WE’RE all focused on keeping our houses warm this time of year – whether it’s putting on the central heating or a hot water bottle to keep toasty.
All of these hacks cost money which can go straight down the drain if your home isn’t insulated properly.
Thankfully, a savvy man has taken to YouTube to show how you can instantly make your home hotter and keep the heat in.
Most people have heard of bleeding a radiator to make them work more efficiently and keep the home warm but this trick has nothing to do with them, the DIY whizz instead focused on the windows.
And all you need is an Allen key to keep your home warm this winter and put your windows into winter mode.
Many people may not realise that their UPVC windows have summer, neutral and winter options.
In a revealing YouTube video, A Man About The House demonstrated how to put UPVC windows into winter mode.
By opening your window, you should see stick-out bits either on the inside of where you close the window, or on the window side itself.
These circular stick-out notches have an indent to demonstrate which setting the window is in.
If the lined indent faces north, it means that your window is in neutral mode, but it can easily be turned with an Allen key.
“All you want to do is turn this so it pulls the window into the frame a little bit tighter,” said the YouTube hero.
If you turn it anticlockwise, “it will slacken and make it more draughty.”
But if you turn it clockwise, “it will tighten the window sash and put it into winter mode.”
This minor adjustment will make windows tighter, and more stiff to close.
But it also means less warm air can escape and less cold air can enter the home.
The simple draught-excluding adjustment hack will help lower your energy bills as you won’t need the heating on for as long.
“You don’t want to over-tighten it,” he cautioned. “Because you’re at risk of basically squashing or damaging the seal.”
He added: “Under adjustment will mean that you’re allowing drafts and the actual window sash isn’t closed into the frame correctly.
This is why “it’s worth having a little bit of a play about” to find the right adjustment for your home.
Once he made the best adjustment for his window, the DIY whizz said he “can’t really feel any draughts”.
“It’s just a matter of going around all the windows checking and adjusting where you need to,” he added.
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
THE stepchildren of a very famous movie actor have been seen walking the red carpet at his movie premiere.
Posing with their stepdad and their mum at the event, the two daughters looked overjoyed to be in attendance as they beamed on the red carpet.
At 27 and 18, both girls dressed to impress for the occasion, with the eldest rocking a black pantsuit and a green velvet bag, and the youngest of the two wearing a fitted metallic dress.
Can you guess who their famous stepdad and mother are yet?
You got it… their stepdad is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, who is happily married to director Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, who is their mother.
The couple, who have an age difference of 23 years, have been married for more than a decade.
Attending the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in Manhattan together, the couple was joined by Sam’s nepo-baby children.
The British film director’s eldest daughters – whom she welcomed in her previous marriage – Angelica, 27, and Jessie, 18 also attended the event.
Angelica is an actress who has starred in Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass 2 and Jonathan Creek.
Meanwhile, Jessie is a film director – just like her mum – and has worked on films including Fifty Shades of Grey and Back to Black.
At the event for the Kraven The Hunter New York Premiere, Sam could be seen beaming in between her husband and daughters while donning a stunning sequin dress.
Smiling on the red carpet, Sam rocked the maroon-coloured sequin dress with some sheer black rights and some shiny black heels.
Sam wore her blonde locks down and straight, with a glamorous yet natural makeup look.
Meanwhile, Aaron looked dapper in a black shirt and trousers combo, complete with a maroon-coloured velvet jacket.
The family looked content to be in each other’s company at the event, with each of them smiling as the cameras clicked away.
Although Aaron is stepdad to Sam’s two children from her previous marriage, Aaron and Sam are also parents to two daughters.
A ‘nepo baby’ is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts.
The term ‘nepo’ is short for ‘nepotism’, which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context.
Key Characteristics:
Industries Affected:
Examples:
The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy.
Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed.
The couple shares Wylda, 12, and Romy, also 12, with their two daughters not attending the event last night.
Sam, who was rumoured to be 42 at the time, met 19-year-old Aaron on the set of Nowhere Boy in 2009.
“We had this intense connection,” Sam told The Sunday Times UK of working with the young actor.
“He was very intense and absolutely mind-made-up,” she said of their romance.
Touching on how they acted around each other on set, Sam and Aaron both told Harper’s Bazaar in 2019: “No funny business at all.”
