A MARTIN Lewis fan has shared how she managed to shave hundreds off an essential household bill by using a nifty Martin Lewis hack.

The MoneySavingExpert (MSE) reader made the saving after seeing the advice in one of the website’s weekly newsletters.

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In an email last week, the money saving website listed its six steps to cut home insurance costs.

Just days later, reader Karen emailed back to share her massive saving.

The email read: “Our buildings & contents auto-renewal reminder came in with a 52% price rise – even my husband commented: ‘Wow, that’s some hike.’

“I double-checked your action steps, and 30 minutes later I had saved £286 on an exact like-for-like policy.

“Happy days. Thanks to you all at MSE.”

By following the guide, Karen managed to make the major saving on the often costly bill.

Making comparisons across multiple websites can often lead to finding a cheaper plan.

In Karen’s case, by looking at other comparison sites, she managed to save almost £300.

The previous week’s email also included the story of Fiona, who managed to save an enormous £423 after following the same help guide.

Fiona’s email said: “I received a renewal notice which shot up by a few hundred quid to £866 (for a standard four-bed).

“Your newsletter landed, I used your tips and which comparison websites to use, and 40 minutes later I found the exact same cover for £443.

“A huge saving of £423, woohoo. Thank you so much.”

Home insurance prices have had record heights for over a year now, with prices sitting at almost 30% higher than last year.

However, the stats imply we may have reached the peak, with average quotes dropping 1% over the past three months, according to Consumer Intelligence.

If you’ve not checked your home insurance in a while, it’s worth looking to see if you’re overpaying.

THE NATIONAL Lottery results are in and it’s time to find out who has won a life-changing amount of money tonight (October 9, 2024).

Could tonight’s jackpot of £5.3million see you handing in your notice, jetting off to the Bahamas or driving a new Porsche off a garage forecourt?

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You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight’s numbers below. Good luck!

Tonight’s National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 04, 07, 20, 41, 55, 56 and the Bonus Ball is 48.

Tonight’s National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 01, 03, 10, 18, 25 and the Thunderball is 02.

The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778.

The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996.

Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool.

Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000.

Sandra Devine, 36, accidentally won £300k – she intended to buy her usual £100 National Lottery Scratchcard, but came home with a much bigger prize.

The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders.

Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996.

The odds of winning the lottery are estimated to be about one in 14million – BUT you’ve got to be in it to win it.

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A SAVVY shopper has uncovered a surprisingly affordable dupe to one of the most iconic burgers in the world for just £1.79 at Aldi.

Her find sparked a flurry of interest among bargain hunters and burger lovers alike, who are going wild to try the “amazing” treat.

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Deborah Newman took to Facebook to share her surprising experience after watching a comparison television programme that revealed how two-thirds of participants struggled to differentiate between McDonald’s Big Mac and its supermarket counterparts.

She wrote: “Having watched a comparison TV programme, where 2/3 couldn’t tell these from a MD, I thought I’d try, not expecting to really be surprised, but wow, for £1.79 each, we thought them as good as the branded.”

Deborah who found her Big Mac dupe at the Aldi freezer section, also explained how she prepared her meal at home.

She said: “I used my air fryer, (I defrosted the item) the burgers took about 3 mins each side, the buns 1 min in the air fryer, the sauce was warmed in hot water in a cup.

“My husband added gherkins, but the sauce was delish, he said he didn’t need the added extras.”

Fellow shoppers rushed to the comments section under Deborah’s post, with one person writing: “Agreed! We tried these last week and rate them like 8/10 almost the same as McDonalds.”

Another added: “I watched that programme few months ago. Me and my daughter tried them and they were better than the true McDonald’s. For £1.79 can’t go wrong.”

A third replied: “The breakfast hash browns are really good as are the sausage McMuffin patties.”

The original Big Mac, a staple of McDonald’s menu since its introduction in 1968, is celebrated for its signature taste, featuring two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions, all sandwiched between a three-part sesame seed bun.

Aldi’s version, dubbed the “Big Stack,” boasts a similar construction and flavor profile, making it an attractive option for those looking to satisfy their cravings without breaking the bank.

With its two juicy beef patties, creamy sauce, and fresh toppings, many are praising it as a worthy dupe compared to the £4.99 McDonald’s staple.

Shoppers are also rushing to Aldi to get their hands on bargain home accessories scanning for just pennies.

The set of three textured vases in cream costs a mere 49p and for that you get three different styles.

A shopper on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group posted her find saying simply “49p Aldi!”

Other members immediately reacted. “This is what I was looking for,” cried one woman, who said she hadn’t been able to find them.

“I paid £1.99 last week,” said another. 

A third poster simply added “Wow!”

The vase set was originally on sale in Aldi’s middle aisle for £4.99 and available in neutral shades grey and beige, as well as cream, to suit all styles of decor.

WINTER sun seekers will soon have another destination to explore, as TUI adds Enfidha to its list of destinations taking off from London Stansted next year.

The picturesque hilltop town, which has views of both the Meditterranean sea and the Djebel Zaghouan mountain, can be reached in just over three hours from the UK.

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Thanks to its location, there is barely ever a cause to wear a coat in the region.

