How to shop smartly this Christmas with Nectar

Now it’s finally December and the end of 2020 is in sight, this month means only one thing, and that’s Christmas. Although the festive period will look a little different this year, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the best things about this time, like eating, drinking and of course the presents.

This month, more than ever everyone is looking  to make the most of Christmas, but we could all do with a helpful hand pointing us in the right direction. That’s why Nectar has joined forces with Vinnie Jones to give customers its “Shopping Smarts” series, offering helpful tips and tricks for your shopping, plus the best ways to make more out of the Nectar scheme. You can see the full video series here. 

One of the easiest ways to get more from your shopping is to collect Nectar points while you’re doing it, which you can do with lots of retailers – many of which people don’t realise – which is great news when you’re doing your all important Christmas present buying. You also get more from doing every day things, from food shopping at Sainsbury’s to filling up at Esso. By doing both you’re well on your way to becoming a “Nectar collector”, as Vinnie likes to put it.

But it’s not just at the supermarket or petrol station where you can collect more points. You can collect and spend them when you shop in lots of places too. There’s an impressive 300 Nectar partners where you can collect them, whether that’s ticking off something from the kids’ Christmas list at Argos, which has everything from jigsaws and scooters, to treating yourself to a new festive sparkly outfit from ASOS.

The beauty in shopping in this way is that if you’ve cleverly collected points the whole year, you could pay for your Christmas food, from the main event turkey right down to the little – but important! – things like the mulled wine. Although Nectar has done most of the hard work for you, remember you'll still have to cook it yourself, though. 

Nectar also has extra bonus point offers too, and the best way to make the most of these is to download the Nectar app. There you’ll be able to keep up to date with all the great partner offers across categories from health and beauty to food and drink. Offers on the app are only valid for a certain amount of days though, so make sure to check it as often as you can, so you’re always getting something back when you shop. Enjoy big points boosts like two times points, five times points and more on purchases made at Argos.

As well as great points offers, there’s more ways to collect by using the app. You have the chance to boost your points through personalised challenges and rewards throughout the year, be sure to keep an eye out! You can experience exciting challenges such as the Great Big Fruit and Veg Challenge brought to you by Sainsbury’s, which is personalised to each Nectar customer and rewards you for increasing the portions of fruit and veg you buy! You just need to accept the challenge.

The app also helps you with your weekly shop at Sainsbury’s, as it cleverly shows you bonus point offers on the items you buy regularly too. Remember to save these in the app to get your bonus points when you’re next shopping online or in-store.

Aside from shopping, you can collect points in other ways too, such as when you book train tickets with Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, or TransPennine Express. Be sure to check local government guidance on travel before making your booking.

And when travel opens up again you can use them further afield on Eurostar and even collect up to 2,000 points while booking a hotel with Nectar hotels, which we think is the ultimate gift this year – as who doesn’t need a holiday after 2020?

So whether you’re the points collector who loves to see them rack up to spend all in one go on that much needed holiday, or you’re the one who loves to get something back each time you spend – you’ll win either way with Nectar. 

Visit Nectar.com/shopping-smarts to see the full videos and tips