Savvy Giraffe
Money
Schemes guide
Cards, apps, volunteers, and loyalty — open one section.
Perk cards Totum, CSSC, Boundless, Blue Light, Defence…
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Totum / Totum+ — big multi-brand discounts. Free digital tier; Totum+
(~£14.99/year) adds physical card, cashback card, PASS ID.
Ways in: students · adult / part-time learners · apprentices · public sector · professional bodies / unions · org codes · CSSC members via the CSSC Totum+ offer. totum.com - CSSC (~£5.99/mo) — English Heritage / Cadw, gyms, cinema, days out; includes Totum+ for members. CSSC
- Boundless — Kew / WWT and dining/shopping perks; higher tiers can add more attractions + Tastecard / Kids Pass style extras. Boundless
- Blue Light Card — cheap key-worker card (NHS, emergency services, many teachers & more). Also covers some volunteers (Red Cross, RNLI, mountain rescue…). Blue Light
- Charity Worker Discounts — free for charity staff and volunteers. Charity Worker Discounts
- Defence Discount Service — free for forces, veterans, reserves, MoD routes. DDS
- Also check: Health Service Discounts, Discounts for Teachers, Discounts for Carers, kii, UNiDAYS / Student Beans, workplace portals (Perkbox, Edenred, Vivup).
- Union perks — many unions offer a Prepaid Plus cashback card + shopping portals (UNISON, Usdaw, Unite, GMB Extra…). Deep dive →
Volunteer & charity perks Free schemes most people never claim
If you give time to a charity or rescue org, start here before paying for anything.
- Charity Worker Discounts (free) — employed by or volunteering for a registered charity. Optional Ode cashback card once you’re in. Join free
- Blue Light volunteer routes — Red Cross, RNLI, mountain rescue and other accepted support services (proof required).
- Company Shop — charity / support-service volunteers can qualify; if not, ask a member for one of their two nomination slots.
- kii — free key-worker digital ID, including charity routes. wearekii.co.uk
- Sister free schemes: Discounts for Carers · Discounts for Teachers · Health Service Discounts.
Food for less Olio, Too Good To Go, Company Shop, Tastecard
- Olio — free surplus from neighbours and shop rescues. olioapp.com
- Too Good To Go — Surprise Bags from cafés and shops at a fraction of retail. Too Good To Go
- Community fridges — local free surplus; search your town + “community fridge”.
- Company Shop — discounted surplus groceries; eligibility can include key workers, NHS, charity volunteers, low-income households (check current rules). Company Shop
- Tastecard — 2-for-1 / dining discounts (e.g. Pizza Hut, Zizzi — offers vary). Sometimes bundled with Boundless. Tastecard
Scottish Friendly My Benefits Retail discounts if you already hold a plan
Register for My Plans, go paperless, get the My Benefits card — shop and restaurant offers (examples often include Tesco, IKEA, M&S). Not financial advice; investments can go down as well as up.
Supermarkets Only the shops you already use
- Asda Rewards — cashback-style balance, coupons
- Co-op Membership — personalised offers, member rewards
- Iceland Bonus Card — deals / cashback-style offers
- Lidl Plus — weekly coupons
- M&S Sparks — gifts, early sale access
- Morrisons More — vouchers
- Nectar — Sainsbury’s & Argos points
- Poundland Perks — member discounts
- Tesco Clubcard — Clubcard Prices, vouchers
- myWaitrose — free coffee (terms apply), extras
Coffee & cafés Stamp cards + mobile freebies
- Caffè Nero — stamp / app free drinks
- Costa Coffee Club — free drink after stamps
- Greggs Rewards — free pastries / drinks
- Pret Perks — freebies / subscription track
- RWRD — independent café discounts
- Starbucks Rewards — stars, birthday freebies
Also: Vodafone VeryMe · Three+ · O2 Priority (coffee / cinema / food offers).
Restaurants & fast food Rewards apps you already visit
- Burger King Rewards
- Franco Manca
- KFC Rewards Arcade
- Krispy Kreme Rewards
- Leon Club
- MyMcDonald’s Rewards
- Nando’s Rewards
- PizzaExpress Club
- Subway Rewards
- Wagamama Soul Club
Card perks Curve, Amex — only if you clear balances
- Curve — one card for many; refer-a-friend cashback windows; check abroad fees on your plan.
- American Express Membership Rewards — points for travel / gift cards — only if you pay in full every month.
How to stack Three rules so it doesn’t get messy
- Free cards first (Charity Worker Discounts, Totum free, Blue Light, Defence, Olio).
- Ask about Company Shop / CSSC nomination slots before you pay for anything.
- Pay only for a club you’ll use this month (CSSC / Boundless / Tastecard / Totum+).
- Loyalty apps: max 2–3 shops you already visit. Calendar every renewal.