Thousands of education sector workers across the UK are missing out on special discounts with a little-known scheme. The like of Asda, Harvey Nichols, Amazon and more offer reduced prices based on the Discounts For Teachers promotion.
Shoppers at designer fashion retailer TK Maxx can get up to 60 per cent off while there is 50 per cent off on certain products at online giant Amazon. Best of all, though, it is completely free to use.
Hotel stays are also included, with booking.com offering 15 per cent off some stays and 10 per cent discounts at Hoseasons. The discount scheme is not just for teachers, but for anyone who works in the education sector.
Some people are said to be saving around £100 a month on their shopping, while others say they have saved thousands down the years. Rhian, a 29-year-old teacher, estimates she saves £50 on groceries and £50 on other expenses each month, according to the Mirror.
Who can qualify for the scheme you may ask? University staff, cleaners, admin staff and even volunteers and retired education workers can use it. Rhian admitted she had not heard of it before it being brought up by a fellow staff member.
"She said 'thank goodness we have got Discounts For Teachers', but a whole group of us had never heard of it before," Rhian explained. "It's definitely meant savings in the hundreds of pounds over five years.
It's made a huge difference since the cost of living started going up, especially as I have had a pay cut every year since starting my job, when you factor in inflation. I get a lot of use out of it, and I use it most weeks. It is great when buying gifts for people. I can get people things I would not be able to afford otherwise."
Rhian's favourite deal was discounted AA Breakdown cover after her car broke down a mere two months after buying it. Without the cover, she said she would have been forced to pay for overnight accommodation and the cost of a mechanic – and wouldn't have been able to afford food and rent for the month.
It is free to sign up to the scheme, but there is an optional paid-for Ode Card that lets you earn cashback on purchases at 50 retailers. This card is free for 12 months, then costs £2.99 a year.
But it lets users earn cashback of 3 per cent in Waitrose and Sainsbury's and 2.5 per cent in Asda. In the M&S department store you can get 3 per cent, and in John Lewis it's 5 per cent. It also lets users get 4 per cent cashback in Wilko and B&Q and 5 per cent in Argos and Halfords.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea
