So, what do y’all do?
Really the only area I’ve been able to do anything is gas, mostly via GasBuddy. If you’re not familiar with GB, it’s an app that shows you gas prices in your area, plus they offer a debit card that you use for a 5¢/gallon discount. A fun thing is that this can be combined with other discount cards, like KickBack to get even greater of a discount. It won’t work with other payment cards that offer discounts, only basic discount cards.
I consider the card safe to link to your bank account, it’s handled by Western Express aka WEX, a company you might’ve seen around for fleet fueling, think semis, although they’ve expanded beyond that.
Since GetUpside came out, they’ve also added deals to the app. Both services offer similar discounts, with GB’s advantage being that card I mentioned, since unlike GU, there’s no reimbursed, just pick a deal on the app, go buy your gas, and the discount will be applied before your bank account is charged.
The only other discount I regularly use is my Sip Club membership at St Louis Bread Company (Panera Bread Co). For around $12/mo or thereabouts you get ‘unlimited’ free drinks, unlimited in as much as one free self service drink every two hours. That’s soda, coffee, tea, etc, and always log in for your drink, using your membership properly gets other discounts, especially if’n you buy things, even as little as a muffin. Hey, if’n you’re on the road, you gotta drink, and at a place where drinks are $3+, the membership pays for itself real fast.
So, what else you got?
Buying 2nd hand
Around here (Chambana, IL) the dominant gas station is Circle K. They seem to always have “temporary” reusable 10c/gal discount cards, and while I’m sure they’re tracked, they also don’t have to be registered so whatever. Their giant refillable fountain drink is cheap, refills even cheaper, and…
Their employees mostly don’t care. Ringing up “just a refill on ice water” is often not worth their trouble - prob 1/3 of them end up free, or just charging for a cup of ice.
They’ve been less reliable than usual for bathrooms, but McD and KFC don’t care if you use the , even without a pickup/purchase.
Gas buddy probably would save me more than the CK but some days I start with little enough cash on hand that driving across town to save a few bucks just isn’t worthwhile until I make a few deliveries.
Little stuff, but it adds up I agree. The less cash I put in, the more I get out. McD app is pretty decent if you’re ok with the cheap stuff and use the app to get points == free food after a couple visits.
Gasbuddy is pretty cool, they have a card you link to your bank account, and you get 5¢ off anywhere fleet fuel cards are accepted, which is basically everywhere but warehouse clubs, but their app can also offer you special deals. Earlier in the week I combined one of those deals with a Kickback discount for 37¢ off a gallon. As a rule of thumb, I just look for deals where I’m at, which is often defined by the app I’m working for.
