ICELAND has revealed the exact date shoppers can book their Christmas delivery slots.

Securing a delivery slot during the festive period can be challenging for shoppers, so the popular supermarket chain has announced key dates for customers to watch out for to avoid disappointment.

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The major retailer’s service enables shoppers to pre-book and pay for their Christmas dinner and other festive treats in advance, which will then be delivered to their door five days later.

An Iceland spokesperson said: “At Iceland, we are committed to ensuring that our customers have access to convenient delivery options during the upcoming busy Christmas period.

“Delivery slots for Christmas will be made available to customers six days prior to the delivery date.”

Here are the key dates Iceland shoppers need to remember.

• Slots available from 11/12/2024: Delivery on 16/12/2024
• Slots available from 12/12/2024: Delivery on 17/12/2024
• Slots available from 13/12/2024: Delivery on 18/12/2024
• Slots available from 14/12/2024: Delivery on 19/12/2024
• Slots available from 15/12/2024: Delivery on 20/12/2024
• Slots available from 16/12/2024: Delivery on 21/12/2024
• Slots available from 17/12/2024: Delivery on 22/12/2024
• Slots available from 18/12/2024: Delivery on 23/12/2024
• Slots available from 19/12/2024: Delivery on 24/12/2024

Iceland’s spokesperson said: “Please note that slot availability is specific to each store, and whilst we are still finalising details for our pre-book campaign, the table outlines when slots will be open for all customers.”

Unfortunately for shoppers, the budget supermarket chain will not be offering its click-and-collect service for Christmas bookings.

The retailer’s spokesperson added: “For stores providing home delivery, slots will be made available daily up to and including the 24th of December 2024.

“We plan to also offer a final delivery slot on Christmas Eve between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, depending on the store.

“We’ll ensure that delivery availability across all stores is prioritized in order to ensure our customers can receive their groceries in time for Christmas.”

Iceland is not the only store to confirm their Christmas delivery slot dates.

Ocado has told Smart Pass holders to look out for a text or email which will alert them the day before they go live this week.

Smart Pass Holders pay a set fee either monthly or annually to get free delivery slots, seven days a week.

We have asked Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda when they are releasing their delivery slots this year and will update this story when we have heard back.

Morrisons will start taking bookings next month.

Delivery Pass customers will be able to book their slots from October 2.

SUPERMARKETS MAKING CHRISTMAS MOVES

Plenty of supermarkets are already in full Christmas mode, launching toy sales and their festive menus.

Morrisons has unveiled its Christmas menu which comes with 30-day Matured Shorthorn Cote de Boeuf for £25 per kilo and Free Range Turkey Crown with Red Onion and Sage Stuffing for £8.50 a kilo.

Meanwhile, Tesco revealed its Christmas range this month, and it includes everything from pigs in blankets to decadent puddings.

Asda has also released its festive menu, which includes a melt-in-the-middle pork pie and toffee apple mince pies.

Asda‘s Christmas range will be available at 1,000-plus stores across the UK.

And Iceland has unveiled its Christmas 2024 range which comes with a pigs in blankets Yorkshire pudding.

Tesco shoppers can also snap up toys for Christmas until November 3 across 270 stores, with up to 50% off and prices from £3.

Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas

IF youre’ looking to save cash, you’ve come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that’ll save you £2k before Christmas.

• Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
• Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
• Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
• Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
• Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
• DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
• Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.

Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!

DO you need to stage a saving this week?

Now is the perfect time to book your next theatre trip, with new West End show tickets released for the winter season.

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Use these tricks to plan your visit.

EARLY BIRD: Many new shows offer discounted rates for early performances.

For instance, Titanique, a musical based on the Titanic film, starts in December with tickets from £16 for initial performances, rising to around £31 in January.

GO OFF-PEAK: Booking Monday or Tuesday shows often means cheaper tickets since most tourists visit on weekends.

Matinees outside school holidays also offer lower prices — check if your chosen production has this option.

