SPOTTING a rare coin in your change could be a big money-spinner – especially if you spot a 50p featuring a specific animal.

If you discover a sought-after coin in your change, you can make money on it by selling it on.

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You could do this through an auction, either online, in person, or through a dealer.

There are some coins which are known to fetch large sums of cash, such as the Kew Gardens 50p and the commemorative 50p coins minted to mark the London 2012 games.

But there are also lesser-known designs that are worth keeping an eye out for – like the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) 50p coin.

This special coin was released in 2011, and features the famous WWF panda logo in the middle.

There’s 50 other animals surrounding it including elephants, birds, polar bears and butterflies.

Around 3,400,000 of these coins were released into circulation in 2011, making it the tenth rarest 50p there is, according to Change Checker.

If a coin is rare, there are not many of them about – and the WWF 50p is one of the least likely coins you’ll come across in your spare change.

But a coin not only needs to be rare to increase its value – it needs to be scarce too.

That means a lot of people want them.

According to Change Checker, WWF coins are not the most highly sought after coins.

They are ranked 15th on the index – with 100 being the most in demand coin there is – King Charles III Atlantic Salmon 50p.

But collectors will stay pay up for a WWF coin to add to their collection.

The Sun spotted one of these coins that was flogged for £3 on October 18.

Meanwhile, another sold for £5.50 on October 13 with nine bids.

While this may not seem like a significant amount of money, it’s still 11 times more than the coin’s face value.

How to check if a coin is rare

In most cases, a coin is rare if it has a low mintage figure – which is set by The Royal Mint.

The mintage figure relates to how many of the coins were made, so the fewer there are of them, the rarer they are.

You can find out what coins are rare and how they look on The Royal Mint’s website.

Your next step after this is seeing if the same coin is still available to buy in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.

These coins have been specially made to a superior quality which differentiates them from other coins you might find in your pocket.

How to sell a rare coin

If, after checking, you realise you’ve come across a rare coin, there’s a number of ways you can sell it.

You can sell it on eBay, through Facebook, or in an auction.

But be wary of the risks.

For example, there are a number of scams targeting sellers on Facebook.

Crooks will say they’re planning to buy the item, and ask for money upfront for a courier they’ll be sending around.

But it’s all a ruse to get you to send free cash to them – and they never have any intention of picking your item up.

It’s always best to meet in person when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Ensure it’s a public meeting spot that’s in a well-lit area.

Avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method’s website.

Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it’s legitimate.

The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. You can organise this with The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

It has a team of experts who can help you authenticate and value your coin.

You can get in touch via email and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.

You will be charged for the service though – the cost varies depending on the size of your collection.

Meanwhile, you can sell rare coins on eBay.

But take into account that if you manage to sell your item then eBay will charge you 10% of the money you made – this includes postage and packaging.

Always keep proof of postage to protect yourself from dodgy buyers who may claim they never received their item.

Send the parcel by tracked delivery if you can.

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A MAJOR pizza chain has issued an urgent warning to customers after fears over contaminated popular dips.

The global restaurant company, with more than 450 branches across the UK, was forced to stop serving the much-loved condiments.

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Papa Johns issued the warning over two products amid health fears and allergy risks.

Their Garlic and Herb Dip, and their Vegan Ranch Dressing were pulled as they may contain traces of peanuts.

A Papa Johns spokesman said: “At Papa Johns, customer safety is our top priority.

“Certain batches of our Garlic and Herb Dip and our Vegan Ranch Dressing may contain traces of peanuts. Our 25g dips are included with pizzas, and we recently introduced a 100g version. If you have a peanut allergy, please do not consume these dips and dispose of them.

“Our Vegan Ranch Dressing, used on products, may also contain traces of peanuts. If you have a peanut allergy, please avoid these items.

“We are working quickly to resolve this issue. In the meantime, we will replace the Garlic and Herb Dip with our Special Garlic Dip, which is unaffected.

“For any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@papajohns.co.uk.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”

Fellow industry titan, Domino’s, was forced to make the same announcement last month.

Two Domino’s dip flavours are among the recalled items: the Domino’s Garlic & Herb Dip and the Honey & Mustard one.

Domino’s previously urged those with a peanut allergy to dispose of the dips mentioned on the recall alert and avoid consuming them.

The fast-food chain apologised for any concern this may cause and recommended that customers with queries visit their contact form here.

A Domino’s spokesman said: “At Domino’s Pizza, the quality of our products and the safety of our customers is the highest priority, particularly when it comes to allergens.

“We have become aware that some of our Garlic & Herb and Honey & Mustard dip may contain traces of peanut.

