COSTA has announced a sparkling new Christmas menu for 2024 with returning fan-favourites and new surprises.

On Thursday, November 7, the nation’s favourite coffee chain is launching a brand new range of menu items to mark the festive season.

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And Costa fans are bursting with joy to find out that the Black Forest Hot Chocolate is returning to the 2024 menu.

Not only this, but customers will also be able to ask for a Black Forest Frappe – a whipped iced alternative which has never been seen before.

The rich dessert-inspired drinks will come with cream, sprinkles and cherry sauce.

And if you’re a Costa Club member you can get your hands on both drinks early – from October 24 (Thursday).

Prices are not yet confirmed but keep in mind that they can vary across the season and between locations.

Other returning fan-favourites include the Gingerbread and Cream Latte and the Terry’s Chocolate Orange hot chocolate.

Both of these winter warmers come with a complimentary sweet treat.

With the Gingerbread and Cream Latte you get a gingerbread biscuit and with the Terry’s Chocolate Orange hot chocolate you get a Terry’s segment.

There are also plenty of new arrivals to the menu, including a Caramel Nutcracker flavour which can be enjoyed in a latte, an iced latte or a hot chocolate.

Costa describes the brand new flavour as “a dreamy blend of caramel, nutty notes, and holiday magic.”

It will also be available to buy from all Costa Express machines, so you can sip on some Christmas spirit wherever you are.

Those visiting a Shell Garage with a Costa Express machine can also get their hands on another new flavour: The Festive Spice.

Whether you’re in a Costa cafe or visiting a machine on the go, you can get the Festive Spice flavour added to any beverage you desire.

The Festive Spice Latte will be a staple item on the 2024 menu.

Hot drinks can also be enjoyed in brand new Costa takeaway cups, which have been redesigned for 2024 and will feature pink, blue and purple waves.

Hungry customers will also have the option to browse from a brand new list of festive food items.

One of the most exciting additions is the Brie and Cranberry Toastie, which will be “oozing with brie and complemented by the sweetness of cranberry”.

A range of festive toasties will also return, including the Pigs and Blankets, Turkey Trimmings and Hog Roast editions from previous years.

You will also be able to buy a Brie, Bacon and Chilli Jam Panini and a Turkey Feast Sandwich.

Whereas if you’re looking for something sweet, there will be lots of new festive cakes and desserts.

You could get a Berry Red Velvet Mini Loaf, with a gooey raspberry source centre, or you could get a Chocolate and Caramel Nutcracker cake.

The Nutcracker cake has layers of chocolate sponge filled with caramel frosting and is topped with chocolate hazelnut frosting.

You can also buy the new Iced Gingerbread Snowman Biscuit, which is a charming gingerbread person adorned with fondant icing.

Or you could opt for a classic Billionaire’s Slice which is new to the winter menu, or the Winter Berry Crumble.

The new Winter Berry Crumble is actually plant-based, so is perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy, or on a vegan diet.

Customers will also see the return of the Festive Bakewell Tart which comes with a seasonal pastry and a holly leaf on top.

The full list of 2024 Christmas menu items is below:

• The Caramel Nutcracker Latte (NEW)
• The Caramel Nutcracker Iced Latte (NEW)
• The Caramel Nutcracker Hot Chocolate (NEW)
• The Festive Spice Latte (NEW)
• The Festive Spice Syrup (NEW)
• The Gingerbread and Cream Latte
• The Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate
• The Black Forest Hot Chocolate
• The Black Forest Frappe (NEW)
• The Brie and Cranberry Toastie (NEW)
• The Pigs and Blankets Toastie
• The Turkey and Trimmings Toastie
• The Turkey Feast Sandwich
• The Brie, Bacon and Chilli Jam Panini
• The Hog Roast Toastie
• The Festive Bakewell Tart
• The Chocolate and Caramel Nutcracker Cake (NEW)
• The Berry Red Velvet Mini Loaf (NEW)
• The Iced Gingerbread Snowman Biscuit (NEW)
• The Billionaire’s Slice (NEW)
• The Winter Berry Crumble (NEW)

When prices are released, make sure you check the Costa website or app before visiting so you have a sense of what you might spend.

But remember that prices can change between locations and depending on the size of the coffee you buy.

The Costa Club app is free and helps you make sure you’re securing the best prices.

You can get a free drink after every 10 drinks you buy, unless you come in with a reusable cup, in which case you get a double stamp and only need to buy five.

