IF you’re concerned about keeping warm this winter, turning the heating on doesn’t have to be the only option.

Millions are predicting tough times this winter with an increased energy price cap and a raid on winter fuel payments for pensioners.

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But with some simple everyday household items, you could prolong having to splash out on bills.

We’ve put together a list of DIY ideas which could add some warmth to you and your home this winter for free.

However, remember that if you are vulnerable due to illness or old age and you’re really cold, you should still turn on your heating.

You should reach out your local council or supplier, and some available schemes will also be detailed at the end of this article.

It is also worth keeping in mind for all readers that the NHS currently advises to switch the heating on when temperatures dip below 15C.

But if you’re simply looking for some new ways to adapt to the colder weather, here are a few basic items you can use.

You likely already have them around the house – meaning it won’t cost you a penny.

Bubble wrap

Yes, bubble wrap. If you have this item lying around your home, you could be just steps away from some free insulation.

DIY buffs have said that if you cut some bubble wrap to fit your window, spray the window with water, then press the bubble side of the wrap against the glass, you can make your own double-glazing.

Bubble wrap is a good insulator as the air gets trapped in the bubbles and reduces heat transfer, preventing it escaping your home.

According to Urbane Eco, around 15% of heat is lost through windows.

And window insulation film can typically reduce heat loss by 35%, while double-glazing saves 70%.

By double glazing your windows, you could save £155 a year and 375kg of carbon dioxide.

While bubble wrap may not be as effective, it certainly helps the cause, and for free – the average cost of secondary glazing is £1,000 to £2,000 per window.

And if you don’t have bubble wrap at home, you can buy 5m for just £1 at Wilko and Asda.

A blanket

Another trick which can help prevent heat from escaping through windows is doubling up your curtains.

Some people buy special thermal curtains for winter, such as a set on Dunelms website which is selling for £145.

However, if you have spare curtains lying around, those will work just as well – if not, you could simply hang up a blanket for extra insulation.

If you really want to block out the cold, you could hang a quilt and attach velcro to the curtain hanger to keep it from being too heavy and falling down.

You should also remember to close your curtains during the night and open them when the sun shines, so your house can soak up all the rays.

Any fabric you have lying around

Another culprit for heat escaping the home are gaps under doors, with heat rising through rooms and up and out the house.

Draft excluders are really useful, and there are some really simple instructions online on how you can make your own.

All you need to do is measure the length of your door or window and cut a piece of fabric, sew it together and fill with stuffing.

With your own creative input and fabric prints you could end up with a prettier product than one you would buy.

If you don’t have the sewing skills then stuffing tights with old T-shirts will do the trick and you can just tie up the ends.

Tape

Another unexpected place where heat may leave your home is your letter-box or cat flap.

Sometimes these are slightly opened without you noticing and bring in cold drafts.

A simple way to patch this problem up is to seal the flap with duct tape.

If you have a cat which likes to go outdoors, you can take this off and put it back on when you need, or just keep an extra eye on when they need to be let out over the colder months.

The same trick works on draughty keyholes too.

Move your rug

Over the winter 10-20% of heat loss happens through floors on average.

Insulating your floor is a good preventative method, but can cost as much as much as £3,000 for suspended insulation, and £80 per square meter on average for solid insulation.

While it may not make quite the same impact, you’ll be surprised how much warmth could be locked in your home by covering drafty floorboards.

By moving your rug, or even your furniture, on top of these areas, you could stop a lot of precious warmth leaving the home.

Newspaper

If you have a chimney, you’ll definitely be using it to stay cosy this winter – but when its not in use, it could actually be costing you money.

All you need is a bin bag filled stuffed newspaper to fill your fireplace to stop heat escaping.

According to the chimney draught excluder brand Chimney Sweep, preventing chimney draught can cost you around £90 per year and reduce bills by about 5%.

Aluminium foil

If you are turning your heating on, it really helps to make sure you’re making the most of it.

DIY lovers have discovered they can attach aluminium foil to a large square of cardboard and place it behind their radiator so it reflects extra heat into the home and away from walls.

By enhancing your radiator use, you could have it on for less time over the day.

If you’re really worried

We’d like to remind readers that while these hacks are useful, they won’t always cut it if you’re struggling with bills this winter.

If you are in this position you could be eligible for the Household Support Fund, and information is available via the Gov.uk website.

Plenty of energy suppliers are also offering support schemes for customers, such as Octopus Energy which is offering pensioners discretionary credit of between £50 and £200 this winter.

