nectar vs tesco clubcard - which is best

thewinkshow

hi,

I want to start earning some points/cashback from my purchases, as i am moving out soon I will start buying/spending and paying bills more than I am at home, so may as well try and get a benefit.

who offers the best deal, the nectar card or the tesco clubcard - which has the potential to earn you more, should you use both in roughly the same way?

also, I have a amex platinum cashback card, should i start using this instead of my debit card? or I have seen the amex nectar card, how does this work, do you need both the amex and nectar card or is the amex classed as the nectar card built into one?

so basically you replace your debit card spending and instead use the amex card, plus each transaction is then added to the original nectar card?

any advice on the best way/card to use to get the maximum benefit?

could you also use it to pay bills?

cheers money savers?

McAzrael

If the Tesco deals are attractive then use that, otherwise they're much of a muchness for money off your shopping. Both can be used in places other than Tesco/Sainsbury's to collect points. There's nothing to stop you having both. You shouldn't be buying stuff to get the points, you should be hoovering up the points when you're buying stuff anyway.

Use the Amex card so long as you're paying it off every month. If you need/want to borrow money there are plenty of cheaper options. I have no idea how the Amex Nectar card works.

By far the cheapest way to pay gas and electric bills is by monthly direct debit. The utility companies love these. There's plenty of discussion on this forum on how the monthly rate is set, but a rule change hopefully will stop the utility companies setting it silly high just to help their bank balance - they have to refund any credit balance on your spring statement. Remember that the monthly amount is just a credit towards settling your account and not an all inclusive deal, you will have to pay for every bit of electricity or gas you have. The telephone/broadband/television companies (but not TV Licensing) will also offer a discount for paying by DD. You won't be able to use an Amex card to settle water or council tax bills.

duchy

Depends what your purchasing pattern is.

For me Nectar works best as I earn points not just from supermarket shopping but from Amazon purchases, I-tunes etc. I don't drive but I'd imagine if you do petrol would be a significant purchase so might be worth considering which has the nearest petrol pumps. I get points from my gas and electric too -and moved to BG when EDF stopped giving Nectar points. Got a nice bonus for moving to them too.

It's worth considering what you're going to use the points for-if you do a lot of days out -or like the eating out options Tescos rewards offer that might serve you better-for me I usually save my points and then use them on expedia for flights (not particually a fan of BA so the Tesco airlines option doesn't interest me- I prefer the range of all airlines expedia offer).

Sometimes I find a big purchase pays more in real terms on a cashback site -so I check to see if a bigger nectar balance or cash from Quidco etc is worth more to me. Don't forget home insurance if you're moving out-I got £70 off the cheapest policy I could find (Co-op bank) for a buildings and contents policy using Quidco.

Kantankrus_Mare

After only using tesco clubcard for years I have begun to shop at Sainsburys as well.

Main reason being I shop mainly on line and very rarely seem to get any money off codes for Tesco to work lately.

Sainsburys also offer free delivery if you spend over £100 on certain days (might not apply to you but works well for me) and they keep sending me money off vouchers.

Have had some real treats over the years with Clubcard so I think I am going to do both depending on who can save me the most money and give free delivery.

Win win for me all round.

Kantankrus_Mare

Didnt realise you could get points when you shop with Amazon............how does that work?

Enterprise_1701C

If you click through from the Nectar site you can get points from shopping at a lot of places.

Just one thing I should have added - make sure that what you are buying is NOT in your shopping basket before you click through or you will not get the points

cat04

I have a Nectar Amex card. Basically you earn points for your spending on it, plus for each full £500 you spend per month on it you get an extra 500 Nectar points (I don't try to do this, although it's nice when it happens, plus I always pay the balance in full each month. At Christmas we got 1000 extra points!!!). BUT you will still need to use your Nectar card at the same time in the places you can collect points in. I.e. if you shop in Sainsbury's you'll get your usual Nectar points put on your card, and if you then pay with your Amex you'll get points on that which transfer to your Nectar account around the end of the month.

I seem to remember that I signed my partner up for an additional card when they had one of their offers on of an extra 2000 points if you took out an additional card. You get one point per full pound spent per transaction, and double points if you use it in Sainsbury's (and presumably other Nectar retailers i.e. Homebase (don't take my word for it - not used my Amex in there!).

On the Nectar website as mentioned above there are lots of online stores that you can collect points with if you click through the link, these include HMV, Ebay, Amazon, clothing stores, entertainment stores etc. Plus, if you then use your Amex card to pay for it you collect more points. There are often offers on the Nectar website for double or triple Nectar points on various stores, which often include Amazon and Ebay.

HTH!

barginunter

If you install the Nectar toolbar you get 1 point per search this month. Normally it's 1 point every 2 searches.

ryantcb

I used to use nectar simply because sainsbury's was close to me and Tesco's wasn't. If it were Tesco's I lived nearer then Id have a club card. I now shop ASDA that has no loyalty but the prices are far cheaper.
*NECTAR TIP*
When you use the self service check out and swipe your nectar you get a voucher printed out for double/triple points on your next visit. Just make that visit your next visit.... get your trolley full of shopping then pop over quickly to the self service checkout with a few items(pint milk and loaf or bread) swipe your nectar and pay for those items. Then take your receipt and voucher. When you go to pay for the rest of your trolley at the checkout you have a lovely double/triple point voucher to use too.

MoneySavingMakesMyDay

I use which ever has the best offers. I also find that because I don't use any one supermarket for a big weekly shop they both send me good money off vouchers for small amount spends. I know several people who always use either Sainsburys or Tesco every week and never get such good vouchers. The supermarkets seem to send best vouchers to entice customers who don't regularly shop with them.

Lost2

if you use nectar tool bar this month for
searches you get a 100 points