Other exclusive rewards with the free membership include free cake on your birthday.

However, keep in mind that many of these schemes are designed to get you to spend more money.

Don’t buy more coffee and splash more cash than you usually would, just to get the free reward quicker – this defeats the point.

Stamping your card is a great thing to do so you can enjoy a free pick-me-up now and then.

You can also save big bucks by enjoying Costa Coffee from home using the Barista Creations sachet.

Costa have brought out a limited edition Gingerbread Latte flavour this winter and all you need to do is add hot water.

A box of these are £1.75 with a Club Card in Tesco, meaning you could spend just 29p a coffee at feel the Christmas joy.

You can read more about how to save on hot drinks in our article here.

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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

THE shops may be full of Halloween decorations now, but it’s easy to save cash by making your own.

Plus, getting the children involved will keep them entertained for at least a few minutes, giving you a double win.

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Here are some affordable ideas for creepy crafts . . . 

PAINT PUMPKINS: They aren’t just for carving.

Little munchkin pumpkins cost 49p each in Asda and kids will love decorating them.

You can use paint, glitter, stickers, gems and any other craft bits you happen to have lying around your home.

When dry and finished, display in a basket or bowl for a ghastly touch to your home.

SPOOKY LIGHT-UP LANTERNS: If you have a couple of empty clear jars lying around, you can easily turn them into ghoulish Halloween decorations.

Paint them green, orange, white or purple or you can wrap crepe paper to the jar and glue it on.

When dry or ready, use a black marker pen to draw spooky-looking eyes and a mouth.

A white jar can be fashioned into a ghost face, while alternative colours work as monsters.

When finished simply pop an LED tea light inside — a pack of four is £2 from Hobbycraft.

GHASTLY BUNTING: Give your child smallish pieces of white paper — around A6 size — and ask them to draw ghosts with a black felt tip.

When they are finished, you can then cut each one out and glue or tie them in a row to some tough yarn or string to make easy bunting.

Your little one will also be delighted to see their creation hanging up.

Alternatively, slice an apple in half and let your child dip the cut side in orange paint to make prints on white paper.

The apple is a natural pumpkin shape and you can add a face with black pen when dry.

Again, cut out each print when dry to make bunting.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

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BUDGET supermarket chain ASDA has slashed the price of a handy phone gadget – from £15 down to £2.

News of the generous discount spread on social media, with users comparing how much the item was on sale for at their local branch.

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The ASDA own-brand product is a slim, portable power bank, with 18 watts of power and 10,000 mAh battery capacity – perfect for charging devices on the go.

Although it is currently advertised on the ASDA website for £15, one Facebook user said it was currently scanning for £2.40 in the Merry Hill branch in the West Midlands – an 84 per cent discount.

Another, Leeds-based commenter wrote: “Got yesterday in Morley Asda for £2.40.”

A third, from Scotland, said: “I got some in Falkirk Asda today. 10k was £2.20 and 20k was £2.40.”

And another, from Hampshire, said: “£2.20 in Fareham today, about 4 left on the shelf.”

Meanwhile, others expressed frustration that their local branches were not offering the discount.

One said: “Found one I my local still scanning at 15.”

Another wrote: “Been to four different asdas and all full price lol.”

And one commenter expressed concerns about the product itself, saying: “They get so hot it burns your hand.”

It comes as ASDA has also put a wide range of Halloween snacks on sale at bargain prices.

These include 99p Haribo Monsters and £2.50 boxes of Cadbury Pumpkin Patch Cakes.

How to save at ASDA

Earlier this year, a bargain hunter and ASDA worker shared their tips for getting major discounts at ASDA.

Taking to the Facebook group Yellow Sticker Shopping Tips, Tricks and Hauls, they wrote: “Asda use to do the reductions three times but now [the] system is the times only. The percentage varies on quantity.”

“1st reduction is [the] night before (for items expiring tomorrow) [and] 2nd reduction (final reduction) is done afternoon time.

“All stores maybe slightly different in times and even same store maybe different due to staff.”

Turning their attention to shoppers, they added: “Tip: a lot of people like to go later evenings or maybe Sunday mornings (waiting for shop opening) to find 1st reductions.

“Not reduced much but surely helps save money.

“Food will not go off straight away, depending what type of food, factories usually give extra couple of days while Best Before items is often perfectly fine to eat as long as quality of inside has not changed. Dry food stays fine for a while.”