To find out what help your supplier is offering, ring their phone line or visit their website.

Some energy support funds are also offering free electric blankets to customers who are struggling this winter.

OVO and Octopus Energy are both suppliers who have aimed at “heating the human, not the home”.

Octopus have said they will distribute 20,000 electric blankets from Dreamland to its most vulnerable customers, keeping them warm for “as little as 3p an hour”.

While OVO Energy has launched a £50 million Extra Support Package which includes complimentary energy-conserving items.

Electric blankets are also sometimes available from your council under the Household Support Fund, which renews a fresh pot of £421 million today.

To find out if this is available with your supplier or council, and whether you are eligible, go to their websites and read the terms and conditions of the scheme.

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

THOUSANDS on benefits could save themselves hundreds of pounds a year on NHS prescriptions once the reach a certain age.

The cost of taking medication daily can rack up fast too if you’re suffering from a long-term illness.

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NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.90, but there are ways to get them for free.

People that fall into specific age brackets and those on certain benefits, or health conditions, can qualify for free prescriptions.

Below we have listed every age at which you can get free prescriptions, plus other ways that you can qualify too.

Age 60 and Over

In England, prescriptions have been free for women aged 60 and over since 1974.

This was extended to men in 1995. If you’re over 60, you’re entitled to claim your prescriptions without paying a penny.

However, this is now under scrutiny.

There’s growing pressure for the government to increase the age threshold for free prescriptions to 66, in line with the state pension age, according to reports.

This could mean those aged 60-65 could be forced to pay up for their medication.

Those Over 65

People aged 65 and above are still entitled to free prescriptions.

This is likely to remain the case, as the state pension age is set at 66, and cutting prescription access could become a significant political issue.

But with government spending cuts being scrutinised, this is always a point of contention.

If you’re 65 or older, it’s important that you claim your free prescriptions while you can.

Unfortunately, if you’re under 60, the options become more limited.

You can still get free prescriptions if you qualify based on income or medical need, so let’s take a look at those criteria.

Teenagers

Children under 16, or aged between 16 and 18 and in full-time education are also eligible for free prescriptions.

Plus you are turning or have turned 18 and are leaving care in north east London you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions until the age of 25.

This is available to all those who are eligible for Leaving Care Services from a north east London local authority, whether you still live in the area or not.

You simply need to ask your local authority Leaving Care Team to apply for a free Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) for you as long as you:

• Are aged 18-24 years, up till your 25 birthday
• Are a care leaver from City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest
• Are registered with a GP
• Not already eligible for free prescriptions

Medical Exemptions

Certain conditions, like diabetes, epilepsy, or cancer, will automatically qualify you for free prescriptions, regardless of your age.

If you have a chronic illness, talk to your GP about getting an exemption certificate.

This can save you hundreds of pounds a year—especially if you require regular medication.

The full list of medical conditions that qualify you for a free prescription is on the NHS’ website.

Income-Based Free Prescriptions

Those on certain benefits qualify for free NHS prescriptions, which could save you £118 a year based on the new price kicking in in weeks.

You are eligible if you or your partner receive one of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit and meet other criteria

If you’re on Universal Credit, you are only entitled if your take-home pay in your last assessment period was £435 or less.

If your Universal Credit payment includes a child element, or you have limited capability for work and work-related activity, this limit rises to £935.

To claim a free prescription, you need to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

Just head to this link here, it takes about three minutes- https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-for-help-paying-nhs-costs/start.

You can then ask your GP for an FP92A form to apply for a medical exemption.

This will give you free prescriptions for five years – after that you’ll need to apply the same way again.

You can use the same checker to see if you’re entitled to free prescriptions and other free health-related support, such as free glasses and sight tests or dental treatment.

Who else can get free prescriptions?

You can also get free prescriptions if you live in England and are in one of the following groups:

• You’re pregnant or had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
• You have a specific medical condition and have valid medical exemption card
• You have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
• You hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
• You are an NHS inpatient

You can also get free prescriptions if you are entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.

You qualify for one of these if you receive child tax credits or working tax credits (including a disability or severe disability element).

You also need to have an income of less than £15,276 a year.

How else to save money on prescriptions

There is one other way you can save money on prescriptions if you’re not on one of the above benefits or of a certain age.

You can pay for them in advance with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), called “season tickets” by Martin Lewis.

You can buy three-month and 12-month certificates and pay a set price, regardless of how many prescriptions you need.

So they can be a money-saving option if you’re someone who regularly takes medication.

