WITH the price of a first-class stamp hitting £1.65 on Monday, sending a letter or card will cost a packet.

The hike means it’s important to find other ways to save on postage.
So follow these tips to the letter . . . 

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STAMP IT OUT: Beat Monday’s 30p rise on first-class stamps by bulk-buying today.

As long as the stamp doesn’t have a price on it, and just says the postage class, it will still be valid after the hike.

Buy from a post office or reputable retailer to avoid fakes.

SEND SECOND CLASS: The price of second-class stamps is staying at 85p.

It should take two to three days for a second-class letter to be delivered, compared with one day for first class.

So, by being a bit more organised, you can save 80p on sending each letter.

BOX CLEVER: If you have an item weighing more than 1kg, a parcel courier website, such as Parcel2Go or ParcelHero, might end up being cheaper than Royal Mail.

E-CARDS: You can send all the sentiment without any of the cost of a stamp with a free e-card.

Lots of companies do this. Check out friendsoftheearth.uk/take-action where you can send a card to a whole group of people, and it’s up to you if you want to make a donation, too.

There is also a good selection at worldwildlife.org.

PACK IT IN: Use the right packaging as postage costs are determined on size and weight. Pack things as small as possible, making the packaging as thin as you can.

Envelopes and plastic mailing bags are the cheapest — so if you can fit gifts you want to send to a friend into a bag, it could cost less to send.

• 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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STASH your outdoor cushions and blankets in a 270-litre Keter box, down from £45 to £30 at Argos.

SAVE: £15

Cheap treat

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SAVE 20 per cent on selected eye make-up at Superdrug, with the Morphe 2 Ready In 5 eyeshadow palette down from £7 to £5.60.

SAVE: £1.40

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ENJOY beef bourguignon and molten cookie dough from the new Gastropub deal at M&S, with dishes by chef Tom Kerridge.

For £15, get a main, a side, and a dessert or starter.

Top swap

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BLOCK breezes with the luxury velvet draught excluder, above, £39.95 from Graham & Green.

Or stay warm with Dunelm’s version, for £16. Both available in a range of colours.

SAVE: £23.95

Little helper

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KIT out a bedroom with a Lexington bedside table, four-drawer chest and two-door wardrobe for £210 at The Range. Items can be bought individually.

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SAVE: 65p

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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!

FORGET glugging glasses of house white – when it comes to plonk, the latest craze is all about posing with poultry.

Nicknamed “The Chicken Wine” online owing to its bird-themed branding, the £8 French tipple La Vieille Ferme has become the latest cult bottle for Gen Z boozers.

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The clucking great pink has gone down a storm on social media, with celebrity fans including singer Charli XCX, who declared it the official “Brat” booze.

And it’s not the only quirky vino to go viral.

Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin gives her verdict on the latest social media all-stars, giving each a score out of five.

La Vieille Ferme Rosé aka Chicken Wine

• £8.50 (now £7), Sainsbury’s
• 4/5

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THIS famous, fowl-themed French pink plonk with the chicken on the label is now so popular on TikTok that discounter Aldi has brought out its own not-so-subtle tribute bottle (Le Petit Poulet, £6.49).

The original poultry plonk, though, is still perfectly judged for the more premium price tag, with its cool notes of citrus and strawberry.

Silky and supple, it slips down far too easily, as Generation Z have discovered for themselves.

If you really can’t get enough of the rooster it’s also available by the box for £15.50 (where it’s even better value).

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Joy Juicy Red Wine

HAT’S off to Joy for knowing exactly who they’re aiming at with their vibrant-looking, simple sippers.

And this is another bottle with real eye-catching looks and colour that has led to it going viral. Gone are grape varieties and countries of origin.

Instead, we have analogies for cosy jumpers, juicy berries  and mischievous elves.

The wine in the bottle mirrors the styling: very simple and sweet.

It’s suggested that you mix this with lemonade, oranges and strawberries for a wine-themed cocktail.

Perfect for first-time drinkers but vino aficionados should swerve.

Specially Selected Rosorange Rosé

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COMBINING two vino trends was always going to be a risk but, with this, it has paid off in spades.

And not only has it gone down a storm on social media but even the wine pros like it.

A hybrid-style ­bottle, which is half French rosé and half orange wine, it has the moreish texture and bergamot notes of the latter with the ripe strawberry fruit of the former.

The resulting tangerine colour will look great in your glass and on your feeds but it’s also a fine one to sip.