DISCOUNT DEALS: NHS staff can get 25 per cent off ATG tickets or 10 per cent off via LoveTheatre.co.uk.

Check healthservicediscounts.com for more offers.

If you have a railcard, you can claim discounts for theatre trips booked with train travel — check availability at DaysOutGuide.tixculture.com.

MORE THE MERRIER: Round up a few friends and book as a group to get money off your next theatre trip.

For instance, booking ten-plus tickets for Mrs Doubtfire in the West End drops the price to £49.50 per ticket, down from around £57.50.

Many theatres offer group rates for 6 to 12-plus people if you check with the theatre directly.

LOTTERY WIN: Some major productions offer daily lotteries for discounted or even free tickets. Hamilton holds a regular lottery via the TodayTix app, where you can win tickets for £10.

Also, follow your favourite shows on social media, where competitions for free tickets are often posted.

ACCESS FOR ALL: If you’re on low income or universal credit, many theatres offer heavily discounted rates.

National Theatre of Scotland’s Theatre for a Fiver programme gives access to £5 tickets, just check local theatre websites for more options.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

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PLAN ahead for the festive season at Tesco, where a 1L bottle of Bailey’s, usually £22, is now £13 when you use your Tesco Clubcard.

SAVE: £9

Cheap treat

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TURN up the glamour in a pair of Eyelash Emporium strip lashes, usually £8.95, now £5.99 at Superdrug.

SAVE: £2.96

What’s new?

DRINK pink this Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Get three cartons of Ocean Spray Pink Cranberry juice drink for £4 at Sainsburys (usually £1.85 each) and 5p from every carton will go to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Top swap

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KEEP your holiday glow when you use the Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer, £25, or pick up a Gorgeous Glow Stick, £3.99.

Both at Boots.

SAVE: £21.01

Little helper

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GET five freezer favourites for £6, including McCain Wedges, Birds Eye Crispy Chicken and more, at Coop.co.uk. If you become a Co-op member for £1, it’s just £5, with access to more discounts.

Shop & save

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ADD a statement accent chair to your bedroom now – this cream one was £99, but is now £49, at Homebase.

SAVE: £50

Hot right now

PICK up a new Lego City set at Smyths Toys and get up to 20 per cent off.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

THOUSANDS of struggling households can apply for a £300 winter fuel payment today – here’s how.

Those living abroad can now apply for cash this winter as long as they meet certain conditions.

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If you do not live in the UK, you’re only eligible for the winter fuel payment if:

• You moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021
• You were born before September 23, 1958
• You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK

These households can apply via post and will need to fill in the winter fuel payment claim form and post it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

This will be available at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim from September 30. You can also find the address to post it to here.

Households will also be able to claim by phone, and the DWP will release the helpline number online on October 28.

The deadline to claim for this winter is March 31, 2025.

HOW MUCH YOU’LL GET

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. 

However, 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:

• How much you’ll get
• Which bank account it will be paid into

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.

AVOID MISSING OUT

Over 800,000 households are eligible for pension credit but aren’t claiming the benefit.

Those people will now also miss out on this year’s winter fuel payment unless they start claiming.

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 the “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:

• Attendance allowance
• The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
• The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces independence payment
• The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.

You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply:

• You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
• You saved some money for retirement, for example, in a personal or workplace pension

This part of the pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.

It’s wise to put in an application as soon as possible, as the DWP can take up to two months to process new claims.

However, new claims for pension credit can be backdated by three months.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.

If you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment.

A MAN who begrudgingly moved out of a derelict housing estate says he still keeps an eye on his old gaff despite its demise.

Michael Keogh, 81, was the last resident to pack his bags and flee the once close-knit community of pensioners on Highfield Close in Stretford, Manchester on June 8 last year.

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Today, the 38 one-bed houses are plagued by overgrown gardens, piled up rubbish, tinned up windows and graffiti, Manchester Evening News reported.

But it was once a cosy haven for locals to spend their golden years with pals of a similar age.

“When I first moved I thought it had real potential,” Michael said.

