Store loyalty rewards and gas prices

Are you a loyal shopper at a grocery chain that offers a discount on their gas, based on spending in their store? Here in the Seattle area there are a few chains that offer sizeable discounts to their regular shoppers.

• Safeway-- for every 100 points in a calendar month (1 point for every $1 spent in store), receive $.10/gal discount 

• Fred Meyer--earn 100 fuel points (1 point for every $1 spent in store), receive $.10 /gal discount

• QFC--in one calendar month, earn 100 points (1 point for every $1 spent in store), receive $.10/gal discount

These discounts are stackable, meaning you can use 2, 3 or more $.10/gal discounts on one purchase of gas.

Some stores give opportunities to earn bonus fuel points, such as Safeway's offer, earn double points on giftcard purchases, and earn 50 points when you have a prescription filled in a Safeway pharmacy.
QFC has a similar offer with prescriptions.  When buying giftcards at QFC, you need to buy $50 worth to earn 100 points.

Note, the points themselves expire at the end of each month.  The discount is good for another month.  Check with your store customer service desk for more information.

Obviously, these discounts are offered to get you to spend more of your money in their store instead of their competitors'.  I can see an opportunity where you could take advantage of these offers and stay within your budget.  If you are nearing a fuel point reward at a particular store (you accumulated almost enough points for a reward and the month is nearing it's end), then you could buy a gift card that you will later give as a gift to someone (or perhaps you will use that giftcard yourself for a purchase you already intend--if say you regularly visit Starbucks).  This purchase will then put you over the minimum for a fuel reward.

And just an FYI, Safeway and Fred Meyer give you a 3 cent per gallon discount, just for using your card at the pump.