Not just a novelty bottle, this is a great intro to orange wine and I think it’s well worth the premium price tag.

Jam Shed Shiraz Red Wine

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AS far as wine names go, this vino does exactly what it says on the label.

Very sweet and jammy, with a slick of vanilla wood that’s a bit rough around the edges – a bit like licking a new shed (or at least that’s how I imagine that would be!).

Still, the branding is eye-catching, which is why it’s become a trendy sipper and I suppose if you really, really love strawberry jam, then chances are that you might like this too.

In the real world and off the grid this vino is possibly a bit of a one-glass wonder for most people, though.

Ca’ Del Lago Rosato IGT Trevenezie

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ANOTHER vino to go viral and I’m not sure Lidl actually knows just how good this wine is for the price.

It’s a seemingly accidental dupe of a much more famous rosé produced around the corner in Lugana, near the Italian home of George Clooney, called Cà dei Frati Rosa dei Frati, which sells for around £25 a bottle.

Delightfully different, this soft, rose-tinted tipple will appeal to everyone with its pear and white peach flavours and a slick of saline.

Definitely a trending wine to take note of and taste for yourself.
A proper lesser-known gem.

19 Crimes Red Wine

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FOR a drink that’s been talked about in leading wine circles as “19 Crimes against winemaking”, as a hugely ­commercial tipple this is actually not too bad.

If you’re after a powerhouse vino with lots of very sweet, ripe fruit and ­flavours of caramel and vanilla, there’s no ignoring this ­Australian red.

Best with grilled meat or cheese to smooth it out, it’s big and unsubtle, which is why it packs a punch with its branding and has been a hit online – but in many ways that’s all part of its charm.

Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé

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IT’S been around for a long time but unlike another, ahem, “softly spoken divine wine”, Brad Pitt’s French pink Miraval has not lost any of its quality punch over the years.

And still huge on TikTok, it shows no sign of losing its popularity on social media either. In fact, dare I say it, over time it’s actually got better.

A beautiful bottle inside and out, this lean and quietly confident pink sipper put celeb rosé on the map – and the rest have been playing catch-up.

It’s not the cheapest cult tipple but for what you get when it’s on offer it’s very well priced.

M&S Classics Malbec

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A VERY recent addition to the online trending wine list is this great-value Malbec from M&S which influencers and grid gluggers have been quick to pay attention to.

As the label suggests, this is a classic example of the grape from Argentina: ripe and smooth with notes of mocha, vanilla, blueberry and blackberry.

Not too sweet and with just enough grip, it would be impressive at twice the price.

One for pouring, sipping and savouring with your sizzling Friday night steak.

HMRC has issued a one-day warning to Vinted and eBay sellers to check if they need to register to make a Self Assessment tax return.

Those who need to register for the 2023-2024 tax year have just over 24 hours to do so, or they could risk being fined by HMRC.

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This is because anyone selling items online might be liable to pay tax, if they earned £1,000 or more between 6 April 2023 and 5 April 2024.

The warning to register comes ahead of a major deadline in the tax year tomorrow (Saturday October 5).

This is when you need to have registered to file a Self Assessment tax return if you haven’t done so before.

This is not the date you need to file your Self Assessment, just the date you need to register your intention to file.

If you’re unsure whether you need to register you can complete a simple assessment on the gov.uk website.

It’s particularly important to register this year as since the beginning of 2024 firms like Vinted have to pass on customer data to HMRC if a user sells 30 or more items, or earns over £1,700, in a year.

While the reporting rules have changed, this is not a new tax.

Those who earn more than £1,000 outside their regular employment were already required to file a Self Assessment tax form with HMRC.

The new rules will give the taxman greater visibility over what people have earned, increasing the chance of enforcement.

The rules were introduced as part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe.

After the rules came in Vinted said it would message users who needed to register, so if you’ve not received a message you don’t need to register.

Receiving a message from Vinted or making more than £1,000 from sales does not necessarily mean that you will owe tax.

If the money a member makes on online marketplaces over a year is less than the amount they paid for the items they are selling, then there should be no tax to pay.

But those “trading” for profit might need to pay tax.

The taxman will use the information gathered to verify against its own records to make sure sellers and renters are correctly reporting their income on their tax returns.

The deadline to submit the return for the 2023/24 tax year – and pay any tax you owe – is January 31, 2025 online.

But there’s an earlier deadline of October 31 this year if you file via post.

