With many people struggling to put food on the table as the cost of living crisis bites, shoppers are in growing need of support. And this year Iceland launched a 'Food Club' card which could help you out if you're having a particularly tough month.
The card, which has been launched in partnership with lender Fair For You, lets shoppers buy now and pay later with interest, both in store and online. To get the card, you have to apply to Fair For You.
If your application is successful, you will receive an email response from them to confirm you have been approved, and you'll then have your card delivered in five to seven business days. The card still seems to be little-known, with one Bristol shopper saying even some staff are unaware of it.
Read more: Iceland customer unable to pay for shopping is saved by kind stranger
Once you have applied for it, you can top it up with up to £75 of store credit. You then pay this back in £10 weekly instalments, with interest added, and you can choose which day of the week your repayments come out.
So if you were to receive a card with £75 on it, you would pay the money back in eight instalments with £2.89 interest added, coming to a total of £77.89. Alternatively, you can pay the entire loan back early without any penalty fees.
Top-ups on a Food Club card are made available throughout the year in line with school holidays. However, some shoppers have had problems with the card. Iceland apologised to a woman after she was unable to pay for her shopping with the card at the supermarket, because the staff did not know what the card was.
She said she applied for it after seeing it discussed on Good Morning Britain. The Mirror reported on the trial scheme back in January, although shoppers were advised to only borrow if they’re really struggling and have no alternative. At the time, Sara Williams of the Debt Camel blog told the Mirror: "Fair for You is an ethical lender who provides a much cheaper alternative to expensive 'pay weekly' shops for people that need white goods and furniture.
"Their new micro-loans for food have only very small amounts of interest added, although the interest rate can look high. If one of these loans gets you out of a tight spot, then that is great.
"But long term it isn't good to have to keep borrowing to buy food." Council grants and food vouchers were suggested as alternative means of help.
You can also read more here about where to turn to in Bristol if you are struggling to put food on the table.
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