Last year around this time, I was surprised when I calculated my Black Friday shopping cart. When I added up gifts, dining out, and year-end gathering expenses, it turned out to be much more than I expected.

This year, I decided to change my approach. Instead of buying items at a discount, I would first buy the "money" to purchase those items at a discount. This is where gift cards come in.

The principle is simple. You buy gift cards for stores you plan to shop at for less than their face value or earn rewards when you purchase them. Essentially, the discount is applied before you even check out.

The first route is Kroger fuel points. When you buy third-party gift cards at Kroger stores, you earn double fuel points.

However, Kroger's own gift cards do not qualify for this double earning. Many people seem to get confused about this.

The real key is the occasional 4x promotion. This year, there was a 4x event for third-party gift cards from September 16 to 29.

From September 23 to October 6, fixed-value Visa and Mastercard gift cards were also eligible for the 4x promotion. As I write this, both promotions have ended.

During the 4x event, Amazon gift cards and gas gift cards were excluded. Remember that when purchasing in-store, you need to load the digital coupon in the app first for it to apply.

The value of points is calculated like this. 1,000 points give you a $1 discount per gallon at Kroger gas stations, and you can apply it to a maximum of 35 gallons at a time.

If you buy $250 worth of gift cards during the 4x event, you earn exactly 1,000 points. If you fill up 35 gallons, that's $35 back, which is 14% of your purchase amount.

If it's the usual 2x earning, you would need $500 to earn the same 1,000 points, which drops it to 7%. Still, it's definitely better than just swiping a card.

There are realistic pitfalls too. If your car's gas tank is nowhere near 35 gallons, you won't reach the maximum, and points have an expiration date, so if you let them sit, they will disappear.

When I use this method, I only buy cards for stores I plan to visit that month, like my regular grocery store or home goods store. Buying cards for stores I won't use just to chase points turns into waste instead of savings.

The second route is Costco. They sell restaurant and entertainment gift cards at a discount exclusively for members.

This February, a $100 inKind restaurant gift card was available for $64.99, and on July 4, four $25 Red Lobster cards were $74.99.

However, these prices are limited-time offers and vary by season. If you have year-end dining plans, it's a good idea to check the gift card section of the Costco app regularly starting now.

There's something important to note here. The Synergy restaurant card company that Costco sold stopped operations on January 31 of this year and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Costco has announced that they will refund the remaining balance of those cards purchased between October 27, 2025, and January 26, 2026, in-store. If you have one lying around, it's worth checking.

The lesson from this incident is clear. Gift cards are essentially an IOU from the issuer, so if you accumulate too many, you also accumulate risk.

The third option is resale sites like CardCash or Raise. The discount rates vary widely by brand, ranging from less than 1% to occasionally over 30%.

Be sure to compare warranty periods. CardCash offers a 45-day warranty, while Raise offers a one-year warranty. However, many reviews mention that the refund process can be cumbersome, so I would use them immediately after purchasing.

Lastly, be cautious of scams. The FTC warns about a method where scammers peel or scratch off the sticker on the back of gift cards displayed in stores to steal the number and PIN.

This allows them to take the balance as soon as the card is loaded with money. If the packaging is scratched or the sticker looks odd, don't buy it and report it to an employee.

Also, if someone asks you to pay with a gift card over the phone, that's 100% a scam. Government agencies or legitimate companies will never ask for payment via gift cards.

For reference, under federal law, general gift cards cannot expire within five years from the date of purchase or the last reload. Still, forgetting about them is the biggest loss.

When using multiple routes, keep a note with the card names, balances, and purchase dates written line by line. It may seem trivial, but this is essential to ensure your cards don't sit forgotten in a drawer by year-end.

In summary, here's the order: first, list the stores you will actually use at year-end, and prepare gift cards only for those amounts.

When the Kroger 4x event comes around again, buy in bulk then, use Costco discount cards for dining out, and purchase only what you will use from resale sites.

Personally, I believe these small discounts are even more meaningful for families with tight budgets. I like that anyone can take advantage of this structure if they know the information.

This year, try planning your gift card purchases before filling your shopping cart. The feeling of saving a percentage before you even hit the checkout button is surprisingly nice.