How Much Can Supermarket Reward Schemes Save You?

It’s hard not to notice food and drink prices soaring in the UK. We’re all seeing the cost of our food shops going up and feeling the pinch, it means we need to keep a beady eye on what we’re buying and try to find savvy ways to save on essentials. 

One thing worth considering is signing up for a supermarket loyalty or reward scheme. There are loads of them out there, but what are they and how much can they save you? We've written before about how shopping in the reduced section can help you save, the best dining in deals and how to save on your groceries. So why not add to this list and also take a deep dive into supermarket reward schemes so that you can give them food for thought and find the best one to help you save? 

Tesco - Tesco Clubcard

Possibly one of the best-known supermarket reward schemes, the Tesco Clubcard currently offers one point for every pound you spend in-store and online and one point for every £2 you spend at their petrol stations. 

Tesco credit card holders can get one point for every £4 spent when using their Tesco credit card and one point on every £1 spent on Tesco mobile.

 What You Need to Know: 

• It’s free to sign up.
• You must save at least 150 points to redeem your Clubcard vouchers worth £1.50. Your vouchers can be used both in-store and online. 
• Get more for your money and exchange Clubcard vouchers for credit that can be spent at selected restaurants, attractions or the cinema.
• Earn extra points when you use the code on the back of your till receipt by completing a Tesco review.

Any Other Perks?

Clubcard holders can enjoy over 8,000 products at special Clubcard prices. Tesco claims that it’s possible for the average customer to save up to £350 a year by adding these items to their shopping regularly.

Tell Me the Downsides

The biggest drawback is not having a Tesco Clubcard. If you are a regular shopper and aren’t a Tesco Clubcard member, expect to pay more for thousands of products in-store and online. 

Morrisons - Morrisons More

Morrisons More, launched in 2023 allows customers to collect points on products in-store and and at the petrol pumps. You can scan the app or card whenever you shop. Sign-up is free. 

What You Need to Know:

• Collect 5000 points and get £5 to spend at Morrisons. 
• Get personalised offers via coupons or straight to the app.      
• Access more exclusive offers on the app every time you shop. 

Any Other Perks?

There are additional perks and competitions to win prizes when you access the new parents, teachers, students and NHS workers memberships via the scheme, which is also free. 

Tell Me the Downsides

According to Which Morrisons came in 6th when it came to best-priced UK supermarkets in April 2023. So it would be fair to say, you may save more by shopping elsewhere, as the My Morrisons loyalty scheme doesn’t offer the greatest savings.  

Asda - Asda Rewards

Recently introduced the Asda Rewards app encourages shoppers to build up cash savings in their ‘cashpot’. There are no points to collect and this reward scheme is one of the simplest to follow. 

What You Need to Know: 

• It’s free to join Asda Rewards.
• Pick up star products, approximately 10% of the cost goes directly into your cashpot.
• You can spend your cashpot credit on your next shop or save it up until you have a tidy sum.
• You will need to download the rewards app, it’s available on both Apple and Android.

Any Other Perks?

This rewards scheme does exactly what it says on the tin. The perk is simply saving money to spend at a later date.

Tell Me the Downsides

Unused cash pot saving will expire after 6 months, so that’s worth remembering if you want to save for an occasion that’s longer than 6 months away, like Christmas. Also, Asda Rewards is App only, so if you forget your phone, don’t use a mobile or just don’t like adding another App to the list…it’s less than rewarding. 

Co-op - Co-op Membership Card

The Co-op membership card gives you 2p for every £1 you spend on selected Co-op products, so you will earn £2 for every £100 you spend. Any money earnt will go into your Co-op account. 

What You Need to Know:

• A Co-op membership card costs £1.
• You can only earn credit on selected Co-op products. Other rewards schemes allow you to earn on all their products.
• Spend your credit on any products on the shelves. 
• You will need to spend £50 before you get back the £1 you spent to sign up.

Any Other Perks?

There are no additional perks with the Co-op membership card. 

Tell Me the Downsides

In all honesty, there isn’t much to love about the Co-op membership, as previously mentioned it isn’t free. And there isn’t a great deal of savings to be made, this is our least favourite reward scheme.

Sainsbury's - Nectar Card

You will receive one point for every pound you spend on your Nectar Card at Sainsbury’s, this includes every litre of fuel you fill up at Sainsbury’s fuel stations. You can spend your points on anything at Sainsbury’s.

