Are you earning more flybuys points than your neighbour?
I've developed an unexpected case of points envy – with myself.
So this I did not expect. According to my quarterly flybuys statement, I'm among the top 7% of all flybuys points earners in NSW. Some quick calculations suggest that means I've earned more points than at least 2.3 million other people across the state.
I find this remarkable because I don't feel I've done anything that special. Indeed, over that three-month period (June-August) I only earned 648 flybuys points from regular shopping, virtually all of it at Coles. What put me into that elite group were the 12,870 bonus points I scored during that same period.
I pocketed those points through a mixture of targeted email offers (earning extra points for spending a minimum amount of money in a week) and gift card bonuses (there was a handy Netflix deal during the quarter). I didn't buy anything I wouldn't have otherwise; I just got a little more organised around my shopping. The end result was more points in a quarter than the average family would earn in a year just from shopping.
I'm not here to gloat. OK, maybe a little. But the lesson here is that there's a lot of untapped potential for most people by keeping an eye on their offers, whether that's for flybuys or Woolworths Rewards. Indeed, it's not a one-or-the-other proposition. Over that same period, I also earned 10,000 bonus Woolworths Rewards points.
Earning points feels good, but I know my limits. I'm not going to sign up for flybuys max just yet because my fresh food purchases wouldn't make the $99 annual fee worthwhile.
I'm also going to make sure I keep converting my supermarket points into frequent flyer points, because I'll get more value that way. Using those points for cash off means I'll only get $5 per 1,000 points, and I can do at least four times better through an airline.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more. It appears regularly on finder.com.au.
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