HERE are the top 12 toys for Christmas that have been revealed – including Bluey and Disney must-haves.

As the festive season approaches, The Entertainer has announced its top toy predictions for Christmas 2024 that start from just £8.

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The toyshop’s highly-anticipated list contains a mix of 12 exciting and educational toys suiting all budgets.

From interactive pets and snuggly toys to racetracks and blasters, the predictions feature gifts for children of all ages to make it easier for parents.

On the list, exclusive to The Entertainer, is bound to be a hit on Christmas Day with Bluey’s Escape Convertible Playset that’s only £19.99.

And a Gold Fugglers is at the cheaper end of the scale, with the product only setting buyers back by £8.

Whereas the most expensive toy on the list, Hatchimals Alive! Mystery Hatch Pufficorn Electronic Pet, will set you back £64.99.

The Entertainer’s top toy picks for Christmas 2024 are:

Gold Fugglers – exclusive to The Entertainer, £8

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The Fuggler Gold Fuggler – Reek-O Soft Toy is available exclusively at The Entertainer for £8.

Fugglers are funny-ugly monsters that will ruin your life and warm your heart with their mischievous antics and straight-up bonkers appearance.

You can recognise these creepy creatures with their human-like teeth, vacant eyes and disturbing demeanour.

Totally Tracks Loop Race Track, £12.50

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Build your very own glowing loop track with this incredible 165-piece set.

The snap tracks are easy to assemble. Just click them together for fun glow in the dark adventures.

Turn out the lights, press down on the light-up car, and watch it make its way around the glow tracks.

Early Learning Centre Wooden Little Town Figure of Eight Playset – exclusive to The Entertainer, was £34.99 now £14.99

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With over 30 wooden pieces included in this fun set, you can set up your town with shops, signposts, trees and people.

It includes 15 pieces of track, one bridge, one engine, three train carriages, four trees, two buildings, three signposts, a traffic light, one pony and two people. 

The train set can be picked up from The Entertainer, Early Learning Centre and Marks and Spencer for £14.99.

Bluey’s Escape Convertible Playset – exclusive to The Entertainer, £19.99

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The car that Bluey and Bingo draw in the Bluey episode ‘Escape’ has been brought to life in this great figure and vehicle playset.

Bluey’s Escape Convertible comes with four accessories – food and drink for a road trip and a camera to capture the journey.

It also comes with a fun sticker sheet of drawings done by Bluey and Bingo from the ‘Escape’ episode.

The play set can be picked up from The Entertainer and Early Learning Centre for £19.99.

Disney Lilo & Stitch Crack Me Up Interactive Soft Toy, £25.00

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This cheerful, interactive Disney Stitch Soft Toy sits 11 inches tall, and plays the familiar sounds of Stitch’s giggles and chuckles inspired by Disney‘s Lilo & Stitch.

Just pick him up and give him a shake to activate fun sounds and motion.

It’s available at The Enetertain for just £25.

However, it can also be picked up from Very.com and Hamleys.com for 1p less at £24.99.

Happyland Limited Edition Gold London Bus, to mark Early Learning Centre’s 50th anniversary, £27.99

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This limited edition Happyland Golden London Bus is specially created to celebrate 50 years of Early Learning Centre.

There are only 3,150 buses available.

Ideal for imaginative play, your little ones can drive over the bridges, around roundabouts, and through the tunnels.

While they drive the bus, they can push the buttons for fun sounds.

It costs £27.99, but shoppers could opt for the original red version instead, which is £4 less at £23.99.

Despicable Me 4 The Ultimate Fart Blaster, £29.99

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Unlock hilarious farting fun with this Despicable Me 4 The Ultimate Fart Blaster.

With this hilarious gadget from the movie, your little ones will let it rip and have loads of laughs pranking their friends and family. 

The toy can play 15 different funny fart sounds.

It costs just £29.99 at The Entertainer or 1p more at Argos.

Hot Wheels Power Shift Motorised Raceway Playset – exclusive to The Entertainer, was £59.99 now £29.99

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Kids can blast their cars up, down and around this Hot Wheels Power Shift Motorised raceway playset.

It includes a motorised booster for stunts and crashing action and 1 Hot Wheels vehicle for out-of-the-box play.

It costs £29.99 at The Entertainer.

Pets Alive Mama Duck Surprise Electronic Pet by ZURU, £29.99

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This toy allows kids to look after their very own duckling family.

The Mama Duck can hatch her very own family. 

Attach the baby ducklings onto Mama Duck’s tail and watch them follow as Mama Duck quacks and waddles.

The toy costs £29.99 at The Entertainer but can also be picked up from Asda for a penny more at £30.

Disney Bitzee Interactive Pet, £39.99

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Your kids can explore the world of Disney like never before with the Disney Bitzee Interactive Pet.

Bitzee Disney characters respond to swipes, tilts and taps with cute sounds and reactions at every interaction.

It costs £34.99 at The Entertainer but can be picked up for £10 at John Lewis for £24.99.

BeyBlade Extreme Playset, was £44.99 now £35.99

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This toy marks the next generation of Beyblade.

This Beyblade X Xtreme Battle Stadium Set has all you need to begin your quest for Beymastery.

When the gear of the top engages the stadium’s X-Celerator Rail, it can super-accelerate into an Xtreme Dash, rocketing it around the arena for crushing collisions. 