“The back garden was incredible.

“There were lots of trees and views over the fields. I spent quite a, lot of money building a little courtyard and planting, so I had a nice place to sit out.

“It was such a nice community.”

Swirling rumours soon circulated of plans from their then-landlord Trafford Housing Trust to bulldoze around half-a-dozen homes.

The outfit later had plans approved to obliterate every single bungalow.

Trafford Housing Trust said the properties were situated on a ‘high risk’ flood plain and were built in a way that had ‘created severe damp and mould issues’.

A number of residents disputed those claims.

Since the bungalows were razed to the ground, the area has become a hotspot for vandals and metal thieves.

Michael continued: “The gates went first, then it was the lead flashing.

“It was bad enough when they ripped out the front doors and back doors, but then they got ransacked again and again.

“Look at it now, it’s desolate. It’s very sad.

“I was lucky, I just moved round the corner, but a lot ended up in Davyhulme or Urmston.”

Michael now resides in a maisonette around the corner from Highfield Close, but still routinely checks in on his old stomping ground.

Fellow resident Lynda Mawdsley also bemoaned the property’s demolition.

“They’re not taking my bloody home away from me, over my dead body,” she told the Manchester Evening News in 2022.

“When they said they had decided to demolish them, I just burst out crying.

“We’re not just a community, we’re a family.

“We look after each other here.”

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Advise Wise has launched a new cost-calculator tool for later-life advisers.

The tool empowers advisers to seamlessly compare key metrics of different later-life mortgage products.

It offers a comprehensive view of key financial details across multiple product options, from traditional mortgages to retirement interest-only.

It also offers a variety of lifetime mortgages as well as listing their payment schedules, interest roll-up and the total amount borrowed/owed throughout the loan term.

The later-life lending specialist said advisers can now easily identify and recommend the most suitable plans for clients, especially those with disposable income.

The calculator can be used to demonstrate the benefits of making regular payments over different time periods and shows how different payment scenarios affect the total amount paid, any interest roll-up and final loan balance.

It can also be used for scenario building, allowing the adviser to create and visualise different financial outcomes through detailed tables and graphs.

Aaron Conlon, managing director at Advise Wise, said: “Our new cost calculator is a game-changer. It equips advisers with the tools needed to provide bespoke advice, and by giving a full view of payments and interest across a range of products, it ensures clients understand the long-term benefits and the financial implications of their chosen plans.

“It adds unparalleled depth to the sourcing journey, offering deeper insights to support advisers in delivering exceptional outcomes for their clients.

“In line with our mission to empower advisers to achieve more, we’ve integrated the cost calculator into the sourcing journey on our platform, as we continue to introduce innovative tools our members can rely on to provide flexible, personalised and transparent advice.”

Advise Wise, a later-life sourcing platform based in Leeds, supports financial advisers with the tools and insights to deliver exceptional service to their clients.

Last week, the firm upgraded its platform to enable advisers to input clients’ medical information using metric units for height and weight.

The later-life lending platform said entering accurate medical details is crucial in getting individual base pricing and in identifying the best plans for clients.

SHOPPERS are racing to get hold of the best deal on Bailey’s Irish cream as temperatures start to drop.

We know Bailey’s is a keen favourite for all you Christmas shoppers – so we figured out where you can grab the best deal, and save some valuable cash this winter.

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Tesco Clubcard holders have lucked out, as they can now purchase an entire 1L bottle of Bailey’s for the bargain price of just £13.00.

Without being a member of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme, you’ll pay £22 for the tipple.

With the deal it’s the cheapest around for this size when comparing current supermarket prices.

At Morrisons, Asda, and Ocado the 1L bottle will set you back £22, while Sainsbury’s has it slightly cheaper at £21.95.

Meanwhile Amazon is flogging the booze for £18.98, according to Trolley.co.uk, a price comparison website.

Meanwhile Sainsbury’s has also launched a Nectar Price deal with a 70cl bottle for £10.

Without the loyalty card discount, you’ll pay £16.50.

