SHOPPERS are raving about B&M’s dupe of a beloved M&S favourite which is scanning at a fraction of the price.

A savvy shopper posted the dupe in the Food Find UK Official Facebook group, where bargain hunters regularly share new items they discover in supermarkets.

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M&S’s Hazelnut Creme has been a favourite among shoppers – but now B&M are giving the spread a run for its money.

Shoppers are looking to stock up on some sweet essentials in time for Christmas.

And one lucky shopper’s shared an incredible deal on Facebook that has shoppers rushing to the bargain retailer.

Sharing a picture of the unbelievable find, the user wrote: “Hazelnut Spread found in B&M in Spondon, Derby.”

The Cocoa Co’s smooth hazelnut spread is priced at a mere £1.89.

In comparison, M&S’s hazelnut creme is £4.50.

By opting for the B&M version that is 58 per cent cheaper, shoppers could save themselves an unbelievable £2.61.

The post accumulated hundred of likes and comments of shoppers desperate to get their hands on the spread.

One user said: “This could save us a fortune!”

Another commented: “I love choc spread.”

And: “I need this lol!”

Similarly, shoppers are racing to get a Home Bargains dupe of a beloved M&S chocolate snack scanning at a cheaper price.

Home Bargain’s new Elkes Temptations is a dupe of M&S’ popular Milk Chocolate Custard Creams.

The knock-off treats are scanning at the popular discount chain’s tills for only £1.99.

This is just over £1 less than the price at which M&S is selling their chocolatey snack.

Home Bargain fans can choose from a Chocolatey Custard Cream or the sought-after Chocolatey Bourbon Creams.

The caption for the post read: “Found these in-home bargains today they are £1.99 bit cheaper than the M&S ones not tried them yet.”

Hundreds of fellow bargain hunters have left likes and left comments expressing their desire to snap up the tasty treats.

GIVE your spending power a little boost this month by bagging more loyalty points.

With extra autumn challenges and bonus offers, now is the perfect time to stock up on points ahead of your festive shopping.

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TAKE ADVANTAGE: If you have a Boots Advantage Card, download the Boots app and link your card number.

Then check out the offers section.

You should find a double points deal that can be used twice, valid until October 24.

Save this for your bigger purchases to maximize your points.

RISE TO THE CHALLENGE: Open the Tesco Clubcard section in the Tesco app to see if you’re eligible for the Tesco Clubcard challenges.

Eligible customers can earn extra points by completing challenges, which usually involve spending a set amount on certain products.

You can do up to ten of 20 challenges, with some focusing on fruit and veg while others cover confectionery.

Offer runs until November 10.

JUST THE TICKET: Need to renew or buy a railcard?

Head to VirginTrainsticketing.com to earn 2,000 bonus Virgin points with your purchase.

These are worth £10 and can be used towards future train travel, Greggs bakery treats or cinema passes.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: If you’re a regular Morrisons shopper and have a Morrisons More card, you can earn 400 points when you buy a packet of Morrisons fresh fish fillets, or 300 points when you purchase Morrisons large frozen pies.

ASDA BE WORTH IT: Boost your Asda cashpot by completing a mission in the Asda Rewards app.

The missions are tailored to customers and, currently, selected shoppers can earn £1 in their cashpot when they buy three packs of Ben’s Original Rice.

SWEET TREAT: Off to Sainsbury’s? Check the Nectar app first for weekly, personalized offers based on your shopping habits.

Currently, selected customers might find an offer for 5x Nectar points when spending £20 in store.

• 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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NEED to iron out the wrinkles in your wardrobe?

The Breville Elite Diamond clothes steamer is £49.99, down from £99.99, at currys.co.uk.

SAVE: £50

Cheap treat

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KEEP kids busy with the Quiet Time unicorn colouring book, previously £4.99, now £1.99, at thetoyshop.com.

SAVE: £3

Top swap

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PICK up a bottle of cult fragrance Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge EDP, £245 for 70ml, at John Lewis.

Or pop round to Poundland for a bottle of the Scentalis No. 10 Scarlet Gold perfume, £4 for 100ml.