“As soon as we finished [filming], he told me he was going to marry me,” Aaron told the outlet at the time of their interview together.
He added: “We had never been on a date, or even kissed.
“And a year to the minute after we met, exactly one year to the minute, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me,” Aaron said.
He added: “I knew I wanted a family with her, I knew I wanted kids, and a month later she was pregnant with our first child.”
A UKRAINE intel unit dubbed “The Chemists” deployed kamikaze drones and operators to Syria to help the rebels topple Putin’s ally President Assad.
The Syrian rebels who cleaned out Assad’s evil regime last weekend got a helping hand from Ukrainian intelligence services (GUR), according to reports, who are finding creative ways to get under Vlad’s skin.
Putin had poured millions into propping up his puppet president, Assad, so Ukraine was more than happy to help the rebels cut the strings.
About 20 experienced drone operators and 150 drones were shipped over from GUR to the rebel headquarters in Idlib, Syria, four weeks ago.
The Ukrainian military aid was a welcome injection of expertise and firepower for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that spearheaded the coup.
Whilst the Ukrainian support was not huge, Western intelligence says it is part of a wider web of undercover Ukrainian operations in the Middle East, Africa and inside Russia itself.
Ukraine has made no attempt to hide its covert operations, though Biden officials repeatedly denied any knowledge of the scheme to the Washington Post.
In June, the Kyiv Post quoted a Ukrainian military source who told the newspaper: “since the beginning of the year, the [Syrian] rebels, supported by Ukrainian operatives, have inflicted numerous strikes on Russian military facilities represented in the region.”
The story included a video showing attacks on a stone bunker, a white van and other targets that it claimed had been carried out with Ukrainian support.
The newspaper even said there was a special unit with a codename, Khimik, driving the Syrian operation.
Russia has been whining for months about Ukraine’s alliance with Syria.
The Russian special representative for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, said in an interview in November: “We do indeed have information that Ukrainian specialists from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine are on the territory of Idlib.”
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also acknowledged “Ukrainian intelligence emissaries” in Idlib, and complained they were running “dirty operations”.
The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan even claimed that the GUR head, Kyrylo Budanov, had been in personal contact with HTS.
Before Assad was chucked out of Syria, Russian officials attempted to stir the pot by claiming Ukraine’s alliance with Syria was merely an attempt to recruit Syrian fighters for the Ukrainian frontline.
They suggested Ukraine had offered 75 military vehicles in a “drones-for-fighters” deal, but there is no evidence to back that up.
Since Putin’s pal Assad was ousted, bumbling Russian officials have changed their lines and are now downplaying Ukraine’s part.
Middle East Eye quoted a Russian military Telegram account as saying: “Firstly, GUR members did visit Idlib, but they stayed there for only a short time.
“Secondly, HTS has long had its own UAV [unmanned ariel vehicles] program.”
The Syria operation is not the only case of Ukraine needling Russia overseas.
The BBC reported in August that Ukraine had helped rebels in northern Mali to ambush Russian mercenaries from the infamous Wagner Group.
The battle killed 84 Wagner thugs and 47 Malians, the BBC reported.
EBAY is making a raft of huge payment changes next year that will affect millions of its users, The Sun has learned – but furious customers are threatening to quit the platform if they go ahead.
The online marketplace is introducing changes for both buyers and sellers in what it says will create a “more seamless and secure buying and selling experience”.
But experts have warned the changes could see users flocking to rival platforms as eBay will be giving up advantages it had over its competitors.
The changes include:
The plans follow eBay eliminating its “regulatory operating fees” for private UK sellers in October this year, just six months after introducing them in April.
It is understood eBay the shift away towards buyer fees with added protections comes as evidence shows that people in the UK are more motivated to use the platform when it’s free to sell, even if they have to pay a buyer fee instead.
Introducing a buyer fee would bring eBay in line with competitors like Vinted and Depop, which have both ditched seller fees in favour of a buyer fee over the past few years.
But consumer expert Scott Dixon, of blog The Complaints Resolver, said: “Buyers and sellers with invariably factor in these additional charges and changes, which may deter them from using eBay and see them trading on other platforms which offer more competitive terms and conditions”.
Ebay has confirmed to The Sun this week that it will introduce a buyer-facing fee sometime in 2025, although it has not yet planned an exact date.
