If I’m shopping and buying things, I want to be making some money, too. I’m pretty greedy that way! Here are the top 3 ways that I do this..
1. I like retailer reward cards for points and vouchers, and have a fair few loyalty cards. I redeem them regularly to make the most of them. The main ones I use are Boots, Sainsburys Nectar, Waterstones, Tesco Clubcard and Build-a-Bear! Tesco gives me vouchers, which are handy for days out or Christmas shopping, and they often boost their value, too. The others are money off once credits accrue.
2. If I’m buying online, I always shop through Kidstart to give me savings into the children’s accounts, which is simple to do and adds up for them. I know there are lots of cash-back sites like this, such as TopCashBack and Quidco, though I’ve not tried these.
3. Then there’s the biggest way that I make money while spending, my credit card. I make sure that my greatest and most regular expenditure always, always goes on a credit card. So whether it be the large one off things like holidays and new purchases for the home, or the every day like the weekly food shop, all of mine goes on my credit card.
I wrote a letter to my children about money, and made this point there, as I’ve seen the difference that using credit cards can make, personally, and also in my old life in financial services. I’ve seen the people who won’t and don’t take any credit at all and then I’ve seen those who do and get into a mess with it. Neither are any good for your credit rating, though the latter is definitely worse. I like to be sitting right in the middle of those two ends of the spectrum, which helps my credit score, and then on top of that, I like to make a credit card work for me.
I spend on mine and then I pay the whole thing off monthly, so I don’t ever pay any interest on it. This gives me a good credit rating and I actually get treated for spending, too, which kind of feels like I’m cheating. I always go for credit cards that have rewards, such as Tesco Clubcard, Sainsburys Nectar or TSB Avios.
Do you have any more tips on earning while spending? Would love to hear them.
Disclosure: Written in collaboration with TSB. though all words and opinions are my own
It’s a case of getting into the habit, isn’t it? Thank you.
Oh some fab tips here! I’ve never really thought about cash back schemes but it’s something I will defo have a look into! x
Thank you! Oh yes, do, seems a waste not to x
I love my loyalty cards but get most cash back from Quidco. The only downside to it is that to get the most from it you get paid in Amazon vouchers which makes it far too easy to buy more books! 🙂
Oh, that is a tough break 😉