Check the price
Include delivery, returns and any voucher conditions.
UK Avios, cards and cashback
Start earning Avios from the money you already spend.
Get the card stack, earning routes and redemption checks I use in one guide, with the card links sent in the same email.
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My own setup
I use every account on this page.
I compare the available return before I buy, then use the route that suits that purchase. The guide puts those decisions into one order.
See what is inside ↓Inside the guide
Nine sections. One sequence.
Start with the card stack, build the earning habits, see what the bonuses are really worth, protect the points you already have, then redeem with a clear comparison.
01The Recommended Card Stack
02Every Way to Earn
03What the Welcome Bonuses Actually Give You
04My Split vs Starting From Zero
05Amex Retention Offers
06Redeeming Smartly
07Airline Sweet Spots
08What to Never Do
09Your Action Plan
Your next purchase
Three checks before you pay.
This is the smallest useful version of the system. It takes one planned purchase and helps you choose the route before you click through.
Compare the reward
Choose one shopping portal for that order.
Pay deliberately
Use an eligible card only when you can repay it in full.
Choose one route
Points or cashback.
I compare these before an online order because the available retailer and rate can change which route gives me the better return. All four open straight from here, no email needed.
Avios
Earn AviosUse it when an eligible retailer and rate make the Avios route worthwhile.
Open AviosRakuten
Earn cashbackCompare its cashback rate with the points routes before choosing.
Open RakutenTopCashback
Earn cashbackFree to join. Eligible tracked purchases can earn cashback after approval.
Open TopCashbackVirgin Red
Earn Virgin PointsUse it when you have a purpose for Virgin Points and the rate suits the purchase.
Open Virgin RedWhere I invest
My stocks and shares ISA.
Trading 212 is where my ISA and my monthly index fund buys sit. Not sponsored. When Trading 212 runs an invite promotion, my invite goes here.
Trading 212
Invite openJoin with my invite and we both get free fractional shares worth up to £100. Open until 3 November 2026. Capital at risk, terms apply.
Claim the inviteTrading 212
No invite right nowThe last invite promotion has ended. Trading 212 runs a new one from time to time; when it does, my invite goes straight back here. Capital at risk.
Next invite comingCards and fees
Count the cost before the points.
A bonus gets attention. The annual fee and the rewards you can realistically use decide whether the card fits your spending.
35,000Membership Rewards points plus a £100 Selfridges eGift Card
Amex Preferred Rewards Gold
31,000Avios
British Airways Amex Premium Plus
21,000Nectar points
Nectar Amex
What you get when you apply through my referral link, once approved and after you meet the spend target in the offer terms. Spend targets: Gold £3,000, BA Premium Plus £6,000 and Nectar £2,000, each in your first three months. The Gold offer is open until 12 January 2027. These are referral offers, checked on 5 November 2026, and they can change. Only take a card you can clear in full every month. Get the links by email ↑
| Card | First year | After year one |
|---|---|---|
| Nectar Amex | £0 | £30 a year |
| Preferred Rewards Gold | £0 | £195 a year |
| BA Premium Plus | £300 | £300 a year |
The playbook also explains the Mastercard I use where Amex is not accepted. Credit cards involve borrowing, and interest or fees can outweigh rewards. Only take a card you can clear in full every month, and only when the spend target fits what you already spend.
The supporting accounts
Useful when they solve a job.
You can use the shopping routes with your existing bank. These two accounts remain here because they serve a purpose in my own setup. Monzo opens from here. Lloyds and the three Amex cards come by email, through the form.
Monzo
I keep my Christmas pots in Monzo, and the instant notifications keep spending and bills organised. One link works for both accounts: it opens on the business side, or you can open a personal current account instead. The invite shows your reward before you sign up.
Open MonzoLloyds
It serves a separate banking purpose for me. Compare any account with what you already have.
Sent by emailBefore you start
The questions that matter.
Do I need all nine accounts?
No. Start with the route that serves your next purchase, then add an account when it has a clear job.
Do all the shopping accounts earn Avios?
Avios earns Avios, Virgin Red earns Virgin Points, and Rakuten and TopCashback pay cashback.
Can I start without a credit card?
Yes. Participating shopping portals can work with an eligible payment method, subject to each retailer’s terms.
What will you email me?
The playbook and the card referral links. Further emails are sent only when you select the optional box.
Will Avios cover the whole cost of a flight?
Reward flights can still include taxes, fees and carrier charges. Availability also varies, so compare the points and cash cost with the cash fare.
Start with the guide
Make your next purchase count.
Get the complete setup order and the card links in one email.
Send me the playbook