Discover how to triple your gas rewards using Shop Your Way and GasBuddy

GasBuddy has always been one of my top picks for saving on fuel, but did you know you could potentially triple your savings with Shop Your Way?

In 2018, GasBuddy teamed up with Shop Your Way to enhance the 'Pay with GasBuddy' initiative, allowing drivers to earn Shop Your Way points on their fuel purchases.

If you're not familiar with Pay with GasBuddy, it provides immediate discounts on every gallon of gas you buy. Just swipe the free GasBuddy card linked to your checking account. Discounts range from 4 to 15 cents per gallon with a complimentary GasBuddy account.

GasBuddy aims to simplify savings for drivers at the pump. Rather than being restricted to one station's loyalty program like Shell FuelRewards, you can save at any gas station you prefer (and combine it with station-specific offers, too).

This is particularly crucial at the moment as the U.S. faces a gas shortage. With gas prices surging in various regions, every little bit of savings matters. This is especially relevant if you have a lengthy commute or are planning a road trip during the pandemic.

Conversely, Shop Your Way is a loyalty program managed by Sears that allows you to exchange points for products and gift cards. This collaboration enables you to earn more cashback in the form of Shop Your Way rewards points.

But is it really beneficial to earn Shop Your Way points through GasBuddy to enhance your savings? Let's dive deeper into the partnership and determine if paying with GasBuddy is more advantageous than using a credit card.

Earning Shop Your Way rewards through GasBuddy

When you opt for Pay with GasBuddy, you can choose between earning immediate savings at the pump or accumulating Shop Your Way points.

If you decide to earn points through Shop Your Way, here's what you can expect:

• $0.30 per gallon in points for paid fill-ups during the first 60 days after linking your account with Shop Your Way, which translates to 30 points per gallon
• $0.15 per gallon in points for all paid fill-ups thereafter, equating to 15 points per gallon

In contrast, using "Pay with GasBuddy" without the Shop Your Way option will yield varying savings.

In New York City, I've noticed that most gas stations provide a $0.05 per gallon discount. The minimum discount I've encountered is $0.04 per gallon, while the maximum is $0.14 per gallon. Keep in mind, you can boost your savings if you subscribe to GasBuddy Premium.

By utilizing the most typical price, Shop Your Way can effectively triple your earnings from GasBuddy. Additionally, you can secure a 15 cent per gallon discount even if the gas station you choose offers a smaller discount.

However, there are limitations on where you can redeem your cashback rewards.

Is it beneficial to earn Shop Your Way points through GasBuddy?

You can use your Shop Your Way points at Sears, Kmart, and various other retailers for discounts on select products. Points can be applied to part of your purchase or used to pay for the entire transaction. Sears and its affiliates offer a range of items, including electronics, apparel, and household essentials.

One of the most beneficial ways to use Shop Your Way cash back is for gift cards from a variety of retailers. You can exchange points for gift cards at a conversion rate of 0.1 cents per point, meaning a $100 gift card requires 100,000 points. The program features gift cards from numerous well-known retailers, including American Airlines, Amtrak, and Hotels.com.

If your aim is to redeem points for gift cards or Sears products, earning Shop Your Way points is significantly more advantageous than opting for immediate gas discounts, as you effectively triple your return. However, those who prefer cash should continue focusing on gas savings.

Steps to connect your GasBuddy and Shop Your Way accounts

To link your accounts, open the GasBuddy app and tap the profile icon located in the upper left corner of the screen. Next, select the "Free Membership" button to access your Pay with GasBuddy settings.

In the center of the screen, select the "Upgrade to Shop Your Way" button. Click the "Yes, Upgrade" option to navigate to the account connection page. Then, log into your Shop Your Way account and follow the on-screen instructions to link your accounts.

Is it beneficial to use GasBuddy for payments instead of a credit card?

A drawback of using Pay With GasBuddy is that you won't accumulate credit card rewards for your gas transactions.

This is because, similar to a debit card, payments made with your GasBuddy card draw funds directly from your linked checking account. However, there are situations where using GasBuddy makes sense, especially if you're accumulating Shop Your Way points.

As of the time of this article, the AAA national average gas price stands at $2.99. If you fill up with 10 gallons at a cost of $29.99, you'll receive 150 Shop Your Way points, equivalent to $1.50. This results in a 5% return on your purchase when redeeming points for gift cards.

If your priority is cash back, you might consider charging the $29.99 purchase to a Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. This would yield approximately $0.90 in cash back on your purchase. While this is less than what you'd earn with GasBuddy and Shop Your Way, you can use the cash back however you prefer.

Alternatively, you could charge the purchase to a Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) and earn 3x ThankYou points for every dollar spent. The Points Guy values these points at 1.7 cents each, translating to $1.52 in value. However, you can often maximize the value of these points based on your redemption choices. In this scenario, I would prefer to use my Citi card since I have immediate travel plans.

It's also important to remember that Shop Your Way points expire 60 days after being earned. Therefore, it might be more beneficial to use a credit card that offers points or cash back, as those rewards typically don't expire as long as your account remains active.

Moreover, the benefits of GasBuddy and Shop Your Way diminish when gas prices increase. At $4 per gallon, you'd still receive the same 15 cents per gallon reward as you would when prices are lower. However, you'd likely earn more cash back or points by using a card that provides a fixed rewards rate based on spending.

In conclusion

Utilizing GasBuddy and Shop Your Way to earn points on gas purchases is worthwhile, particularly if you can redeem Shop Your Way points for gift cards or products from Sears, Kmart, and other partner retailers. However, those focused on maximizing miles and points may prefer to use a card that offers higher transferable rewards for gas station transactions.

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