Affording Summer Fun w/ MasterCard & Fuel Rewards Network #FuelFamilyFun #MC

Saving In Summer With MasterCard & Fuel Rewards…

Summer is no fun if you can’t go anywhere! “Going” somewhere requires fuel, though, and sometimes a lot of it. Bay Area gas stations have not been kind to us with prices around $4.10 per gallon. I’d heard whispers of a Fuel Rewards Network (FRN) but never really took the time to check it out. But, just recently, I found out that you could link your MasterCard to an FRN account and then earn gas rewards just by buying groceries with that linked MasterCard! Score!

The easiest way to sign up is online. I just typed in my information, which only took about one minute, and clicked “I need a card”. Don’t worry, you won’t need the physical card right now. Immediately after signing up, I received an email confirmation and my new account number. I could then log in and link my account to my MasterCard. I actually linked two MasterCard cards, one a debit card with a MasterCard logo, just in case. The next time I went grocery shopping, I just had to pay with one of the linked MasterCard cards, sign for it, and the discounts would add up.

I had been procrastinating about going to the store so our pantry and fridge looked like Old Mother Hubbard’s. I forced myself to jump in the car, did my shopping (you can see how that went in my Google+ album), and simply paid with the MasterCard I previously linked to my Fuel Rewards Network account. Fuel Rewards will be added to my account automatically.

Every $100 spent at participating grocery stores gives you a discount of 3¢ per gallon at Shell stations. I spend several times that for groceries each month so those savings could really add up. If we really get to save a lot using this program with FRN and MasterCard, maybe we can use that amount to have a small pizza / pool party for all the kids at the end of the summer!

I only signed up yesterday so I haven’t gotten any rewards yet. When I tried to check my account on the iPhone app but it said that the “balance may not include rewards earned from recent Grocery…transactions.” With a little time and a lot of patience, hopefully I can get the kind of gas discount displayed in the app preview.

Don’t waste any time! The more grocery rewards you earn with your linked MasterCard, the more you’ll save at the pump! Signing up and taking advantage of the program is free, fast, and convenient. I was really surprised to see how many grocery stores and gas stations near me are participating in this program! For more information and to keep up-to-date with the program, you can like FRN on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @FuelRewards.

With a bit of good planning now, we’re looking for some serious family fun the next few months! What about you?