It is understood the so-called “Buyer Protection” fee will increase the support on offer for buyers so they can get extra peace of mind when shopping on the platform.
They will also continue to be protected by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee and Authenticity Guarantee.
Helen Dewdney, consumer expert at The Complaining Cow, said the change is simply following competitors like Vinted and Depop, which have also moved towards buyer fees recently – but in doing so, eBay will lose the one thing that set it apart from rivals.
“Buyers not paying fees was the one thing that made eBay better than Vinted for buyers, so this may not reap the rewards eBay is hoping for in the long term,” she said.
“And, as the number of buyers reduces and the amount they will pay reduces, this will reduce the amount the seller receives. Ultimately, sellers will lose in the way they lost paying selling fees.”
Ebay seller noitsnotme was furious by the change, complaining: “If they introduce a buyer fee then I doubt I’ll buy on there at all unless it’s an absolute last resort.”
And avid eBay seller Louise Maskery said: If they introduce a buyer fee, I will probably stop buying on there too. What the heck are they playing at? This is disastrous.”
Another major change eBay is making from early 2025 is to delay paying sellers until their item is “deemed to have been delivered”.
In fresh terms and conditions sent to sellers last week, eBay said that “proceeds from the sales of private or non-professional sellers will become available for disbursement after the item is deemed delivered to its shipping destination”.
Essentially, sellers will not get paid until their buyer confirms they have received the item.
Mr Dixon said this is positive news for users as it will “protect sellers and buyers from any perceived wrongdoing” and should “minimise disputes”.
“I see this as an additional safeguard and protection for both parties,” he explained.
But Ms Dewdney said it could cause issues for sellers if buyers don’t properly follow the instructions to confirm an item is delivered.
“Not being paid until the item is delivered will frustrate sellers, as many buyers will forget to process that they have received the item, and eBay has not been clear about how it will deal with this issue,” she said.
Ebay user Ms Maskery said: “I won’t sell on there if they’re going to hold the money up until it’s been delivered.
“I’ve spoken to someone recently who had proof of delivery from Royal Mail and eBay still upheld the buyer’s claim that they hadn’t received the item, so I don’t trust that this is fair on sellers.”
Sellers will have to start buying their postage through eBay sometime next year under plans by the platform.
Private sellers will have to use eBay’s “managed shipping” by the end of the first quarter of next year.
This means sellers must confirm a parcel size and then eBay then arranges the shipping, at what it says are “competitive rates”.
Managed shipping is currently available for pre-owned clothing listings for private sellers in the UK, but it is understood eBay is expanding this across all listings on an “opt out” basis over the next few months before mandating the program in early 2025 – meaning it will be compulsory.
Sellers are fully protected for any loss or damage to their items during transit under managed shipping.
Seller misterthrifty said the change would hugely impact their costs as they are currently able to post for very cheap.
They said: “If I am forced to use eBay postage options, then this will have a big impact on my costs.
“I started selling on eBay about 15 years ago partly because I had a lot of stamps to use up, so I could send parcels for little cost.
“I can buy postage a lot cheaper than Post Office prices, keeping down my postage expense. I will seriously be thinking about giving up on eBay over the next few months.”
Ebay declined to add further comment when approached by The Sun.
Ebay is following some major competitors in moving towards a buyer fee instead of charging sellers.
Vinted introduced a buyer protection fee in 2016, coinciding with the removal of seller fees. For orders under £500, this is a fixed fee of between 30p and 80p, plus between 3% and 8% of the sale price. Over £500 it is a flat fee of 3%.
Meanwhile, Depop introduced a buyer fee from April 15 2024 of up to 5% of the purchase price, plus a fixed amount of up to £1 per item. This excludes tax and postage costs.
Vinted currently also offers a managed shipping option for sellers, which allows them to choose which carriers they would like to offer to deliver their items.
Buyers can then choose which carrier they want to use and must pay that fixed postage cost.
Depop sellers can either use Depop Shipping, which is provided by carrier Evri, or they can select “other” and pick their own delivery provider.
In terms of holding onto funds, Depop sellers are paid within 10 working days, but many sellers have reported being paid almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Vinted sellers are paid within two working days of a “completed order”. This is when a buyer either confirms “everything is OK”, or two days after the buyer gets their order but does not report any issues.
QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted...
A NETFLIX and BBC star committed three sex offences aged 10 and forced a girl to drink his urine during a vile campaign of horrid abuse.
Alexander Westood, 24, also raped a teenage girl in his drama class and forced pupils to recite Shakespeare while naked over 11 years of heinous offending.
He is now facing jail after he was found guilty of 26 sex offences at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.
The actor, who starred in Netflix’s Sex Education and BBC’s Doctors, was described as a “supreme manipulator” who used his success to prey on aspiring young actors.
A jury was told of how the first of the 26 sex offences related to his tenth birthday – the age at which criminality begins in the UK.
Westwood was found to have on at least ten occasions intentionally sexually touched a child under the age of 13 years, namely aged six to 12, between April 2010 and January 2017.
He was also convicted of intentionally inciting a child under the age of 13, namely six to 10, to engage in sexual activity.
Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said: “Alexander Westwood is an actor. He is a supreme manipulator.
“All these charges have a common theme, of inappropriate touching and predatory behaviour.
“The ten indictments concerning a girl, the first charge is on the date of his tenth birthday, that is the date because there is not criminality before this age.”
Another of Westwood’s victims, whom he abused over a seven-year period, was forced to drink his urine.
Jurors were told how the actor’s sexual offending had “become a lifestyle” after he developed a “fascination” with pornography.
Mr Wallace added: “If we were to list every instance there would be hundreds of charges.”
Another victim described how Westwood told her mum she “should be admitted to a psychiatric hospital” after disclosing his abuse.
She cried on the stand as she recalled her traumatic encounters with him.
Another victim, who said she was raped by the star, was reduced to tears on the stand as she relived “the hell” of her encounter with him.
She said: “He would get very angry and hold me down by my wrists, I would have to bite him just to get away from him.
“He would ask me for sex and when I said no would carry on. I would tell him I did not want to because I was not happy, but he would just ignore me.
“He would get angry and throw things. He would regularly pin me down by my wrists so I could not move.
“I would have to bite him to get him off me. He would lie, lie and lie. He told my mother I needed to be in a psychiatric hospital.”
Pupils in his classes were “forced to act out the most inappropriate scenes”, with one girl systematically abused as she followed her dream of going to drama college.
The mum of another teenage victim said her daughter had attended lessons at the actor’s flat alone in 2021.
She told of how she was forced to have sex during classes and filmed naked on Westwood’s iPad.
He then tried to bill her family for £18,000 when she started missing his lessons.
The actor, whose other credits include action film Outlawed, thriller Angel City and short Leaper, will be sentenced in February.
AN ex-professional poker champion is in talks to buy a share in Scottish Championship side Dunfermline, reports say.
James Bord – a former winner of the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event – is hoping to play his cards right by leading a consortium looking into buying into the Fife club.
London-born Bord, 43, is the founder of Short Circuit Science, a San Francisco-based company specialising in sports data analytics.
He put his name on the poker map just over a decade ago when clinching the huge WSOP event and the $1.3million that went with it, becoming the first Brit to do so.
His online profile puts his poker winnings up until April 2018 at over $4.3million.
Now, the Daily Mail report he’s spearheading a move with his company to purchase shares in Dunfermline and the talks are at an advanced stage.
Dunfermline’s owners put the club up for sale earlier this season.
German investment group Fussball GmbH initially bought a 30% share in the Pars four years ago, which rose to a 75% holding the following year.
But given supposed supporter negativity having started the 2024/25 campaign poorly, they revealed their decision to sell.
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It’s likely this new investment will see a cap on the number of shares Bord’s consortium will be able to purchase, similar to what Bill Foley was subject to at Hibs.
That’s because Short Circuit Science are also minority shareholders in Spanish Segunda side Cordoba CF.
They would also need to go through the fit and proper person test.
Dunfermline currently sit 6th in Scotland second tier, 10 points clear of bottom side Airdrieonians and 11 points off the play-off positions.
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk
HUNDREDS of thousands of pensions have just days left to apply for a vital benefit that unlocks the winter fuel payment.
Previously, this winter support, valued at up to £300, was available to everyone aged 66 and over.
However, cuts introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves now restrict the payment to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain other means-tested benefits.
