Money-saving mum’s app and voucher strategy Christmas shopping | Personal Finance | Finance
The average household spends a stunning £1,800 on presents, food, decorations, travel and activities during the festive season, Moneysupermarket figures show.
It makes sense to draw up a Budget to spread the cost and prepare gift lists to give you time to find discounts, said Lynn Beattie, the woman behind personal finance blog Mrs Mummypenny. “Conversations with friends or family over whether to gift this year can save money and reduce stress for everyone.”
She said it’s also possible to save hundreds of pounds on your Christmas shopping by using apps, loyalty and reward cards. “Now is the time to redeem those loyalty points or reward vouchers you’ve accumulated throughout the year.”
With scores of loyalty and reward schemes out there it’s easy to lose track of the benefits on offer, Lynn said. “If you’re signed up for either Nectar or British Airways Avios, for example, you can convert one into the other.”
She uses a British Airways/American Express Blue credit card with no annual fee for everyday spending like groceries, household items and family outings. “I pay off the balance in full each month to avoid interest and receive Avios points on my purchases at the rate of one point per £1 spent.”
Last Christmas, this gave her £173 in Nectar vouchers, which she spent on groceries and gifts. This year she’s already built up another £50.
Along with 20million other Brits, Lynn collects Tesco Clubcard points on weekly shops and fuel purchases. “It’s one point for every £1 spent at Tesco, and each litre of fuel earns points too. On top of this, I earn Avios points, which lets me ‘double-stack’ rewards on Tesco purchases.”
She has built up a £50 balance, which she can double to £100 at restaurants like Pizza Express or Zizzi. “Tesco also offers double-value deals on family outings, railcards and travel.”
She’s also one of the 17million Brits with a Boots Advantage Card, which gives holders three points for every £1 spent, plus bonus points via the Boots app. This year, she’s accumulated £45 in points to put towards Christmas.
As a mother of three boys, Beattie is a regular at clothing chain H&M whose loyalty scheme pays one point per £1 spent, with additional bonus points for environmentally friendly shopping plus a £5 voucher for bringing in clothes to recycle.
She has £10 in points plus one recycling voucher adding another £15 and lifting her points total to £160. It all helps at this time of year.
Beattie also highlights another option for those working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, known as Boundless. “For £40 a year Boundless members get discounted shopping cards from a string of retailers, saving money on Christmas food, drink, gifts and wrapping.”
They also get unlimited access or discounted entry to top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT wetland centres across the UK.
Lynn said: “This year, Boundless members can get discounted tickets to Christmas at Kew as well as Glow Wild, the winter lantern trail at Wakehurst.”
Boundless Plus, which costs £68 a year, offers additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, including the Tower of London. “Both Boundless and Boundless Plus offer year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and more,” Beattie said.
Her love of loyalty apps doesn’t end there. She also has a Costa app which gives her a free coffee after every 10 purchases, and the Subway app where she’s saving for a free six-inch sub.
“I also use loyalty apps from Co-op, Toby Carvery, McDonald’s, Anglian Country Inns pubs, and Hotel Chocolat, all offering exclusive discounts and perks. They all add up,”
