The cost of living in South Africa is through the roof.

Everyone wants to get more bang for their buck, so it pays to know which shopping outlet offers the best value.

Back in July, we brought you a price comparison of the pharmacies at Checkers, Dis-Chem, Clicks and Pick n Pay.

Pick n Pay came in as the second most affordable dispensary, behind Dis-Chem.

When it comes to the cost of a basket of groceries, out of the four main retailers in South Africa – Spar, Woolworths, Checkers, and Pick n Pay – Spar saw the smallest increase in the price of its basket from 2018 to 2019. Pick n Pay was the only other store to see price reductions.

Now, Pick n Pay is allowing you to use your Smart Shopper points to buy petrol.

Business Insider has some background on how the Smart Shopper system works.

Smart Shoppers earn 10 points for every litre of fuel purchased at over 500 BP service stations across South Africa.

Business Insider: BP petrol attendant, Chancy Kayoka, and customer Amelia Johnson.

Customers are also rewarded with great specials for their loyalty – like bonus points – meaning they can boost their points throughout the year.

If you have accumulated R75 or more in Smart Shopper points you can use these points to pay, or partly pay, for your petrol at BP.

Similar to shopping at any Pick n Pay store, customers can simply swipe their Smart Shopper card and spend their points. You can also earn points by buying petrol.

“Increasingly customers are looking for relief for their everyday expenses and now they can conveniently spend their points on their fuel purchases at BP,” said John Bradshaw, marketing retail executive at Pick n Pay.

Nice.

So, it’s not exactly ‘free’ petrol, but as they say, you’ve got to spend money to make money.

It does have the potential to take the edge off, though.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who cries a little every time the petrol price goes up.

[source:businessinsider]