Discovery Vitality (miles) vs eBucks

[jadenbarnard]

Hi guys.

Would appreciate all the comments I can get here.

I currently have a health plan with momentum (get no rewards there).

I bank with FNB and I’m on level 5 ebucks.
I get about R2000 back in ebucks every month. And then 40% a flight here and there and slow lounge.

I’m considering doing the full switch to Discovery for a health plan and moving to discovery bank.

Would this be worth it? I think I’m healthly and active enough to get to diamond?

But how long has it taken you to get to diamond? What your estimate in your rewards every month considering gym, upfront discounts, miles, fitness devices ? How much do you think that’s all worth every month? Is it more than R2000?

 

[ros_b]

The main thing with Discovery these days is to make sure you're Diamond on the Bank platform, which you can get to immediately after submitting the relevant proofs of savings, etc, and depositing the required amount into a Discovery savings product. So that can be done in a day or two. Being Diamond on health doesn't get you that much these days, other than better discounts on travel rewards, I think. If you exercise a lot (say, 1200 pts a week) and get full points on your health check, you can hit Diamond on health in 5-6 months. You'll need a fitness device to earn those exercise points.

Discovery is a complex program and it takes a while to get one's head around all of the rules. It's also quite hard to find all of the rules - I've bookmarked this page: https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/product-rules#vhandvm

If you really want to get the most out of the program, you'll want to add Insure to Health and Bank. I don't have insurance with them (I only want 3rd-party for my car and they don't offer it). I earn around R1200 per month just from healthyfood cashback, healthygear cashback, fuel cashback, healthy dining cashback, plays on the Active Rewards gameboard, and exercise points to miles conversion. I haven't included any monthly savings on my gym membership (I'm on the pre-2010 benefit, so gym is free), active gear savings (could be R500 pm), device savings, or travel rewards (just saved R5K on an Emirates flight, for example). But I'm on the lowest bank product (Gold CC only) and I'm a low spender. If you're a higher spender and have the whole suite, you can do better. Keep in mind that Vitality Health costs R305 per month.

 

[3WA]

Miles are more fun than eBucks. But you have to have the time and energy to earn them. If at all possible, you wanna get Full Suite banking, car insurance, and Vitality health.

Then:
Your blood pressure, random glucose, cholesterol, and weight and/or girth must be in range (this directly affects the Miles you earn on food and toiletries).
You gotta exercise.
You gotta go in on Discovery Insure and drive like an old lady.
Once you get to Diamond status on Vitality Money, the interest rates on savings are not horrible. I get 4.85% on my 24-hr notice account.

My costs vs benefits:

Costs:

Vitality fee: R305
Total banking fee: R250
Vitality drive fee: R20 (?)

Benefits:

Miles earned per month: R1500
Earn towards new tyres per month: R700
Free Apple Watch
Subsidised iPhone
Heavy discounts on Nike running shoes/shorts every year
25% discounts at Sportsman’s Warehouse on exercise gear (I use it for cricket and hiking gear)
Flight and hotel discounts

One last note: the R1500 of Miles I earn each month has a purchasing power of R2500 thanks to 40% discounts on Miles D-Day.

 

[jadenbarnard]

The main thing with Discovery these days is to make sure you're Diamond on the Bank platform, which you can get to immediately after submitting the relevant proofs of savings, etc, and depositing the required amount into a Discovery savings product. So that can be done in a day or two. Being Diamond on health doesn't get you that much these days, other than better discounts on travel rewards, I think. If you exercise a lot (say, 1200 pts a week) and get full points on your health check, you can hit Diamond on health in 5-6 months. You'll need a fitness device to earn those exercise points.

Discovery is a complex program and it takes a while to get one's head around all of the rules. It's also quite hard to find all of the rules - I've bookmarked this page: https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/product-rules#vhandvm

If you really want to get the most out of the program, you'll want to add Insure to Health and Bank. I don't have insurance with them (I only want 3rd-party for my car and they don't offer it). I earn around R1200 per month just from healthyfood cashback, healthygear cashback, fuel cashback, healthy dining cashback, plays on the Active Rewards gameboard, and exercise points to miles conversion. I haven't included any monthly savings on my gym membership (I'm on the pre-2010 benefit, so gym is free), active gear savings (could be R500 pm), device savings, or travel rewards (just saved R5K on an Emirates flight, for example). But I'm on the lowest bank product (Gold CC only) and I'm a low spender. If you're a higher spender and have the whole suite, you can do better. Keep in mind that Vitality Health costs R305 per month.

Ros thank you so much for this!!! Really appreciate it! Worth gold man.

 

[jadenbarnard]

Miles are more fun than eBucks. But you have to have the time and energy to earn them. If at all possible, you wanna get Full Suite banking, car insurance, and Vitality health.

Then:
Your blood pressure, random glucose, cholesterol, and weight and/or girth must be in range (this directly affects the Miles you earn on food and toiletries).
You gotta exercise.
You gotta go in on Discovery Insure and drive like an old lady.
Once you get to Diamond status on Vitality Money, the interest rates on savings are not horrible. I get 4.85% on my 24-hr notice account.

My costs vs benefits:

Costs:

Vitality fee: R305
Total banking fee: R250
Vitality drive fee: R20 (?)

