Asda Rewards scheme offers something back when you spend with the supermarket - provided you're happy to use its app.
Rocketing food prices are a big concern for most of us.
In fact, the increase in the cost of our food and drink was identified by the Office for National Statistics as the biggest driver in inflation now hitting an incredible 10.1%.
There are all sorts of different tactics that we might employ in order to reduce those costs. Some will be shifting from branded items to own-brand goods, particularly if there is little to no difference in quality.
Others will have made a more fundamental shift to their shopping habits, switching the supermarket they use to a more budget-friendly option.
However, one of the simplest measures will be to make use of any loyalty schemes on offer.
Many supermarkets boast programmes that allow regular shoppers to get a little back when they spend, with Asda this week launching its first ever nationwide loyalty scheme.
So could Asda Rewards help you save some cash?
How does Asda Rewards work?
The Asda Rewards scheme is a little different from regular loyalty schemes, in that you don’t earn points based on your spending, but rather build up a ‘cashpot’.
The money within the cashpot can then be converted into a voucher which can be spent at Asda.
Asda Rewards is an app-based scheme, so you’ll need to download the app from Google Play or the Apple app store. Thankfully it’s free to do so.
There are then a few different ways that you build up the size of your cashpot.
Firstly, there are 400 ‘star products’ across Asda.
Every time you purchase on, you’ll get 10% of the cost added to your cashpot ‒ essentially, it’s earning cashback on specific items. Asda says there will be both branded and non-branded items across the star product range.
Then there are ‘in-app missions’. Honestly, this sounds a bit like a video game, but far less exciting.
As you complete these missions, you earn a prize. So for example, there’s a ‘back to school’ mission at the moment, which rewards you with £5 into your cashpot if you spend £25 on George school uniform.
Finally, there will be spending milestones within the app.
If you spend a certain amount at Asda within a set time frame, then you will earn some money into your cashpot. For example, when you spend £50 you get 50p back.
Once the money is in your cashpot, you have six months in which to turn it into a voucher, which can then be spent at Asda. Once you have converted it into a voucher, you need to use it within 30 days.
The pros and cons of the Asda Rewards scheme
The first big positive here is that this is the first time that Asda has launched a proper rewards scheme.
It means that regular Asda shoppers now have the chance to get something extra whenever they shop with the store, which will be welcome at a time when finances are stretched.
There’s also a welcome simplicity to the scheme. There’s no worrying about the value of loyalty points, and how that translates into discounts with partner retailers ‒ you simply build up a cashpot, then turn the money in that pot into a voucher.
One of the big downsides to the scheme to be aware of is the fact that it’s app-only.
As a result, it’s reliant on you not only having a smartphone but being comfortable using it while out and about.
That’s fine for young people and those who are confident using technology, but it’s potentially a barrier for older people and the vulnerable.
The rewards you earn will also be somewhat out of your control.
It’s great if your shopping needs line up with the in-app missions, since you’ll get something extra for buying items you wanted anyway.
But if that’s not the case, you won’t build up such a big cashpot.
It’s a similar story with the ‘star products’ ‒ only time will tell how well they line up with the sort of goods that people want to buy on a regular basis.
The timescales involved with the scheme strike me as pretty short also.
You only have six months to turn the money in your cashpot into a voucher, which isn’t very long by comparison with rival schemes where you have years before your points expire.
Should I sign up for Asda Rewards?
Obviously, the more that you shop at Asda, the more sense it will make to sign up for Asda Rewards. If you always do your grocery shopping there, then frankly it’s a no-brainer.
However, it’s also well worth considering even for those who spend with Asda more infrequently.
After all, it’s a free scheme and offers a simple way ‒ for those happy with smartphones ‒ to earn some rewards from their regular shopping.