Giant Gas Deals on Gift Cards

I always get questions on how and why I use gift cards at Giant to maximize gas rewards and minimize gas prices.  So here is little tutorial

First place to start is Giant's website for FAQ's concerning gas points Click Here

My personal tips to remember:
* $2.20 is the maximum discount per gallon / 35 gallons is the maximum number of gallons per transaction
* Once you pick up the gas nozzle hose to fill up and put the nozzle hose back in to the gas pump - everything stops!  Your deal is done.  So don't think you can put the nozzle back and fill up at a  later date or put the nozzle back and switch from regular gas to premium gas because unfortunately you can not.  So please please remember, once you put the gas nozzle back ... the deal is finis.
*As stated in the FAQ's the maximum value of points will be deducted.  So if you have 2,000 points and want to use 1,000 points today and the rest of your 1,000 tomorrow for a different transaction, it will not work.  Nope, no way, no how.  You will have all 2,000 points =$2.00 deducted automatically off the first time you use the deal. It is an all or nothing deal.  This is why hubby and I fill up our cars at the same time.  
*If you fill up 35 gallons and save $2.20 per gallon you will have saved $77!

My husband and I fill up our cars weekly. I try to maximize the 35 gallon limit and $2.20 discount per trip. For me the best time to maximize on the $2.20 discount is when Giant promotes Gift Card purchase promotions with Xtimes gas rewards.  The promotion has to be for a variable priced MC or Visa gift card not for a restaurant or other type of gift card.  Like this current one advertised here:

I make an initial purchase of a  MC or Visa gift card then continue the cycle.  I made a flow chart below because for some reason it is hard for most to understand the concept without a visual aide.

Now that I have gas points in my account it is time for a family gas run.  Hubby and I wait till both our cars are near empty.  Continue reading to see how hubby and I get our car gas levels down at the same time.  

I drive my car to the gas station and my husband drives his car.  We also take along (2) 5 gallon gas cans.  We park our cars at the gas station so that a single hose can reach both vehicles at the same time.  **Remember what I said earlier, if put the nozzle back in the pump or wait too long in between pumping - the gas meter turns off and your deal is done.  So we strategically park our cars so that the hose will reach both cars** You would also be surprised at how many people do this at the pump.  I see it all the time so you are in good money saving company.  My 5 year old loves the squeegee and cleans all the windows.  I overlook the fact that he is short and can only clean the bottom half of the windows.  Hey, keeps my little guy entertained, happy, and busy.  

 

Then when both cars have filled tanks we fill up the two 5gallon gas cans so that we max out on the 35 gallon / $2.20 discount.  Because Hubby and I won't use gas at the same rate one of us will use gas from the gas can later in the week so that we level out our gas usage and run low at gas at the same time.  This ensures that we both on empty-ish when we do another gas deal at the pump.  We also use the extra gas when needed for the lawn mower and generator.  

I paid $11.90 in activation fees for the Gift Cards but saved $77 at the pump = $65.10 weekly savings.  This is why I will purchase enough gift cards during a promotion to be able to do the gas deals for one month since Giant gas points expire in 30 days.  The current gift card deal runs till May 10th so I will purchase 2 gift cards on the 10th so I can ensure I will be able to fill up weekly 35 gallons at $2.20 off per gallon for the next month.  Now I have 30 days to find another Giant gas deal promotion and continue the cycle of attempting to get $2.20 off per gallon/ max 35 gallon. 

Hope this walk through was helpful.