Millions of Australians frequent Coles, Bunnings, Target, and Kmart each week, but one Western Australian hairdresser has turned her shopping routine into a lucrative strategy. Melinda Bryenton-Rochard claims her use of the Flybuys rewards program has saved her “tens of thousands of dollars,” including on business-class flights.
As the Christmas season approaches, with only 12 weekends left, the financial burden of holiday preparations looms large. According to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, Australians typically spend between $780 and $800 during the festive season. However, Bryenton-Rochard has found a way to ease this financial pressure by leveraging her Flybuys points.
Maximizing Rewards: A Strategic Approach
Melinda Bryenton-Rochard shared with Yahoo Lifestyle that she has been a Flybuys member for 14 years, and it has become a crucial part of her financial management strategy. “I joined Flybuys about 14 years ago, and honestly, it’s become a big part of how my husband and I manage our everyday spending,” she said. “I also love collecting points from partners like Bunnings, Target, and Kmart, using the points for everything from gazebos to plants.”
Her strategic use of the rewards program has allowed her to redeem points for a wide range of products and services, including tech items and reduced airfares. “I’ve earned hundreds of thousands of Flybuys points, converting to tens of thousands of dollars,” she explained. “Recently, I used a big chunk of my Flybuys points to contribute towards our return business-class flights to the UK – helping reduce the cost of a trip worth more than $18,000.”
Everyday Savings and Holiday Preparations
While the large savings on flights are impressive, it’s the everyday savings that add up over time. “For example, I’ve gotten brand new iPhones and iPads, a beautiful gazebo for the backyard,” Bryenton-Rochard noted. As the holiday season approaches, she finds that her Flybuys points significantly cut down on her Christmas expenses.
“By the time December rolls around, I’ve usually earned enough points to cover hundreds of dollars’ worth of groceries for our Christmas lunch,” she said. “On top of that, I’ve redeemed points for gift cards and presents, so I’d estimate we save several hundred dollars each holiday season, sometimes even more if there’s a big tech gift or extra entertainment to do.”
“It means we can go all out for Christmas without dipping into our regular budget, and that makes the season feel a lot more relaxed, festive, and affordable.”
Coles’ New Christmas Range
In anticipation of the festive period, Coles has announced its Christmas range, featuring 340 Coles brand products arriving in stores from November 5. Highlights include:
- Coles Finest Boneless Chicken Prosciutto Wrapped Fromager d’Affinois with Honey & Fig Sauce 1kg – priced at $5.60 per serve
- Coles Pulled Ham with Smokey Maple Glaze – priced at $2.50 per 100g
- Coles Finest Duck Fat Potatoes 600g – priced at $5.50
Strategic Tips for Using Flybuys
Melinda Bryenton-Rochard advises using the rewards program “strategically” to maximize savings. “I’ll scan my Flybuys while doing regular grocery shops in the months leading up to Christmas,” she said. “The more I scan with the card, the more points stack up.”
She also recommends keeping an eye out for promotions to boost earnings. “I earn bonus points for buying gift cards to put towards electronics or homewares,” she explained. “I like redeeming points for things I would otherwise buy for Christmas gifts.”
In addition, downloading the Flybuys app can offer bonus or seasonal promotions and member-only offers. “Closer to Christmas, there are sometimes special Flybuys or Coles ‘Christmas instant win’ or bonus point offers. I’ll make sure to take advantage of those,” she added.
By using these strategies, Bryenton-Rochard has turned her Flybuys points into a “secret Christmas fund,” reducing financial stress and allowing her to spoil her loved ones without straining her budget. “Flybuys has basically become my secret Christmas fund: it takes the pressure off and lets us spoil our loved ones a little more, all while keeping our finances on track,” she concluded.