They went on to also recommend apps like Olio and Too Good To Go for struggling families.

ICONIC tea company Twinings has discontinued a popular tea flavour, confirming the news on social media.

The calming brew, a favourite amongst tea-lovers, has now permanently disappeared from the shelves.

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Inner Strength was a calming rooibos tea, made with honey, chai and maca.

After learning of its discontinuation, one fan wrote on X: “That’s a shame. It was a thing of beauty.”

The same user had previously quizzed the brand on where the teabags had gone, typing: “@TwiningsUK hello there. Do you still sell the inner strength tea bags please.

“I can’t seem to find them anywhere anymore.”

To this, a spokesperson confirmed: “We’re sorry to let you know that our Inner Strength has been discontinued and we have sold through all our remaining stock.”

It comes as a popular Yorkshire Tea product has also been axed – Toast and Jam teabags.

The gradual phase-out of the comforting brew has left customers desperately scrambling for one last box.

One panicked X user wrote: “Have you stop making jam and toast… I need my morning fix! Help this is a genuine emergency! Asda and Sainsbury’s online stopped stocking it! Helllllppppp.”

It’s understood that the blend is now being replaced by the brand’s new “Caramelised Biscuit Brew” – designed to conjure the comforting taste combination of a brew and a biscuit.

The discontinuation of Inner Strength is not the first time Twinings has axed a beloved tea.

Last year, it got rid of the Boost Superblend, a soothing detox blend.

It also ditched the Seasons Greeting Christmas tea, prompting an apology from the brand.

A spokesperson wrote an X: “We’re afraid our Seasons Greetings Christmas Tea is no longer available as sadly, this was discontinued due to a lack of demand.

“We’re really sorry & will pass your interest on to our Product Development team.”

Last month, Twinings also lost out as the nation’s favourite tea maker, as Asda Everyday Tea Bags nabbed top spot with PG Tips a close second.

Twinings Everyday was at the bottom of the table, tied with Tesco Original Tea – with both scoring just 67%.

The results followed a blind taste-test by 79 experienced tea drinkers.

At £4.80 per 80 bags, Twinings costs four times the price of Asda’s winning cuppa.

More than 60% of judges liked the colour and bitterness level of Twinings but fewer than half said they were satisfied with the brew’s strength of flavour.

SHOPPERS at a major fashion brand have been left fuming after being banned from the site for “excessive” returns.

PrettyLittleThing has deactivated a number of customers’ online accounts because of the number of times they have returned orders.

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Baffled customers have insisted they haven’t returned enough to justify a ban from the retail giant.

Some of those affected have taken to social media to criticise the new policy, with many claiming they would return fewer items if the sizing of PLT clothes was more consistent.

One TikTok user vented her ban on the platform while demanding an explanation for the bizarre sanction.

Faye said on the social media: “The only reason I return clothes is because it’s poor quality, it’s not as described on the website, the sizing standards are awful – yet PrettyLittleThing still think it’s a clever move to ban people from shopping from them because they can’t stick to their descriptions of clothes.

She backed her claim by displaying an email that confirmed she had been banned “in accordance with terms and conditions” after reviewing her “account activity”.

This apparently revealed “unusually high returns activity” – disallowing her from placing “any further orders”.

Seeing both sides, Faye said she understood why they may have wanted to clamp down on “girls spending hundreds of pounds for content making PrettyLittleThing hauls”.

This is because some purchasers then go and return everything, but the TikToker remained confused over the decision to ban her given they’re an “online website”.

She added: “And if you say something’s a size 10 and it turns up fitting a size 6 girl instead, what do you expect?”

The most disgruntled customers are those who have paid £9.99 for PLT’s Royalty scheme, which offers free next day delivery and free returns to members. 

Fellow fuming customers took to Faye’s comments to express their frustration on the bizarre banning.

One user said: “I have an online account with them but I’ve never actually ordered anything, I got an email today. I think it’s a glitch.”

Another commented: “Very real. I’m FUMING; I’ve literally sent 3 orders back this year out of about 20 orders and it’s the sizing issues.”

And: “I’m the type of person to order loads of dresses for an occasion and then I’ll return what I won’t wear!”

Other users revealed how they had previously been sent the wrong order by PLT, and therefore don’t understand how the retailer could put such a ban on returns.

A disgruntled shopper said: “One time they sent me THE WRONG DRESS.”

Another added: “I got this, fuming. It’s okay though when they send the wrong items in an order, send orders out late, and take my royalty fee for the year that I paid for.”

