Supermarkets may be stressful mazes of food choices for some or a nice hour of peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of daily life for others. No matter which camp you fall into, no doubt that saving a bit of money along the way is appealing to everyone.
So if you shop with the same brand week in and week out or you scout around for the best prices, could you save even more money with their loyalty schemes? Almost every store has one these days, offering customers points, discounts or vouchers after spending a certain amount.
However, the jury is still out on which one comes out on top. So, if it helps you decide where to shop and save cash, we’ve compiled a rundown of all the supermarket reward schemes and what they offer for you - you may find a new go-to store.
Asda
Asda Rewards
How to earn: You’ll earn 10% back in Asda Pounds every time you buy a product marked with a star. Completing “missions”, such as buying a product from certain brand, can earn you more Asda Pounds.
How to spend: Save Asda Pounds in your cash pot and convert them into vouchers to spend in Asda. Customers have six months from the month of earning to convert their cashpot into vouchers or else they’ll disappear.
How to use: Asda Rewards is app based, with an Android and Apple app available.
Tesco
Tesco Clubcard
How to earn: You’ll get one point for every £1 you spend in store and online. Customers can also take advantage of Clubcard offers, where cardholders get money off popular brands just for having a Clubcard.
How to spend: Turn your points into vouchers for spending in Tesco stores or for vouchers to Tesco partners such as National Trust or Pizza Express. For Tesco vouchers, you can redeem points in values of 150 points, or £1.50, whereas vouchers for Tesco partners can be redeemed for up to three times the points value.
How to use: Tesco Clubcard is available via app on your smartphone or as a physical card you can pop on your purse or attach to your keys.
Sainsbury’s
Nectar Card
How to earn: Earn one point for every pound you spend in store or online, or with Sainsbury’s Bank, Energy, Esso, Experia, Argos and eBay among other partner stores.
How to spend: Once you have enough points saved up, you can redeem them for vouchers to spend on your next Sainsbury’s shop or on vouchers for other partner stores such as Argos.
How to use: The best way to use the Nectar scheme is online or via your smartphone. It is possible to download an extension on your computer that will remind you to use your Nectar card if you’re shopping online somewhere that you could earn points.
Co-Op
Co-Op Membership
How to earn: For every pound you spend on Co-Op branded products, you’ll net 2p worth of Co-Op points and two different charities will receive a penny each.
How to spend: Redeem your points when you shop. You can save up your points and use a big chunk in one go or take a small amount off each shop. You can also choose to donate your points to your chosen charity via the app.
How to use: The Co-Op Membership scheme is available as a physical card or keyring and as an app on your smartphone.
Iceland
Bonus Card
How to earn: Different to other schemes, the Bonus Card works like the old fashioned saving stamp booklet. You load up the card at the checkout and for every £20 of savings you add to the balance, Iceland will give you a £1 bonus.
How to spend: Once you’ve saved up as much as you need, you can spend in store using the card the same way you would normally.
How to use: The card is a physical one but the easiest way to use and manage your savings is through the Iceland smartphone app.
Lidl
Lidl Plus
How to earn: Spend in store and earn coupons along the way that’ll save you money each month. After you spend £50 in one month, you’ll earn a bakery coupon with the rewards scaling up as you spend more. You don’t have to spend all in one go but your progress restarts at the beginning of each month. You’ll also have access to competitions, including the Lidl scratchcard, as well as digital receipts, partner offers and “Middle of Lidl” leaflets.
How to spend: After hitting each milestone, the coupons will be added to your rewards account within the Lidl Plus app.
How to use: Download the Lidl Plus smartphone app for Android and iOS.
Morrisons
My Morrisons
How to earn: In the app, activate offers such as £2 off a £20 spend, 25% off your next bakery product or 25% off fruit and veg. The app features more offers the more you spend as they’re personalised to your shopping.
How to spend: While you don’t collect points or anything to spend with Morrisons, just scanning your card or app at the checkout will discount your shop if you’ve activated the offers. You’ll also be in with a chance of getting a “Basket Bonus”, which could reward you with £5 off your next shop, a bunch of flowers or something tasty from the bakery to make you smile.
How to use: You can link your Morrisons More card from the store’s previous scheme with your My Morrisons account. You can also use the scheme online or via your smartphone.
Waitrose
MyWaitrose
How to earn: Similar to Morrisons, with myWaitrose, you don’t collect points or pounds. By being a member of the scheme, everytime you scan your card you get personalised offers sent to your account - these can be discounts on meat, fish or fruit and veg. You’ll also be entitled to the infamous free hot drink with any purchase.
How to spend: Simply scan the app at the checkout whenever you shop. If you’ve activated any offers, they’ll be automatically used and taken off your shopping. Alternatively, if you want to activate any offers, just select the ones that take your fancy in the app.
How to use: Everything you need is available in the myWaitrose app, which is available for Android and iOS.
Marks & Spencer
Sparks Card
How to earn: Scan your card at the checkout and you’ll be sent personalised offers based on the things you spend on. Each week, M&S will surprise lucky shoppers with free gifts and one lucky winner will have their shopping paid for by M&S.
How to spend: Activate offers within the Sparks smartphone app.
How to use: Download the M&S app and access your Sparks account within that. Physical cards are also available, just ask in store.
Aldi
Aldi is a rare one on this list in that it doesn’t offer a loyalty programme or rewards scheme. You’ll also find that in it stores items won’t be on “buy one get one free” offers. According to past remarks made by Aldi spokespeople, the store wants to focus on supplying consistent great value to all customers, rather than rewarding certain shoppers.
Read next:
B&Q shoppers hail £7.50 dehumidifier that banishes mould and condensation in just two days
Marks & Spencer shoppers rush to buy 'gorgeous' £25 luxury beauty collection worth £85
Cost of living: Full list of foods which have risen in price the most
Shoppers boiling mad as Tesco hikes Heinz tomato soup from 95p to £1.70
I compared Heinz Beanz to Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons own - my head has been turned
