Millions of Australians are shopping at Coles, Bunnings, Target and Kmart every week. And one WA hairdresser said she’s managed to leverage her spend to be worth “tens of thousands of dollars”.
Christmas is nearly here, with just 12 weekends to go until the big day. For even the most festive among us, the overwhelm of preparation and cost can definitely bring out the inner Grinch.
Australians spend between $780 and $800 on the festive season, according to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
But, Coles shopper Melinda Bryenton-Rochard told Yahoo Lifestyle she has eased the financial pressure by harnessing the power of the rewards program, Flybuys.
“I joined Flybuys about 14 years ago, and honestly, it’s become a big part of how my husband and I manage our everyday spending,” she said. “I also love collecting points from partners like Bunnings, Target and Kmart, using the points for everything from gazebos to plants.”
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Utilising the reward program has allowed Melinda to redeem her points for a huge range of products and services, including tech items and reduced airfares.
“I’ve earned hundreds of thousands of Flybuys points, converting to tens of thousands of dollars,” she said.
“Recently, I used a big chunk of my Flybuys points to contribute towards our return business-class flights to the UK – helping reduce the cost of a trip worth more than $18,000.”
Melinda has cashed in points for items like her Smeg kitchen range, but said it also creates an opportunity to reduce Christmas stress. Picture: Melinda Bryenton-Rochard
But it’s the small everyday savings that really make a difference over time. For example, I’ve gotten brand new iPhones and iPads, a beautiful gazebo for the backyard.”
And for the most wonderful — and expensive — time of the year, Melinda said utilising her Flybuys points has helped her save big time.
“By the time December rolls around, I’ve usually earned enough points to cover hundreds of dollars’ worth of groceries for our Christmas lunch,” she said.
“On top of that, I’ve redeemed points for gift cards and presents, so I’d estimate we save several hundred dollars each holiday season, sometimes even more if there’s a big tech gift or extra entertainment to do.
It means we can go all out for Christmas without dipping into our regular budget, and that makes the season feel a lot more relaxed, festive, and affordable.”
Coles has also just announced its Christmas range, which includes 340 Coles brand products that will arrive in stores from November 5.
Highlights include:
Coles Finest Boneless Chicken Prosciutto Wrapped Fromager d’Affinois with Honey & Fig Sauce 1kg – priced at $5.60 per serve
Coles Pulled Ham with Smokey Maple Glaze – priced at $2.50 per 100g
Coles Finest Duck Fat Potatoes 600g – priced at $5.50
Coles CEO and chef Curtis Stone have announced the supermarket’s Christmas offerings. Picture: Coles
How to make the most of Flybuys to save at Christmas
Melinda said her best tip for making the most of Flybuys to save at Christmas is to use the rewards program “strategically.”
“I’ll scan my Flybuys while doing regular grocery shops in the months leading up to Christmas,” she said. “The more I scan with the card, the more points stack up.”
When it comes to gifts, she will keep an eye out for promotions to boost her earnings.
“I earn bonus points for buying gift cards to put towards electronics or homewares,” the hairdresser said. “I like redeeming points for things I would otherwise buy for Christmas gifts.”
Melinda said redeeming has helped her stress less about “last-minute spending.
“I’ve redeemed gifts and wine from partner Liquorland, additional homewares for entertaining from Kmart and Target and gift cards from Bunnings,” she said.
“Flybuys has basically become my secret Christmas fund: it takes the pressure off and lets us spoil our loved ones a little more, all while keeping our finances on track.”
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Some other tips include downloading the Flybuys app, which often offers bonus or seasonal promotions, as well as member-only offers, which can add up.
“Closer to Christmas, there are sometimes special Flybuys or Coles ‘Christmas instant win” or bonus point offers. I’ll make sure to take advantage of those,” she says.
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