Points & Benefits: The 7 Best Loyalty Programs You Don’t Know About

Most businesses nowadays, be it online or brick-and-mortar, have their own loyalty program as a way to reward their regulars. Customer appreciation and engagement is everywhere, from local Chinese restaurants to big department stores, merchants are offering perks in return for your repeat business. But not all loyalty programs are created equal. Some will give you a return of 1% or less. Others will reward you handsomely for your business.

See our best credit card bonuses here.

Think you’re missing out on some great deals? Below are seven of our favorite loyalty programs you’ve probably never heard of.

1. Fuel Rewards

Fuel Rewards Network from Shell is a free loyalty program that saves you money on gas at over 11,000 Shell stations nationwide. Earn additional Fuel Rewards savings when you shop, dine, book travel and more. Here’s how the rewards break down:

CATEGORY	REWARDS & BENEFITS
Shell Stations	Silver Status members save $0.03 per gallon. Gold Status members save $0.05 per gallon. Earn rewards when you purchase snacks, beverages, car washes and more.
Dine	Earn $0.10 per gallon for every $50 you spend at more than 10,000 participating restaurants, bars and clubs nationwide.
Shop	Earn at least $0.05 per gallon for every $50 you spend at select local and online merchants.
Travel	Earn $0.05 per gallon for every $50 spent when you book hotels, flights and rental cars through Fuel Rewards.
Etc.	Find additional promotions at select regional grocery stores, other affiliated programs and online at Fuel Rewards.

Stack the rewards you earn and use them as discounts at a participating Shell or other select gas station. For example, if you earned 10¢/gal at a restaurant, 20¢/gal shopping online, and 40¢/gal on a pair of concert tickets, you could combine those with 5¢/gal from Gold Status to save 75¢/gal on your next fill-up at Shell.

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2. Marathon MakeItCount

MakeItCount is a fuel rewards program from Marathon. You’ll earn points every time you purchase fuel, and on select store items and more. Check the “Offers” section to see eligible promotions and achievements.

You can redeem your points with:

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3. Pampers Rewards

With Pampers Rewards you can turn your diaper purchases into rewards and gifts for you and your baby. Earn anywhere from 10 to 132 points per package of diapers or wipes, depending on diaper size and pack size.

You can redeem your points for toys, baby gear, home goods, electronics and gift cards.

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4. Pay With GasBuddy

When you use Pay with GasBuddy, you’ll receive special offers and save save up to 25¢/gal at the pump every time you fill up by activating Deal Alerts. It’s free and accepted at gas stations nationwide.

Pay $9.99 a month for the Pay with GasBuddy Premium membership, and you’ll:

• Save up to $0.40 per gallon by activating Deal Alerts
• If you forget to activiate Deal Alert, you will still save up to 50 gallons per month ($0.05 per gallon discount thereafter).
• Get Allstate’s 24-hour roadside assistance coverage.

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5. Shop Your Way

Shop Your Way is a free membership program. Make purchases at any participating stores and get 1% cash back in the form of points. Participating stores include:

• Nike
• GasBuddy
• Under Armour
• Peapod

ShopYourWay.com is also an online shopping portal, so you’ll get bonus points if you click through the site to get to online retail stores.

Earn more points when you link your credit card to your Shop Your Way account and make purchases at participating partners.

Use your points for Shop Your Way coupons or apply them to any purchase, including sale and clearance items, at any participating Sears or Kmart store.

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6. Thanks Again

Thanks Again is the only rewards program that boosts the points you earn from your loyalty programs when you shop, dine or park at thousands of retailers in and around 100+ airports.

As a member, you’ll rack up on Thanks Again points – worth approximately 1% in cash back – when you enroll your credit or debit card and spend at participating merchants.

You can redeem Thanks Again points for a variety of gift cards, including airline and hotel rewards, retail coupons, rideshare credits and more (1% value). Or, you can trade in your Thanks Again points for airline miles at a ratio of 2:1 for most programs.

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7. Trunow

Trunow is another gas station rewards app, but it’s the only one that gives you cash back on gas station purchases and more. Here’s how it works:

1. Find local deals on everything from gas to restaurants. Simply search by entering your zip code, city, and etc.
2. Earn cash back on gas, groceries, dining and more. Just snap a photo of your receipt and upload it on the app.
3. Spend your rewards at local stores, restaurants and on gas. Or, you can turn it into cash.

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Bottom Line

Points and miles aren’t only limited to travel. If you’re looking to get as much back as possible for your everyday spending, then you’ll want to double dip by joining loyalty programs like the ones listed above and paying for your purchases with a rewards card.

If you frequent a retailer often, make sure to keep an eye out for their loyalty program. Read the fine print so you know what you have to do to maximize your return on everyday spending.

TIP: Online shopping portals are another great way to double dip!

READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.