It is worth bearing in mind that HMRC will fine you £100 for failing to file your return by the deadline.

Then, a £10 daily fine applies every day you don’t submit your tax return.

Do I have to pay tax on my second-hand sales?

If you have made 30 sales or £1,700 this year you will be contacted by Vinted and asked to submit the seller report form on the app.

This year, the company said it will only approach new sellers who registered in 2024.

If you do not hear from Vinted then you don’t need to do anything, though you may need to file a tax return for other reasons.

Users who meet the criteria will be asked to add their National Insurance Number to a pre-filled form and check the details are correct before submitting it.

This will be done on the Vinted app.

You don’t need to calculate or count anything yourself.

A Vinted spokesperson said: “Reporting members’ details to the authorities does not necessarily lead to taxation.

“Taxation is a separate matter that doesn’t depend on HMRC reporting.”

They added: “HMRC requires Vinted to collect information from members who meet the criteria mentioned above, regardless of whether or not their earnings are taxable.”

Vinted said that it will be getting in contact with users who need to fill out these forms towards the end of the year.

What that means in practice is that money you make may be reported to the taxman if it’s over the amounts above.

Whether or not you have to pay tax will depend on your wider circumstances.

The majority of people pay income tax automatically through employment via what’s known as PAYE.

When do I need to file a tax return?

Self Assessment is a system HMRC uses to collect income tax.

Tax is usually deducted automatically from wages, pensions and savings, but people and businesses with other incomes must report it in a tax return.

It is not just online sellers who are required to fill out a tax return.

The rule applies to the following:

• Your income from self-employment was more than £1,000
• Earned more than £2,500 from renting out property
• You or your partner received high-income child benefits and either of you had an annual income of more than £60,000
• Received more than £2,500 in other untaxed income, for example from tips or commission
• Are limited company directors
• Are shareholders
• Are employees claiming expenses over £2,500
• Have an annual income over £100,000

Check out our step-by-step guide on filling out a tax return here.

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

TODAY The Sun launches a ­Winter Fuel SOS campaign to help thousands of pensioners worried about their energy bills.

More than 800,000 older ­people risk missing out on the £300 Winter Fuel Payment — and other ­benefits they may be ­entitled to — because they have not first registered for Pension Credit, which unlocks access to the payment.

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And the extra money will be even more welcome after this month’s ten per cent rise in the Energy Price Cap to £1,717.

But good news is at hand, with our Winter Fuel SOS crew ready to offer advice on getting all the money that is yours by right.

In her July statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that this winter, only households in England and Wales that receive Pension Credit or certain means-tested ­benefits will be entitled to the ­Winter Fuel Payment.

Previously it was available to everyone aged over 66.

The decision will strip ten million pensioners of the tax-free handout.

There are just weeks left to claim, so it is essential that those who are eligible apply now.

An estimated 880,000 UK retirees could be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment yet will miss out because they did not register for Pension Credit.

We have heard from readers who cannot work out if they are able to claim the ­benefit.

Others have said how worried they are that they won’t get the Winter Fuel Payment this year — raising fears they won’t be able to ­afford to heat their homes.

We want to change that.

That’s why we have gathered together a top line-up of experts — and our Winter Fuel SOS crew will be taking your calls this Wednesday.

We want to hear from you by phone or email — and it’s fine if you are calling or messaging on behalf of a friend or relative.

Our panel includes former ­pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, pensions expert Baroness Ros ­Altmann and consumer champion Martyn James.

They will be joined by The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans and Sun Savers Editor Lana ­Clements.

And even if you aren’t eligible for the payment, our team will be ­sharing tips on how to switch energy providers and save money, get help if you’re in debt or simply need to save this winter.

Your cases will be considered by our panel, who will aim to give you advice within one week of your call or email.

Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said: “People often think if you have some savings or a small ­pension there’s no point applying for Pension Credit, but that’s often not the case.

“Don’t be put off by the forms — Age UK can help.”

How do I claim pension credit

PENSION Credit is a weekly payment from the Government to those over the state pension age who have an income which is below a ­certain level.

If your claim is successful then the benefit will top up your income to £218 a week if you are single, or £11,343.80 a year.

Meanwhile, if you live as a couple, your ­combined income will be boosted to £332.95 a week, or £17,313.40 annually.

The money you receive in Pension Credit can be spent as you want, but it could be used to pay for food, fuel, energy or housing costs.