That’s the cheapest you’ll find at that size as it’s also £16.50 currently at Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.

You can also pick up a bottle for slightly less, but still more than the Sainsbury’s deal price at Iceland (£15), B&M (£14) and Ocado (£12).

Waitrose is currently selling it for the most expensive price at £17.

But how do they compare?

Although Sainsbury’s has the cheapest price tag, you get less at 70cl compared to Tesco’s 1L bottle.

Shoppers looking to get the best deal should look closely at the price per unit.

The unit price works out as £1.43 per 100ml,

Take a look at the Tesco deal, and it works out as £1.30 per 100ml, making Tesco the savvier deal overall.

It’s worth noting that supermarket prices change regularly and items can go on and off deals at any time, so it’s always worth checking at the time you’re buying that you’re getting the best deal.

The Tesco Clubcard deal is running now and available for delivery until December 9.

At Sainsbury’s it’s not clear how long the Bailey’s offer is available, but we’ve asked and we’ll update when we hear back.

Prices may vary in store and online too, and if you’re ordering online remember to factor in delivery fees too.

It’s worth noting too that these or other supermarkets could still sell Baileys for less between now and Christmas.

In previous years supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsburys have sold the festive tipple for £10 for a 1L bottle – though there’s no guarantee they will be as low again this year.

To compare prices between stores, go to the supermarket’s website and browse prices ahead of visiting.

For different sized bottles, you can look at how much each one costs per 100ml, to work out which is the best deal overall.

HOW TO GET LOYALTY PRICES

With discounts such as these, a Nectar card or Clubcard makes a huge difference to your weekly shop.

You can also collect points, which amount to free vouchers to use on your next shop – meaning for most people, signing up for both cards is a no brainer.

Both are free to join, and require you to fill out a few easy steps on their websites or via the apps.

Nectar and Tesco apps can be found via the app store and are simple to use.

With the mobile apps, shoppers can browse the latest Clubcard offers while they are on the go.

They can also calculate their shopping basket in advance, to make sure they come out with a cost-efficient result at the till.

This will be especially useful in the run up to Christmas as shoppers begin preparations by claim deals on festive products such as Bailey’s – so we recommend signing up.

As always, we also recommend you shop around before you buy.

To compare prices, use the “Sort by” tool while browsing and go to “Offers” on the main pages of supermarket’s websites.

Websites such as Groupon are also useful for finding the newest deals, and claiming extra vouchers for your shop.

How else can I save money on Bailey’s?

Recently, shoppers have gone wild for an Aldi product which serves as the “perfect” Bailey’s dupe.

If you want to save even more cash, you can purchase the 70cl Ballycastle cream liqueur for £5.79 – just 82p per 100ml.

Shoppers have described the product as “lush” and “gorgeous” on Facebook.

The Ballycastle product even comes in several flavours, such as the newest addition, which is a Milk Chocolate Clementine version for £7.49.

If you’re willing to give something new a try, this could dupe save you up to £16.21 on one bottle of Bailey’s.

In fact, for the price of one Bailey’s bottle from Morrisons or Asda (£22.00), you could almost by four bottles of the Ballycastle make.

However, while the ABV (alcohol by volume) of Bailey’s is 16%, the Ballycastle booze is 12%.

Other supermarkets which have brought out their own Bailey’s dupes include Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison’s, Asda, Lidl and M&S.

While the cheapest is Ballycastle, Lidl’s Irish Cream Liqueur is the second cheapest at £1.14 per 100ml.

In Tesco, the 70cl own brand liqueur is £8.50, at £1.21 per 100ml, and in Sainsbury’s it is £9 at £1.28 per 100ml.

Morrison’s is lightly pricier, costing £13 for a 1L bottle.

To compare the best options, we recommend taking other factors into account as well as price, such as the ABV and reviews online.

This year, Which? revealed Aldi was the UK’s cheapest supermarket of 2024.

To find your nearest Aldi, visit the website and use the Store Locator tool.

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