SAVE: £241

Little helper

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GET your Christmas shopping done early at Bouxavenue.com. Buy one set of pyjamas in a bag and get another pair half price from today, including matching mother-and- daughter sets.

Shop & save

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CLEAN up fast with Surf liquid laundry detergent in Tropical Lily.

A 100-wash bottle was £10, now £6 at Iceland.

SAVE: £4

Hot right now

NOW’S the time to shop the Matalan.co.uk sale, with up to 70 per cent off sale items for the next two weeks.

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!

A MAJOR energy supplier with five million customers is set to pull a fixed energy deal that is currently the cheapest on the market.

New and existing customers who sign up for EDF Energy‘s Essentials Fixed 1Yr Oct25v3 tariff are promised savings of £163 a year.

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This plan costs a typical household £1,553 per year, making it cheaper than Ofgem’s current price cap.

At the beginning of this month, the 29 million customers on standard variable tariffs linked to Ofgem’s price cap saw their annual bills increase by £149, rising from £1,568 to £1,717.

If these households were to switch and take up EDF’s offer, they’d save £163 over the next 12 months.

The tariff is available to new and existing EDF customers and requires a smart meter or an agreement to have one installed.

The 12-month fixed offer includes a £25 exit fee per fuel or £50 for a dual fuel tariff.

But households wanting to switch will only have until midnight to do so.

EDF Energy’s offer is the cheapest among the country’s largest energy suppliers, including British Gas and Octopus Energy.

It’s not unusual for suppliers to reprice or remove their fixed energy tariffs in reaction to fluctuating wholesale market conditions.

This means that the best deals can be pulled at any time.

How do fixed deals work?

Fixed deals work to protect customers from bill hikes if Ofgem were to increase the price cap in the future.

Customers on their supplier’s standard variable tariff see their energy prices change every three months, as these are tied to Ofgem’s price cap.

However, those who lock into a fixed energy deal are charged the same gas and electricity rates throughout the contract’s term.

Of course, doing so carries a slight risk of you paying more than those on the standard variable tariff if Ofgem’s energy price cap were to fall within your deal’s term.

However, experts say this risk is minimal as analysts at Cornwall Insight predict that the energy price cap will rise again in January.

The price cap is reviewed every three months in Oct, Jan, April and July, and can go up or down depending on what’s happening in the wholesale energy market.

Currently, those on the standard variable tariff (SVT) have their rates capped by Ofgem at the following levels:

• 5.48p per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) for gas
• 22.36p per kWh for electricity
• A standing charge of 31.66p per day for gas
• A standing charge of 60.99p per day for electricity

For a typical household that uses an average of 11,500kWh of gas and 2,700kWh of electricity every year, these rates will cap bills at roughly £1,717 .

As this is only an estimate for a typical household, if you use more energy, you’ll pay more.

But if you’re offered a fix that’s cheaper than the current price cap, it’s always worth considering.

Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “There are many fixed energy tariffs on the market right now that are cheaper than the current energy price cap.

“Some are offering savings of over £150 per year for households with average energy usage.

“The January 2025 price cap is predicted to only drop by 1%, so it’s worth locking in a cheaper fixed rate now that will save you money throughout winter.”

Outfox the Market is currently offering the second cheapest deal on the open market right now to new and existing customers.

Its Fix’d Dual Oct24 v5.0 tariff costs a typical household £1,555 a year.

This means it is £162 cheaper than Ofgem’s October price cap.

It comes with a £25 exit fee per fuel or £50 if you lock in with a dual fuel tariff.

British Gas’ The Fixed Tariff v5 tariff matches the Outfox the Market deal, but it comes with a £50 exit dee per fuel.

Octopus Energy’s 12M Fixed October 2024 v1 costs £1,566 a year – £151 less than Ofgem’s October price cap.

This deal also comes with no exit fees, so customers are free to ditch and switch supplier at anytime they wish.

Remember to always compare prices before switching, as energy tariffs vary widely, and costs differ depending on where you live.

What are the alternatives?

