As the rising cost of living crisis continuously spirals and bumps up supermarket bills, shoppers are always on the lookout for clever and creative ways to make their money stretch further.
And according to consumer expert, Tom Church, savings start with loyalty cards - which can often offer ways of maximising points and in-turn save money on your weekly shop.
The LatestDeals.co.uk co-founder said: “It’s easy to overlook our loyalty cards when we’re in a rush, but simply downloading the apps and enabling notifications can open up a world of offers you didn’t know existed.”
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The Mirror has in-turn rounded Tom’s top tips on making the most of your loyalty cards right now, with hacks including popular loyalty schemes like Tesco Clubcards and Nectar offers at Sainsbury's.
Read the small print -
Reading the small print can prevent you from making mindless purchases that might offer you zero points. For example, with Tesco Clubcards, you get one point for every £2 spent, but this doesn’t include scratch cards, lottery tickets or baby milk.
Tom said: “It’s worth reading the small print so you can stay clued up about what exactly qualifies you for loyalty points, and how to get more of them.”
For Nectarcard holders, Tom advises to take a good look at the partner offers tab in the app. He continued: “Some in the LatestDeals community make a daily habit of it as there are regular offers such as double points to be had!”
Make use of double and triple points -
Tom says shoppers should 'always make the most of double and triple points opportunities'. Retailers usually run promotions where buying a specific product can earn you more points.
He said “At Superdrug, for example, you can get triple points on own-brand items if you have a health & beauty card. Plus, until 14th November, you can exchange Clubcard vouchers for Delivery Saver Reward Partner codes and triple the value.
“Other shops have ‘points days,’ where you’ll earn double or triple points on everything you buy that day. I always wait to do my shopping when I know I can maximise my points!”
Split your transactions -
Tom advises to split your transactions and use points where needed.
He said: “We’re all struggling with the cost of living crisis at the moment, so don’t be afraid to split your transactions to make the most of your points. If you have a Boots Advantage Card, your points need to cover the whole amount of your shopping if you want to use them.
“So, if you’re having a difficult month, split your shopping and use the points to cover as much as possible, then just pay the remaining balance.
Get free points just by downloading an app -
Downloading a loyalty card app can win customers some great rewards. Tom continued: “Most loyalty cards have apps now, and lots of them will give you bonuses just for adding them to your phone screen.
“The Nectar Card app says that on average, their customers earn 3x more points on their shopping when using the bonus offers found in the app. Or, apps often offer download offers. With the Boots Advantage Card app, for example, you can get 4 points for a £1 spend when you get the app."
Look out for point incentives -
Tom swears by point incentives for loyalty card users. He said: “One of my top tips is to look for ways to earn extra points. Retailers often offer incentives for loyalty card members for all sorts of things.”
With a Nectar Card, shoppers can switch to Sainsbury’s Energy and earn a huge 4,000 extra points Tesco even offers Clubcard incentives on their phone plans. Curently, for every £1 you spend on your phone bill, you’ll earn 1 point.
He added: “Some of these things are easier to do than others, and for incentives which involve switching providers, it’s important to make sure it’s still a good deal that works for you. Don’t get blinded by points lust!”
Exchange points for holidays and days out -
Shoppers can boost the value of their points when using store cards. There are usually different options for how you want to use your points, and sometimes you’ll find clever ways to maximise them.
Tom adds that Tesco Clubcard holders can exchange their points for vouchers on holidays, train tickets, jewellery, bikes, days out and more. If you use them on Partner Reward Vouchers rather than in Tesco shops, they’re worth 3 times the value.
Fill out surveys for extra points -
Some customers aren’t aware that they can earn loyalty points by filling out surveys for supermarkets. These usually involve sharing your thoughts on a particular product or experience.
Regulars at Sainsbury’s can do this through a service called Nectar Canvass, or if Tesco is your local store, points can be earned through Tesco Shopper Thoughts. Tesco also offers Tescoviews where you can give them feedback and earn a fixed number of points every month.
This service also gives you a chance of winning a £1,000 gift card, which could cover groceries for an entire year.
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