Discounted Prepaid Gas Cards

Discounted prepaid gas cards can be an effective method to track your spending at the pump and save you a few dollars in the process, but you need to look out for scams.

Prepaid Gas Cards Explained

A prepaid gas card is not a debit card or a credit card rewards card. Prepaid gas cards are cards you load a balance onto and then use to purchase gas.

These cards often offer incentives. Numerous gas companies offer prepaid discounted gas cards. A discounted card means that you might pay 20 dollars for a card but you can buy 22 dollars worth of gas with it. Terms, discounts, and deals vary from company to company but with today’s rising gasoline costs any discount is enticing.

Why Use A Prepaid Gas Card

You may be thinking, “Why not just use a debit card, credit card, or cash? Do I really need another card to carry around?”

Benefits of prepaid gas cards include:

• You don’t have to track your purchases like you do with a debit card.
• Prepaid gas cards are good for both teens and adults who have trouble sticking to a budget.
• Carrying a card is safer than carrying cash.
• Prepaid gas cards can be given as gifts.

Be A Gas Card Scam Detective

Finding real discounted gas cards can be tricky. If you frequent money saving forums and chat rooms online you may encounter a scammer. Don’t buy a gas card - or any other sort of card for that matter - from an individual you only know through the internet. Don’t give your credit card numbers to them and never mail them a check.

The Better Business Bureau website offers reports regarding various companies offering discounted prepaid cards. Prior to purchasing a card online you may want to check the BBB website to make sure there are no complaints lodged against the card seller. You may also want to consider buying locally instead of online.

Where to Find Real Discounted Prepaid Gas Cards

Start with major gas stations and local stations in your area – stations you know and trust. A quick search of the Chevron/Texaco site turned up information about prepaid gas cards and the ability to purchase gift cards online. Searches to various local gas stations throughout the U.S turned up more online deals than major stations. Additionally, you may want to check with grocery stores in your area.

Make a few quick phone calls to stations in your area. Ask if they have prepaid discounted gas cards available to purchase. Make it clear that you are not looking for a “gas credit card” – but a “prepaid discount” gas card.

Here are some questions you may want to consider before purchasing a discounted gas card:

1. Can I use the card at any branch or only the one I buy the card from?
2. How long do I have before my card expires?
3. Will stations in other areas accept my prepaid gas card?
4. Will it actually save me money?

Reasons a prepaid gas card - even a discounted card - might not save you money include:

• If you have to drive out of your way to get to the station.
• If you can only buy one in large increments and it expires before you can use it up.
• If you lose things easily – sometimes a lost card can be deactivated by calling the company you purchased the card from but sometimes not.

Prepaid discounted gas cards can be a great money saving tool. Just remember to be a savvy shopper. Ask questions and make sure that you’re actually saving money.

Alternatives

There are other ways to save money on gas.

• Limit your gasoline usage to save money while helping the environment.
• Make sure you car is in proper working order so it uses gas as efficiently as possible.
• Apply for a gas station credit card. These cards often feature automatic discounts on gasoline purchases.
• Apply for a rewards credit card that offers substantial points for gasoline purchases.
• Look for gas stations that partner with local grocery stores and other establishments to offer savings with proof of purchase.
• Use an online search to find the cheapest gas in your area.

Prepaid cards can be a great idea for some people, but it is not the only way to save substantial money on gasoline purchases. Since many cards like these feature fees and charges associated with usage you may find that the savings you receive are negligible when compared to the money spent to use the card. Make sure that any prepaid card you buy is not riddled with fees, otherwise you will essentially be wasting money in an attempt to save money. Go beyond the alluring theory of these cards and look toward the basic math behind them..

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