Adjusting to life off the road

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shell. The opinions and text are all mine.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shell, in which I was compensated. The opinions and text are all mine.

After a busy travel-packed summer, we are more than happy to be spending the next few weeks at home. Fall is hands down our favorite season and when we’re not out exploring the world, you can find us donning flannel and scarves, overdosing on pumpkin spice, and frolicking in the changing leaves. If that makes us “basic” then so be it! Autumn is best.

But being home doesn’t mean we’re sitting still. Due to our hectic filming schedule, we find ourselves on the road A LOT. Between video shoots, client meetings, and everyday errands, we’re still racking up the road miles. Luckily, our *Fuel Rewards® savings from Shell are also piling up and we find ourselves saving at nearly every visit to the pump.

If you haven’t signed up for the Fuel Rewards® program yet, you can do so by clicking here. Sign up before the end of the year and you’ll automatically earn Instant Gold Status. Fuel Rewards® program members that have Gold Status can save 5¢ off every gallon (up to 20 gallons/visit) for at least six months. That’s just money waiting to be saved!

While we were in Europe this summer, we used our credit card that’s linked to our Fuel Rewards account and watched as our additional cents-per-gallon added up. We couldn’t wait to get home and see how much we would save at our first visit to our local Shell station. Spoiler alert: it was a lot. I particularly enjoyed Chris’ face as I reconciled my European shopping trips with “think of the Fuel Rewards savings!” Towards the end of our trip he even took me out on a fancy date. When I questioned if it was in the budget he slyly replied, “Don’t worry. It’s going towards our Fuel Rewards.” I got myself a keeper.

I was a little worried that our Fuel Rewards savings would taper once we arrived home but luckily, I still find everyday ways to stack our rewards. I even earn extra points when running errands. That’s right. Purchasing our finicky cat’s very expensive food at Petco has a silver lining– extra savings!

So, what exactly are we going to be doing while we have this time at home? It’s not all work and errands, my friend. We just finished our annual Castle Staudinger Archery Tournament. Yes, it’s a real thing. In fact, this was our 11th consecutive year hosting the tournament. And this year’s theme was “Viking.” The tournament is Chris’ favorite time of the year. Our friends and family travel from all over the world to partake in all the revelry.

And when we’re not dressed up as Vikings and shooting arrows, we’re preparing for the start of our busy season for tours. Our company, Pretty Gritty Tours, is renowned for our Booze and Boos ghost tour. And as Halloween is right around the corner, we find ourselves booking tour groups left and right. Thankfully, Chris loves giving tours and doesn’t spook easily (unlike moi).

Aside from hosting tours, we’re also planning on enjoying all of our favorite Fall festivities. We’re talking spiced apple cider, pumpkin patches, hay rides, and finding the perfect Halloween costume for baby Holden. I cannot wait.

Between purchasing promotional material for our tours, splurging on ridiculously adorable Halloween costumes, and basically throwing our money at local pumpkin patches, our Fuel Rewards points continue to add up while at home. There’s also an easy way to earn extra rewards. Simply send your referral link to friends and family so they can also join the Fuel Rewards program. The first time a friend uses the program by earning a reward or using their card at a participating Shell station after registering using your link, you will instantly earn 25¢/gal (up to 20 gallons). There’s no limit to how many friends you invite or how many times you earn! Imagine all the pumpkin spice lattes you can buy with the money you save! Everyone wins.

*Restrictions apply. To qualify for the Gold/Silver Status offers, you must be a Fuel Rewards® member and swipe your Fuel Rewards® card or enter your Alt ID when you fuel at a participating Shell station. With Gold Status, you will receive 5¢/gal in Fuel Rewards® savings on every fill-up. The 5¢/gal reward for Gold Status will be combined with other rewards in your Fuel Rewards® account. If you are an existing Fuel Rewards® member, you will receive Gold Status from 6/5/2017 through 12/31/17, the “Existing Member Introductory Period”. If you are a new Fuel Rewards® member, you will receive Gold Status for the initial month you join through the last day of the month, 6 full calendar months later, the “New Member Introductory Period”. The last 3 months of the Existing Member Introductory Period or the New Member Introductory Period (collectively the “Introductory Period”) is the “Qualification Period”. You will retain your Gold Status during the Qualification Period, but you must make 6 qualifying fuel purchases to qualify for Gold Status for the next 3 months, the “Benefit Period”. During the Benefit Period, you must continue to make 6 qualifying fuel purchases to maintain your Gold Status for the next 3-month Benefit Period. A qualifying fuel purchase is any fuel purchase at a participating Shell station in which you swipe your Fuel Rewards® card or enter your Alt ID and fill up with at least 5-gallons of any grade of fuel. For example, if you are a new Fuel Rewards® member and register on 6/15/2017, you will receive Gold Status through the New Member Introductory Period (i.e., 12/31/2017). You will need to fill up with at least 5 gallons of fuel at least 6 times during the Qualification Period (i.e., 10/1/2017 and 12/31/2017) to maintain Gold Status during the Benefit Period (i.e., from 1/1/2018 to 3/31/2018). Thereafter, if you continue to fill up with at least 5 gallons of fuel at least 6 times during the successive 3 consecutive month Benefit Periods, you will retain your Gold Status. If you do not maintain your Gold Status, you will receive Silver Status. With Silver Status, you will receive 3¢/gal in Fuel Rewards® savings. The 3¢/gal reward for Silver Status will be combined with other rewards in your Fuel Rewards® account. Redeem Fuel Rewards® savings with your Fuel Rewards® card or Alt ID at participating Shell stations. Fuel Rewards® savings are limited to 20 gallons of fuel per purchase, per vehicle, or fraud limits placed by Shell and/or limits placed on your financial card by your financial institution, each of which may be lower. Fuel Rewards® savings must be redeemed in a single transaction. Once you begin to dispense fuel using your Fuel Rewards® savings, you must dispense to the 20-gallon limit or you forfeit any remaining discounted gallons of fuel. For example, if you only pump fifteen (15) gallons of fuel, you would abandon the remaining five (5) gallons of discounted fuel. If you have a rewards balance greater than the current per-gallon price of fuel, the price will roll down to the maximum capability of the fuel equipment, and your remaining rewards will be saved for a future fuel purchase. Dispenser may require a price of up to 10.9¢/gal. It may not be possible to combine multiple discounts and/or rewards in a single transaction. For purchases of $75 or more, please go inside to pay. Unbranded diesel and alternative fuels may not be eligible. The Fuel Rewards® program is owned and operated by Excentus Corporation. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Not valid where prohibited by law. Please see fuelrewards.com for complete Fuel Rewards® program details and Terms and Conditions. Other restrictions may apply. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To learn more, visit fuelrewards.com/gold or call (888) 603-0473.