Planning to earn or spend Nectar points at Homebase? Do it before 1 January as the store's ditching the scheme

Homebase has been a major Nectar card partner for seven years, but after being taken over by Australian firm Wesfarmers in February, it announced it would end its ties with the loyalty scheme – as well as ditching a number of third-party gift cards and vouchers it had accepted in store.

Currently Homebase customers with Nectar cards can collect two points for every £1 spent online or in one of its 340 stores. They can also spend Nectar points to purchase goods in store – though not via its website.

But the retailer's tie-up with Nectar will end on New Year's Day, when it will stop awarding Nectar points or accepting them as payment.

Announcing the decision back in June, Homebase said: "Following a successful seven-year partnership, and after careful review, it has been agreed that Homebase will leave the Nectar programme at the end of the year. This means customers will no longer be able to collect or spend points in store after 31 December 2016."

So if you intend to spruce up your home for the New Year by spending Nectar points at Homebase, or you want to collect points on goods you plan to buy there, you can avoid missing out by making the purchase before the end of 2016.

However, over 500 retailers remain part of the Nectar scheme, meaning its cardholders can continue to earn and spend points in lots of shops in 2017 – check the Nectar website for a full current list.

To make your loyalty card earnings go further, check out our Points Boosting guide.