A three-month PPC costs £31.25 while a 12-month PPC costs £111.60. You can also pay for it in 10 direct debit instalments of £11.16 each.

How much you’ll save with a PPC depends on how often you take medication.

But, hypothetically, if you get four items a month and pay 12 months in advance (from May 1), you could save £363.60.

You can buy a PPC online via the Government’s website or call the order line and pay by direct debit or credit card.

The number to call is 0300 330 1341.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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The chief executive of Seccl has claimed that “crap technology” has compromised the adviser-client digital experience.

David Ferguson said most of the technology in the advice sector “is quite old” and not “built for connectivity”.

He said: “We now talk about API, but if you look at the end-to-end thing, the adviser client digital experience has been compromised by crap technology and their business efficiency has been constrained by that as well.”

Ferguson made his comments at Money Marketing Interactive in London yesterday (8 October).

He was speaking as part of an industry panel for advisers on how they can choose the right systems and tech stack for their business.

He noted that though technology has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 20 years, the advice sector technology still lags in several areas, including integration.

Ferguson said the issue is affecting adviser businesses.

“One thing that troubles me is a lot of the cost in adviser businesses is [because] they are dealing with providers that can’t do the job properly.                                                                                                                                                                      “And that’s technology not speaking to each other even in the inside of these provider companies. The idea that they’re going to magically speak together outside with other systems – that’s just completely nuts,” Ferguson said.

Speaking on the same panel as Ferguson, Timeline founder and CEO Abraham Okunsanya, dispelled the myth about a ‘best of breed’ technology stack.

He said: “This idea of best of breed versus all in one doesn’t exist.

“There aren’t many technology stacks in the market today that will do everything you want and equally the idea that you bring together all these various tools, and you will get the same level of efficiency or effectiveness as you do with an all-in-one [system] is just not true.

“Ultimately you have to figure out what you want to achieve with your business and try to find the technology solution that does that.

“I would argue that the direction of travel is that we’re moving towards more joined up technology, more integrated ecosystem than multiple tools that just don’t talk to each other.”

Zerokey co-founder and CEO, Joseph Williams, said that advisers should have the choice of the technology solutions they want to adopt.

“They shouldn’t be faced with the compromise of choosing best of breed [and] the inefficiencies that it brings.

“If they wish to use an all-in-one solution and that’s what they believe is best for them and their clients, then that’s the route they should go down,” Williams said.

He said that whatever route advisers chose, their tech stacks should “talk to one another”.

“There are ways that we can solve this solution other than the traditional approach to integration that we’ve always forged and clearly it hasn’t worked,” he added.

Williams cited the Lang Cat report, published five years ago, that showed 85% of advisers blamed lack of integration for major cause of inefficiency.

The figure has risen to 94% in Intelliflo’s latest adviser efficiency survey.

On addressing the integration question, Okunsaya said he believes the sector needs to address the trust issue between institutions and regulated entities.

“Unless we can remove the lack of trust between regulated entities, we’re always going to find ourselves in this position,” he said.

“This is why I gave up hope on this idea of multiple third-party integration being the primary way that we drive efficiencies within financial planning firms.

“I strongly believe that the solution is you have an integrated ecosystem being probably 70, maybe 80% of what you want as a firm and then you plug one or two other things on top of that.”

Benchmark Capital CEO, Ed Dymott, said the problem is due to too many players in the advice space trying to outcompete each other.”

He said: “When I look at the adviser ecosystem, there are too many people trying to be in the same space. I think that’s not a trust thing. I think that’s everyone trying to compete in the same area. I think that’s a big challenge.

Dymott blamed regulation, particularly the Consumer Duty, for not addressing this issue.

“The Consumer Duty should have mandated better service levels and better access to providers,” he said.

BANKS including Nationwide and RBS are now charging a new £100 fee amid a major rule change.

New rules, which came in earlier this week, mean banks must now reimburse authorised push payment (APP) fraud victims.

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A reimbursement limit of £85,000 has been applied under the rules, although banks can choose to go further than this and repay higher amounts.

But banks now have the power to impose a £100 excess fee when settling claims, a policy that five banks have now adopted.

So, if your claim is for a payment of £100 or less, trying to recover the money may not be of any benefit.

Excess fees will not apply to vulnerable consumers due to guidelines by the Payment Systems Regulator.

THE FIVE BANKS CHARGING THE FEE

The five banks implementing this fee are HSBC, First Direct, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland.

A HSBC spokesperson told The Sun: “All of us have a role to play in preventing fraud and scams – we want to encourage customer caution, particularly when it comes to lower value purchases made online.”

