When it comes to grabbing a quick lunch on the go, you can't beat Greggs. A sausage roll may not be the most nutritional snack, but any guilt I may feel is momentary when I remember I'm getting rewarded for choice.
The popular high street bakery chain is one of many retailer's partnered with Airtime Rewards, a free app that has given me more than £260 off my phone bill since 2019. Getting the free credit was simple, all I had to do was download it and link my Visa debit card.
Spending is then tracked, with cashback automatically landing in a reward pot when a purchase is made with a participating brand. Rewards typically range between one and two per cent, although some offer up to 15 per cent, and once you've reached £10 it can redeemed towards your phone bill or gift it to another member.
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Halfords, Domino's and Deliveroo are some of the big brands currently signed up, but they change regularly. I earned the most when Morrisons was a partner, pulling in around £4.50 with each weekly shop. In the run up to Christmas, I expect I'll make the most of the two per cent cashback from Argos and the five per cent from Boots.
Greggs has a one per cent base rate but if you spend more than £7, you'll get five per cent cashback. You'll find examples of the current brands and rates offered below.
Other balance boosting opportunities within the app come from the monthly 'challenges', where you'll earn cash bonuses for hitting the required amount of transactions, and the refer a friend scheme, which gives you £1.50 when they join. I am also an Ignite member, a free feature which gives me exclusive access to certain retailers. At the moment I'm receiving one per cent cashback on my 02 bill and two per cent at Spar, JD Sports and Starbucks as a result.
Airtime Rewards works with these major phone networks - EE, Three, O2, Vodafone and giffgaff. While not everyone may feel comfortable linking their bank cards, Airtime Rewards insists the details are "safe with us" as Open Banking technology is used preventing them from seeing any "sensitive information", including account number, sort code or balance.
Personally, I've had no issues and think it is a great way to shave some pounds off my phone bill. With the variety of retailers signed up, I don't think a month has gone by that I haven't seen some pennies land in my reward pot, just by going about my everyday life.
Airtime Rewards brands and rates
Here are just a few examples of where you can earn money back with the app:
- Deliveroo - 10 per cent when spending £8 or more
- Amazon Fresh - 10 per cent
- Dr. Martens - three per cent
- Halfords - one per cent
- Clarks - five per cent
- Sephora - two per cent
- Honest Burgers - 10 per cent
- Bicester Village - one per cent
- Debenhams - three per cent
- Foot Locker - three per cent
- Bensons for Beds - three per cent
- Mamas & Papas - three per cent
- Ed's Easy Diner - three per cent
- Gusto - 10 per cent
- Alton Towers - four per cent
- Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham - five per cent
