[AD] We all want to be rewarded as a consumer and loyalty points are a great way for retailers to thank us for shopping with them.
For us shoppers, they are great too! They mean that every time we spend with them we earn points we can spend on something else.
If you’d like to learn more about how to earn more points and how to get the best value out of your loyalty cards then keep reading!
Many of us are only signed up to one or two loyalty schemes which is a mistake. If the loyalty card is free then get one. What’s the worst that can happen? By having one you can earn points next time you shop in that store.
If you’re worried about how quickly your purse is going to grow with all these cards then don’t worry. Many retailers have their own apps you can use to reduce the plastic. Don’t throw the cards away though as you may need them to redeem points.
How to Loyalty Card Apps Work?
You scan your loyalty card barcode using the app by simply opening the app and using it when asked.
It’s a lot easier than keeping loads of cards in your wallet.
Go through all your cards now and download the apps. They make life easier if you want to pay by your phone as well.
For this example, we are using the Esso app.
By filling up at participating Esso petrol stations you can collect Nectar points 1 point for every litre of fuel you buy or 2 points for every pound you spend in-store.
We use it to find our nearest petrol station. By only filling up at an Esso garage means that we gain points on something we would have brought anyway.
Start by downloading the app in the App Store or Google Play Store, whichever one your phone uses.
Sign in or register. Remember to add your Nectar card to it. We just scanned ours using the barcode tool at the top.
Then you’re done and all setup. Next time you buy fuel just open the app and scan.
If you’re still not convinced that loyalty cards can save you money then here are 5 ways that they save us money as a family.
- Join your cards with other family members
We all use the same account so every time one of us fills up the car with fuel or shops in a participating store our collective points pot grows quickly. It’s really easy to do if you have the Esso app as you only need to register your Nectar and payment card once and it remembers it each time.
You can collect one point per litre of petrol or diesel.
Just fuel up or shop then scan the app. It’s that easy!
- Think about where you shop
We purposely only shop in stores where we can collect loyalty points.
So for example, if we need a top-up shop then we would go to our local Esso garage instead of a big supermarket which helps up build up our points while saving money.
You can earn two points per £1 spent in the shop.
- Look out for promotional deals
Using these to your advantage is key. When we see the double-up points or receive the personalized deals through a retailer we use them!
Most of the personalized deals are on items we have brought previously so we know we use. With a special promo, we normally lookout for them and know they are coming about a week in advance so we can plan. That way we aren’t purchasing anything we don’t need.
- Build Your Points Up
Keeping hold of your points is a great way to save money for a special occasion.
With you all pouring in the points together you’ll be surprised how quick they grow.
Decide what you’re going to save for as a family and go for that goal. Try and find out how much the item would be points-wise by finding out how much a point is in cost once redeemed.
For example, imagine a toaster is 2,000 Nectar points, while a microwave is 9,000 Nectar points.
- Best value redemption
This is a personal one. We build ours up together as a family then spend them in December.
The good thing is, is that you can spend your points on almost anything when you have a loyalty card (exact on the normal suspects like tobacco products, baby milk, phone cards, lottery tickets, etc)
Do some research and find out if it would be better to redeem your points or to buy the item you want outright.
As you can see there are some great ways that you can use loyalty cards to your advantage. By starting today you can be rewarded for buying what you’d normally buy anyway! It’s a win-win.
Between 5th November 2019 and 26th February 2020, Esso customers can benefit from a Nectar points double up, helping to make the everyday more rewarding for drivers.
For every qualifying purchase of £5 or more on shop items such as milk or snacks at participating Esso Stations, customers will receive double the amount of Nectar points, simply by swiping their Nectar card at the till when they pay.
Terms and conditions apply for the Esso Nectar loyalty programme. This is a collaborative post with Esso.