The Scottish side of the family
I love visiting the Scottish side of the family. I always get loads of tips. Good tips; the kind you can really use. Like when my mother-in-law showed me how to warm a lemon by rolling in your palms — to make sure you get every last drop when you squeeze it.
My sister in law (SIL) is from Edinburgh. We have a silent agreement — we usually just nod at each other since I don't understand her accent, and she doesn't understand mine. But somehow, when it comes to things like money – and saving money – we instantly understand each other.
We were taking about Tesco vouchers the other day… she was appalled when I proudly told her her I used £18 of the ClubCard vouchers for my last shop.
"You don't spend your Tesco vouchers in the store, do you?"
"Ummm, of course not," I said, trying to figure out if the look on her face was for me. "I use them online."
"You can get FOUR TIMES their value for places like Pizza Express and Cafe Rouge." I was vaguely aware of something like this, but was sure it required hours of form-filling and weeks of waiting for vouchers to arrive in the post. I was intrigued, we eat at Pizza Express more often than I wash the dishes.
"You do it online. It takes a few minutes".
So I did it. I logged onto www.tesco.com/clubcard. I registered my details and exchanged £30 of vouchers for £120 worth of pizza tokens.
Hubby is proud.
Photo credit: foxypar4
Growingmyfamilytree.wordpress.com | 26th Mar 10
This has definitely given me a kick up the bum to do the same with my vouchers – thanking you kindly!
Luschka | 25th Mar 10
Hmm… I did not know that. But then I’ve been waiting a year for my card to be sent out. Maybe I should chase that up, now I think about it!
Voucher Mum | 24th Mar 10
Haha this is brilliant! I just amused my colleagues by calling Tesco for more information. Thanks for the tip!
Peggy @ Perfectly Happy Mum | 24th Mar 10
Wow that’s quite a lot of pizza to eat that… 🙂
A Modern Mother | 24th Mar 10
@kitty go for it, mine just arrived!
kitty moore | 23rd Mar 10
Wow – I didn’t know you could do that! Thanks for the tip, pizza express here I come….x
Mietwagen Teneriffa | 23rd Mar 10
I got my sister in law a magazine subscription for Christmas using Tesco vouchers. Hope she isn’t reading this!
babieswhobrunch | 23rd Mar 10
if only i didn’t have a pathological hatred of tesco…. it makes life tough. and expensive….
Kelly | 22nd Mar 10
I have used £10 of vouchers to get something called a Hi Life Diners Card. Basically 2 for 1 on meals in loads of restaurants. http://www.hi-life.co.uk/tesco/
You can use it in Prezzo and I am addicted to their garlic pizza bread so all is good.
Metropolitan Mum | 22nd Mar 10
The Scots. Very thrifty and smart folks. I should abandon Sainsbury’s and go to Tesco’s. Time to move!! 🙂
Expat Mum | 22nd Mar 10
Blimey, I’ll have to tell my sis. She lives near the biggest Tesco on the planet.
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@PlanB My hubby doesn’t use the clubcard either — but that’s because I do the shopping!
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@Lindy yes, that’s what my hubby said too
Iota | 22nd Mar 10
Canny woman!
Lindy | 22nd Mar 10
HELLO!?!?!?! Did I just read what I think I just read?!?!! £30 into £120?
Plan B | 22nd Mar 10
My Scottish husband doesn’t EVEN USE his clubcard. We’ll change that when we’re north of the border….
Interestingly though as our moving date approaches, he’s suddenly become very protective of the girls’ English ancestry. Not enough to support England against France at the weekend of course, but I live in hope….
Antonella | 22nd Mar 10
Excellent advice. Always listen to the Scots, they are very wise with money! I’m a real sucker for points, freebies etc. But what I like most it’s Orange Wednesday. I hate to pay in full to go to the cinema! Do you know Martin Lewis’ http://www.moneysavingexpert.com? Lots and lots of advice on savings, freebies, offers etc.
Ciao. A.
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@rosie I heard that Centre Parcs didn’t take the voucher … need to look into that again
Rosie Scribble | 22nd Mar 10
Last year we spend £300 of Tesco vouchers at Cafe Rouge in Center Parcs. Have to admit we did get a bit tired of dining there but it was all free so we can’t complain really. I got my sister in law a magazine subscription for Christmas using Tesco vouchers. Hope she isn’t reading this!
Nat | 22nd Mar 10
hmm pizza
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@heather sadly no Sainsburys here
Heather Davis | 22nd Mar 10
I’m a Sainsbury shopper as it’s closer to me than Tesco’s. There you can use your vouchers at Argos. I save up as use them for birthday/xmas presents.
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@mwa does anyone actually go to Pizza Express w/o a voucher????
Mwa | 22nd Mar 10
Mmmm pizza and vouchers.
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@auntigwen I’v been shopping at Tesco for about 13 years and just figured it out
@trish I can’t either!
Trish@Mum's Gone to | 22nd Mar 10
Can’t believe your Scottish hubby hadn’t rooted through the Tesco Deals brochure and sorted you out, like mine did!
We have exchanged vouchers for Prezzo(another Italian restaurant chain) Goldsmiths jewellers (great at Christmas for presents)and museums in London.
auntiegwen | 22nd Mar 10
I had no idea about that either, maybe I should start going to Tesco
A Modern Mother | 22nd Mar 10
@madhouse thanks for the tips, may do National Trust
TheMadHouse | 22nd Mar 10
I love Tesco Deals, We also exchange our vouchers for Legoland, Alnick Castle and the likes.
You can also get membership for English Herritate and The National Trust