SUE’S GUIDE TO Cashing In On Free Christmas Treats
l got vouchers for days out, afternoon tea, gift experiences or theatre tickets from last Christmas.
According to Capital One UK, nearly £5 billion vouchers have been issued since March 2020 for ever ything from cancelled holidays to shows and theme park tickets, due to the pandemic.
The average amount is a whopping
£508, yet one in three of us don’t know when our vouchers expire, and run the risk of missing out.
So it’s time to track down those vouchers and check the small print!
In some cases, companies have applied automatic extensions over the past year, while, with others, you may have to apply for one.
I’ve found gift experience companies like Buyagift allow you to extend vouchers, even after they’ve expired, and you can do this through its website.
If the experience or event you were booked on is now no longer available, you should be due a refund or you could swap your voucher for another option.
Do check terms and conditions as you may need to book in advance, or be restricted to cer tain days.
Also, if you’ve got an unused voucher for a treat like a spa day or afternoon tea you’re unlikely to use, you could “regift” it as a
Christmas present. Check first with the company it came from, in case you need to change the guest name.
SUE’S TIPS:
◆ Check vouchers for expiry dates. Some companies offer automatic extensions, otherwise you may need to apply online.
◆ Swap loyalty points for treats. New from Tesco Clubcard are Afternoon Tea bus tours in York and London. Trade your points for up to three times their value.
◆ Regift unused gift cards, but check first if there’s an expiry date. M&S and John Lewis last two years, 10 with Amazon.