Idiot's guide to making the most out of clubcard/nectar points

[AlexaShutUp]

I'm ashamed to say that I have never really used these and don't really know how to make the most of them. Assuming my knowledge is currently at zero, please could people explain how they actually use them and how to get the best value from them? I have tons of unspent nectar points and now shop regularly at Tesco.

I have a vague idea that I can spend the points on groceries, and that would be fine if I knew how to do it, but I also suspect that I could get more out of them if I used them for other things.

Please advise! Thank you so much.

Nectar points are good for spending at Cafe Nero (£2 worth of points for any size drink - large hot chocolate with everything on it for DC!), also Vue Cinema tickets are a good deal.

Actually just checked Cafe Nero drinks are £1.75 worth of points so even better!

I’m sure sainsburys do their double-up events twice a year, I thought there was usually one around Easter time too. They’ve made it much easier to swap points for vouchers now, as you don’t have to specify which department you want to spend them in.

The railcards are a good deal, £15 worth of vouchers instead of £30 cash. We saved the £15 first trip for DS.

The other thing about getting a railcard is that you can get 2 for 1 deals on a lot of tourist attractions if you get there using your railcard and there are also various offers on meals etc.

Definitely wait for double up. You'll have 600 to spend then. You can use it on electrical, home, clothing, entertainment, toys, wine and seasonal.

Buy all your cards for the year, Christmas presents, pyjamas, books etc. April and November are usually double up

Regularly check your Nectar online account for offers. A few weeks ago they were offering 250 points for signing up to the Argos newsletter.

And last year they were offering 1000 Nectar points for buying a train ticket online with a particular rail network. I don't travel on that network, but I found and purchased the cheapest available ticket (about £3 I think) and made a profit of £2 in Nectar points. Then a couple of days ago I checked my Nectar account and they'd given me a free 250 points as a gift for making my first purchase with the train company.

And I've also had things like 250 points for your first shop at a Sainsbury's Local store (with no minimum spend). So they do have some very generous offers on the app/online account. But you have to check frequently and make sure you 'load' the offers to your Nectar card.

Other things to look out for with Nectar are: the Swipe and Wins, the Double Up, Nectar Canvass/eRewards and the Nectar toolbar. Someone has already mentioned Shopper Points - sign up to their daily newsletter to keep up to date with the best offers.

Really good advice, thank you all. Waiting for the double up sounds like good advice - £600 is a lot! Can you spend them online or just in store?

Unfortunately whilst you can buy a railcard with Tesco Clubcard points, you can't with nectar points.

I nearly signed up for a hobbycraft card last week, then the cashier admitted you don't accumulate points or anything. So basically I’m signing up for you to stalk my shopping data but give nothing in return?

Collecting Nectar points.

Spend £1 goods = 1 point
1 litre of fuel = 1 point
500 points enables you to have £2.50 off the bill in Sainsbury’s, Argos, EBay, Vue, Expedia, or in Sainsbury’s Petrol Stations

Points are redeemable in multiples of £2.50
So for example if you have 1075 points you can redeem £2.50 or £5.00.

You must have used your Nectar card within the last year to redeem points in Sainsbury’s stores or Petrol Stations.