DO you regularly go for a stroll during your lunch break or take the bus to work? You could be earning vouchers for free while you do.
A handy app called BetterPoints rewards people for exercising and taking public transport with vouchers for a range of high-street brands, including John Lewis, Tesco and Amazon.
You could get free high street vouchers just by walking and taking public transport[/caption]
You can collect points for walking, running, cycling, taking the bus or train, and in some cases car-sharing.
The points can then be exchanged for high street vouchers, or you can donate the money to charities or community groups.
You can collect as many points as you want, but if you don’t spend or earn points for at least 18 months they will be removed from your account.
You can also earn prize draw entries, called BetterTickets, for doing certain activities.
Prizes can include bundles of points, or event tickets or e-bikes.
However, not everyone in the UK is eligible for the rewards scheme.
BetterPoints is linked with local councils and organisations, so you can only earn points if you’re in an area that is running a programme.
Some workplaces also run schemes to encourage staff to commute more sustainably.
Here is a list of areas in the UK that are currently running BetterPoints challenges:
- Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley or those who work in Ebbsfleet Garden City from the Greater London area
- Leicestershire
- Sheffield – University staff and students only
- Hounslow
- York
- Cardiff – University staff and students only
- Surrey
- Renfrewshire
- Sunderland
- Buckinghamshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Southwark
- Sheffield
- Highlands and Islands area
- Newham
- East Dunbartonshire
- Oxfordshire
- Lancashire
- Hillingdon
- Wrexham and Deeside
There are also national challenges that anyone can take part in, to earn points and be entered in prize draws.
The app will use your phone’s GPS and motion sensors to automatically record activities like walking, cycling and running, and taking public transport once you turn on the tracking switch.
You can then start racking up points, and exchange them for high street vouchers in the app’s Rewards section.
If you earn 1,000 BetterPoints, this is equivalent to £1.
You can normally earn 1 point for each minute that you run, walk or cycle, and 20 points per public transport journey – which can quickly add up overtime.
The brands you can choose to spend your points on depend on what area you live in, but some of the participating brands include Argos, John Lewis, Costa Coffee, Amazon, Ikea, Tesco and Starbucks.
You’ll need to be 14 or over to join, and you’ll have to share your name, email address, the year you were born, as well as your postcode.
Other discount and voucher apps
If you don’t live in an area with a BetterPoints challenge, there are other apps and schemes that could help you save money.
If you work in the NHS, emergency services, social services, armed forces or as a teacher, you may be eligible for the Blue Light Card.
This can offer around 15,000 different discounts on a huge range of high street brands.
To be eligible for a Blue Light Card, you’ ll need to prove your profession by uploading a form of valid ID or recent payslip.
To sign up, just head to the Blue Light Card website where you’ll have to fill out a form.
If you work in education, the Discount for Teachers App provides savings at hundreds of retailers, and you can save £2,262 a year.
Anyone who works in education, including teaching assistants, support staff, caterers and maintenance staff, retired education workers, and lecturers and professors, can all get the discounts.
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