Money Matters: Make your shopping work harder with loyalty schemes

Have you got a loyalty card?

It's a question you probably hear every time you reach the supermarket checkout, and if your answer is still “no”, you could be missing out on some easy savings.

With the cost of everyday essentials still putting pressure on household budgets, finding small ways to save money can make a real difference over the course of a year.

One simple way to help your money go further is by making the most of supermarket and retailer loyalty schemes. If you're already buying your food shop, fuel or toiletries you could be earning points, discounts or personalised offers without changing your shopping habits.

Many of the biggest supermarkets reward their regular customers. Tesco Clubcard offers lower member prices on hundreds of products and allows you to build up points to spend on future shopping or with their reward partners. Sainsbury's Nectar card lets you collect points on purchases that can be redeemed in store and also provides personalised offers, as does Morrison's More card.

If you regularly shop at Lidl, Lidl Plus gives members access to weekly coupons and rewards after you've spent certain amounts. Although Aldi doesn't currently have a loyalty card scheme, its Special Buys and Super 6 fruit and vegetable offers can still help you cut costs on your weekly shop.

And it's not just supermarkets either. Boots Advantage Card remains one of the most generous loyalty schemes on the high street, particularly if you regularly buy health, beauty or baby products.

Drivers can benefit too, so it's worth checking whether your local petrol station has a rewards scheme. Esso customers can collect Nectar points on their fuel, While ShellGo+ and Texaco customers can also get money off at the pump after earning points. Or if you buy fuel from the supermarket, don't forget you'll collect loyalty points there too.

If you enjoy a coffee while out and about, many chains and independent coffee shops offer free drinks after a certain number of drinks through their apps or loyalty cards.

Our top tip is to only sign up to loyalty schemes for shops you already use. The whole point of a loyalty scheme is to save you some money, not tempt you into spending more than you normally would do or buying things simply to earn points. The best savings come from using offers on items you were planning to buy anyway.

It's also worth checking retailers’ apps before heading to the checkout as many offer personalised discounts that need to be activated before you pay and can sometimes save you a few pounds in a single visit.

Remember loyalty schemes are just one part of saving money. Comparing prices, shopping with a list, choosing own brand products where appropriate, and avoiding impulse purchases will usually save more than points alone.

Small savings may not seem like much at the time, but they can add up to hundreds of pounds throughout the year. Making your everyday spending work harder could leave you with some spare money for bills, emergencies or even a little treat when you fancy it.

· Housing Plus Group customers can also take advantage of discounts at many of their favourite shops with the Housing Perks App.

31st July 2026