TRIP
Tuition Reduction Incentive Program

The Tuition Reduction Inventive Plan (TRIP) program was developed and is administered by GTACS families to help make Catholic education more affordable.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Simply purchase gift cards (or gift certificates) through the TRIP office. A percentage of the amount spent gets applied to your tuition savings account. Use the gift cards or certificates on everyday purchases such as gas, groceries or clothing and replenish your stock of cards as needed. Each spring, your tuition bill will reflect the amount you have saved by using TRIP.

HOW MUCH WILL I SAVE?
Let's say you spend $50 on gas each week and $150 per week on groceries. If you used TRIP cards from Speedway (4%) and Meijer (3%), your annual savings on these purchases alone would be $338. Because you can use TRIP cards on many types of purchases (business, clothing, dining, home improvement, etc.), the savings quickly add up.

HOW DO I GET SET UP WITH TRIP?
You just need to register by filling out the program application and can begin to use TRIP as soon as you receive your account number.

WHERE DO I ORDER AND PICK-UP MY GIFT CARDS/CERTIFICATES?
The TRIP office is open on Wednesdays from noon until 2:00 pm and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. It is located opposite the Athletic Department office, at the south (11th street) entrance to the St. Francis Gymnasium.

FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS

1. Download and print a TRIP order form from the menu below.
2. Fill out the form and return it with your check to the TRIP drop office. Orders placed there by 6:00 pm on Tuesdays will be ready for pick-up on Wednesday at noon.
3. You may also fill out the order form and hand it to the volunteer at the TRIP office window, and it will be processed while you wait.
4. You pick up your TRIP order at the table in the gym lobby and will be asked to sign for its receipt.

WHAT IS IN-STORE TRIP?
Some vendors do not issue gift certificates or cards, but participate in the TRIP program by issuing a refund BACK to your account after you've made a purchase. For example, if you were going to have the transmission on your car rebuilt at a Bill Marsh Auto dealership. At the time you schedule your repair, make note of the fact that they participate in TRIP and give your account number to the service representative to receive a percentage (7% in this example, but it varies between 4-10%) that will be credited to your account. Be sure to check with the vendor for their rules and regulations (for example, some vendors do not allow TRIP credits when paying with credit cards.)

WHAT IS NOT ON-HAND TRIP?
The most frequently used and local TRIP items are kept on-hand in inventory. However, with a little pre-planning you can order TRIP certificates or cards for a variety of other national vendors. This is ideal for larger ticket items such as travel or for seasonal shopping at your favorite brands. Please allow 7-10 days for these gift cards to arrive.

HOW WILL I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE SAVED?
Each time you pick up a TRIP order, your receipt will show the year-to-date amount of savings.

WHAT IS SCRIP?
Scrip is the term given to substitute money. TRIP is an acronym for the GTACS program which incorporates scrip from various vendors. The terms are often used interchangeably.

Contact Kate Fly or Lynn Montroy at trip@gtacs.org or 932-4848.