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October 1, 2008

Another way to cut fuel costs: Grocery shopping

Today Kroger launches a new fuel savings program that aims to lessen the burden of high gasoline prices. Basically by shopping at Kroger, you can accumulate fuel discounts in one month that can be used through the end of the following month.

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For example, for every $100 you spend at Kroger, you receive 10 cents off per gallon of gas at the grocer’s fuel centers. With the new program, you can keep accumulating this throughout the month each time you spend $100. The savings are supposed to cap at $1.00 off per gallon.

You can use up to 10 fuel saver reward discounts per fuel fill-up. And you do not only have to spend $100 on food to get the savings. It also applies to gift card purchases at Kroger.

Kroger isn’t the only grocer with a fuel savings program. Other stores nationwide, including Ukrop’s Super Market’s Richmond stores, are offering discounts at partnering gas stations that correspond to the amount spent at the grocery store.

Here’s a story about what other grocery chains are doing to promote shopping and gas savings across the country.

There are seven Kroger fuel centers in the Roanoke and New River valleys. The grocer is planning a new gas station at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke. But Carl York, a spokesman for Kroger, said he did not have updates on when this new center will open.

Comments

# 1

[October 1, 2008 1:19 PM]

Steve

This is not a new program, but has been in place for some time.

As we all know, using the Kroger card at the gas pump saves .03 or .05 per gallon, depending on grade of gas. If there are grocery purchases also applicable it then goes to a MAXIMUM of .10 per gallon. As in, you actually only save an additional .07 or .05 per gallon.

Realizing every penny counts, the reality is: If you drive a small car & fill 10 gallons of regular your savings is a whopping $ 0.70 on forty dollars worth of fuel. If you've got a car that uses premium gas, then the grocery applied savings on that same 10 gallons is $0.50.

Wow! Between 1 & 2 % of your fuel purchase.

Excuse me, but the hype is far greater than the savings!

If my numbers are wrong then by all means, please correct me. The numbers I've shared actual personal experience!

# 2

[October 2, 2008 9:11 AM]

Mac

Or you could shop in Walmart and use the dollars you save to buy gas or anything else you need. I prefer consistently low prices over gimmicks. I have kept track and I can easily save 20 per cent of my total grocery bill at Walmart.A $1 savings on a $3 item is not unusual. No wonder Kroger can give a discount on their own gas- they already got the money from you in the store.

# 3

[October 2, 2008 12:00 PM]

Greg : →http://www.myspace.com/gregstyles

Yeah but Wal-Mart is the devil.

# 4

[October 2, 2008 5:02 PM]

Rigby

While I stay away from Wal-Mart and don't like them at all, you'll be hard pressed to sway someone who shops there against them.

Unless you can point them in the direction of somewhere that sells cheap plastic crap for cheaper.

I understand money is tight, I struggle financially quite a bit.
But I refuse to support them.

# 5

[October 3, 2008 10:20 AM]

Jenny

Steve,
To clarify, Kroger already has had fuel saver programs, but this is a new promotion that allows customers to stack the different savings throughout more than a month's period of time. So, potentially someone could save more than 1 to 2 percent per fill-up, depending on how their rewards add up.

# 6

[October 3, 2008 11:43 AM]

Mac

Rigby, I thought we were talking about groceries- do you eat plasic food? I buy name brand food products for at least 20 per cent cheaper.No wonder you struggle financially if you are giving money to Kroger (news flash- not a great humanitarian organization just a big retail business)All the libs out there who claim Walmart underpays their workers- Kroger pays the same minimum wage as Walmart and treats their employees the same. How about this for those who want to fight the evil Walmart- shop there and use the dollars you save to give to charity instead of Kroger.

# 7

[October 3, 2008 12:29 PM]

Michelle

I have found Wal Mart to be cheaper but I always buy way more than I planned to at Wal Mart so in the end I spend more money. Kroger works better for me because I can be more focused and just run in with a basket and get the few things I actually need.

# 8

[October 3, 2008 3:51 PM]

Steve

On the cost of groceries point...

I was in WalMart with a friend, Sunday @ 6pm and looked at the price of bananas. $ .64 / pound.

One hour later I was in Kroger and their bananas were $ .45 / pound.

Both bananas were name brands and the same degree of freshness.

I go back to the premise I made some time back: Watch what you buy & if the price is too high, don't buy it. Not ALL of WalMart's prices are cheaper, nor are Krogers'.

# 9

[October 4, 2008 2:41 PM]

Mary

Michelle, try to eliminate the "run in for a few things trip."
I shop Wal-Mart because it is convenient for me. Less then a mile, while Kroger or any market is across town. I am not happy about supporting China, but on SS you do what you have to.
I make a list of groceries and cleaning supplies I need for at least a week's time. This elimates the "run in shopping,' where I would pick up extras. If I forget something, oh well, it will wait til next trip. I find if I go back for the fogotten item, I will impulse buy, impossible to run into Wal-Mart for one item.

# 10

[October 5, 2008 11:53 AM]

Harry

Aw, Wal-Mart would never under pay their workers. Instead, they just make sure you are never on the clock for more than 39.5 hours, so you aren't a full-time employee, and not entitled to any benefits. It's the Republican/Conservative way!

# 11

[October 6, 2008 9:49 AM]

Henry

Yeah, Harry. It's OUR fault that Walmart pays their workers.

I just save the gas and shop at Kroger. I just wish they had more self-checkout lanes. They are always crowded.

# 12

[October 6, 2008 10:12 AM]

Greg

All these people bashing Wallmart are the same ones holding up the line trying to find exact change!

Harry don't try to deny it. I saw you there yesterday. You were the one in the express lane with 35 items and then still had the nerve to write a check.

# 13

[October 6, 2008 10:15 AM]

Rigby

Mac - I was referring to Wal-Mart's overall products and not specifically their food.
Before I was better informed about them I did shop there quite frequently.
One thing I frequently noticed was that their fruit and produce never looks as good as Kroger's or Food Lion's. It's like it's on the verge of spoiling right there in the store.
Also, a couple times I bought milk there and it went bad well before the expiration date arrived.
Things like that are enough alone for me not to want to buy products there.

But ultimately it is their practices (what someone said earlier about supporting China,how they treat employees,destroying more jobs than they create,hurting local businesses, etc.)that deter me from shopping there.

Back to the issue at hand - it is a pretty savvy move on Kroger's part to include that discount on gas.
However, I've never taken advantage of it.

# 14

[October 6, 2008 11:15 AM]

Other John

The Kroger here in Christiansburg has done the fuel discount for a few years, but they are out of my way so i never take advantage of it, even though I shop at other Kroger stores. The one thing I've noticed is that even with the discount, their gas is maybe 5 cents cheaper than other stations immediately nearby, but I've been able to buy cheaper gas in town regardless, so that's what I do anyway.

# 15

[October 6, 2008 3:14 PM]

Phil

I saved $1.50/gallon on Saturday. I pay with a Kroger 1-2-3 Mastercard so i got an extra 5 cents stacked on. Paid only $2.05 gallon. For my car that was a savings of $21.00. Seems like more than 1-2%

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