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For many college students, purchasing necessities like textbooks, food and gasoline is unavoidable. However, there are savvy ways to help save on everyday items so students can start the fall semester on the right foot and keep their finances under control. Starting today through December 31, Shell is bringing back their popular 5 cents per gallon discount on all Shell-branded gasoline and diesel purchases with the Shell $aver Card(SM), a convenient and secure non-credit product that acts like a debit card and links directly to an existing checking account.
Because the Shell Saver Card links to a checking account, there's no impact to student credit scores, nor are there any application or annual fees. Additionally, it makes organizing personal budgets easier by making all gasoline purchases on one card that also earns money every time it is used to buy fuel, allowing consumers to get the most out of every drop of Shell gasoline. With the average college student graduating with more than $4,000 in credit card debt(1), it's more important than ever to give students the right tools to be budget-savvy in school.
"College is the perfect learning environment for students to educate themselves on the fundamentals of basic budgeting. However, with so much being thrown at them - from school loans to credit card offers - it sometimes can be difficult to distinguish the best ways to save," said Mark Theobald, U.S. Consumer Cards, Shell Oil Products U.S. "It's easy with the Shell Saver Card because students can easily track their gasoline purchases and earn money at the same time. Showing them these types of budgeting options can make a difference by the end of the school year."
The promotional offer is available at all Shell-branded stations nationwide from September 28, 2009 to December 31, 2009 and is applicable for new and existing customers. While Shell Saver Card earnings are only applicable to gasoline and diesel purchases, the card can be used for any purchases at Shell-branded stations except lottery tickets. Additionally, the Shell Saver Card was designed to only be used with PIN-based (Personal Identity Number) transactions, so if the card is lost or stolen, no one can use it without the owner's private PIN.
While learning to budget on fuel costs is one method to put money back in students' pockets, here are some other savings tips they can utilize:
* Share and Share Alike: Put advertisements in school papers for sharing commonly used items, including a microwave, car, garage space and even an apartment.
* "Used" is the New. . ."New": Buying pre-owned laptops or textbooks can save on the high cost of new materials.
* "Pool" Your Resources: Carpool with a group of friends to share the cost of road trips, including travelling to away football games and trips home. Use a rewards card like the Shell Saver Card to cut the costs even further.
* "IN" with an ID: Take advantage of your student ID to get discounts on activities like movies, museum exhibits and restaurants. Ask your school or look online for local savings with your ID.
The Shell Saver Card is the latest addition to the Shell family of payment options that helps students get the most out of every drop. Students may go online to apply or pick up an inactive card at a Shell-branded station and start the online application process at www.shellsavercard.com. After the December 31, 2009 promotion end date, cardholders will continue to enjoy everyday earnings of 2 cents per gallon with their Shell Saver Card.
From gasoline cards to pre-paid cards, the Shell Family of Cards addresses the diverse financial needs of today's students with a range of payment options. For more information, visit www.shell.us/cards. For more savings tips, students also can become a Shell Family of Cards fan on Facebook.
Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of approximately 6,100 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group [(NYSE: RDS.A) and (NYSE: RDS.B)]. For more information, please visit www.shell.com
Motiva Enterprises LLC refines and markets branded products through approximately 8,100 Shell-branded stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc.