PLT is part of the Boohoo Group and was founded by Mahmud Kamani in 2006 as an accessories-only brand that focused on selling trendy gear for cheap. 

It was co-founded and headed up by Umar Kamani, one of Mahmud Kamani’s sons, who was the catalyst in the brand’s celebrity appeal .

Despite the cheap price point of its items, PLT has executed a number of star-studded collaborations.

These include with the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell and a number of sell-out collections with influencer Molly-May Hague.

PrettyLittleThing have been approached for comment.

Gold Prices Are Nearing the $2,800 Mark: Is It a Good Time to Invest?

The gold market has seen remarkable growth throughout 2024, with prices reaching new heights and breaking multiple records. The bull market for gold began in early March when prices soared to $2,160 per ounce, marking an 8% increase from the previous record set in December 2023. This upward trend has continued, with gold prices consistently breaking records as they climb. Currently, prices are approaching $2,800 per ounce. This rapid increase has led to substantial gains for investors who entered the market earlier this year. For instance, those who bought gold in March at $2,160 per ounce have experienced a nearly 27% rise in value since then. This is a significant increase in just a few months, especially for an asset typically associated with long-term growth. However, while early investors have reaped the benefits of this price surge, potential newcomers may be questioning whether now is the right moment to invest. The idea of purchasing at such high prices seems to contradict the fundamental investment principle of buying low and selling high. So, is it wise to invest in gold at this premium price?

Is Now the Right Time to Invest in Gold?

When considering your investment strategy, it’s essential to align it with your personal goals. That said, there are several compelling reasons to consider adding gold to your portfolio at this moment, despite its elevated price.

Potential for Further Price Appreciation

Although gold is currently trading near $2,800 per ounce, many analysts believe there is still potential for prices to rise even more. Some forecasts suggest that gold could hit $3,000 per ounce by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. This optimistic outlook is supported by several factors:

• Institutional Demand: Central banks worldwide are increasingly purchasing gold, which strengthens demand and supports higher prices. In 2023, they acquired over 1,136 metric tons, the highest in over five decades.
• Limited Supply: The finite nature of gold means that as demand increases, prices are likely to rise due to scarcity. Many major gold mines are approaching depletion, adding pressure to the supply chain.
• Industrial Applications: Gold is increasingly utilized in various industries, including electronics and healthcare. This growing industrial demand further enhances its value, as new applications create additional reasons for businesses to seek gold.

By investing now, you may be setting yourself up to take advantage of potential price increases in the future, even if the current price seems steep. Delaying your purchase might result in missing out on a more favorable entry point.

Safeguarding Against Economic Uncertainty

While inflation has eased considerably in recent months, it’s not the only economic factor that could affect your investment strategy. The global economy is still grappling with various challenges, such as persistent geopolitical tensions and economic instability. Historically, gold has been viewed as a dependable safeguard against these uncertainties, making it a wise choice to invest in now. Here’s how it can shield you in a volatile economic landscape:

• Preserving Purchasing Power: Gold has historically maintained its value over time, helping investors protect their purchasing power in the face of inflation and currency fluctuations.
• Safe-Haven Asset: During periods of economic distress or geopolitical tensions, gold often sees a surge in demand, serving as a reliable store of value when other investments falter.
• High Liquidity: Gold is easily convertible to cash, offering financial flexibility. Whether through physical gold or gold ETFs, investors can liquidate their holdings quickly during economic downturns, ensuring access to necessary funds.

The Importance of Portfolio Diversification

One of the key reasons investors include gold in their portfolios is its unique relationship with other assets. Gold has historically demonstrated a low or negative correlation with stocks and bonds, meaning that when the stock market faces downturns, as it has recently, gold often remains stable. By adding gold to your portfolio now, even at current elevated prices, you’re incorporating an asset that doesn’t move in tandem with traditional investments. This helps to lower the overall risk and volatility of your portfolio, ensuring that even if other investments are underperforming, a portion of your wealth stays safeguarded.

The Key Takeaway

The recent rise in gold prices has led some investors to wonder if it’s the right moment to make a purchase. Although investing in any asset at its peak can feel risky, there are compelling reasons to consider adding gold to your portfolio, even at these higher prices. The possibility of further price increases, the necessity for a dependable safeguard against persistent economic instability, and the diversification advantages that gold offers all highlight its lasting worth as an investment.

Related: Should I invest in Gold?