Martin Lewis is warning of Tesco shoppers who have just hours to claim discounts
MARTIN Lewis has issued a warning to Tesco shoppers who have just hours to get their hands on discounts worth €18 million.
It comes as the supermarket chain revealed millions of points will expire on February 29.
It means three million shoppers have just a few hours left to use them or lose them.
Unless you use the handy trick from this week’s MoneySavingExpert newsletter to extend them.
Around £18 million worth of Clubcard vouchers, issued in February 2022, will soon expire next one Thursday (February 29).
Shoppers can use them to reduce the cost of their weekly groceries, pay for fuel or get a new deal at Tesco Mobile.
Shoppers can use Clubcard vouchers in store and online to save money on their Tesco store.
If you decide to use your vouchers for your Tesco store, every 150 points can be redeemed for a value of €1.50.
Your vouchers can also be doubled in value and can be spent with over 100 rewards partners including Pizza Express and Zizzi.
Tesco’s warning comes after more than £125 million worth of new vouchers landed on doorsteps and in the Tesco app earlier this month.
Vouchers are issued every three months in February, May, August and November.
MSE said: “If you have a Tesco Clubcard, check when your vouchers expire as there are only a few days left to spend or extend £18 million before they run out on Thursday.”
It further explained that if shoppers are unsure when their voucher will expire and they still have it on paper, they can check the date on the voucher themselves.
If you’ve lost your paper vouchers, or aren’t sure if you have them, you can check on the Tesco Clubcard site or app.
The consumer experts added: “Clubcard vouchers are valid for two years. If yours expire soon and you don’t want to use them yet, you may be able to extend the expiration date for another two years.
“Technically, Tesco can refuse an order from a Reward Partner under the Clubcard terms and conditions if it decides you’re trying to game the system by redeeming vouchers just to extend their validity – but we got the trick earlier this month tested at MSE Towers and it worked just fine.”
What can I get with the Tesco Clubcard?
Tesco’s Clubcard program allows customers to earn points as they shop.
These points can then be converted into vouchers for money on food at the supermarket, or discounts at other places such as restaurants and days out.
Every time you spend €1 in store and online, you get one point when you scan your Clubcard.
Drivers who use the loyalty card receive one point for every two liters they spend on fuel.
One point is equal to 1 cent, so for example, for 150 points you will receive a discount voucher of € 1.50.
You can double their value if you redeem them for discounts with ‘rewards partners’.
For example, €12 in vouchers can be exchanged for a €24 three-month subscription to Disney+.
Or you can exchange 50p worth of points for £1 to spend in Hungry Horse pubs.
What you can spend them on changes regularly and you can check the Tesco website to see what’s available now.
Tesco shoppers can also get Clubcard prizes if they have the loyalty card.
The discounted items change regularly and without a Clubcard you pay a higher price.
These Clubcard prices are usually listed on the shelves along with the non-member price.
But it’s worth noting that just because there’s a discount doesn’t necessarily make it the cheapest, and you’ll need to compare prices to find the best deal.
You can sign up for a Tesco Clubcard in store or online via the Tesco website.
However, they added that you must renew your vouchers by 11:59 PM on February 29.
The experts say you should do one simple thing that won’t lose you any points.
Simply make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard Rewards website and the remaining points will be credited back to your account.
For example, you can get a 50 cent voucher that you can spend at restaurants such as Zizzi or Pizza Express.
You’ll get £1 to spend at your chosen location as the rewards are worth double the value of the voucher.
With Tesco Clubcard Rewards you can redeem your points for rewards such as day trips to theme parks or dining out.
You’ll normally get one point for every €1 you spend – or one point for every 2 liters of fuel – and 150 points equals a €1.50 voucher.
Customers can then use in-store and online vouchers to take money off their weekly grocery bill or reduce the cost of filling up their car – or redeem them for rewards that are worth more.
After you make the small purchase, the points will be reissued as new vouchers, but with an expiry date of two years in the future.
If you spend just 50p of a £10 voucher on a reward, you will receive the £9.50 worth of vouchers.
MSE warned: “Please note that you will need to do this for each individual voucher, so weigh up whether it is actually worth it for smaller denominations.
“For example, if you have a £10 voucher it’s probably worth it; if you have a handful of £1 vouchers, maybe less.”
However, you won’t get this if you buy anything in store or online with the voucher – it’s only if you use it for rewards.
You can see how many Clubcard points you have in the app. Just go to your account and select statements.
The app is available for both iPhone and Android users.
You can log in to the Tesco Clubcard website, where your voucher history will be displayed, including points not yet spent.
What do I need to do to claim my vouchers?
To claim your vouchers, log into the Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app or visit the “My Clubcard Account” section of the supermarket’s website.
The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store for iPhone users or Google Play Store for Android.
There is then an option to convert your Clubcard points into vouchers.
You can then choose your vouchers and they will appear in your Clubcard account.
How to save on your supermarket shopping
There are plenty of ways to save money at your grocery store.
You can look for yellow or red stickers on products, which indicate when they are discounted.
If the food is fresh, eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money because you’ll be less likely to make hasty purchases when you go to the grocery store.
Choosing your own brand can be an easy way to save hundreds of dollars a year on your food bill, too.
This means ditching the ‘best’ or ‘luxury’ products and instead opting for ‘proprietary’ or value-for-money lines.
Many supermarkets have shaky fruit and vegetable programs where you can get cheap prices if they are misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering 5kg boxes of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you could potentially get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers, which you can also use at the supermarket.
In addition, many municipalities offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
How does the Tesco Clubcard scheme work?
Tesco’s Clubcard program allows customers to earn points as they shop.
The points can then be converted into vouchers for cash from their grocery store or other rewards partner programs.
Every time you spend €1 in store and online, you get one point when you scan your card or app.
Drivers using Clubcards will now receive one point for every two liters they spend on fuel.
One point is equal to 1 cent, so for example 150 points will get you £1.50, but you need at least 150 points to apply for a voucher.
These vouchers can be worth face value to spend in-store at Tesco, or you can double their value to spend at rewards partners, including restaurants, and on days out.
Customer card holders can also get cheaper prices on more than 8,000 items thanks to Clubcard Prices.
According to Tesco, these Clubcard prizes will save the average member £351 on their annual shopping.
What other supermarket loyalty programs are there?
Most major supermarkets offer some sort of reward scheme and they all have something different to offer.
Retailers such as Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-op all have plans, but there are also some lesser known ones.
We’ve got a full list of all the supermarket loyalty schemes and reveal the ones that can help you save more money – the winner might surprise you.
If you want to save money on your grocery store shopping, remember that you can cut costs in other ways too.
Items with yellow stickers are a great way to score bargains.
Typically, items are marked down twice a day, but times vary depending on where you shop.
Check with your local supermarket to find out the best time to get the best bargains.
Meanwhile, Martin Lewis is warning households to act now due to a major change to Nectar points set to take place within weeks.
Plus, a Martin Lewis fan has revealed how the expert’s handy tip helped him track down £2,300 in free cash.
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