M&S shopper? You can now earn money-off vouchers with its revamped Sparks scheme

Hit certain spending goals to earn M&S vouchers

M&S calls this new perk "spend and earn" – and it's exactly what it sounds like:

• First, you'll need to activate each offer separately through the Sparks section of the M&S app. This is free to download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

• Then, spend the amount listed in each offer and you'll earn a voucher as a reward. But don't use this an excuse to overspend – it's only a saving if you were planning to make the purchase in the first place. Some examples we spotted this morning (Wednesday 15 April) when checking the vouchers available for various MSE staff included:
  - Spend £35 on food, earn £5.
  - Spend £35 on food, earn £4.
  - Spend £8 on fresh berries, earn £1.
  - Spend £15 on kids' footwear, earn £3.
  - Spend £12 on kitchenware, earn £2.

• When, where and how you need to do the spending will depend on the offer. For example, some offers will let you split the spending across several purchases, while for others you'll need to do it in one transaction. Similarly, some will only count online spending, not in-store (or vice versa).
  
  You'll see the details in the app, along with the relevant deadlines. Most of the initial offers we've seen give you 12 days to hit the spending goal, though this can vary. M&S said the timeframe you're given will depend on your spending habits, and may shift each week.

• Offers are personalised, and will refresh every Tuesday. M&S says some will be tailored to your spending habits, while others will cover items you don't normally reach for. If you have an M&S credit card, you can also link it to your Sparks account to get additional "exclusive offers".

You'll be able to spend the vouchers on anything at M&S

Vouchers you earn by buying food and drink will go straight into your wallet, and will be ready to use immediately.

But vouchers you earn by buying clothing or homeware will be shown as 'pending' for 14 days – this means you're able able to return any items you've bought within that window, but also means you won't have access to all your earned cash straight away.

Once your rewards are ready to redeem, vouchers will be valid for at least 12 months. Vouchers you earn from buying clothing can be spent on food, and vice versa.

To use them, you'll need to hit 'Spend' in the M&S app and add the voucher to your Sparks card. This will then be redeemed automatically at the checkout when you next scan your card in-store or shop online.

Virgin Red member? You can also earn Sparks rewards on bookings

If you're signed up to Sparks AND Virgin Red – Virgin's rewards scheme – you'll also be able to earn vouchers to spend at M&S when you spend on Virgin products – including holidays, broadband, gym memberships and more.

After linking your Sparks and Virgin Red accounts in the M&S app, you'll start seeing two or more personalised offers in your Sparks account, which will refresh automatically every three months. You just need to activate them in the M&S app before spending.

Here are some examples of the offers available – though don't spend unless you were planning to anyway and always check you're getting the best deal before buying:

• Earn £130 when you book a Virgin Atlantic holiday.

• Earn £100 when you sign-up for a 12-month Virgin Active membership.

• Earn £10 when you spend £100 at Virgin hotels.

• Earn £8 when you spend £100 on Virgin Voyages.

• Earn £4 when you spend £20 on Virgin Experience Days.

As part of the partnership, you can also convert Virgin Points into M&S freebies – 100 points will get you a packet of Percy Pigs, for example. You can also earn Virgin Points when you spend at M&S online, via the Virgin App.

Some key perks aren't changing

Under the updated scheme, you'll still have access to some of Sparks' existing perks, including:

• A free birthday treat each year. If you've entered your birthday into the M&S app or online, you'll see a birthday treat appear in your Sparks account at the beginning of your birthday month.

• Your seventh coffee 'free' (after buying six in-store). To claim this perk, you'll need to download the 'hot drink stamp card' in the M&S app and activate it by clicking 'get started'.

• Donations to charity for each purchase made. Each time you use your Sparks card in-store or online, M&S donates 1p to your charity of choice.