I went to M&S for my food shop and didn’t pay a penny thanks to a little-known hack – I was ecstatic
A MARKS & Spencer shopper was left delighted after getting her food shop for free thanks to a money-saving hack.
The posh supermarket's loyalty card scheme rewards members with free food - and the woman managed to bag £20 worth of groceries without paying a penny.
Taking to Facebook, she wrote: “I only got my shopping for free today with my Sparks card today.
“I was ecstatic.”
The woman shared how she managed to pick up a host of fresh fruit and vegetables, including grapes, apples and cabbage.
The M&S “Sparks” scheme was first launched in 2015, with shoppers able to "unlock" rewards, such as early access to sales and new food launches, by building up points.
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However, in July 2020, the retailer scrapped its traditional points card model and instead now offers a rewards scheme for its shoppers.
Each time you shop at M&S in a store or online, you could now get a reward.
Rewards include discounts off whole product ranges like homeware or money off individual items.
Many shoppers were impressed at the woman’s Spark freebies.
One person commented: “Absolutely brilliant.”
Another added: “That happened to me before Xmas £87 worth of shopping for free, I was chuffed to bits, you need a Marks and Spencer Sparks card.”
And a third wrote: “This happened to me a few weeks ago, the bill was like £47 - Chosen for the winning customer that week.”
The Sparks card reward scheme is tailored to what each shopper buys.
For example, a shopper may be offered £2 off when they spend £15 on flowers and plants in-store.
We've also seen members getting 30p off iced tea and coffee in all M&S Cafes.
Sparks members are rewarded with little "thank yous" - which equates to free treats and food.
Plus, one Sparks card customer is also picked at random every week to get their shopping for free.
M&S Sparks is free to sign up to, either via the M&S website or through the App Store or Google Play.
You'll need to register with your name and email address before you can start redeeming rewards.
Once signed up, a member will be issued with a digital card on their app which can be scanned when shopping in-store.
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Unlike other supermarket loyalty schemes, you couldn't use your points to get cashback or vouchers.
But under the new system, you don't physically build up points - instead, you'll see free offers and discounts in your account.
What are the best supermarket loyalty schemes?
CASH-strapped families can slash the cost of supermarket runs by hundreds of pounds a year by joining loyalty schemes and shopping after 6pm when clearance items are reduced by up to 75 per cent.
Here are the best loyalty schemes available from your favourite store chains...
Sainsbury's: Shoppers can sign up for a Nectar card which unlocks exclusive deals and earns points that can be transformed into vouchers – £1 of spending is worth one point. You can get up to 50 per cent off with a Nectar card. You can convert points into experiences such as money off BA flights and cinema tickets.
Tesco: Tesco’s famous Clubcard is free to sign up for. You can access exclusive deals and earn points for vouchers for each pound you spend. Clubcard users can get up to 50 per cent off. Spend Tesco vouchers on experiences or days out to make your money go further. £12 of vouchers means you can save £24 on Disney+.
Asda: Customers can download the Asda rewards app which gives cashback on items and allows them to save for Christmas, using their Christmas cashpot where customers can store their cashback. Get ten per cent cashback on selected items in store with Asda Rewards.
Co-op: A Co-op loyalty card costs £1 but members can access in-store deals. For every £1 spent you’ll earn 2p for yourself and 2p for local causes. Co-op members can get five freezer favourites for £5.
Aldi: Aldi special buys sit in the middle aisle filled with bargains, including an Ambiano air-fryer for £29.99.
Lidl: Shoppers can use the Lidl app to access a Plus card. Users unlock store coupons and earn treats. If you spend £50 and get an in-store treat such as a free bakery item.
Morrisons: Shoppers can sign up for a Morrisons More card which unlocks exclusive offers in store. Earn points by purchasing certain items in store. 5,000 points equals a £5 voucher. More Card users can bag a Basket Bonus. It could be anything from money off your next shop to free treats.