If you’re a British shopper, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Nectar and are likely often asked if you have a card on you! These cards have proven extremely popular in recent years, although many of us still don’t know how to use them beyond scanning at the till!
But what about Nectar point value – what are those little bits of credit really worth when compared to the shopping you buy to rack up your totals? As of early 2023, 1 Nectar point is worth 0.5p. If you’ve got a lot of points, use our handy calculator below to work out the exact value of nectar points.
Nectar cards can actually be extremely valuable, especially if you use them wisely. They’re great at giving you money off all kinds of different purchases, from your groceries to bigger items for your home. You can even use them to get money off holidays!
Let’s take a deep dive into what Nectar is, and how their popular points system actually works.
Nectar points calculator – work out how much you’ve accrued!
If you’ve already made a ton of Nectar points or anticipate spending to earn more in the near future, I’m here to help. Here’s a Nectar points calculator you can use to find out more about what you’ve got to spend.
What is Nectar?
Nectar is a popular type of reward card that’s most commonly used in Sainsbury’s, one of the leading supermarkets in the UK.
However, unlike standard rewards cards, they are not tied to one single shop or chain. Instead, they can be used in multiple wayks for multiple shops.
For example, you can use your Nectar card when buying the weekly shop from Sainsbury’s, appliances from Argos, decor from Homebase, or even a nifty deal on eBay!
Every time you make a purchase at participating stores, no matter the amount spent or the products bought, you can swipe your Nectar card, and points will add to your account.
Take caution, however, as there may be some stores where you can only spend points, and not earn them. This was once the case with Argos, for example.
As with a standard rewards card, the amount of points you get depends on the total amount you spend in the shop.
These points can then be used for cash, vouchers, or even to purchase directly with the card.
That being said, remember that while you can use Nectar points in place of cash, that does not mean you can exchange them for actual cash in hand! Instead, you can use the money to make purchases in the shops linked to Nectar.
Nectar is more about helping you cut down on everyday costs, rather than granting you cash freebies outright. As one of the biggest reward card schemes running in the UK right now, it’s pretty easy to find a participating brand!
How much are Nectar points worth?
Want to cash in your Nectar points? It’s probably worth stacking up at least 500 if you want to see any worthwhile money taken off your bills. A single Nectar point, at the time of writing, is worth 0.5p.
You can earn a single Nectar point for every pound you spend at participating stores. You can sometimes boost this value with special vouchers and offers that Nectar sends via email, post, and even in-store.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Nectar points work in practice:
- 1 Nectar point – you’ll get 0.5p
- 2 Nectar points – you’ll get 1p
- 100 Nectar points – you’ll get 50p
- 500 Nectar points – you’ll get £2.50
- 1000 Nectar points – you’ll get £5.00
- 2000 Nectar points – you’ll get £10.00
- 5000 Nectar points – you’ll get £25.00
As you can see, it takes a whole lot of points to make a reasonable amount of money on your Nectar card. It’s a good money-maker if you regularly shop at Sainsbury’s, Argos and eBay, for example.
However, consider how much money you need to spend to make £25 back as a voucher. To make 5000 Nectar points, you’ll need to spend £5,000.
Now – if you spend £200 per week on groceries at Sainsbury’s, that means you’ll accrue just over 10,000 Nectar points in a year. That’s £50 in Nectar vouchers to spend completely free (if you’re already investing that cash on weekly groceries).
Therefore, Nectar may be worth a few freebies here and there – it all depends on your current spending habits and needs.
When can I start spending my Nectar points?
To start spending your Nectar card points in-store, you need to have spent at least over £1 in the course of your shop. You’ll also need to have earned Nectar points in that particular store within the last 12 months (with the exception of petrol stations).
Technically, you can start spending in any Nectar-linked shop 24 hours after your first visit to that shop (and within 12 months of first visiting it).
How long does it take for the Nectar points to reach my account?
In most cases, Nectar points appear nearly immediately in accounts. However, it is important to note that points can take up to 25 days, in rare cases, to fully transfer.
If, after 25 days, you still cannot see the points that should have been added to your account, you should contact Nectar customer services directly.
It could be that your card has not been registered properly or is simply not receiving points due to a technical glitch.
However, this is a very rare circumstance, and usually, the card works immediately.
And once the points reach your account, you can spend them on pretty much anything you want!
What can I spend my Nectar points on?
Nectar links to multiple shops across multiple industries. This means you can spend your Nectar points on food, gadgets, decor, paint, coffee, and even petrol and travel!
Specifically, Nectar points are redeemable at Sainsbury’s, Argos, eBay, Esso, Dulux Decorator Centre, Caffè Nero, Habitat, Brakes, and on the Eurostar!
You can also exchange your points for Avios points, which are spendable on flights with British Airways. Using Nectar points is a great way to save on travel, especially during peak times.
Finally, you can also donate the money you saved to the Woodland Trust or any good causes with Nectar Donate. Their list of worthy charities is available on their website – why not take a look through and give a little back this year?
How do I get a Nectar card?
It’s easy to either pick up a Nectar card application in a participating store, or to register for your first account online (or via Nectar app).
The great thing about picking up a card directly in-store is that you can use it straight away. Once you get home, you can register with Nectar online, having already gained points for your purchases.
Before you apply, please note that both primary and additional collectors on the card must be 18 years of age or older.
However, should a minor have the permission of their parent or legal guardian to collect points on the Nectar card and be allowed to use the points for rewards, then they too will be allowed to collect.
Make sure to register your account to a valid UK address, and opt into offers and marketing if you wish. This way, you can start receiving vouchers through the post that you can use to get even more money off your shopping.
FAQs
Is Sainsbury’s no longer using Nectar?
Sainsbury’s is still using Nectar. In fact, Sainsbury’s is one of the main shops that people use to increase their Nectar points!
Since you can easily do your weekly shops there (and purchase a variety of items such as clothes, books, electronics and home decor items), going to Sainsbury’s can be a great way of quickly increasing your Nectar points. Just remember to always bring your Nectar card with you.
Is a Nectar card worth it?
On the whole, Nectar cards can be worth the effort providing you shop regularly at their partner brands.
For example, if you never go to Sainsbury’s or Argos, and don’t usually frequent any other Nectar-related stores, then it would take you years to gain enough points for the card to pay for itself.
Do Nectar points ever expire?
While technically, there’s no expiry dates on Nectar points, if you don’t spend or collect any points for a year, Nectar will assume your account is inactive and close down your points. You’ll get a warning before this happens!
Can I earn and spend Nectar points on Amazon?
No – Nectar isn’t partnered with Amazon – the confusion may come from the fact that NectarHR, a different brand, is in partnership with Amazon Business!
How much is 10,000 nectar points worth?
10,000 nectar points are worth £50.