Benefits:

Miles earned per month: R1500
Earn towards new tyres per month: R700
Free Apple Watch
Subsidised iPhone
Heavy discounts on Nike running shoes/shorts every year
25% discounts at Sportsman’s Warehouse on exercise gear (I use it for cricket and hiking gear)
Flight and hotel discounts

One last note: the R1500 of Miles I earn each month has a purchasing power of R2500 thanks to 40% discounts on Miles D-Day.

Thanks heaps!! Thanks so much for taking the time to write all that. Really appreciate it and gives me a really clear picture of it!!

 

[RedhotNeo]

Guys... which is a better option with R40k min spend per month. Lets consider total monthly bank spend in this as currently it cost me R420 for FNB private account bundle. No other extra fees, level 5 Ebucks nets me almost R2300 every month with no additional fees

So for my spend, I would hit Discovery Black card group...

Please share if you have similar spend with your Discovery account

 

[superskully]

Miles are more fun than eBucks. But you have to have the time and energy to earn them. If at all possible, you wanna get Full Suite banking, car insurance, and Vitality health.

Then:
Your blood pressure, random glucose, cholesterol, and weight and/or girth must be in range (this directly affects the Miles you earn on food and toiletries).
You gotta exercise.
You gotta go in on Discovery Insure and drive like an old lady.
Once you get to Diamond status on Vitality Money, the interest rates on savings are not horrible. I get 4.85% on my 24-hr notice account.

My costs vs benefits:

Costs:

Vitality fee: R305
Total banking fee: R250
Vitality drive fee: R20 (?)

Benefits:

Miles earned per month: R1500
Earn towards new tyres per month: R700
Free Apple Watch
Subsidised iPhone
Heavy discounts on Nike running shoes/shorts every year
25% discounts at Sportsman’s Warehouse on exercise gear (I use it for cricket and hiking gear)
Flight and hotel discounts

One last note: the R1500 of Miles I earn each month has a purchasing power of R2500 thanks to 40% discounts on Miles D-Day.

Why I like it also, it forces me to exercise, which is good for me in the long run

 

[3WA]

Why I like it also, it forces me to exercise, which is good for me in the long run

The health and drive goals have been positive in my life. The Vitality Money goals are a sham. Doing ten card swipes a week is against my best interest!

But yeah, thanks to Vitality my speed over 5km is the best it’s ever been.

 

[twr]

The health and drive goals have been positive in my life. The Vitality Money goals are a sham. Doing ten card swipes a week is against my best interest!

But yeah, thanks to Vitality my speed over 5km is the best it’s ever been.

The money goal will be changing with version 3.0 it's on their website

 

[3WA]

The money goal will be changing with version 3.0 it's on their website

Did they announce exactly how they’re changing it yet? I haven't kept a close eye on the updates.

Hoping for an upgrade, expecting a downgrade.

 

[twr]

Did they announce exactly how they’re changing it yet? I haven't kept a close eye on the updates.

Hoping for an upgrade, expecting a downgrade.

Yeah but not in huge details. I can't find the attachment. But i remember seeing something about the amount you send per week will get you points and I think having salary and deposit into your DB will get you more points.

I'm a little annoyed because I've just taken out the iPhone benefit based on the fact I allways achieve my goals. Now they changing money goal and if I can't achieve the new way I will be paying in.

Drive is also changing but that looks way better and you will be about to get up t R1500 cash back and can have the option to pay back in miles

 

[beefymoocow]

The money goal will be changing with version 3.0 it's on their website

Do you know when it’s changing.

 

[twr]

Do you know when it’s changing.

Not sure about money goal but drive is December

 

[beefymoocow]

Not sure about money goal but drive is December View attachment 1396839

This is useful. Looks like in Q1 2023

 

[Anonymoose]

Miles are more fun than eBucks. But you have to have the time and energy to earn them. If at all possible, you wanna get Full Suite banking, car insurance, and Vitality health.

Then:
Your blood pressure, random glucose, cholesterol, and weight and/or girth must be in range (this directly affects the Miles you earn on food and toiletries).
You gotta exercise.
You gotta go in on Discovery Insure and drive like an old lady.
Once you get to Diamond status on Vitality Money, the interest rates on savings are not horrible. I get 4.85% on my 24-hr notice account.

My costs vs benefits:

Costs:

Vitality fee: R305
Total banking fee: R250
Vitality drive fee: R20 (?)

Benefits:

Miles earned per month: R1500
Earn towards new tyres per month: R700
Free Apple Watch
Subsidised iPhone
Heavy discounts on Nike running shoes/shorts every year
25% discounts at Sportsman’s Warehouse on exercise gear (I use it for cricket and hiking gear)
Flight and hotel discounts

One last note: the R1500 of Miles I earn each month has a purchasing power of R2500 thanks to 40% discounts on Miles D-Day.

Is this calc based on Discovery Black or Platinum? Is it worth going up to Black?

 

[3WA]

Is this calc based on Discovery Black or Platinum? Is it worth going up to Black?

I’m on Platinum.

If you look at the numbers, if you max HealthyFood each month, that’s R1k on Platinum vs R1.5k on Black. You have to spend a lot more each month to get the max earn levels on Black. Worth it? Depends on you.