From Clubcard to Nectar, these are the best supermarket loyalty cards for points and discounts

For many Brits, supermarket shopping will be significantly more expensive over the past year.

Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages have risen largely in line with inflation – rising 9.1 percent in the past year alone.

Some food in the fridge and cupboard rose over it. The cost of pasta is up 16 percent year-over-year; low-fat milk was up 19 percent; Eggs rose by 13 percent and margarine by 26 percent.

One way for shoppers to fight rising food prices is to take advantage of the various supermarket loyalty schemes on offer.

Some of these reward schemes allow shoppers to earn and spend points, while others give vouchers to redeem for their weekly shop.

While almost all major stores have a loyalty card, some of the perks offered are better than others.

We applied the rule to bonus schemes offered by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Co-op, Morrisons, Lidl and Waitrose.

One of the most popular loyalty programmes, Tesco’s Clubcard enables members to earn and spend points as well as access special discounts.

It gives you 1 point for every £2 spent in store and online – although on fuel at Tesco petrol stations or Esso locations it’s only 1 point for every £2 spent.

Tesco then converts these points into vouchers to help customers save on their weekly grocery purchases. For example, 150 points gives you a £1.50 voucher.

To collect points, customers need to scan their card directly from their phone at checkout — there’s no need to carry a physical Clubcard, though that’s an option, too.

It’s also possible to get 3 times the value of vouchers when you take advantage of special offers with a Tesco rewards partner.

For example, it is currently possible to convert £8 Clubcard vouchers into a 3-month Disney+ subscription worth £24.

It should also be noted that Tesco Clubcard customers benefit from a range of discounted rates when shopping for groceries.

Serial Tesco shoppers may want to consider the Tesco Clubcard Plus.

On top of the standard Clubcard benefits, Clubcard Plus subscribers get 10 percent off in-store groceries twice a month, plus 10 percent off F&F apparel all the time.

Although it comes with a monthly fee of £7.99, it may end up being worth it for those who spend a lot with the series. Tesco claims members can save up to £40 a month.

“This isn’t just a loyalty card” jokes aside, the M&S debit card does have some pretty significant perks.

There are no points like some other loyalty programs, but M&S ​​makes up for it with what it offers Sparks members in discounts.

Customers get personalized discounts on items throughout the store, though it’s not guaranteed how often or how much money users will get.

Every time they scan a card, they also have the chance to get their entire store for free — but again, M&S doesn’t divulge the possibilities. It simply says that each week it will treat a Sparks customer in-store to a free shop.

M&S also donates half to a Sparks customer’s charity of choice every time they shop at M&S—whether in-store, online, or via the M&S app.

There are 35 charities and causes customers can choose to support. Customers can either use the app or scan a physical card.

Registering with Nectar means joining one of the largest loyalty programs in the UK. There are currently 18 million nectar points collectors.

They can collect and spend their points with more than 400 brands, including Argos, eBay and British Airways, as well as with Sainsbury’s itself.

How they spend these points is up to them. They can get cash from their next store, or exchange it for rewards from any of Nectar’s partners.

It’s possible to earn 1 Nectar Point for every £1 spent in-store or online at Sainsbury’s.

For those looking to spend their points at the supermarket, 500 points equals £2.50. This means that each nectar point is worth 0.5p which equates to 0.5 per cent return on spend.

The number of points someone accumulates depends on which retailer they purchase with. At most online partner stores, members will collect 2 points for every £1 spent, so those using it exclusively at Sainsbury’s will not benefit.

Nectar Points can also be used for special discounts, products and experiences with participating brands.

In the Offers section of the Nectar app, each customer can see tailored offers based on what they buy the most.

The Co-op says its membership offerings save shoppers more than £7m each year.

As with other loyalty cards, they collect rewards every time they scan their digital or physical membership card, and they have the option to spend or donate their rewards to charities and projects in their local community.

Cardholders also receive personalized offers each week for cash back on select products and exclusive member discounts.

Every time they spend £1 they get 2p – and the same amount goes to local causes too.

However, unlike Nectar and Tesco, Co-op does not have any partner offers where members can spend their rewards.

Co-op charges a £1 joining fee – but this is only one payment.

My Morrisons replaced the Morrisons More program in May of last year and it is no longer a points-based program.

Instead, it’s now an app-based discount scheme, which offers customers customized discounts based on recently purchased items.

Customers are still able to scan their old physical More Card at checkout, but to take part in the promotions, they need to use the My Morrisons app on their mobile phone or create an account online.

But you don’t have to use the app to take part in the scheme and take advantage of the offers.

If you prefer to use the card, this is still an option and customers will receive vouchers at a later date that can then be redeemed at future stores.

For those without a smartphone, Morrisons will send an email with weekly offers. Users can then log into their online accounts and activate the offers they love, with them being charged directly to their card.

Those who have no internet access at all can still be part of the voucher loyalty scheme at Till.

When joining My Morrisons, customers can claim their personal cash back on offers that can be instantly enjoyed on their next shopping trip.

In the app, they can review and activate offers and then scan the card within the app from time to time. Savings are deducted from your total automatically.

The budget chain’s rewards app gives customers a variety of savings, with new coupons released every Thursday as well as exclusive discounts and prizes.

Each week, customers can download coupons on the app that will give them 15 to 20 percent off select food and beverages in the store.

Customers who spend £200 in store in one month will also receive a £10 discount coupon.

Other features include Lidl’s virtual ‘scratch card’, where consumers can win up to £20 off their next store.

Another benefit is the digital receipts it offers, which show customers how much they have spent in store and enable them to keep track of their purchases.

My Waitrose is another pointless discount system.

Instead, customers take advantage of a number of discounts, such as Fish Friday when they get 20 percent off select fish from the counter.

They can also choose from dedicated money-saving offers, which are updated every week and shaped by how they shop.

One of the main perks used to be free tea or coffee for consumers every time they visited a store, however, this is currently on pause.

Members can also receive a 5 percent discount on dry cleaning and laundry when using Johnsons the Cleaners services by simply showing their loyalty card.