Every penny counts during these tricky financial times, and here’s how to make sure you’re not missing out on a freebie…
There are fewer things more satisfying than getting something without having to spend a penny. Even better when times are tough and that money saved can be set against bills or added to the rainy day fund. There are many simple ways to build up cash and bag a freebie. Here’s how…
Switch banks
Some banks are offering a switching incentive of anything from £125 to £170 and you might be able to get more if you refer a friend. Most people don’t bother, as they think it’ll be a lot of hassle. But the process of swapping banks is quick and simple. You need to meet certain conditions to get the full perks, but switching banks can be the most straightforward way of getting something for nothing. If both you and your partner swap, that could be more than £300 in the coffer.
Refer a friend
It’s not just banks that reward you for referring a friend, lots of companies use these sort in schemes to attract new customers, and it’s an easy way for you to make extra cash. By encouraging a friend or family member to sign up to a brand you love, you can both get a cash incentive. Utility companies, mobile phone providers, Sky, Ocado and Airbnb are just some examples of companies offering this kind of scheme. But many fashion brands also offer refer a friend rewards. All you have to do is share a link. Then your friend gets money off their first order (in the form of a voucher, which may be £5-£20 or a 10-15 per cent discount off). As the company’s way of saying thanks for the recommendation, you’ll get money off your next order too.
Use clubcards wisely
If you collect Tesco Clubcard points these can be used at face value in store, on Tesco fuel, and on Tesco online. But rather than just accumulating the points and then taking the money off a grocery shop, visit the supermarket’s website and take a look at their full list of Reward Partners. By exchanging your points to use on days out, eating out and more, you could get up to three times the value of the points on your card. For example, you can turn every 50p worth of Tesco vouchers into £1.50 off Alton Towers, Legoland, Thorpe Park resort, and dozens of other attractions across the UK. Or you could turn every 5op worth of vouchers into £1.50 to spend at Pizza Express, Chef and Brewer and other restaurants. You can even turn every 50p into £1.50 off your Bauer Magazine Subscription! So think about your lifestyle and how you spend money and make sure you’re reaping the most rewards from those Clubcard points.
Get smart with credit
Look out for reward debit and credit cards — cards that pay you through cashback or points, which you can convert into vouchers for shops, hotels and more. Shopping online with a credit card gives you added protection against being scammed or buying faulty goods. But by being smart and using a credit card like Amex you could be getting a good rate of cashback on all purchases. That means that every time you use that card for any purchase you would be making anyway, a percentage of the money goes right back into your account. So, if you use the Amex for everything from grocery shopping to paying for petrol and meals out, or smaller everyday purchases, you can rack up good savings. But make sure the money is in your debit card and transfer it straight over to the Amex to avoid overspending or forgetting to pay off your balance at the end of the month. If you don’t manage your money wisely, then anything you’ve earned from cashback will be wiped out by the interest you’ll end up paying. Also, when taking out a cashback credit card, it’s important to factor in any fees.
Enter competitions
You’ll find lots of competitions to enter on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and it’s a great way to get free goodies. Visit the competition section of MoneyMagpie.com to be in with a chance of winning more prizes.
Sign up for birthday treats
We all like to feel special on our birthday. But did you know that signing up to the right places could bag you dozens of extra gifts? Retailers and restaurant chains, such as The Body Shop, Pizza Express and Krispy Kreme, are among many companies offering customers birthday perks. It usually requires signing up to their newsletters in advance or creating an account online. But these birthday savers are not to be missed out on. Become a Nike member for free on their website and receive 10 per cent off during your birthday month. If you sign up as a member of H&M through their app or website, you can get 25 per cent off one item in-store or online on your birthday. The Body Shop and Hotel Chocolat will give you a £5 voucher to spend. Join Krispy Kreme Rewards for free online and you’ll get loyalty points known as smiles, which you can exchange for a doughnut of your choice. Sign up to newsletters from your favourite brands, as that’s often how they’ll contact you with a free birthday gift.
Swap where you shop
When it comes to your weekly groceries, it can pay to shop around rather than staying loyal to one supermarket. Keep an eye out for first time customer discounts, Supermarkets such as Waitrose and Sainsbury’s can offer £15 or £20 off first time online delivery orders (usually over £60 or £80), and places such as Morrisons and Asda can offer £5 or £10 off your first online spend of over £40 or £50. It’s worth signing up to different supermarkets to see what offers you can avail of and keeping an eye on voucher code websites such as vouchercodes.co.uk, vouchergains.co.uk and latestdeals.co.uk. Taking advantage of your first time customer status can save you lots of money.
Use cashback sites
Cashback means getting a cash reward when you buy something. It’s usually on online purchases, but can be in-store too. When you click through from a cashback website to purchase something, they receive commission from the retailer, and you receive a cut of that. You can also get big rewards on your first purchase as a new customer and many cashback sites will reward you for referring a friend. Visit TopCashback, Honey and Cash Rewards.