“This issue may impact both our 100g ‘Big Dip’ pots and the smaller, 25g, pots we provide with our pizzas.

“If you DO HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY, please dispose of the dips and do not consume them.

“If you DO NOT have a peanut allergy, no further action is required.”

It comes as the Food Standards Agency has issued a number of alerts for food products containing mustard powder, imported from India, which may have been contaminated with peanuts.

The food watchdog recalled dozens of foods and condiments they had reason to believe might be with peanuts not listed on the label.

Sold under various brand names and across a range of stores, recalled dips, sandwiches and salads contain mustard, which may have traces of peanuts.

“This means these products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to peanuts,” the Food Standard Agency (FSA) said.

“If you have bought any of the above products and have an allergy to peanuts, do not eat them.”

The alert was first issued when the food watchdog urged Brits with peanut allergies to avoid all mustard-containing products while they determined the source of the contamination.

Since then, they have published a full list of 64 products they believe have been contaminated, which was updated yesterday to include the Thiccc Sauce Meat Candy & Thiccc Sauce BBQ Sriracha.

Sold in convenience stores and off-licences, a number of SPAR sandwiches, wraps and pasta salads have been pulled from shelves too.

Other items included on the recent recall alert that may contain traces of peanuts include Fazilas wraps and Clayton Park sandwiches.

Peanut allergies are particularly common, affecting about one in 50 children in the UK, increasing in recent decades, according to Allergy UK.

Rebecca Sudworth, Director of Policy at the FSA, said: “This remains a complex investigation, and we are continuing to work with Food Standards Scotland, relevant businesses, local authorities, and agencies to ensure the necessary measures are in place to protect consumers.

“While our investigations continue our advice remains the same: people with a peanut allergy should continue to avoid consuming all foods that contain or may contain mustard, mustard seeds, mustard powder or mustard flour.

“Our current focus is to ensure all affected products have been withdrawn and recalled.

“Once this has taken place, we are confident we’ll be in a position to remove some of our additional advice for consumers, so they can continue to enjoy food that is safe and trust the product label and information accurately reflects the allergenic content.

“Until this happens it’s very important that people with a peanut allergy continue to avoid any product containing mustard or mustard ingredients.”

CLEANING is one of those jobs no one really enjoys doing, but sprucing up your fridge could actually save you cash.

That’s because if you neglect cleaning certain appliances, it’s not just unhygienic, but it can be costly too.

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With energy bills rising by £149 annually for the average household at the beginning of this month, we’re all looking for ways to save.

And the key to saving cash could be giving your fridge a good scrub.

But only a fifth of households clean their fridge just twice a year, according to Lakeland’s Trends Report.

Some 18% of households clean their fridge twice a year, while 16% do it on an “ad hoc” basis only when it becomes noticeably dirty.

But kitchen experts actually advise that you should clean your fridge after every big supermarket shop.

Not only will this prevent bacteria from lurking, it can also help it to run more efficiently.

Simply cleaning and dusting the coils at the back of your fridge can slash energy consumption by up to 25%, according to Which?.

This is because dust on the coils can prevent the fridge from cooling properly.

You can vacuum away the dust and dirt to get your fridge freezer working more efficiently again which should bring down your energy usage.

You can prevent dirt and grime from clogging the coils by using reusable food covers to stop spills from opened packets or leftovers.

Covermate elasticated covers cost just £3.49 for a pack of eight from Lakeland. Or Tesco sells three reusable silicone lids for £3.

If you do have a spillage, it’s important to make sure that you clean it up straight away.

Flash kitchen cleaning spray costs at little as 40p at Morrisons.

Of course, it’s important to compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Supermarkets change their prices all the time, sometimes multiple times daily, so it’s worth checking you’re getting the best price.

You can use websites like Trolley to see how the major supermarket’s compare in terms of price on any number of goods.

Other tips to cut fridge freezer costs

If you don’t defrost the freezer compartment in your fridge regularly, it could add significantly to your bills.

The frost buildup increases the amount of work your freezer’s motor has to do.

And if the motor is working harder, then this means it’s using more energy.

You can chip away at any build-up once it starts to look a little glacial inside and then your energy bill won’t have to take such a hit.

It’s also important to clean the condenser coils on the back of the appliance, as dust on the coils can prevent the fridge from cooling properly.

Replace damaged door seals to ensure cold air cannot escape and be wasted and let food cool down completely before refrigerating.

New seals are often available online for £30 to £100.

If you’re looking to replace an old model with a new eco-friendly version you could also save on your energy bills each year.

It’s worth shopping around to make sure you’re getting the best model at the best price if you decide to go down this road.