The Sun reached out to the other banks mentioned above for comment, and we will update readers if we get any further responses.

Liz Edwards, a money expert at Finder previously told The Sun: “£100 is a lot of money to many people.

“Based on 2023 fraud figures, more than 58,000 cases would have resulted in no refund if all companies had applied the excess, and now only four of the major providers have confirmed they won’t.”

THE BANKS WHICH ‘MIGHT’ CHARGE THE FEE

Others have said they ‘may’ apply an excess or judge each case independently.

For example, Starling Bank has said it may apply an excess of £50 rather than £100.

A Natwest spokesperson also confirmed that they would assess claimants on a case-by-case basis and with regard to the specific circumstances of each customer.

The only way to avoid this caveat is to switch to one of the four banks which have pledged not to apply these charges.

THE BANKS NOT CHARGING THE FEE

Meanwhile, Nationwide, Virgin Money, TSB and AIB have said they will not implement the excess fee.

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “Where customer circumstances result in a reimbursement under the rules, we are not planning to apply the voluntary excess, and this includes claims under £100.”

While a TSB said that the bank is “prioritising fraud protection for customers”.

They said: “Charging £100 could exclude a third of all victims from claiming refunds – and it’s not right to penalise people for scams that take place largely due to weaknesses on social media platforms.”

Last year there were 232,429 cases of APP fraud in the UK – a 12% jump since the year before.

Overall, £459.70 million was lost in 2023 to this type of scam.

Two-thirds of the total APP cases in 2023 were also down to purchase scams – which is when someone pays for goods or services which are never received.

This usually happens when purchasing off social media, as more than three-quarters of authorised fraud starts online.

Banks such as TSB emphasise that these scams are not the fault of the customer, while HSBC claims that by implementing the excess it will encourage shoppers to exercise more caution.

Shoppers should now be extra wary of dodgy deals when browsing online.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF FROM SCAMMERS?

When shopping online, always be cautious about where you’re buying from and what you’re buying.

If a price looks too good to be true, sometimes it actually is.

It’s much safer to stick to reputable websites where you know people in the UK usually shop from.

If you’re not sure about a website, it’s worth googling customer reviews and asking friends for their experiences.

Fraud cases which begin through phone conversations or emails are typically less common, but can lead to scammers getting hold of larger amounts of your cash.

Always check the source of the phone call by googling the number, or making sure the email is from an official domain.

Scammers can pose as banks and other trusted sources to get the information from you which they need to enter your bank account.

Always be sceptical not to provide any personal details over the phone – do not give away your PIN or full password as your bank will not need this and you are likely being scammed.

If you’re unsure, end the call and ring the trusted number of the organisation so that you definitely know you’re talking to the right people.

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

A CELEBRITY chef’s seafront restaurant is set to close today after three years of business.

Michael Caines has shocked fans after announcing he is selling not just one but two of his popular restaurants.

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Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant in Exmouth opened in April 2021 but tonight after dinner, it will close for good.

It offered all-day coffee, drinks, afternoon tea, and casual dining with glorious views of Torquay to Berry Head and the English Channel.

The restaurant was one of the first businesses in Sideshore and loved by many.

Customers on Google Reviews described it as having “a lovely atmosphere”, with “great views”, “seamless” service and “delicious” food.

Now, after three and a half years, it has been sold to someone else.

And not only this, Cafe Patisserie Glacerie, owned by Michael Caines and Sylvian Peltier will close too.

It is believed both restaurants have been sold to another local business, DevonLive reports.

Both venues will close in preparation for the site being sold.

In a statement Michael said: “On behalf of all the team we would like to thank our customers and suppliers for your support, we have thoroughly enjoyed serving each and every one of you and making Mickeys and the Café a special place to meet by the sea.

“I would also like to thank my team for their unwavering support and dedication, despite the challenging times we have had, I am proud of what we have been able to create.

“We are however delighted to announce the sale of the business to another local business operator who shares a similar passion, for fun relaxed dining.”

The Michael Caines Collection of restaurants said it will make another announcement once the sale is completed.

Customers have been redirected to Pool House Restaurant at Lympstone Manor hotel “for casual and relaxed dining”.

Disappointed locals took to Facebook to share their disappointment.

One person said: “Shame. Only decent place on the beach front.”

While a second wrote:  “Good job we grabbed a drink when we did.”

A third person said: “A sad reflection of Exmouth, falling further into poverty.”

And a fourth commented: “Well! We didn’t see that coming!…”