What You Need to Know:

• It’s free to join Nectar Card.
• 500 points will give you £2.50 to spend.
• You can spend your Nectar points at one of its partner retailers including Argos, Cafe Nero, Ebay and Vue Cinema.
• Spending £100 at Sainsbury’s with your Nectar card will earn you 50p.

Any Other Perks?

Sainsbury’s recently introduced Nectar Prices. In a similar way to Tesco Clubcard prices, products have special discounts for Nectar card holders. The discount on each product varies but can be discounted by as much as 50%.

Tell Me the Downsides

You need to have used your Nectar card within the last year in order to redeem any points that you have saved, any longer than that and your points are lost.

Waitrose - My Waitrose Card

The My Waitrose Card isn’t a points reward scheme. It offers personalised discounts and vouchers. Waitrose says they make offers according to your taste. With this in mind, you will need to use the card regularly for them to know what you love.

What You Need to Know:

• The My Waitrose Card is free.
• You will get 20% off fish from the fishmonger counter on Fridays.
• There is 20% off the butcher's counter on Saturdays.

Any Other Perks?

My Waitrose Cardholders can enjoy a free hot drink when they bring a reusable cup to the Waitrose cafe. 

Tell Me the Downsides 

Apart from a free hot drink the only savings can be made on a Friday and Saturday. And the discount is only on the fish and butcher counter there are no savings available to vegetarians or vegans. 

Iceland - Iceland Bonus Card

The Iceland Bonus Card could be deemed a little old-fashioned as they are still using a physical card. But it has some great plus sides and is good for budgeting.  

What You Need to Know:

• The Iceland Bonus Card is free.
• You top up your card online, via the app or in-store with credit. 
• For every £20 you put on your card you get an additional £1. This is a 5% increase on the money you topped up. 
• You can use your credit whenever you like or even save it up for an occasion like Christmas.

Any Other Perks?

Bonus Card offers are up for grabs at Iceland and Food Warehouse which will give you up to 50% off. In addition to this, there is free home delivery if you spend £25 or more and selected prize offers. 

Tell Me the Downsides 

As previously mentioned there isn’t a digital version of the bonus card as yet - so don’t forget your Bonus Card when heading to Iceland!

Lidl - Lidl Plus

Lidl Plus is another loyalty scheme that isn’t about collecting points. It offers coupons that are renewed every Thursday. Coupons consist of discounts that are approximately 15% off selected items. It also keeps track of how much you spend each month and gives money off coupons as a reward. 

What You Need to Know: 

• Lidl Plus is accessed via an app that is free to download.
• For every £100 spent shoppers will receive a £2 off coupon. 
• If you spend £200 monthly, you will get a 10% coupon. 
• A free bakery item is available if you spend £50 a month. 
• Rewards are based on your own shopping activity. 

Any Other Perks?

In a nutshell, no. However, this rewards scheme is one of the best available at the moment as it offers greater savings than its competitors. Regular shoppers can expect a £2 saving on a £100 shop, which is twice as much as a Tesco Clubcard. 

Tell Me the Downsides 

Again this is another rewards scheme that requires a mobile phone as you will need to download the app. 

Marks and Spencer - Sparks

Whilst Marks and Spencer aren’t as much of a supermarket as the other retailers on this list, they do still offer their customers a rewards scheme. This rewards scheme covers the whole range of products that Marks and Spencer offers, so doesn’t just cover food but also includes clothing, beauty, and homeware products.

What You Need to Know:

• Download the Sparks app to sign up and start saving.
• Just scan your barcode in-store every time you shop.
• Take advantage of personalised offers and deals based on the things you love.

Any Other Perks?

Every week Marks and Spencer offers a customer in every store the chance to win their shopping for free when they scan their M&S Sparks app. Whenever you shop with your Sparks card Marks and Spencer will also make a donation to a charity of your choice. Marks and Spencer also offer Sparks members free treats to say thanks and a free hot drink for every six purchased at M&S Café.

Tell Me the Downsides

The biggest downside to the Sparks reward scheme is that it isn’t solely focused on food. Where Marks and Spencer sell such a wide range of products, the Sparks scheme can help you save on things such as clothing, beauty and homeware which is great. However, isn’t the most helpful when looking at how it can help you save on food. 

As great as the chance for winning your shopping for free is, that’s not a consistent saving. Also where other loyalty schemes offer the opportunity to build up savings by accumulating points that can be redeemed, Sparks doesn’t offer this. Instead just offering savings on products based on what you’ve already purchased.