Elche is bringing back its popular Bono Consumo scheme, giving residents up to €100 towards their Christmas shopping. But there is a catch: you need to enter a draw first, and registration opens on Monday 9 November.
Do you fancy getting €200 worth of shopping for just €100?
That is exactly what Elche is offering residents this November as its Bono Consumo scheme returns after a year away.
The idea is simple. You buy shopping vouchers at half their face value, and the local authorities cover the other half.
So a €20 voucher costs you just €10, and you can buy up to €200 worth of vouchers for €100.
The scheme is designed to give local shops a boost ahead of Christmas, with almost €1.5 million in public funding available.
But unlike a normal sale, you cannot simply turn up and grab a bargain. You must register for a lottery to get your chance to buy the vouchers.
And the first deadline is approaching.
How do the half-price vouchers work?
This year’s scheme uses €20 vouchers, each costing the buyer €10.
You can purchase up to ten vouchers, giving you a maximum of €200 to spend in participating local businesses.
That means you pay €100 and receive another €100 towards your purchases.
You do not have to buy the full amount. You can choose fewer vouchers, depending on how much you want to spend.
The vouchers are personal, so you cannot combine vouchers belonging to different people for a single purchase.
And there is one important restriction: you must use a debit card to buy them.
The dates you need to know
There are four important stages, starting next week.
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9 to 12 November: Residents register online for the draw.
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Friday 13 November: The lottery determines the order in which people can buy vouchers.
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16 to 19 November: Successful applicants can purchase their vouchers, subject to availability.
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20 November to 20 December: Shoppers can spend their vouchers at participating businesses.
Registration opens on Monday 9 November, so there is no need to rush to buy anything immediately.
First, you need to enter the draw.
Who can apply?
To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old and have been officially registered as a resident of Elche on 1 September 2026.
What happens if you do not spend your vouchers?
If you buy vouchers but fail to use them before the scheme ends on 20 December, the amount you personally paid for the unused vouchers will be refunded to your debit card.
You will not receive the council-funded half as cash.
So if you buy a €20 voucher for €10 and forget to spend it, you should receive your €10 back.
Which shops are taking part?
The scheme focuses on smaller local businesses rather than large national retail chains.
Eligible businesses include self-employed traders and small or medium-sized enterprises with up to 50 employees.
Shops can register to participate between 9 and 30 November.
The list of participating establishments will therefore develop as businesses sign up.
In the last edition, held in 2024, around 700 businesses took part, giving shoppers plenty of choice.
Before spending your vouchers, check that the business has joined this year’s scheme.
How to register for Elche’s Bono Consumo
Registration opens on Monday 9 November and closes on Thursday 12 November on the website.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Elche’s Bono Consumo scheme returns in November 2026 after a break in 2025.
- Residents can buy €20 shopping vouchers for just €10 each.
- The maximum purchase is ten vouchers, worth €200, for a personal cost of €100.
- Online registration runs from 9 to 12 November.
- A draw on 13 November determines the order in which applicants can purchase vouchers.
- Voucher sales take place from 16 to 19 November, subject to availability.
- Vouchers can be spent from 20 November to 20 December.
- Applicants must be at least 18 and have been registered as Elche residents by 1 September 2026.
- Unused vouchers will be refunded at the amount paid by the buyer.