The toy costs £35.99 at The Entertainer and can also be picked up at Argos for £45.

Hatchimals Alive! Mystery Hatch Pufficorn Electronic Pet, £64.99

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Featuring an exciting hatching experience with mist, lights and over 100 sounds and reactions, these Hatchimals are a must-have. 

Inside every Mystery Hatch Hatchimals egg is 1 of 2 characters. Cuddle, tap, lift and rock the egg to encourage your character to hatch — the egg lights up and rocks and you’ll even hear your Hatchimal reacting from inside.

Once your egg has been given enough love, gather family and friends and prepare for the ultimate hatching experience.

The toy costs £64.99 at The Entertainer and can also be picked up at Argos for £65.

You can discover The Entertainer’s full range of Christmas toys and games in-store and online at www.thetoyshop.com.

Argos has also revealed its top toys list for Christmas 2024 with fewer than 100 days left until Christmas day.

The list contains a mix of 20 nostalgic, interactive and character themed toys, which range in price from £16 to £89.99.

This year, Argos has seen searches for Furby up 237%, revealing the rising demand for 90’s toys.

The toys featured in the list are designed to encourage kids to get creative and immerse themselves in a world of play.

A Polly Pocket Dolphin Aquarium Compact is on the cheaper end of the scale, with this product only setting buyers back £16.

Whereas the most expensive toy on the list, the LEGO Wicked Emerald City, which launches on October 1, will set you back £89.99.

To make sure you’re getting the best price available on the market, don’t forget to use comparison sites such as Pricespy.co.uk and CamelCamelCamel.

Another helpful site, PriceHistory.co.uk, will be able to let you know if Argos has ever stocked the same toys for less.

Prices can also vary day to day and by what deals are on at the time, plus remember you might pay for delivery if you’re ordering online.

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!

TESCO shoppers have been left raging after finding out about a major change to car parking rules.

Two branches have implemented restrictions on how long customers can park their vehicles while filling up baskets.

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One Tesco Extra in Ryde on the Isle of Wight has now put a new policy in place restricting drivers to a maximum three hour stay when there were no restrictions before.

Between 8pm and 12am the maximum stay is now one hour and 30 minutes between 12am and 6am.

Another store in Shaftesbury, Dorset, has reduced the maximum stay for shoppers leaving their vehicles in the car park between 10pm and midnight to one hour and 15 minutes from midnight to 6am.

The Sun understands the new parking restrictions were put in place at the Ryde store this month and at the Shaftesbury Superstore in September.

The move to restrict how long customers can park their vehicles at night has been branded “selfish”, with others claiming it discriminates against shoppers working during the day.

Commenting on the changes at the Ryde store, one shopper said on Facebook: “That’s clearly not been thought about, what happens with shoppers who need longer in the evening or is it going to be a supermarket sweep job and just grab it all while knocking things down and hope for the best?”

Another said: “Oh, great, so those that work in the day, get just one hour to dash round the store, then get in a massive queue at a till because they only have four tills open at one time.

“Discriminate against working customers.”

Commenting on the changes at the Shaftesbury store, one shopper said: “What…….They really are a bloody selfish store. I have never had any problems with parking at any time.

“And sometimes it takes longer than hour to get round the store.”

Another added: “With Christmas approaching it’s going to frustrate people wanting to do late night shopping or early hrs as not enough time allowed!”

Tesco said it doesn’t have parking limits in place at all stores, but uses “local usage” information to put measures in place where needed.

The supermarket also said parking restrictions are managed on a location-by-location basis and any changes are reviewed based on customer feedback.

A spokesperson added: “It is important to us that all our customers can find a space when they visit our stores and, where we have parking limits in place, this is to allow us to better manage spaces, and to deter anti-social behaviour in the car park at night, especially outside of opening hours.”

WHAT OTHER SUPERMARKETS DO

Customers can spend up to two hours in Sainsbury’s car parks for free.

However, some do charge you even for a quick stay, like the Superstore branch on Clapham Common.

Aldi has a limit on how long shoppers can use its car parks before being charged but this varies from store to store.

The retailer says signs are put up at each branch telling you how long you can stay for free and how much it costs beyond this point.

The amount of time you can spend in a Morrisons car park varies from branch to branch with signs in each one telling you how long you can stay for free before you are charged.

Some let you stay overnight for free, like its Aldershot branch where you are not charged for any parking between 5pm and 9am.

The latest change from Tesco is not the first in recent months to spark backlash in recent months.

Earlier this year, the UK’s biggest supermarket started charging shoppers 10p if they wanted to keep clothes hangers, as exclusively revealed by The Sun.

Tesco said it was trialling the new policy in a handful of stores in a bid to reduce plastic waste.

But one angry shopper posted on Facebook: “Never in my life have I heard so much rubbish, Tesco don’t only charge for plastic bags but now for hangers, 10p a hanger. What is the world today?

“I didn’t even want the hanger but was just in shock.”

In August, the supermarket revealed it had gone cashless at 40 of its cafes across the UK.

Shoppers have since had to order their food and drinks on a digital self-service screen and pay by card.

Martin Quinn, of Campaign for Cash told The Telegraph: “Many of the customers will be elderly or retirees who want to order in person, not press a computer screen. This is a mad decision.”

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

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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.

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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.