Our Mate Tesco

You can mark a true friend by who sticks by you through the good times and the bad, those who continue to make the effort when your life changes.  I have been blessed with many good friends but none quite as handy as good old Tesco.
Tesco has been there for the reliable weekly shop as well as to satisfy the hangover cravings.  Nothing cures a hangover like a trip to Tesco for a strawberry milkshake and a chocolate croissant.
But Tesco really came through for us with their clever club card rewards system.
In April 2009 Phil and I got engaged and in May 2010 we got married.  Although we had mega support from the bank of mum and dad, the miscellaneous costs added up.  Tesco was there to help. With their Clubcard exchange we were able to get wedding rings.  Clubcard points are earned when shopping and can be exchanged for 4 times their value in some other stores, Wowsers! We exchanged our for Goldsmith's voucher and were able to get wedding rings!

In May 2012 we found out we were expecting. Although very exciting news, I was not ideally timed as I had just moved jobs and as a result was not entitled to maternity pay.  So mega saving had to begin to afford to be off with baby Joel, I really wanted to stay off with him for 6 months, and mega spending had to be done because, well, babies are expensive.

Now don't get me wrong, we were very sensible in our approach, I am a believer in the value of second hand items, waiting out there to be loved and used again.  We got our pram second hand and managed to borrow a few of the short term items such as baby bath from our generous family and friends and of course it was their huge generosity again, showering Joel with gifts when he arrived.  He is 7 months and still kitted out with clothing!
We live in a flat which needed a bit of construction to be baby ready and when baby Joel finally had a room Tesco provided the cot bed with its generous Clubcard exchange scheme.  The vouchers double up in store to purchase certain products from Tesco direct.  We were able to splash out and invest in a cot bed that would last the long run, all paid for with vouchers!

Joel was only 7lbs when he was born but has grown like a wild thing.  He is destined to be a big rugby player ( captain of the Ireland Rugby Team and no less, says Granda ) and at only 7 months has outgrown his first car seat, never mind too heavy for me to carry him in it anymore!  On Saturday it was Tesco to the rescue again, clubcard points exchanged and a group 1-2-3 car seat got for big baby Joel. 

The Clubcard Exchange is so good it almost feels like stealing!! 

So Tesco has been a reliable friend, there through our big life changes. But Tesco, any chance you could sort us out with a  big house with a garden???