expand the use of those cards.

You are my hero!


OP:if you have a discover card Chase and Discover are battling right now, each giving 5% back one $1500 in gas for Jan-March (and then again this summer). Allows twice the return. Chase then has 5% back at groceries the second quarter of the year... so stock back up!

Also the 6% back Amex Blue Preferred has 6% back every day at grocery but comes with an AF.

All of these help my wife and I net cash back for our incidentals when we travel.

Just get the penfed if you want a flat 5% statement credit for gas each month without hassles.

Having said that, I have bought grocery store gift cards in the grocery store (6% back) and use them at the gas pump.

Also be careful to not go overboard. The Freedom 5x bonus is limited to the first $1,500 in spend per bonus period, but resets each time the next categories come around.

Hopefully you also have the Sapphire Preferred to transfer your freedom points to for travel. If travel isn't your goal, then you might be better off with the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred which gives 6x cash back at grocery stores, and doesn't have the $1,500 limit.

I've been doing this for a while now at Safeway. They offered 4x gas bonus with gift cards purchases over Christmas and Valentines. $250 in gift cards = $1 off gas up to 30 gallons. I've been paying $1 off gas since December. Good thing I have 5 gas cans.

There's one 7-11 (convenience store) near my work which has a gas station integrated. It posts as fuel, not groceries, even when I only buy stuff that's on the convenience store shelf. Ok, I figure, they just didn't split it up (since if you don't pay at the pump you can pay inside).

But curiously, many (not sure if all?) other 7-11s (at least in the US) without gas stations (and that's most of them!) also post as fuel, not groceries.

(In my case, I don't have a Freedom card yet, but have to date always had cards which give me the same extra on both gas and groceries, so to date I've not been affected by the miscategorization of one as the other, but just wanted to point this out to those of you who are.)

I'm not sure about other (non 7-11) brand convenience stores...