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The words "surprising" and "gas" don't often get mashed together because what can be surprising about filling up your vehicle with gas?? It turns out, a lot if you're filling up at Sam's Club.
Having a Sam's Club membership can be great for your budget , but there are a few facts you might not know about fueling up at the discount warehouse club. Here's what you need to know.
1. It's about 7% cheaper than the average gallon of gas
I knew Sam's Club gas was cheaper, on average, than filling up at local stations, but I had no idea how much cheaper it was until I compared its prices to my closest station.
I live downtown in a small city, and my closest gas station is within one block. It's convenient if I even run out of gas, but it's also a little more expensive because of its location. The cost of a gallon of unleaded gas is $2.88 right now. Meanwhile, my nearest Sam's Club gas station is charging $2.69 -- that's $0.19 cheaper!
Put another way; if I filled up at Sam's Club for the average number of 443 gallons of gas Americans use every year driving, I could save more than $84 per year on gas . That's far more than the basic Sam's Club membership price of $50.
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2. You can use the Sam's Club app to pay for gas
I love how convenient it is to use my phone to pay for purchases these days and Sam's Club brings the convenience right to its gas pumps.
You can use the Scan & Go feature in the Sam's Club to scan a barcode on the gas pump, pay for your gas, and get on your way.
What's great about the Sam's Club app is that you can pay for more than just fuel with it. You can use the Scan & Go feature to buy all of your in-store items (without having to wait in line!). Just pay in the Sam's Club app and show your exit code to an employee on the way out. Now that's convenient.
3. You won't earn 2% cash back on gas
You may already know that Sam's Club offers a Plus membership that comes with tons of perks, including 2% cash back. However, I was surprised to find out that Sam's Club Membership Plus doesn't earn 2% cash back on fuel purchases. That's disappointing for members who pay the $110 fee for the Plus membership.
However, you will earn 2% cash back on in-store purchases, up to $500 yearly. Here are some additional Plus membership benefits:
- Free delivery of eligible orders of $50 or more
- Early shopping hours
- Free curbside pickup
- $0 prescriptions on 10 select generic medications
Pssst, looking for more rewards? Check out our top-rated cash back cards to earn money back , no matter where you shop.
4. The fuel quality may be better at other wholesale clubs
There's no shame in not thinking about fuel quality when you're filling up. But if you are interested in having the best fuel in your vehicle, Costco could be a better place to buy it.
Costco's gas is rated a Top Tier fuel, which means it has specific additives that have been proven to help clean engines. The result can help your vehicle maintain fuel efficiency and run more smoothly.
Sam's Club gas stations don't sell Top Tier fuels, so if that's important, you might opt for its rival's gas stations instead.
Buying gas at Sam's Club could cover the cost of your annual membership, depending on how frequently you buy gas. That alone makes Sam's Club gas a good deal and a great benefit if you're looking for a way to stretch your budget. Just don't expect to earn cash back with Sam's Club Plus when you fill up.
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