Why You Should be Buying Gift Cards at Kroger
Planning to go out to eat? How about 14% off your bill? Need some new clothes? How about 14% off your total? Have a Netflix or Hulu subscription? Why not get a 14% discount? If you have a Kroger or Kroger affiliate store near you then you could be saving up to 14% off many of your everyday purchases.
When I discovered that I could get 14% off most of my everyday purchases, this drastically changed the way I was shopping. Once you hear how easy this is, you’ll be doing it too.
Kroger has a fuel rewards program where you can earn 1 point for every $1 you spend in the store. For everyday gift card purchases you earn 2 points for every $1. Every so often Kroger will run a promotion where you can get 4X the fuel points for gift cards. So now you earn 4 points per $1. In order to get the 4X fuel points you have to download a digital coupon to your Kroger card.
Here’s an example of how this works for me. I have two children with birthdays coming up and I need to buy gifts for them as well as a few other items. So I will be buying a $250 Amazon gift card. Amazon is usually my fall back gift card purchase because I know I will always be buying something from Amazon – it’s just a matter of time, right? So with the 4X fuel points coupon, instead of earning 1 point for every dollar I spend, I will earn 4. So my $250 gift card will give me 1000 fuel points. Every 100 points equal 10 cents off per gallon up to 35 gallons. So 1000 fuel points equals 1.00 off per gallon, so $35 in free gas.
Here’s the 5 step process for buying gift cards at a 14% discount.
- Check your weekly ad to see if Kroger is running a 4X fuel points promotion. If you don’t know what you’re looking for you can easily overlook this part of the ad. (see photo below)
- If they’re running a promotion go to the Kroger app or the Kroger website and click on digital coupons. Search for the coupon or filter by “4X Gift Card Event,” and add the digital coupon to your card by clicking the green “CLIP” button.
- Go to Kroger and buy any qualifying gift card. Make sure you check the ad and coupon to see what types of gift cards qualify for 4X fuel reward points. Sometimes the coupon will be for any gift card, or only certain categories of cards such as dining or entertainment gift cards, etc. If you don’t purchase a qualifying gift card it’s not a HUGE deal because gift cards are always 2X the fuel reward points, but 4X will net you a greater discount.
- When you check out with your gift card make sure you scan your Kroger card to get the fuel points. Your fuel point total will show up on the bottom of your receipt.
- Buy gas and use your fuel points. Here in Kentucky you can redeem your points in increments of 100 (10 cents off) up to 1000 points, for a maximum of $1.00 off per gallon. Some areas will allow you to use more than 1000 points at a time.
Here’s the math behind the 14% savings. $250 gift card – $35 in gas savings = $215 for a $250 gift card which is a 14% savings. Now I understand it’s not really getting a $250 gift card for $215, but it is still saving you money. Depending on what kind of budgeting system you use, you might be able to see how this would work for you. We are Dave Ramsey fans, and we have several categories set up in our budget, so when we have extra money in our Gas category (because we didn’t have to spend that $35), I can move it to the Gifts category to replace the $35 I spent upfront on the gift card.
If you take a few minutes and peruse the gift card section at Kroger you will start to see all of the categories that you can start to save money in your life. Kroger sells so many different gift cards. Rob always stops at Kroger to buy a Lowe’s gift card on his way to Lowe’s. We’ve also stopped in for a Chick-fil-a card on our way to dinner. Every little bit of savings adds up.
We always have something that we are specifically saving up for, and we like to use the money we save on gift cards and put it towards our current savings goal. Here lately most of our savings goals have been travel-related, so they are something that the whole family is motivated to work towards. All of our kids are excited about our 50 States Before Graduation Challenge, so they want to help us save up for our next trip as quickly as we can.
Does your family have common money saving goals? What other ways do you work as a family to save money?
63 Comments
Beth Shields
Never thought about doing this. We have Smith’s here (name for Kroger) and I get the points but not like you are working it. Great job. Thanks for the information
Kelly
This was a good post, you were very detailed. If I had a Krogers near me I’d definitely try it out.
Sara W
No Kroger near you?!? That’s a bummer! I’m sorry.
Monica
Love this savings hack! We always buy teacher thank you gift cards at the grocery store too!
Sara W
That’s a great idea.
Holly
This is an amazing deal! We all could use a discount for fuel and if we can buy cards for places we use every day.. it’s a no-brainer! Thank you for sharing!
Sara W
Exactly! That’s what I love about this fuel rewards program.
Danielle Ardizzone
No Krogers around here, but this sounds like a great deal!
Sara W
That’s a bummer!
Douglas Jasper
It’s amazing how there can be discounts that didn’t realize.
Sara W
Same here. I keep finding new ways to save, too.
Yvette
Great information. I wish we had Kroger’s near us. I’m now going to look into our local (Jewel) to see if the benefits extend beyond gas rewards too. Thank you!
Sara W
I hope you find some ways to save.
