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    Could your forgotten loyalty points fund a full grocery run this week? Try the ‘Hidden Wallet Harvest’ before rewards vanish

    Could your forgotten loyalty points fund a full grocery run this week? Try the ‘Hidden Wallet Harvest’ before rewards vanish

    Groceries are getting pricier, and retailers aren’t making it easier. In 2025, many store and app rewards are set to expire faster or lose value—leaving $20, $50, or even more stranded in your accounts. The ‘Hidden Wallet Harvest’ is a fast sweep of all your digital deals, loyalty programs, and points wallets—before retailers change the rules again. Here’s how to make those hidden points pay for a real grocery run right now.

    1. Do a Rapid Rewards Check—Old Points Might Be Gone Soon

    Loyalty rules are changing: Kroger’s Plus Card points now expire at the end of the month after you earn them, not months later. Don’t let a single point slip away.

    Kroger’s Plus Card points now expire at the end of the month following their accrual, cutting the grace period short. (Inkl)

    • Log in to every grocery, pharmacy, and fast food app you’ve used this year. Focus on brands like Kroger, Target, CVS, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Walmart.
    • Look for “expiring soon” or “use by” dates next to rewards or coupons.

    Pro tip: Even 50 cents off here and $2 there can add up to a full shopping cart.

    Click through every section—grocery, snacks, pharmacy, dining—before points reset at month’s end. Ready to cash out? Go!

    2. Cash Out Digital Wallets Before Policies Change—Especially Food & Drugstore Apps

    Retailers are quietly making rewards worth less. Target’s Circle rewards dropped from 1% to 0.5% back on groceries, and CVS now gives 2% back—but you have to claim and use those ExtraBucks.

    Target Circle reduced cash back on grocery purchases from 1% to 0.5% in 2025. (Inkl)

    Don’t wait: Use up those little credits and rewards balances today, before another “terms updated” message wipes them out.

    • Turn those $3 CVS rewards into paper towels or peanut butter now.
    • Check fast food apps too—McDonald’s and Burger King points both expire 6 months after you earn them (Ad Lucrum Newsletter).

    Ready to act? Bag your key weekly items with what’s already in your digital wallets.

    3. Use Browser Extensions to Stack More Deals & Clear Out Hidden Offers

    If you shop online—Walmart pickup, Kroger delivery—use browser extensions like PayPal Honey, Slickdeals, and Offers.com to find extra instant savings on top of points.

    PayPal Honey and Offers.com browser tools unlock extra coupons and rebates you might miss at checkout. (Wikipedia)

    • Add the browser extension, click “activate” or “apply rewards” before you check out.
    • Look for small “cash back” or “bonus” offers you can sweep into the same transaction.

    Stacking digital deals is how you turn a $35 order into $23—it really works.
    Check every offer at checkout. Got points? Use them before they expire.

    4. Don’t Let Hotel & Travel Points Expire—Even if Money’s Tight

    Got a credit card that’s earned travel rewards? Many hotel points and free night certificates expire after 6 or 12 months of inactivity—even basic IHG points go dead after one year.

    IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity for basic members. (Tripeko)

    Even if you aren’t planning travel:

    • Redeem points for gift cards, gas, or other essentials if possible.
    • “Spend” at least one point on something tiny—some programs consider that activity and extend your account.

    Act now before another year passes and rewards vanish.

    5. Make Hidden Wallet Harvest a Monthly Money Move

    The real trick: Put this rewards sweep on your calendar once a month (right before your main grocery run works best).

    Hyatt free night certificates earned from the Hyatt credit card are valid for one year; use them before they disappear. (Tripeko)

    • Quickly check rewards in your main grocery, pharmacy, and dining apps plus any browser extensions.
    • Use up little balances, cash out what you don’t want to lose, and grab every deal before it’s gone.

    Next step: Set a phone reminder, or stick a note on your fridge that says “Do My Hidden Wallet Harvest!” the weekend before your big shop.

    Conclusion: Don’t let retailers steal back your earned rewards—turn forgotten points into this week’s groceries. A five-minute “Hidden Wallet Harvest” could free up $10, $25, or even more for the things your kitchen actually needs. Take action today: Clear out your points, cash in rewards, and pocket the savings before they vanish forever.

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