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THOUSANDS of brits could pocket an extra £200 to help with soaring winter energy payments – check if you’re eligible.

The Household Support Fund offers families a helping hand when they may need it most, whether it’s with the food shop, school uniform or paying essential bills.

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In September, the Department for Work and Pensions announced the HSF in Birmingham will be extended from October 2024 to March 2025.

Thousands may be eligible to claim the cash boost from Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC).

The £200 grant can be put towards household essentials including energy and food bills.

It won’t have an effect on any other benefits you may be receiving or be entitled to.

The payment is usually transferred directly into a bank account in the applicant’s name.

Who is eligible

According to Birmingham City Council, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

• be a Birmingham resident
• be experiencing financial hardship, particularly with covering costs linked to food and energy
• not have received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months

Each household is only eligible to receive one £200 grant payment in a 12 month period.

How to apply

To apply, those eligible need to complete the Hardship Grant Community Fund expression of interest form.

This can be accessed on the Birmingham City Council website under Cost of Living Support, Household Support Fund 2024 to 2025.

All applicants will be contacted via email with details of the next steps should they be accepted.

If you’re invited to apply, you will likely need to provide proof of your address and proof that you’re receiving means-tested benefits, if applicable.

What is the Household Support Fund?

Households in need can claim support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.

The funding is supplied from a £421million pot by the Department for Work and Pensions.

It was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.

Councils up and down the country get a portion of the cash to allocate to vulnerable households.

For example, Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.

Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.

Get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.

The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.

But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or to cover costs of your weekly grocery shop.

If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.

And, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.

Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.

HOUSEHOLDS could get a free cash payout worth up to £200 just in time for Christmas.

Four major banks are now offering cash incentives for new customers and you could land a boost in time for the festive period.

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Switching bank accounts can be an easy way to give your balance a quick boost.

Cash incentives are regularly launched by banks to entice new customers, but do be sure to check the small print.

Most of these offers have certain criteria that you need to meet in order for you to get the cash.

For example, some accounts require you to pay a certain amount each month to maintain them.

While others might charge you for setting up an overdraft.

Be sure to check that the account you chose is right for you in the long term before switching.

Once you’ve decided you’ll need to make the switch using the current account switching service (CASS) which takes just seven days, and the new bank handles it for you.

We explain further down how the CASS works, but first here’s the full list of the offers available now that could tempt you to move.

Lloyds Bank – £200

If you switch your current account to Lloyds you could get £200.

Both new and existing customers can take advantage of the free cash offer available for those who switch between now and December 10.

Those who switch to the Club Lloyds account can expect the £200 to be paid within ten days of completing the switch.

It is important to be aware that the account comes with a £3 a month fee unless you pay in £2,000 a month.

To finalise the switch, customers can either scan the QR code available on the bank’s website or use the mobile app.

Once completed, Club Lloyds customers will be able to select from a range of perks, including a 12-month Disney+ subscription, a choice of Vue or Odeon cinema tickets, a magazine subscription, or a Coffee Club and Gourmet Society membership.

But remember you pay a fee for the extras, so work out if it’s worth paying the fee to get these.

New customers can get the bonus, and so can existing Lloyds customers if they don’t already have a Club Lloyds account and open a new one.

Those who already received a switch bonus since April 2020 from Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland (all part of the same group) won’t be eligible.

The same bonus is also available when switching to the Club Lloyds Platinum Account and Club Lloyds Silver Account but these comes with a £22.50 and £11.50 a month fee, respectively, on top of the £3.

How do I switch bank accounts?

SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up – there’s a full list on CASS’ website.

Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days.

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You don’t have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you.

All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you’re moving.

There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account.

You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements.

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When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society.

Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts.

And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts – but these accounts might come with a monthly fee.

First Direct – £175

First Direct has relaunched its popular cash switch incentive for anyone who opens a 1st Account.

Customers can receive a payment of up to £175 by using the CASS.

Users have to switch at least two direct debits or standing orders within 30 days of opening the account to qualify for the cash.

Switchers also need to add at least £1,000 into the account, register and log on to internet banking and use the debit card at least five times within 30 days of opening the account.

Customers who meet the criteria should expect the free bonus in their accounts by the 20th of the following month.

The bank revealed that new customers switching to their current account to first direct can expect several extra perks, including a £250 interest-free overdraft.

You won’t qualify for the switching incentive if you have previously held a First Direct product or opened an HSBC current account on or after January 1, 2018.

Customers moving across to the bank will also get access to a regular savings account paying 7% interest, one of the best deals around, as well as a 0% overdraft on the first £250.