Autumn sees highs of 33C and even in mid-winter temperatures hit 18-19C.

Dubbed the “budget-friendly St Tropez”, Tunisia is an ideal spot for a pocket-friendly getaway, with the country known for its sandy beaches, clear waters, unique cuisine and being easy on the wallet – and Enfidha is certainly no exception.

Located in the north eastern part of the country, the quaint town is home to Enfidha is home to the Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport, which serves as a gateway for travellers visiting the region.

The town is home to traditional architecture, busy markets and local cuisine.

Couscous is a staple in Tunisia as is Brik, a crunchy, flaky, pastry dish served with savoury fillings.

Nearby beaches have also been praised by visitors, including Madfoun Beach, which is home to white sand and crystal-clear waters.

There aren’t many hotels in Enfidha but there are more options in neighbouring Hergla, where rooms at four-star hotels start from £43 per night.

Hergla is a 30-minute drive from Enfidha and is one of the smaller cities on the coastline.

Enfidha is also a good base for exploring other tourist hotspots in the area, including Sousse.

Sousse is a 45-minute drive from Enfidha, and it can also be reached on a local train service that takes just over an hour.

The once-popular tourist hotspot has plenty to keep visitors entertained like the Medina of Sousse, a busy market that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the winding narrow streets, holidaymakers can buy local souvenirs such as crafts, spices and textiles.

Other attractions in Sousse include its Ribat, an impressive fortress that dates back to the 8th century.

There’s also the Great Mosque of Sousse, Sousse Archaeological Museum and Dar Essid Museum.

Sousse has 13 beaches, many of which have white sand and crystal-clear waters like Boujaffar Beach.

Stretching for 10km, Boujaffar Beach is a family-friendly spot thanks to the ice cream vendors and beach shacks that line its shores.

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Also reachable from Enfidha is Port El-Kantaoui, a purpose-built tourist complex with a marina, golf courses, and a variety of shops, restaurants and bars.

For holidaymakers who are after a little bit more of the local culture, El Jem Amphitheatre is a 70-minute drive from Enfidha.

The El Jem Amphitheatre is one of the most impressive Roman ruins in Africa.

As the highest point in eastern Tunisia, Parc National Djebel Zaghouan is another day trip option from Enfidha.

Until TUI launches its flights from London Stansted to Enfidha, several other airlines currently operate flights to the Tunisian town.

Direct services already run from Bristol, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Return fares in December start from £41, with flights taking just over three hours.

Along with the likes of Egypt and Morocco, Tunisia was once one of the most popular winter sun destinations.

However, this changed in 2015 after 38 people, 30 of which were Brits, were killed following a terror attack at the beach resort of Sousse.

Travel to Tunisia was advised against by the UK government.

The ban was subsequently lifted in 2018, with flights and holiday packages resuming.

And while the Foreign Office deems the majority of beach resorts safe to visit, the return to Tunisia holidays has been slow.

In the last few months, a number of UK airlines, including both TUI and easyJet, have relaunched flights to Enfidha.

What else do I need to know about Tunisia?

The local currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), with £10 equaling about 38 TND, while certain holiday resorts also accept dollars and euros.

Make sure to swap every dinar back before you leave because taking them outside of the country is forbidden.

Although Arabic is Tunisia’s official language, the majority of the staff in the holiday resorts will also speak English.

Tourist numbers plummeted after a terrorist attack in Tunisia in 2015, but now the UK government no longer warns against travel to the holiday resorts.

However, it still advises against travelling to locations near the Chaambi Mountains National Park, Dhehiba, and the Libyan and Algerian border.

The newest easyJet flights were launched earlier this year, from Glasgow to Enfidha in Tunisia.

If you want a package holiday, you can find cheap deals for that too with all-inclusives under £300.

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Podcaster Andrew Schulz couldn’t keep a straight face in his recent interview with Donald Trump.

Although Schulz has previously said that he thinks the GOP presidential nominee seems “enticing” when compared with Democrats, the comedian couldn’t take him seriously during one moment in their 90-minute discussion, which was released Wednesday.

That moment? Well, it was when Trump claimed that he’s “basically a truthful person.”

Trump’s no-way-it-would-survive-a-fact-check statement came while he was insisting that Democrat Kamala Harris has lied about him and about previously working at McDonald’s.

“She lied about McDonald’s,” Trump said, without citing evidence. “She lied about many things, and she’s a liar.”

He added that “there should be some kind of a rule, when they know it’s a lie, you can’t do a commercial on it” — nodding to a Harris ad that says she once worked at the fast-food chain.

Trump then said, “They can say what they want — I have a hard time doing it to them, because I’m basically a truthful person.”

At that point, Schulz started laughing hard, appearing to ask, “What does that mean?” But Trump ignored his amusement and doubled down on his Harris harangue.

“She’s given me so much ammunition. I don’t really have to,” Trump said. “She’s a radical-left lunatic who will destroy our nation.”

Not surprisingly, Harris’ presidential campaign shared a video of the exchange online.

And, yes, social media users found the “truthful person” claim by Trump — widely known for his lies on varioustopics — to be quite absurd.

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