Customers unwilling to commit to long-term fixed energy deals may want to consider flexible tariffs.

For example, E.ON Next‘s Pledge variable tariff offers a fixed discount of around three per cent on the price cap rates for 12 months.

It will save the average household around £50 a year but comes with a £50 exit fee if you switch before the year ends.

The deal is available to both new and existing customers.

EDF Energy’s Ensure Tracker works in a similar way and offers a £50 discount off the price cap’s standing charges for 12 months.

For a bigger reward but at a higher risk, Octopus Energy offers two variable tariffs which track wholesale gas and electricity costs.

Customers on the Octopus Tracker see their prices change daily, but unit rates have remained consistently lower than the price cap in recent months.

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

Shop the budget range

Savvy shopper Eilish Stout-Cairns recommends that shoppers grab items from Asda’s Just Essentials range.

She said: “Asda’s budget range is easy to spot as it’s bright yellow! Keep your eyes peeled for yellow and you’ll find their Just Essentials range.

“It’s great value and I’ve found it has a much wider selection of budget items compared to other supermarkets.

 Sign up to Asda Rewards 

The savvy-saver also presses on the importance of signing up to Asda’s reward scheme.

She said: “Asda Rewards is free to join and if you shop at Asda you should absolutely sign up.

“As an Asda Rewards member, you’ll get exclusive discounts and offers, and you’ll also be able to earn 10% cashback on Star Products.

“This will go straight into your cashpot, and once you’ve earned at least £1, you can transfer the money in your cashpot into ASDA vouchers.

We’ve previously rounded up the best supermarket loyalty schemes – including the ones that will save you the most money.

Look out for booze deals

Eilish always suggests that shoppers looking to buy booze look out for bargain deals.

She said: “Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%.

“The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C.

“Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save.”

Join Facebook groups

The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store.

Eilish said: “I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store.

“Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases. 

“For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda’s new Barbie range spotted in store.

“Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p.”

A MAP of England, Wales and Scotland reveals where pension credit is least claimed as hundreds of thousands who are eligible miss out.

Roughly 850,000 older households on low incomes aren’t claiming the lifeline benefit when they could be.

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It could be worth an average of £9,665 too, when factoring in the added perks that come with it including council tax reductions, cold weather payments and help with energy costs.

The benefit also unlocks the up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment this year after the Government made it means-tested.

The map, based on data from Policy in Practice, reveals Birmingham is the area with the highest number of households not claiming pension credit when they could be.

There, 17,094 haven’t yet put in a claim for the benefit despite qualifying for the extra cash.

Meanwhile, Glasgow City has 12,649 who are eligible for pension credit but haven’t claimed.

And in Liverpool, 10,065 people have not staked a claim for the lifeline benefit.

On the other side of the spectrum, the City of London was the area with the lowest number of people eligible for pension credit yet to make a claim – 59.

Next was the Shetland Islands, where only 200 people eligible are yet to put in an application for the benefit, then the Orkney Islands with 258.

What is Pension Credit and who is eligible?

Pension Credit is a government benefit designed to top up your weekly income if you are a state pensioner with low earnings.

The current state pension age is 66.

There are two parts to the benefit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.

Savings Credit is extra money you get if you have some savings or your income is above the basic full state pension amount – £169.50.

Savings Credit is only available to people who reached state pension age before April 6, 2016.

Usually, you only qualify for Pension Credit if your income is below the £218.15 or £332.95 thresholds.

However, you can sometimes be eligible for Savings Credit or Guarantee Credit depending on your circumstances.

For example, if you are suffering from a severe disability and claiming Attendance Allowance, as well as other benefits, you can get an extra £81.50 a week.

Meanwhile, you can get either £66.29 a week or £76.79 a week for each child you’re responsible and caring for.

The rules behind who qualifies for Pension Credit can be complicated, so the best thing to do is just check.

You can do this by using the Government’s Pension Credit calculator on its website.

Or, you can call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Those in Northern Ireland have to call the Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165 from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

It might be worth a visit to your local Citizens Advice branch too – its staff should be able to offer you help for free.