Nationwide – £175

Nationwide Building Society has launched a new offer of £175 to switch to its FlexDirect, FlexPlus or FlexAccount current accounts.

The free-cash perk is a joint-market leading sum with First Direct.

The FlexDirect account gives the holder 5% credit interest on balances up to £1,500 for the first 12 months.

This account also offers an interest-free overdraft for the first 12 months.

Those who open a new FlexDirect account will still get the 5% credit interest rate, and will also receive 1% cashback for the first 12 months on debit card purchases, capped at £5 per month.

For new FlexDirect account openings, the previous interest-free overdraft offer will be withdrawn.

But if you are an existing customer who is benefiting from an interest-free overdraft offer then don’t worry, this will continue until the end of their 12-month period.

You also can’t have switched into a Nationwide account, or have received switch cash from Nationwide, since August 18, 2021.

Co-op Bank

The Co-operative Bank has announced eligible customers could receive up to £150.

The first £75 is given when a customer completes a switch to the bank.

Then, the bank is offering three monthly instalments of £25 – another £75 – to make up the £150.

Both new and existing customers can apply to switch to a current account to make themselves eligible for the payment.

Customers must apply for a Standard Current Account or Everyday Extra account.

To be eligible, customers must not have benefited from a switch incentive at The Co-operative Bank since 1 November 2022.

And to receive the first £75, customers need to follow a series of rules.

They are:

• Deposit a minimum of £1,000 into their new account (this includes balances transferred as part of the switch).
• Have 2 active Direct Debits.
• Make a minimum of 10 debit card or digital wallet transactions (pending payments will not count toward fulfilment of this criteria).
• Register for our online and/or mobile banking service.
• Set up the debit card in a digital wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Wallet or Google Pay).

That leaves the three £25 instalments – and there are some rules to claim them too.

Customers need to deposit at least £1,000 into their account, have two direct debits and make a minimum of 10 debit card transactions.

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ONE MILLION workers could be set for a pay cut under Rachel Reeves’ budget “painful” budget plan.

The Chancellor could extend the freeze on income tax thresholds in this month’s Autumn Statement.

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In a bid to fill a £40billion black hole in the public purse, Rachel Reeves may be considering pushing the freeze beyond its current expiry date of 2028.

The move could raise £7billion , according to reports by the Financial Times.

Labour’s manifesto promised not to increase rates of income tax, but included no mention of tax thresholds.

Other measures reported to be under consideration include:

The Treasury has so far declined to comment on Budget speculation.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank said that extending the freeze would pull 400,000 more people into paying income tax, according to The Times.

Plus, another 600,000 could be dragged into paying higher and additional rates by 2029-30 as wages rise.

This means a total of one million workers could be dragged into paying higher rates.

Freezing thresholds is a form of stealth tax – and helps governments generate higher tax revenue in a way that isn’t as obvious as a threshold change.

A person earning £50,000 a year now, who gets annual pay increases of 2%, will be earning about £55,000 by 2029-30.

This will have pulled them into the higher-rate tax band, making their income tax bill nearly £1,000 higher than if they paid the basic rate on their income, the newspaper said.

When asked about possible tax changes during a press conference in Berlin, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We are going to keep our manifesto pledges.”

He added: “I’m not going to pre-empt the individual measures that will be outlined by the Chancellor in due course.”

He went on: “This is going to be a Budget that will fix the foundations and rebuild our country.”

How do I calculate tax?

If you earn £12,570 or less, you currently pay no income tax.

On earnings between £12,570 and up to £50,270, you pay the basic income tax rate of 20%.

Wages of £50,271 and above are taxed at the higher rate of 40%.

And the additional rate of income tax, which applies to earnings above £150,000, is 45%.

The thresholds for income tax generally rise each year so that people can earn more without paying more tax.

However, the thresholds are now frozen until 2028, but this could be extended in the Budget.

What else could be revealed in the Budget?

The Autumn Statement will take place at around midday on Wednesday, October 30.

Multiple changes to inheritance tax are being considered by ministers.

It is not certain how many people will end up paying more money, nor how much more they might pay.

The levy does not affect the vast majority of the public at the moment, with only 4% of deaths resulting in an inheritance tax charge as the threshold for the 40% charge is an estate above £325,000.

The Chancellor is also expected to honour the previous Tory government’s plans to make around £3 billion of cuts to welfare by reforming work capability rules in the Budget.

Ms Reeves is also said to be considering bringing a stamp duty discount introduced by the Tories to an end, the Times reports, which is expected to raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029.

Other reports suggest a tax on vapes could be raised, and that fuel duty could be hiked for the first time in 14 years.

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

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