How to make your loyalty points go further

published 7 November 2008

Most of us have a loyalty card of one form or another that gives us points to spend on purchases. But if you always use these points in store, "stop now and consider whether you can get better value using them elsewhere", says Rosie Murray-West in The Daily Telegraph.

Most points are worth little in store. Tesco Clubcard points and Boots Advantage Card points are worth a penny each off shopping, while Nectar points are worth just 0.5p. But there are ways to make them go further. For Clubcard and Nectar, check the websites for details of deals it is often better value to use your points online. For example, you can buy a year's membership of English Heritage for just over £10 using Tesco Clubcard vouchers, when usually it would cost £42. Advantage card holders should maximise their points by checking the machines in store where you can print off extra discount vouchers.

Save on stamps

Cut back your Christmas bill this year by opting for second-class stamps rather than first class, and posting earlier, says Murray-West.

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Free insulation

Tesco is offering cavity wall and loft insulation free to anyone over 70 or on qualifying benefits. Even if you don't fall into those groups, they will install for a subsidised fee, says Harriet Meyer in The Daily Telegraph. If you already have 6cm-15cm of insulation, you will pay £149; or £199 if you have 15cm and want to bring it up to the recommended 27cm of insulation.

Grab some vouchers

Head to the Body Shop's website and spend £25 before midnight on 20 November and they will give you £5 off when you get to the checkout page.

And one to avoid...

Satnav company TomTom has launched a new product that tracks petrol prices and tells drivers where to find the cheapest fuel and the quickest route to the petrol station. But with a price tag of £299, it will take years to make back the initial cost. Stick to checking Petrolprices.com.

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.