How to compare supermarket member prices, coupons, cashback and gift cards

Start with the shop you would usually do

Write down the quantities you need before opening the supermarket app. Suppose your usual 750 g box of cereal costs £2.40 and a 500 g box has a member price of £1.75. Divide each price by the weight in kilograms. The usual box works out at £3.20/kg and the member offer at £3.50/kg. If both boxes will get eaten, the larger one is better value. These are illustrative prices. For an online comparison, add delivery or collection charges to each basket.

Check the member price, then test the coupon

Match the pack size and variety on the shelf label. If the price is personal to your account, check whether you need to activate it. For Tesco’s personalised Your Clubcard Prices, eligible shoppers unlock their offers and scan their Clubcard at the till, or link it to their online account. Tesco’s official guide to personalised Clubcard Prices

Read the coupon’s dates, product exclusions and spending threshold. Tesco tests minimum-spend coupons against qualifying items after promotions and Clubcard Prices. Suppose a coupon takes £3 off a qualifying £30 shop and your qualifying subtotal is £28. Adding a £4 item takes the bill to £29 after the coupon. Leave it out unless it was something you needed anyway. Tesco’s coupon terms

Choose how to pay before chasing cashback

If you can buy a discounted gift card, compare its face value with what you actually pay, including any fee. In a hypothetical offer, a £25 card bought for £24 saves £1 once spent in full. Use £20 today and you still have £5 tied up with the retailer. Check where the card works, when the balance expires and how a refund would be paid. Tesco’s e-gift card terms rule out exchanging the balance for cash. Tesco e-gift card terms

For online cashback, read the retailer’s offer on the cashback site before clicking through. Check customer eligibility, permitted codes and whether gift-card payments qualify. If the terms leave the combination unclear, compare the gift-card saving with the cashback route separately. TopCashback lists unlisted codes and another site getting credit for the sale among the reasons a claim can fail. Budget for the amount you have to pay today. TopCashback’s guide to declined cashback

New to TopCashback? Sign up through this referral link between 10am GMT on 31 October and 10am GMT on 9 November 2026, then earn at least £10 cashback with eligible brands within 180 days of joining. Once the qualifying transactions are approved, you’ll receive a £10 sign-up bonus. The referrer also earns a reward for a qualifying referral. Offer terms and excluded brands

Check the receipt and keep the card

Before paying, check that the member price and coupon have come off. For delivery, keep the final receipt and order number. If you return something bought partly with a gift card, ask the supermarket how it will split the refund and keep the card details until it arrives. A change, cancellation or partial return can also cost you the cashback. Record that saving when you receive it. If the retailer declines it and you think you qualified, use the platform’s claim process. TopCashback’s claims guidance