I decided to properly test Woolworths Everyday Rewards Extras this month, because I kept asking myself the same question at the end of last year, is it actually worth the $70?
I also asked this on my stories last year, and the response was mixed. Some people swear by it, while others didn’t think it was worth it at all.
They used to offer a Black Friday sale where it was half price, so $35 for the year. That felt like an easy yes. But at $70, I really wasn’t sure. And to be honest, I was a little annoyed they removed that option.
With Everyday Rewards Extras, you get 10% off one shop each month (capped at $50), and double points at checkout. You need 2000 points to get $10 off your shop, which you can either use straight away or save up for later in the year. Occasionally, there are bonus offers like free products as well.
Without Extras, and just using the standard free Everyday Rewards card, you can still earn points and get the $10 rewards, but you don’t get the monthly 10% off or the bonus perks.
For me, the biggest question was whether it was worth it based on how I shop. I don’t do my full grocery shop at the supermarket. I mainly buy staples, snacks, and cleaning products there, and get most of my fruit, vegetables, and meat elsewhere. So I’m not spending hundreds every week, even though it still adds up.
Over the past few months, I’ve been testing whether I actually get more value from the paid version compared to the free card.
What I found was that without Extras, I wasn’t earning points very quickly. It felt like it took a long time just to reach the $10 reward, I think I only got it once. But with double points and boosters, I was sometimes earning that $10 reward once a month.
Even without doing large shops, if I spent around $100, the 10% off would save me $10 straight away.
When you break it down, the yearly cost is $70, which works out to about $5.83 per month, or $7 if you pay monthly. If I’m saving around $10 in a month, I’m technically ahead, even if it’s only by a few dollars.
And while that might not sound like much, when the cost of living is high, those small savings do add up. A few dollars here and there across multiple things each week can make a difference.
After testing it properly, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is worth it for me. And I do think it could be worth it for a lot of people, especially if you’re regularly shopping at Woolworths and making use of the offers.
However, if you’re only spending small amounts, say around $20, then it’s probably not worth it, as the savings won’t outweigh the cost.
I actually reactivated mine just before my grocery shop so I could use the 10% off before the end of the month, and that one shop alone covered the monthly cost.
The one thing I would say to be mindful of is not letting the 10% off change how you shop. It’s easy to get caught up in it, but if you usually buy something at 50% off and instead buy it full price just to use your 10%, you’re actually spending more.
The same goes for adding extra items to your trolley just because you’re getting a discount. It’s still money being spent.
This is where planning comes in. Whether it’s weekly or loosely for the month, having a plan helps you use the discount properly, rather than letting it guide your spending.
For me, I’ll keep using it for now. I’m really glad I tested it properly, because it gave me a much clearer answer than just guessing.