Jerry From LA wrote:
Ah, but it is coming out of your pocket in the form of higher food prices.
Not really, my wife is too good a shopper, we have several large chains nearby and prices all end up equal to the one with the gas pump.
So at least here, prices suck but they ALL suck equally!
If both cars are empty, the car with the bigger tank should be filled up with the discount. Otherwise, maximize the discount by filling whichever car is emptier.
There's only two supermarket chains locally where I would ever shop at and they both have Perks. Perks gimmick or not, that's where I'm gonna shop.
Gift cards are where it pays, crazy not to use 'em.
As often as I shop Lowes, HD and Sears I buy gift cards w/ perks discount, they add up pretty fast w/ a project or major purchase... appliance, lawn equipment etc. Restaurant GC's too. And then there's holiday gifts. Double points during the holidays. I see a free tank of gas comin' up.
If the markets were smart they'd add auto parts gift cards.
Sounds like the debates at my house! Points expire after 3 months...lots of points due to Thanksgiving stuff...30 gallon, one time shot at redeeming them...11 gallon gas tank on 3 different cars.
Add in a work perk for up to $50.00 gas refund with a single receipt only on the date posted on the receipt and you have quite a dance going on!
Bruce
Vigo
UberDork
11/27/13 11:28 a.m.
The van takes 20 gal., saving .62 cents per gallon, filling it completely (and thus resetting your discount to zero) saves you $12.40.
Your truck takes 18 gal, times the same .62 cents, filling it completely (and thus resetting your discount to zero) only saves $11.16.
Since the "fuel points" are obliterated with each pump, i.e., you don't get X number of gallons for .62 cents off, you get .62 cents off on each pump, you should fuel the bigger tank, MPG's, driving distances, etc. are irrelevant.
Sound like the tiny difference between filling both cars from empty to full is probably a wash with the extra gas cost it takes to get the truck TO the store.
I would take the van, because i wouldnt take the truck, because it gets 14 mpg. I wouldnt take the truck ANYWHERE except car shopping (if the van was unavailable). Or wherever my trailer needed to go.. if the van couldnt tow it.
poopshovel wrote:
Bring both cars. Don't hang the pump up. Duh. Not anecdotal. We do it, because I'm a cheap c*nt. We also coupon like crazy, fill out the "customer service surveys" for bonus fuel points, and buy Kroger gift cards for shopping when they do a double or triple fuel point deal.
I haven't paid over $3.00/gallin in months. It's free money.
This seems like the correct answer...
Fill up both in one pump...... but for a single car fill up your wife's makes most sense, she has those 2 gallons over you and the points reset automatically.... so MPG does not matter.....
oldtin
UltraDork
11/27/13 2:24 p.m.
at 10k miles per year per vehicle it's a $98 advantage to filling up the f150 with the cheaper gas. If the wife thinks she's right, probably not worth the $100 to argue about it. Poopy's answer saves you $442/year.
van at 10k = 555.4 gal.
truck at 10k = 714.24 gal.
In reply to oldtin:
That is correct, if the points are accrued quickly enough to get the discount every single time the vehicle needs fuel. Otherwise, if the discount is earned less frequently than the vehicle needs fuel, it is the most financially advantageous to use the vehicle that can take on more fuel.
SVreX
MegaDork
11/27/13 6:24 p.m.
The truck gets worse fuel economy.
The truck has bigger capacity.
The truck will save more per mile.
The truck can haul jerry cans.
The obvious answer is the wife's car. duh.
Vigo
UberDork
11/27/13 6:27 p.m.
I think the only good advice in this thread is relationship advice. The rest of it is penny-wise, pound-foolish so to speak.