LOYALTY schemes can save you hundreds of pounds a year – but which ones are actually worth it?
With the cost of living still so high, every penny counts, so saving cash where you can is more important than ever.
But our money experts Holly Jay-Smith and Jordon Cox reckon some loyalty schemes aren’t worth wasting your time on.
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More than 97% of shoppers are signed up to at least one loyalty scheme, according to the Competition and Markets Authority.
But which are actually worth joining?
Holly Jay-Smith is a busy mum and money saving expert who shares tips and advice on how to bag a bargain on her blog and Instagram.
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Jordon Cox is a bargain hunter and deals expert who helps advises his social media followers and ITV This Morning viewers on how to save cash.
Here, they reveal the top schemes you need to sign up for NOW and the ones you need to skip.
Best loyalty schemes
Nando’s
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The free Nando’s rewards scheme gives diners a chilli every time they make an order that’s worth £7 or more and eat in, collect or order Nando’s delivery.
Jordon Cox, the Coupon King, said: “The best loyalty scheme in my mind is Nando’s.
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“If you eat there ten times then you get the maximum reward but if you eat there three or six times then you also get rewarded.”
Three chillies qualifies you for a green reward, which is equivalent to a starter, quarter of a chicken or three wings.
To earn an orange reward you need six chillies, which entitles you to half a chicken, burger, wrap or pitta.
Meanwhile, ten chillies qualifies you for a red reward, which is equivalent to a whole chicken or single combo meal.
Jordon adds: “You end up getting around £50 worth of value if you go ten times, which is a decent return considering you only need to spend £7 a visit.”
To join you’ll need to make a Nando’s account.
Next add your Nando’s card to your mobile wallet, a digital version of a physical wallet that is stored on your mobile phone or smartwatch.
If you’re paying at the till then you just need to tap your phone on the contactless card reader.
Meanwhile, if you’re paying online or the app then you just need to log into your account.
My Waitrose
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My Waitrose is another one of Jordon’s favourite loyalty schemes.
He explains: “I like the Waitrose one purely for the fact you can get a free coffee every day.”
The scheme works by rewarding shoppers with a daily free tea or coffee – and they don’t need to make a purchase.
Meanwhile, the supermarket is rewarding customers with little treats when they scan their My Waitrose card when they make a purchase.
Customers can earn up to three little treats, such as free bakery items and flowers, a month, or 36 in total over the course of the year.
To get the perks you need to download the supermarket’s app and create an account.
You can do this on the Waitrose website or by downloading the Waitrose & Partners App.
Tesco Clubcard
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Tesco’s loyalty scheme is the largest and most popular in the UK, and it’s Coupon Queen Holly Jay-Smith’s favourite.
You earn one point for every £1 you spend and can exchange them for two times their value when they’re spent at the majority of the supermarket’s reward partners.
Holly said: “I love being able to redeem those points for days out with the family rather than hunting for online brand perks.”
Meanwhile, you can triple their value when you spend them at seven restaurants including Ask Italian, Zizzi and Prezzo Italian.
Jordon says a pitfall of Tesco’s Clubcard scheme is that you can’t boost your points as much as you used to be able to.
The scheme used to allow shoppers to exchange their points for up to three times their value with reward partners but the exchange rate was cut in 2023.
Tesco said: “Clubcard unlocks the best value at Tesco with thousands of Clubcard Prices each week in store and online and the chance to collect Clubcard points to be used with more than 100 Clubcard partners, some at triple value.
“It also gives access to Clubcard coupons, including our popular Freebie Thursdays – with millions of Clubcard members receiving coupons for free products in the Tesco app.”
Worst loyalty schemes
Coca-Cola
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You may not know that Coca-Cola has a loyalty scheme that gives you the chance to win prizes or unlock exclusive rewards.
To earn points you need to find promotional codes on drinks and manually enter them into an app to collect points.
But Holly said the prizes can be very disappointing.
She said: “Instead of a simple cash discount on your next drink, you’re trading your points for the chance to win things like festival passes, Premier League tickets, or branded merchandise like Dr Pepper socks, bucket hats, and pin badges.
“For something I already buy regularly, I’d much rather have a simple system that gives me a clear saving or a free product without having to hunt for codes to try and win a pair of novelty socks.”
Coca-Cola said: “The Club gives consumers access to more than 100,000 rewards to be claimed, updated regularly through Coca‑Cola campaigns and seasonal activations.
“From Premier League tickets and exclusive merchandise to retailer and QSR vouchers, entertainment rewards and free Coca‑Cola products, the platform is built to deliver something for everyone through experiences only Coca‑Cola can offer.”
Kendamil Rewards
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Baby milk formula Kendamil has a reward scheme that can save you money on baby milk, tea bags and mugs.
You earn one point for every £1 you spend but may get higher earning rates during certain times of year.
But it takes a long time to actually earn rewards, Holly warns.
She explains: “Kendamil Rewards hooks you in with easy sign-up bonuses such as grabbing up to 100 points for following them on social media or creating an account.
“You claim your first reward quickly but when the initial bonus points are gone, building up rewards becomes a real slog unless you buy directly from its website.”
For example, with 500 points you can get £10 off a purchase, while 300 points gets you Classic Toddler Milk.
Holly adds that you’re locked into buying straight from the brand, which may not always offer the most competitive prices.
Kendamil was approached for comment.
Jimmy’s Iced Coffee
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Holly loves a Jimmy’s Iced Coffee in the morning but is disappointed by the loyalty scheme.
The scheme gives you five points for every £1 you spend, which Holly said sounds like a decent return.
Meanwhile, you could get 200 points for creating an account, 100 points on your birthday and 100 points for following the brand on Instagram.
The points can be exchanged for discount codes to use to save money on your next order.
But Holly warns: “But you only earn those points when buying directly through their site.
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“Like many people, I pick mine up in the supermarket, so those everyday purchases don’t count at all.”
Jimmy’s Iced Coffee was approached for comment.