💳💥 Warning to M&S, B&M, and John Lewis Shoppers! Don’t let your gift cards go to waste! 💥💳
Quick reminder for everyone who loves a bit of retail therapy at their favourite high-street stores: Check your gift cards now! New research reveals that millions of pounds in gift card balances are left unspent every year, affecting retailers like M&S, John Lewis, Costa, and more. In 2025 alone, an astronomical £215.1 million at M&S and £105 million at John Lewis are sitting unredeemed!
🎁 The numbers are eye-opening: A striking 11% of UK adults have had gift cards expire before they could use them, with an average value of £75.30 per person. For young shoppers (16–34), it shoots up to £86 per expired gift card!
💸 Personal finance whiz, Joe Lytwyn, highlights how these forgotten cards turn into missed savings. “Check your old vouchers – that £20 Costa or £50 M&S card might just be free money waiting for you!”
📅 Consumer groups caution there’s no law on minimum expiry periods. While B&M, Costa, and Ticketmaster cards might vanish in just a year, some, like the Apple Store and National Book Tokens, never expire.
🛍️ Tips to keep your gift cards active:
1. Add them to your phone wallet or retailer’s app for reminders.
2. Prioritise spending on smaller balances first.
3. Always check expiry and inactivity rules.
4. Consider re-gifting or swapping unwanted cards.
🔗 Don’t let your money slip away. Check, organise, and spend those gift cards smartly! 💼💡
Who else is guilty of forgetting these? 🤦♀️ Share your tips or stories below! 📢👇