If you have an extra high electricity bill you are struggling to pay, you should check your Trump account, the consumer economist encourages.
At the turn of the year, Norwegians had a total of NOK 1.8 billion in bonuses on the Trump account. That is 5.9 per cent – or NOK 100 million – more than last year, and almost NOK 300 million more than the year before.
It is a record high. The figure shows the total amount for savings saved in 2021 and outstanding amounts from previous years.
Around 2.6 million Norwegians are Trump members, which is the bonus program for Norway’s largest grocery group, Norgesgruppen, which includes chains such as Kiwi, Meny, Joker and Spar.
– It is important to take out the Trump money, we are far too bad for that, says Lene Drange, known from the TV program «Luksusfellen», to Nettavisen. She has also written books on personal finance and runs the Instagram account “Snaponomi”.
– Gives no return
She advises to withdraw the money when you have around 1000 kroner left.
– If you leave the money, they give no return, she says.
You do not get interest on the money in the Trump account.
Drange also points out that it is wise to find out how to save up as much Trump bonus as possible.
– There are also many other places than in the grocery store where you can get Trump points, so it’s a good idea to check what, she advises.
Cecilie Tvetenstrand, consumer economist at Storebrand, also recommends that everyone check the account. She points out that it is especially relevant now that many are struggling financially due to high electricity prices.
– It is worth checking if you have money left in the Trump account or other similar accounts. It can cover bills, and thus ease a couple of worries, she tells Nettavisen.
Highest bonus in 25 years
Trump boss Kristin Bigseth is happy with the record.
– It is the highest bonus savings in Trump’s 25 year history, she says to Nettavisen.
– The total turnover has increased, so we have to see it in connection with it. But we also see that the attractiveness of Trump has increased, she points out.
She points out the climate and diet service in the Trump app, which shows, among other things, the nutritional content of the food you have bought, and how large a climate footprint you have left due to the food trade.
In addition, she believes the value of the Kiwi Pluss membership has a lot to say for its attractiveness, especially among younger people. This is because you get a 15 percent in Trump bonus on fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as freshly packaged fish.
Also read: Costs three times as much in Norway as in the neighboring country
Has an average of 750 kroner each
1.5 billion of a total of NOK 1.8 billion has been earned in 2021, while the remaining three million are outstanding amounts from previous years.
Kiwi Pluss customers saved a total of NOK 930 million in Trump bonuses, out of a total of NOK 1.5 billion, in 2021. However, this does not mean that these customers have exclusively traded on Kiwi.
On average, each Trump customer had approximately NOK 750 outstanding in their account at the turn of the year.
If we look exclusively at 2021, each Trump member saved 730 kroner on average.
– The corona pandemic has led to a larger part of consumption being left in Norway, so it clearly has an impact, says Bigseth.
Also read: Norgesgruppen launches new wholesale chain
– Get an overview
Tvetenstrand in Storebrand thinks it is very twofold if people have control over what they have in such member accounts.
– Some have steel control and use the accounts deliberately, while some have less control. Get an overview, and check what interest rates it is, the consumer economist encourages.
If you do not have urgent bills, nor a buffer account that you need to top up, Tvetenstrand recommends finding out how you can get the best possible return.
– Check what interest rate there is on the money where it stands today. See if you should take them out as soon as possible to get better interest rates on another account, or save them long-term in funds, she says.
Also read: Norgesgruppen with million support for climate and environmental projects
Æ-members at Rema 1000 get all the bonus when they shop, while Coop members must have received their settlement for 2021 by the end of January / beginning of February. The total for Coop is not clear yet.
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