One additional and major perk of Pension Credit is that it is known as a “gateway” benefit in that it opens up a host of other freebies and perks.

This includes a free TV licence worth £169.50 a year if you are 75 or over and council tax discounts.

If you are on the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you also qualify for the Warm Home Discount.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains all you need to know about the payment.

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help cover the cost of heating through the colder months.

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Most who are eligible receive the payment automatically.

Those who qualify are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.

If you do meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.

You’ll qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:

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• you were born on or before September 23, 1958
• you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known as the “qualifying week”
• you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

• you live in Switzerland or a EEA country
• you have a “genuine and sufficient” link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK

But there are exclusions – you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.

This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

You will also not qualify if you:

• are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole “qualifying week”
• lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Payments are usually made between November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.

THOUSANDS of households are being urged to check their state pension entitlement ahead of a rapidly approaching deadline.

There are less than six months left for people to fill any gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records, going back as far as 2006, to maximise their state pension.

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More than 10,000 payments worth £12.5 million have already been made through the new digital service to boost state pensions since it launched in April, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.

People have until April 5 2025 to maximise their state pension by making voluntary contributions to fill any gaps in their NI record between April 6 2006 and April 5 2018.

Usually people can only pay voluntary contributions for the past six tax years, and after the April 5 deadline next year the normal six-tax year time limit will apply.

In 2023, the previous government extended the deadline to pay voluntary NI contributions to April 5 2025 for those affected by new state pension transitional arrangements, covering the tax years running from April 6 2006 to April 5 2018.

The extended deadline has allowed people more time to consider what is right for them and make their contributions.

Men born after April 6 1951 and women born after April 6 1953 are eligible to make voluntary NI contributions to boost their new state pension.

Some people may be entitled to NI credits rather than needing to pay contributions, so they will need to check and consider what is right for them.

HMRC said further analysis of the use of the online service shows the majority (51%) of customers topped up one year of their NI record, with the average online payment being £1,193.

Pensions minister Emma Reynolds said: “We want pensioners of today and tomorrow to enjoy the dignity and support they deserve in retirement.

“That’s why I urge everyone to check if they could benefit by filling gaps before the deadline passes. Using our online tool means only a few clicks could make a huge difference to your future.”

Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest, said: “Plugging gaps can be quite an expensive process, so it is important to assess whether you actually need to buy back any missing years.

“This will depend on how many more years you plan to work, and whether you are eligible for NI tax credits, which fill the gaps, such as those who have been sick, were unemployed or took time out to raise a family or care for elderly relations.”

How can I access the tool?

You can access it through the ‘Check your State Pension forecast’ page on Gov.uk.

It’s also available through the HMRC app, which you can download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

You’ll need to log in using your Personal Tax Account login details. If you don’t already have an online HMRC account, you can register at Gov.uk.

It shows you how much your state pension could increase by and what NI years you’ll need to buy to achieve this.

You’ll then be able to pay for these missing years securely online, without having to call up separately.

You need to pay for these in full – you can’t pay in instalments.

You can’t use the online service if you’re already getting your state pension or if you’re looking to fill gaps from when you were self-employed or working abroad.

People can find out more about making voluntary contributions and check their state pension forecast on the government website.

How to top up National Insurance contributions and how much you can get

In some cases, buying back missing years can be really valuable.

But, earning back the years isn’t free so your voluntary contributions do come at a price.

If you’re filling gaps between 2006/07 to 2015/16 you’ll be paying the 2022/23 rates for contributions.

It works out to be worth £15.85 a week which means it costs £824.20 to buy one year of contributions.

As the state pension was £185.15 per week in 2022/23, this boost would add £5.29 per week or around £275 per year. 

Although you’d have to pay £8,242 (10 lots of £824.20), the annual state pension boost would be around £2,750.

Someone who was retired for 20 years would get back around £55,000 in total (before tax).

Anyone who tops up their record after April 2025 will pay those rates.

If you’re currently unable to use the new online tool, or you’d prefer to talk to someone on the phone, you can still call up to find out more information about your NI record and to pay for missing years.

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