Leeandra
Very informative but theres no Krogers near me.
Sara W
That’s a bummer!
Adrienne
I love giving gift cards and this is the perfect place! My kids are teenagers and love receiving them. One stop shop!
Sara W
Great way to stretch your dollars.
Linda Egeler
Shoot. We don’t have a Kroger anywhere near us. I’ll keep it in mind when we travel to visit my in-laws.
Sara W
That’s a bummer!
Tiffany
Love learning about new ways to earn points or credit for stores I already shop at!
Sara W
And this one is easy to implement.
Lisa
Kroger has some amazing deals! It’s my favorite grocery store!
Sara W
It’s become my favorite store too.
Carrie Beaton
We don’t live near a Kroger…and now I’m really bummed! This is such a great offer!
Sara W
I’m sorry, that’s a bummer.
Debbie
Such a savvy shopper! Nice share for those who have a Kroger’s close by.
Sara W
Thanks. Hope this tip has helped.
Barbara
No Kroger near us, but very useful info for someone who does!
Sara W
That’s a bummer!
Erica
WOW! This is pretty cool! I need to start shopping at Kroger! I never knew, I barely go in there. I’ll check it out! Thank you for the information, very cool!
Sara W
During the past 2 months of quarantine we’ve been doing Walmart grocery pickup, but my husband keeps running into Kroger to buy gift cards! Haha.
Alice
I loved Kroger when we lived in other states but when we moved up to northern Wisconsin we don’t have a Kroger anywhere near. Just Walmart and while they offer gift cards we don’t get any discounts (not even using my employee discount). I’ll keep it in mind when I start traveling.
Sara W
That’s a bummer that you don’t have a Kroger nearby.
Cathy
Unfortunately, we don’t have a Kroger, but that’s interesting info. Thanks!
Sara W
So many people seem to not be near a Kroger. That’s a shame!
Michelle
Great information! If I had a Kroger’s I’d try it out! 🙂
Eva Keller
My dad has been doing this with his Disney Visa for years and it basically pays for their whole vacation every year and saves them a ton on gas. I definitely recommend this!
Sandi
Sounds like a great program. Wish we had a Krogers here.
Jessica
I hear these grocery store points can really save you a bunch, that’s great! We don’t have Kroger but have Ralph’s which I think they’re owned by. I need to look into whether it’s the same or a similar program.
Sara W
Yes, according to the Kroger website, Ralphs is part of the Kroger Family of Companies.
Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life
Great, thorough & detailed post on the savings! Only if Kroger’s were in the NE area!
Sara W
That’s a bummer. I’m sorry there aren’t any Kroger’s in your area.
Kendra
What a great idea! And then I can also use the Amazon gift card using the Amazon Smile program to have additional money donated to a cause I designate. win-win!
Sara W
Yes, an added bonus for sure.
Charlene
We don’t have Kroger’s here, but Giant Eagle does deals like this sometimes.
Christina Furnival
Pretty awesome to reap rewards from money youd be spending anyway!
Sara W
My thoughts exactly!
Ruth Iaela-Pukahi
No Kruger in Hawaii yet. In fact I’ve never heard of it before, is it a grocery store or department store?
Sara W
That’s a bummer! It’s a grocery store that has an amazing gas rewards program.
Cindy
This is awesome! No Kroger in my area though.
Jennifer Van Haitsma
I’m not by a kroger, but my sister is, so I will pass this along to her. Thanks for the tips! Any way to save a little here and there is a big help.
Sara W
Yes, small savings definitely add up over time.
Hayley
That’s such a great scheme. I wish there was a Kroger near me!
Megan Beaver
Great tips! We love the fuel rewards program. In my state the Kroger’s are called Ralph’s.
Sara W
I’ve heard of Ralph’s before. I need to learn all of the Kroger affiliate names so that we can go there when we’re traveling.
Adriana
I always get my giftcards from Kroger! I dont think many people realize how much money they can save. Loveee Kroger!
Sara W
I know! But I also worry that if more people catch on then Kroger might change their policies.
Floby
Gift cards are. very good ideas to give gifts, especially when you ran out of ideas what to get someone.
Sara W
Yes! I have some family members who are very difficult to buy gifts for, so gift cards are the perfect solution.
Vanessa
But don’t these gift cards cost extra to activate? Like visa gift cards usually cost $4.95 to purchase and activate. So the question is does the savings you get by buying gift cards for gas add up to more than what you’re paying in activation fees?
Sara W
You’re correct that Visa gift cards come with an activation fee, but gift cards that are store specific – Amazon, Lowe’s, Chick-fil-a, etc, do not have any activation fees.
Rainy
Can you buy a Visa Gift Card, get the 4x fuel points, then turn around and use the visa card to buy groceries at Kroger getting more fuel points?
Sara W
You could probably do this, but VISA gift cards come with an activation fee of around $6, so that would negate the extra fuel points that you get.