Just wrapped up another remote gas station loop, and had to take a different payment approach than usual thanks to a special offer from Discover.
They have a limited-time deal with 10% cash back on purchases up to $400 when using Apple Pay, so that became my payment MO for all store purchases on my Phillips 66 shops and gas and a purchase for a Chevron shop from not-the-usual MSC. All my meals and beer smuggling purchases were paid that way as well.
I actively shop 4 of the major gas brands administered by you-know-who (banned from Sinclair), and I've frequently wondered the best way to approach each in order to maximize allowable perks.
I think I've arrived at the best strategy, but welcome input if I'm missing something.
Exxon: I enter my rewards card at the pump, but do not use the benefits. I try to use my Exxon/Mobil credit card to get a discount for the max gas possible for the $2 reimbursement. Usually Citibank will shut my card down before I can finish all my Exxon shops, and their card support is totally useless while on the road, so I switch to my Verizon VISA which pays 4% cash back at gas stations.
The more points you build up, the more you can deduct from your purchase at the pump, so I'll wait until I build up a decent balance and then buy a few gallons so my overall purchase represents a better price per gallon than I can get at Costco.
Chevron: I always pay for gas using the app. While it is lacking in the onscreen info department (it doesn't even identify the station you are at), there's no limit to how many times I can use it, which is huge. Every now and then Synchrony will flag the account, but I get a text message almost instantly so I can restore the payment method, so yay for that. Far and away the best of the gas cards in this regard.
Gross reimbursement is not as much because the 1 gallon is discounted, but I get at least 5 rewards points per stop. Best redemption value is 50¢ per gallon off for 500 points, and I'm over halfway there after this last trip. I will typically alternate paying at Costco with my Chevron VISA and the aforementioned Verizon card as their due dates are almost 2 weeks apart. Not willing to take the time crunching the numbers trying determine which is more lucrative.
Shell: Don't have a card, and don't want one. Their gas is typically the most expensive of the majors in my area, and I'm all about Costco when buying at home unless I'm using rewards somewhere. Don't do the Shelll brand rewards as I want max reimbursement for the 2 gallons I'm buying, + the 4% back on the Verizon card.
Phillips 66: Have been loving the Fuel Forward app because I can buy 5¢ at the pump and wind up with a usable receipt. The only drawback is I can only use it 6 times per day, so I have to strategize. I'll use my Verizon card at the pump if I'm buying a "normal" amount of gas.
With expiring assignment windows and me wanting to grab high-paying remote jobs as soon as calendarly possible, there have been times in the past where I've had to have my laptop out in the car so I can get a screenshot of the email receipt and post it into the report. At present, the MSC's app will not accept iPhone 14 screenshots of the in-app receipt(s) because they are too small. I had requested a parameter change that was implemented previously, but that did not transition into the current version of the report.
This trip I had the lightbulb go off. Even though my purchase at a Phillips was a "normal" $7.50, and I was fully ready to go grab the email so I could get the report in, it dawned on me to ask the cashier for a reprint receipt after I revealed. Report done in way less time with way less hassle, and that will be the new MO moving forward. It will be fun explaining my minuscule gas purchases...
The only little tweak is if I'm shopping (or buying gas out of pocket) on the first Tuesday of each month. There are additional discounts when using the FF app, and that can influence my purchase decisions.
Best I can tell, these strategies are getting me the most mileage for my perk-worthy activities, pun intended.
They have a limited-time deal with 10% cash back on purchases up to $400 when using Apple Pay, so that became my payment MO for all store purchases on my Phillips 66 shops and gas and a purchase for a Chevron shop from not-the-usual MSC. All my meals and beer smuggling purchases were paid that way as well.
I actively shop 4 of the major gas brands administered by you-know-who (banned from Sinclair), and I've frequently wondered the best way to approach each in order to maximize allowable perks.
I think I've arrived at the best strategy, but welcome input if I'm missing something.
Exxon: I enter my rewards card at the pump, but do not use the benefits. I try to use my Exxon/Mobil credit card to get a discount for the max gas possible for the $2 reimbursement. Usually Citibank will shut my card down before I can finish all my Exxon shops, and their card support is totally useless while on the road, so I switch to my Verizon VISA which pays 4% cash back at gas stations.
The more points you build up, the more you can deduct from your purchase at the pump, so I'll wait until I build up a decent balance and then buy a few gallons so my overall purchase represents a better price per gallon than I can get at Costco.
Chevron: I always pay for gas using the app. While it is lacking in the onscreen info department (it doesn't even identify the station you are at), there's no limit to how many times I can use it, which is huge. Every now and then Synchrony will flag the account, but I get a text message almost instantly so I can restore the payment method, so yay for that. Far and away the best of the gas cards in this regard.
Gross reimbursement is not as much because the 1 gallon is discounted, but I get at least 5 rewards points per stop. Best redemption value is 50¢ per gallon off for 500 points, and I'm over halfway there after this last trip. I will typically alternate paying at Costco with my Chevron VISA and the aforementioned Verizon card as their due dates are almost 2 weeks apart. Not willing to take the time crunching the numbers trying determine which is more lucrative.
Shell: Don't have a card, and don't want one. Their gas is typically the most expensive of the majors in my area, and I'm all about Costco when buying at home unless I'm using rewards somewhere. Don't do the Shelll brand rewards as I want max reimbursement for the 2 gallons I'm buying, + the 4% back on the Verizon card.
Phillips 66: Have been loving the Fuel Forward app because I can buy 5¢ at the pump and wind up with a usable receipt. The only drawback is I can only use it 6 times per day, so I have to strategize. I'll use my Verizon card at the pump if I'm buying a "normal" amount of gas.
With expiring assignment windows and me wanting to grab high-paying remote jobs as soon as calendarly possible, there have been times in the past where I've had to have my laptop out in the car so I can get a screenshot of the email receipt and post it into the report. At present, the MSC's app will not accept iPhone 14 screenshots of the in-app receipt(s) because they are too small. I had requested a parameter change that was implemented previously, but that did not transition into the current version of the report.
This trip I had the lightbulb go off. Even though my purchase at a Phillips was a "normal" $7.50, and I was fully ready to go grab the email so I could get the report in, it dawned on me to ask the cashier for a reprint receipt after I revealed. Report done in way less time with way less hassle, and that will be the new MO moving forward. It will be fun explaining my minuscule gas purchases...
The only little tweak is if I'm shopping (or buying gas out of pocket) on the first Tuesday of each month. There are additional discounts when using the FF app, and that can influence my purchase decisions.
Best I can tell, these strategies are getting me the most mileage for my perk-worthy activities, pun intended.
Have synthesizers, will travel...