Tesco has a little-known Clubcard subscription for up to £40 off food

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know what Tesco Clubcard is, and you’re likely already a member.

But did you know there’s a more premium version of the scheme known as Clubcard Plus, which provides other benefits?

Well, don’t feel bad if you didn’t, as it seems this subscription isn’t really common knowledge, despite being around since 2019.

The supermarket’s paid subscription costs £7.99 per month, with a free one-month trial to start new members off. 

What do you get with Clubcard Plus?

For £7.99 per month, shoppers get all of the usual Tesco Clubcard benefits as well as 10% off their groceries twice a month.

To use this discount, you simply scan a coupon in your Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app.

However, there is a limit to the amount you can save on your shopping, with each discount code maxing out at £20. So the most you can save is £40 per month overall on groceries. 

As well as this, Clubcard Plus members also get 10% off F&F clothing in-store all of the time, as well as items from selected brands like Paperchase, Go Create, Fox & Ivy, Fred & Flo, Tesco Pet, Go Cook, and Go Play.

And those who use Tesco Mobile also get double data any month on any pay monthly contract (conditions apply).

Anyone is able to sign up for the subscription, but only those who haven’t subscribed within the last six months are entitled to a free trial.

Bank details are required on sign-up, but you won’t be charged until the end of your first month – and you can cancel during this time if you decide it’s not worth the money for you.

Now, before you rush to join, it’s worth thinking through whether you really need to pay for yet another subscription and bearing in mind that while you are saving money, you’re still spending money to do so.

It’s also worth considering whether the perks will encourage you to spend more than you can afford to take advantage of discounts. 

The team at MoneySavingExpert previously warned shoppers not to use supermarket promotions as an excuse to ‘overspend’ and only buy what they were planning to get anyway.

They’ve urged people to keep four important ‘money mantras’ in mind when shopping, which are: ‘Do you need it? Can you afford it? Will you use it? And is it worth it?’

What do Clubcard Plus customers really think of it?

Shoppers who have signed up for the subscription have been sharing their thoughts on Reddit, and many think it’s ‘worth it’ if you spend at least £80 on groceries, once a month.

u/Dry-Teaching-5040 said: ‘If you do two shops each between £80 and £200 every month, then of course it’s worth it. We previously did four big shops per month, averaging between £80 and £90, so say £350 monthly spend. With Plus, we rearranged them into two big shops of about £150-£160 and two small shops on alternate weeks, restricted to perishables of about £25-£30. So still the same money shop overall, but with 10% off the two big shops, saving over £30 per month, less the £7.99 subscription.’

Similarly, u/Nels8192 wrote: ‘If you spend at least £80 in one shop, every month, or £40 twice, every month, then yes, absolutely worth it. At that point, your subscription pays for itself and everything else (up to £40 total discount per month) off your groceries is then extra savings.

‘I use it every month and will typically spend £230 in one shop. Clubcard Plus knocks it to £210 (as it maxes out at £20 per 10% voucher).’

Others claimed the free trial is a ‘blessing’, and some people have found a sneaky way to take advantage of it, without spending more.

‘Free trial is a blessing in itself, a free extra 10%. You only get the free trial, but you’re able to get it again every six months. I’ve timed mine to be around Christmas and summer,’ u/baked– claimed.

However, not everyone thought the subscription was worth it, as a different user added: ‘I got the free trial for the month I moved house and used the various discounts to save a fortune on home goods and my first big food shop. But I don’t spend enough in a normal month for it to be worth it.’

Tesco Colleague Clubcard

Clubcard Plus isn’t the only other Clubcard scheme Tesco offers – staff can also get a Colleague Clubcard.

Employees that worked at the business for at least three months are eligible to get the card, and they can share their membership with one other person.

Tesco’s careers website explains: ‘We’re all about making every day a little better. And helping you out with your weekly shop is a great place to start. After three months with us, you’ll get your Colleague Clubcard, giving you access to lots of discounts in-store and online. And you can even get one for a family member too.’

The Colleague Clubcard provides staff with 10% off purchases in stores, online, and in Tesco cafes. This rises to 15% off after every payday for a four-day period.

Employees also receive 10% off at One Stop, Tesco Mobile discounts such as 10% off pay monthly and SIM Only deals, 20% off all F&F purchases, 20% off car, pet, travel and home insurance, 30% off glasses at Vision Express and free eye tests, 50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy, and access to an exclusive deals and discounts website that helps them save money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills. (Ts&Cs apply though).

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