Retirees who receive Pension Credit are also entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300 and is designed to help you pay your heating bill over the chillier months ahead.

To qualify, you must have been eligible for Pension Credit during the “qualifying week”, which was September 16-22.

But Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months, which means the last date you can make a claim and still get the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21.

There are several ways to apply for Pension Credit, including making your claim online or by telephone.

To register for the payments you will need to be receiving the state pension. See gov.uk for more information.

You can also call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can help you to fill in an application form over the phone.

The lines are open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Before you call, it would be helpful to have your ­National Insurance number and bank account details, plus information about your pension, income and savings to hand.

To contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre call 0800 731 0160. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

You can also send a letter by post to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.

When you contact the centre you will need to tell them personal information including your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.

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What other help is there?

IF you are not eligible for Pension Credit but need help to make ends meet this winter, then there are still things you can do to save money.

You could save £162 a year by switching your gas and electricity ­supplier.

Around 28million homes have seen energy costs rise due to the new price cap.

On Tuesday it rose from £1,568 to £1,717 a year, which means bills are up ten per cent, or £149 a year.

This cap sets a maximum rate per unit that ­customers can be charged for their energy use and changes every three months.

The price cap only affects customers who are on a standard variable energy tariff, which rises or falls depending on the cost of raw energy.

Meanwhile, those who are on a fixed tariff agree in advance how much they will pay for their energy use for a whole year at a time.

A handful of suppliers are currently offering deals that are cheaper than the price cap. The current cheapest is from Outfox The Market and costs £162 less than this month’s cap.

You can reduce the amount of energy you use by lowering your ­thermostat, draught-proofing doors and windows and taking shorter ­showers to bring down your monthly costs.

Meanwhile, energy firms including EDF, ­British Gas and Ovo are offering customers up to £150 free to help with their bills this winter.

The help is provided through the ­Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme.

To be eligible, you need to be claiming certain benefits which include Universal Credit, ­Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits.

You do not need to apply for the cash and should receive it automatically.

Our panel of experts will be on hand to ­suggest other ways to save money, depending on your ­circumstances.

Call our expert team on 0800 028 1978

Sir STEVE WEBB: PENSIONS ­Minister 2010- 2015. Joined consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock in 2020 and campaigned to secure around £2billion for women underpaid the state pension.

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Baroness ROS ALTMANN: EXPERT on later-life issues. Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers 2014-15. Awarded a CBE in 2014 for her work on pensions and retirement planning.

MARTYN JAMES: AN award-winning consumer rights expert, journalist and broadcaster with two decades of experience working for the UK’s leading newspapers.

JONATHAN CHESTERMAN: DEBT advice policy manager at StepChange debt charity – the largest provider of free and impartial debt guidance in UK. He will help with readers’ debt queries.

ELISE MELVILLE: ENERGY expert at comparison website uswitch.com, she cares about demystifying bill myths. Elise will be on hand to help with energy-saving tips.

BEN GALLIZZI: THE uswitch.com energy specialist is focused on helping customers to manage their home energy usage. He can suggest practical tips to help you cut your bills.

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ADAM STACHURA: THE associate director for policy at the charity Age Scotland, Adam is part of a team that offers advice and tips to older people on their winter fuel issues.

FRAN McSWEENEY: HEAD of services at Independent Age, a charity supporting older people facing financial hardship. Fran and her team run a national helpline on cash issues.

EMILY SEYMOUR: AS Energy Editor for consumer group Which? since 2020, Emily has been at the forefront of its campaigns to help people manage their energy bills.

JOE RICHARDSON: DIRECTOR of operations at Octopus Energy UK. His team are responsible for looking after all aspects of the business’s award-winning customer ­service.

TARA EVANS: HEAD of Consumer at The Sun. She will be joined by Sun Savers Editor Lana ­Clements and our very own Consumer Champion Laura Purkess.

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THE exact date a major supermarket with more than 300 UK branches is set to close has been revealed.

Waitrose fans were saddened to hear their beloved store will be pulling down the shutters for good.

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The site, located in Hall Green, Birmingham, announced it will close its doors for the final time after welcoming customers for more than 50 years.

Execs dubbed the move a sad “last resort” after failing to bring in higher profits.

Redundancy consultations have been started with the store’s 123 members of staff.

Hall Green North Councillor, Saima Suleman, shared the sad news on Facebook this week.

It sparked an outcry among shoppers who claimed they “want to move now”.

Someone wrote: “Hall Green isn’t what it was I think it needs to be more suitably placed.”

