Yahoo Finance I am a points rewards expert and this is how you can earn $600 from your grocery shop
Points are one of the easiest ways you can get more from your money.
Fact 1: 75 per cent of Australians are worried about their financial situation, research shows.
Fact 2: We all still have to eat.
But if you shop smart at the supermarket, you can actually make money through rewards points.
As a points expert, I'm often asked: "Don't you need to fly all the time to make the most of points?" The answer is simple: no, you don't.
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By combining a rewards credit card and supermarket rewards schemes, you can score free flights while buying life's essentials.
For Finder's New Year Financial Fitness Challenge, we calculated that the average Australian could get $50 a month in points value from a typical grocery shop. That adds up to $600 over a year.
The challenge is a totally free resource with eight modules to help you reach your money goals for 2024. It has simple money hacks – like earning more than $600 with rewards points while doing your weekly shop – to help you get ahead.
And with the cost of living hitting most households, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
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How to get more points from your supermarket shop
Australians are keen on supermarket loyalty schemes - 71 per cent of us are in Woolworths' Everyday Rewards and 70 per cent are in Coles' Flybuys, Finder's research shows.
And right now, 39 per cent of us say grocery costs are our biggest worry.
Getting dollars off through those supermarket schemes is great, but using a rewards credit card to pay lets you earn points twice: once through the card and once through the loyalty program.
And if you can get a big wodge of bonus points for signing up to a new card, that's even better.
As an example, let's look at the Qantas Premier Platinum card.
Right now, you can earn 60,000 bonus points as a new customer for that card, provided you spend $3,000 in the first three months. That might sound like a lot, but the average household spends $188 on groceries each week. Over three months, that alone adds up $2,256.
The value of those points depends on what you spend them on. But if you spent them on domestic Qantas flights, those 60,000 points could easily be worth $1,200. And if you haven't earned Qantas Points on a credit card in the past 12 months, you can earn an extra 20,000 points.
So, your shopping can really help you get a lot of extra points for no extra effort.
That's just an example. Everyone's needs are different, so make sure you compare cards and pick one you're happy with.
The bonus-points offers are crucial, but also look at the annual fee and how much you earn per dollar you spend.
Typically, cards offering higher earn rates have a higher annual fee. If you spend a lot on your card, you'll get that value back but, if you don't, a cheaper card with a lower earn rate could be a better choice.
What other rewards card traps should I look out for?
For this points strategy to work, you do need to be disciplined and make sure you pay off your card in full each month.
Interest rates on credit cards are high and some have gone up this year, so you want to make sure you're not paying more than you need.
You can maximise your points total by switching to a new card with a new bonus points offer every year.
But don't apply for multiple cards at once because that can have a negative impact on your credit score.
And remember, you'll need to switch banks to do this – most bonus points offers aren't available to existing or recent customers, so you'll need to shop around.
Points are one of the easiest ways you can get more from your money. Using these strategies not only stretches your dollar further but also turns everyday spending into an opportunity for rewards.
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