Unlocking 'My Nectar Prices': A Step-by-Step Guide to Personalised Savings at Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's has evolved its Nectar programme into a multi-layered savings ecosystem. While standard "Nectar Prices" offer great value, the most powerful discounts are reserved for users of a specific feature: "My Nectar Prices." This system, available through the SmartShop app, provides deep, personalised discounts on the items you buy most. Understanding how to "train" this algorithm is the key to unlocking the lowest possible prices at Sainsbury's.

What are 'My Nectar Prices'?

While standard Nectar Prices (found in the weekly flyer) are available to all Nectar members, My Nectar Prices are unique to you. The SmartShop app analyses your shopping habits and generates a list of up to ten products with specially reduced prices, often much lower than the standard Nectar Price. These offers are designed to reward your personal loyalty.

How to Access and Use 'My Nectar Prices': A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Get the Right Tools

You need two things: a Nectar account and the Sainsbury's SmartShop app on your smartphone. SmartShop is Sainsbury's "scan as you go" service. You can either use your phone's camera to scan items as you put them in your trolley or use the handsets available at the front of larger stores.

Step 2: Start 'Training' the Algorithm

The My Nectar Prices feature learns from your behaviour. To get relevant offers, you need to provide it with data. For your first few shops using SmartShop, buy your regular weekly items as you normally would. The system will start to identify your "favourite" products—the brand of bread you always buy, the type of cheese you prefer, your go-to coffee.

Step 3: Check Your Personalised Offers

After a couple of shops, the magic starts. Open your SmartShop app and look for the "My Nectar Prices" or "Your Prices" section. Here you will find a list of products with a special, lower price just for you. The discounts can be significant, sometimes up to 30% off the shelf price. These offers are valid for a week and will then refresh with a new (or similar) selection.

Step 4: Shop and Save

Now, when you do your weekly shop, use your personalised list as your guide. When you scan an item from your list using SmartShop, the app will automatically apply your unique lower price. You'll see the saving in real-time on your app's running total. This provides complete transparency and control over your spending as you move through the store.

Advanced Strategy: Stacking Your Savings

The ultimate goal is to stack discounts. Alongside your My Nectar Prices, remember to check the main Nectar app for weekly bonus point offers. You might get a "My Nectar Price" on a certain pizza, plus a separate bonus offer for "50 points when you buy any pizza." By purchasing it, you get both the lower price and the bonus points—the mark of a true Nectar master. Always check the main weekly ad on sites like Cataloguethisweek to see the standard Nectar Prices you can use as a baseline.

By investing a few minutes each week to use SmartShop and check your personalised offers, you transform your relationship with Sainsbury's from a passive buyer to an active saver, consistently rewarded for your loyalty.