It is estimated that more than 760,000 individuals are missing out on pension credit, which would make them eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment.
To be eligible for this year’s payment, you must have had an active claim for any of these benefits during the “qualifying week,” which ran from September 16-22.
However, due to a little-known loophole, there is still time for pensioners to apply for pension credit and qualify for the winter fuel payment.
This is because new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months.
This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is Saturday, December 21.
Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300.
Pension credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.
This is known as “guarantee credit”.
If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:
You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply:
This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.
For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.
Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.
The deadline to apply for pension credit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.
YOU can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do.
You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
You can also check your eligibility online by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit first.
If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.
Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.
This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.
That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
You’ll get a letter telling you:
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
CHELSEA boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Josh Acheampong is set to start against Astana.
The Blues will take on the Kazakh side tomorrow in difficult -13C conditions.
Maresca is set to make several changes to the side that beat Tottenham 4-3 last Sunday, with 11 academy starlets having been added to his Europa Conference League squad.
Full-back Acheampong, 18, is set to come in for his first Chelsea start.
The England youth international is highly-rated at Stamford Bridge and has made two cameos from the bench for the Blues.
But in October it was reported that he had been “frozen out” amid a contract stand off.
He was recently seen having returned to first team training, however.
And asked about Acheampong ahead of tomorrow’s match, Maresca confirmed that a contract agreement is close.
The Italian, 44, said: “He’s in the squad and is probably going to play from the start.
“With Josh, it’s quite clear, we all love Josh, the club love Josh and I love Josh.
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“We are trying to find an agreement with the player. It’s close, we are almost there.”
Chelsea will embark on a 7,000-mile round trip to face Astana, with stars such as Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke among those that will be left at home.
On their travel arrangements, Maresca added this morning: “We have a session now, then we fly there, eight hours.
“We arrive, have dinner, bed. Fortunately they are five hours ahead of us. We are going to be there for 24 hours.
“Friday morning, we are going to arrive around 6am in London.”
Following Chelsea’s arduous trip, their West London derby against Brentford this weekend has been pushed back to an unusual kick-off time.
The match will get underway at 7pm this Sunday, and it’s likely that Maresca could make as many as 11 changes from the side that will face Astana tomorrow.
SHOPPERS have just hours left to snap up an £8.50 one litre bottle of Baileys from a major supermarket.
Morrisons has slashed the price of the festive tipple from £22 – but the offer expires tomorrow (December 12).
Plus, the deal is only available in-store and at branches across England and Wales and you have to be a More Card loyalty scheme customer.
If you don’t have a More Card, which lets shoppers earn points on their purchases which can be used to get money off future shops and earn exclusive discounts on specific items, you’ll have to pay the full price of £13.
You have to spend a minimum of £45 to get the bargain price too, which doesn’t include the price of the Baileys itself.
The latest deal from Morrisons makes it the cheapest out of the major supermarkets.
Sainsbury’s and Tesco are both offering the same one litre bottle of Baileys for £13 to loyalty card shoppers.
Meanwhile, Ocado and Asda are also selling it for £13, except you don’t have to be signed up to a loyalty scheme.
It’s the second time Morrisons has slashed the price on its one litre bottle of Baileys, after launching a similar deal in November.
Britain’s coupon kid Jordon Cox branded the deal at the time as “astonishing”.
He said: “The standard price drop is usually down to £10 for a 1L bottle… or £9.50 if we’re lucky.
“So for Morrisons to drop the price to £8.50 is quite astonishing!”
Supermarkets often battle it out to offer the cheapest prices on festive staples such as Baileys, chocolates and veg in the run up to Christmas.
So it’s well worth keeping an eye out for deals as you often don’t have to pay full price.
Asda and Sainsbury’s are both selling Quality Street tins for just £8, 2p cheaper per 100g than the 600g plastic tubs sold at the same supermarkets, which cost £6.
Aldi and Sainsbury’s have both said they will offer 15p veggies to shoppers from next week too.
Of course, make sure you shop around before and check you’re actually getting the best price for any product.
Websites like Trolley let you compare prices on thousands of products across the major supermarkets.
You can always have a quick scan of Google by using the Product/Shopping tab too.
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…
Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
Beyond looking for the best deals, there are some other ways to save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
