Works For Me Wednesday ~ Saving Money On Gas

I'm excited to post my first Works For Me Wednesday post! I've been reading WFMW for a while, but new to blogging myself. I'm happy to share my tip on saving money on gas! To read more helpful tips go to We are THAT Family.

My husband and I usually shop at GIANT Food Stores. Shopping there works for us because it's the closest grocery store to our home and also because they offer discounts on gas when points are accumulated.

Points are earned according to the dollar amount spent and will add up during each sale during the promotion. Another way to earn points is to buy certain items each week (all on the same receipt). The sales flyer usually has 3 different lists of items. If you buy 5 items from one list, 20 cents off per gallon of gas is earned. Or 6 items from another list.

Last week, we earned an extra 60 cents off per gallon of gas. We hadn't used the points earned from our previous trip, so on our last fill up we saved $1.20 per gallon of gas!!!

On Saturday, we took a day-trip to visit friends. They live 2 hours away. Hubby went to fill up the truck before we left.

17.773 gallons would have cost us $48.33 without our gas points. After our $1.20 savings (per gallon) was deducted, our total for gas was $27.00.

We saved $21.33 to fill the truck!

We could have saved more, if we let the tank get lower before our fill up, but we needed to make sure we had enough to make our trip. I was thrilled with the savings and really happy that hubby saved the receipt so I could blog about it!

GIANT Food Stores ~ Coupon Match Ups

I've been wanting to post this for a few days now. Mainly to remind myself of the good deals I was able to get. But also, to hopefully inspire family and friends to clip coupons and shop sales.

Here's what we purchased on Friday (8/28/09):

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks 2 @ $2.09 each = $4.18
Bonus Card discount 2 @ .09
Less 2 printable coupons @ .40 each
Less double coupon for one
Final Price $2.80 for 2 (or $1.40 each)

2 Boxes Fruit Roll Ups @ $2.09 each = $4.18
Bonus Card discount 2 @ .09
Less printable coupon .50 off of 2
Less Double coupon
Final Price $3.00 for 2 (or $1.50 each)

Betty Crocker Warm Delights 1 @ $1.49 = $1.49
Less printable coupon .50
Less double coupon
Final Price .49

Nature Valley Granola Bar 1 box @ $2.79 = $2.79
Bonus Card discount .30
Less printable coupon .40
Less double coupon
Final Price $1.69


****Note: By purchasing the 6 items listed above,
we earned 20 cents off per gallon of gas.
By purchasing 4 fruit snack/fruit roll up items,
we earned a coupon for $2.50 off our next purchase.

Nature Valley Nut Clusters 2 @ $3.19 each = $6.38
Bonus Card discount 2@ .70
Less printable coupons 2 @ 1.00
Final Price $2.98 for 2 (or $1.49 each)

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix @ $1.59 = $3.18
Less printable coupons 2 @ .40
Less double coupon for one.
Final Price $1.98 for 2 (or .99 each)

Kotex Lightdays 1 @ $2.99 = $2.99
Bonus Card discount .49
Less coupon (newspaper) .75
Less double coupon
Final Price $1.00

Kotex Panty Liners 1 @ $2.99 = $2.99
Bonus Card discount .49
Less coupon (newspaper) 1.00
Final Price $1.50

***Note: By purchasing the 6 items above,
we earned 20 cents off per gallon of gas.

Chex Mix 1 @ $1.99 = $1.99
Bonus Card discount .49
Less printable coupon .50
Less double coupon
Final Price .50

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits 4 @ $1.79 = $7.16
Bonus Card discount 4 @ .54
Less 2 printable coupon $1.00/off 2
Final Price $3.00 for 4 (or $.75 each)

***Note: By purchasing the 5 items listed above,
we earned 20 cents off per gallon of gas.

Spray 'n Wash bleach alternative 1 @ $4.69 = $4.69
Bonus Card discount .70
Less coupon (newspaper) $1.00
Final Price $2.99

Hershey's Syrup 2 @ 1.99 = $3.68
Bonus Card discount 2 @ .30
Less coupon (newspaper) $1.00 off 2
Final Price $2.68 for 2 (or $1.34 each)

YoPlus and Fiber One Yogurts (4 pack) 6 @ $2.39
Bonus Card discount 6 @ .39
Less 2 printable coupons @ 1.25
Less 4 printable coupons @ 1.00
Final Price $5.50 for 6 (or 92 cents each)

Snickers Bars 2 @ .79 = $1.58
Bonus Card discount 2 @ .29
Less coupon (newspaper) $1.00 off two
Final Price FREE

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups 2 @ $.79 = $1.58
Bonus Card discount 2 @ .29
Less coupon (newspaper) Buy One Get One Free
Final Price 50 cents for 2 (or 25 cents each)

Reese's King Size Bar 1 @ 1.29 = $1.29
Less coupon (newspaper) .55
Less double coupon
Final Price 19 cents

The following items were needed, but did not have coupons for. We shopped sale items as much as we could:

Arm & Hammer Laundry detergent Buy One Get One Free $3.69 for 2
Mighty Dog Dog Food $3.42 for 6 cans
Gatorade 10 for $10
Amoroso Rolls $2.45
1/2 gallon skim milk $1.49
1/2 gallon 2 % milk $1.57
medium eggs (store brand) .99
gallon Iced Tea (store brand) 1.89
Shredded Cheese (store brand) $1.67
Nasal Spray (store brand) Buy One Get One Free $4.24 for 2
Similac Formula $10.78 for 2

Total before savings: $118.63
Bonus Card discounts: 22.14
Manufacturer coupons: 19.80
Double coupons: 4.00
plus tax 1.20

Final Total $73.89
Total savings $45.94

I need to say, I am so impressed with my $23.80 in coupons, the fact that we shopped sales for almost every item, that we earned 60 cents off per gallon of gas (bringing our total to $1.20 off per gallon) and that I earned a coupon for $2.50 off our next purchase!

59 items for $73.89 ~ not too shabby!
Especially considering that almost $11 was formula.

Oh, the cashier was impressed as well at all of the coupons and the fact that some were $1.00 off coupons. (Personally though, my favorites are the 75 cent off coupons because they double!)