Another resident said: “This has made me want to move now.”

Others added on social media: “That’s disappointing! It’s one of my favourites since moving back to Birmingham in this area.”

“I’m so gutted,” agreed a fourth.

“Sad – it was always nice to have it at my door step. The staff in there are really friendly and helpful. What a shame!”, penned another.

The exact closure date was confirmed by Waitrose, and is set in January next year.

James Allen, head of retail operations at the supermarket, said: “Our priority now is doing everything we can to support our Partners at Waitrose Hall Green and we will explore opportunities, wherever possible, for those partners who may wish to remain with the Partnership.

“Closing any of our shops is always a last resort and is in no way a reflection on their hard work and dedication.”

A spokesperson for Waitrose added: “Regrettably, we’ve announced our intent to close Waitrose Hall Green in Birmingham at the end of trade on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

“Despite the best efforts of our partners, we’ve unfortunately not been able to find a way to make the shop commercially sustainable.

“The 123 partners who work in the shop will now enter a period of consultation. If the redundancy proposals go ahead, every effort will be made to find those who wish to remain within the partnership new roles

“Customers will continue to be able to get all their groceries on waitrose.com, our nearby Waitrose Solihull shop, under three miles away, and other on demand locations in the event the closure is confirmed.

“The John Lewis partnership is committed to providing support to those partners who are at risk of redundancy.

“We’ll be exploring opportunities for partners within the partnership first, and our retraining fund will contribute up to £3,000 towards a recognised qualification or course for up to two years for any partner with two years’ service or more who is made redundant.

“They would also be given access to a three month support programme with an outplacement specialist to help with CV writing and interview skills.”

In addition to statutory redundancy payments, staff who have worked with the business for more than 90 days would be entitled to Partnership redundancy pay, which equates to one week’s pay for every year of service.

It comes as the retailer confirmed it will close all stores to give staff a break on Boxing Day.

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has exclusively told The Sun it will shut all its standalone John Lewis stores on December 25 and 26.

Only its shops within the Trafford and Stratford shopping centres will remain open.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of Waitrose stores, also operated by the JLP, will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

That means over 300 Waitrose branches and 33 John Lewis sites will be closed to customers on December 26.

A handful of Waitrose shops attached to petrol stations will remain open on Boxing Day though.

A POPULAR cinema chain is set to shutter three sites for good in just days – and more will follow.

Film fans were devastated to hear their local movie theatres were waving goodbye permanently on October 6.

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 It comes as Cineworld made the tough decision to axe their branches in Glasgow, Bedford, and Swindon.

Meanwhile, other locations in Bedford, Loughborough, and Yate are also set to close in a matter of weeks.

The sites will shut for good on these exact dates:

• Glasgow Parkhead (closing October 6)
• Bedford (closing October 6)
• Swindon Regent Circus (closing October 6)
• Loughborough (closing October 13)
• Yate (closing October 13)

It forms part of a major restructuring plan to help the company survive mid troubling times.

A judge recently gave the green light for £16million to be pumped into Cineworld’s four companies which form the business.

The cash came from the business’s parent company, with an extra £35million to also be made available.

Its four companies. Cine-UK Ltd, Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, Cineworld Cinema Properties Ltd and Cineworld Estates Ltd, will also negotiate leases for each of their 101 sites across the UK.

It comes as the chain is also said to be renegotiating rent agreements for around 50 of its sites.

But, 25 cinemas are set to be unscathed by the restructuring plans and will remain open for the foreseeable future.

A spokesperson for the chain said the plan would enable the business for “the long-term and ensure a sustainable future for Cineworld in the UK.”

However, news of the five closures has devasted locals in the affected areas.

One cinema-goer in Glasgow Parkhead, where Cineworld is set to close on October 6, described the move as “brutal”.

While another said: “I’ve got so many childhood memories of Parkhead Cineworld! Such a major loss.”

It comes after the huge cinema chain revealed it expects to come out of bankruptcy protection in July, after receiving backing from lenders.

The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US last year due to giant debts and loss of revenue.

Meanwhile, another UK cinema chain has fallen into administration and will close multiple sites immediately.

Empire Cinemas operates 14 locations across the country with 129 screens.

A total of six sites will close with immediate effect, including two under the Tivoli brand.

Plus, major cinema chain Odeon has also been forced to shut down several branches.

The movie giant is bringing the curtain down on five of its cinemas forever.