Pizza Deal Today

I'm all about the deals. I grew up in a household where we were always looking for the best price and the best deal on stuff. Part of that is because my dad was a teacher and my mom substitute taught, so we weren't rolling in the money. But part of it is because there was something about the search for the best deal. (People sometimes ask me if I hunt. I reply, "Yes. Bargain hunt!") 

We would go to garage sales and flea markets to find items for my dad's Coca-Cola collection, or my Star Trek collection, or used books, or... really anything that we could find a good deal on. 

All of that preamble is to let you know that if you are a T-Mobile customer and you aren't taking advantage of their T-Mobile Tuesday app, you are missing out on some great deals. Today, for instance, there is a great deal on Pizzas thorough Entertaiment (the people who used to publish those fundraising coupon books. I don't even know if that's still a thing or if they're all digital now). 

A lot of times T-Mobile Tuesday deals will be for restaurants that are not local to those of us in rural areas. For example, lots of deals in the past through Dunkin Donuts, or Annie's Pretzels. But today's deal actually has a local option with 50% off a pizza order (up to $12) at Pizza Pub in Pine City, which has some of the best pizza around. The deal is good for the next week, but you have to reserve it on Tuesday (today). 

So if you have T-Mobile and live around Pine City, it's a no-brainer. There are lots of other pizza places that honor this deal, as well, if you aren't around Pine City. 

I know what I'm doing for supper after our cross country meet today!

What A Deal! - Best Gas Prices in Pine City

Looking back over old blog posts I found one I did several years ago on the best gas prices in Pine City. Turns out it is one of my most viewed posts. It also is hopelessly outdated. Here's the history and the current best deal I'm aware of.

Several years ago Murphy Oil opened their location near Walmart. At the time this was owned by Walmart as a subsidiary or something. Once that station opened, their low prices helped drive down gas prices throughout Pine City. Then they spun off into their own company and eventually they withdrew from Minnesota and much of the Midwest, selling their stations to BP. 

BP doesn't have the same low prices that Murphy had and as a result the cheapest gas in the area tends to be down near Isanti/East Bethel, or at one of the Sam's Clubs near the Cities (Fridley and White Bear Lake are the closest.) Those are quite a drive, however.

BP does still work with the high school and so if you purchase a Dragon discount card from the football team (only $10) in the fall you will get $.05 off per gallon at BP (plus a lot of other deals). You do have to go inside to pay so you can let them know you have the card. In addition to the Dragon Card discount, you can get another $.15 a gallon off by using the BP branded credit card ($.05 all the time and another 10 cents by spending at least $100 a month). 

So that's a total of $.20 off a gallon total at the BP by Walmart with their card and a Dragon card. If anyone knows of a better ongoing deal, let me know.

Cheapest Gasoline in Pine City

This is one of those life hacks I always think everyone already knows about, but then I run across people who were totally unaware, so here's a little tip for my friends:

A couple years ago when Murphy Oil opened their station in the outskirts of the Walmart parking lot the gasoline prices in Pine City went from some of the highest in the area to some of the lowest. (Thank you, Murphy Oil!!!) I used to wait and try to fill up when I was down in the Cities at Sam's Club, and now our prices (with these savings) often are cheaper!

What many don't realize is that you also get an extra $.03 off per gallon at Murphy Oil when you use a Walmart gift card. I keep one with $50-100 on it and use it to fill up, instantly saving another 3 cents on what is already the lowest price in the area.

In addition, Murphy Oil will take local competitors' coupons. Just clip those Holiday coupons you get in the mail every few weeks and add another 7 to 10 cents off per gallon. They'll also honor Holiday's online coupons (just sign up for Holiday texts and you'll get gas coupon every couple weeks, as well.)

No Holiday coupon? No worries. Murphy Oil will also take $.05 off per gallon if you have a Dragon Football Discount Card. Combine one of those with the 3 cents off using the Walmart gift card and you are instantly saving 8 to 13 cents per gallon, which really adds up if you fuel up as often as we do.

[Update 2022: This is my most popular post, but it is sadly out of date. I have an updated post on this same topic here: https://spahrtracks.blogspot.com/2022/02/what-deal-best-gas-prices-in-pine-city.html]