A MAJOR bank is giving away £180 in free cash – just in time for the expensive Christmas period.

The generous reward is available to any new or existing customer who switches their main current account to the bank’s reward account.

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The offer from NatWest lasts for a limited time only – so those eyeing up the extra cash for Christmas should act fast.

To be eligible, customers must pay £1250 into their new Reward Account – through either single or multiple payments.

This must remain in the account for 24 hours.

Customers must also have the latest version of the NatWest mobile banking app.

If these conditions are met, £180 will be paid into the account within seven days.

And it’s not the only reward available for switching to the NatWest Reward Account.

Customers can also receive a further £60 in rewards a year by signing up – as well as money off at a range of retailers.

However, the account does charge a £2 monthly fee.

Other banks are also offering cash incentives for switching bank accounts in the runup to Christmas.

Lloyds is offering £200 to customers who switch to the Club Lloyds account before December 10.

Those who open a 1st Account with First Direct can enjoy a payment of £175.

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

And Co-op Bank has announced that customers could receive £75 for switching to the bank – plus three monthly installments of £75.

Aside from the Reward Account, NatWest also has some other tempting offers for customers.

These include a 6% interest rate with the Digital Regular Saver account, prepaid “Rooster” debit cards for kids, and 1% back in rewards on the Travel Reward Credit Card.

These rewards can be exchanged for Amazon vouchers as well as cash.

To change your bank account, you should go through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

This automatically moves all your direct debits to your new account.

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.

CHOCOHOLICS are going wild after a Cadbury’s treat they thought was “extinct” was spotted on the shelves at B&M.

It marks the return of an iconic chocolate bar – but this time in miniature form.

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A picture of the Cadbury Fuse Mini Treats was posted to a Newfoodsuk Facebook group.

So far, it has wracked up a whopping 539 reacts and over 70 shares.

Nearly 300 overexcited chocolate-lovers rushed to the comments, with one telling their friend: “If you see these buy all of them.”

Others pointed out that the Mini Fuse Treats hailed the return of a cult classic – the Fuse bar.

This is not currently on sale in supermarkets, but does occasionally appear on specialist websites such as Bombon.

One wrote: “I thought fuse chocolate was extinct, seems like it still exists.”

Another said: “If these are like the old FUSE bars I NEED these!”

A third disbelieving fan commented: “Used to have these in full size bars years ago. Delish.”

The Fuse bar is a combination of crunchy peanuts, gooey caramel and a creamy truffle centre, all coated in smooth milk chocolate.

The grab-bag version contains seven mini bars, according to the packaging.

It comes as B&M shoppers also went wild for a new twist on the Dream bar.

Meanwhile, chocolate lovers raved about a new type of M&Ms – the Candy Popcorn M&M Minis.

And Nestle added a new chocolate to its Quality Street “Favourites Golden Selection” pouch – the Toffee Penny.

How to save money on chocolate

We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

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Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

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They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

SOCIAL media users are going wild for a clever cleaning hack that removes rust – and it’s basically free.

You can make it yourself with two, everyday store-cupboard items – and it’s perfect for de-rusting garden furniture before you pack it away for the winter.

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The tip was posted on a Facebook group inspired by cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch, also known as Sophie Hinchliffe.

It involves simply combining tomato ketchup with scrunched-up tin foil.

The hack was shared after a user took to the group seeking advice on how to remove rust from her outdoor metal stools.

One commenter wrote: “Tomato sauce and scrunched-up tin foil. Used it on mine. Removed the rust and didn’t scratch the metal.”

Another advised: “Foil scrunched up and tomato ketchup. Mine are quite a few years old and were very rusty.”

The poster then returned to the group to share her feedback on the hack.

She said: “Today I tried ketchup and tin foil, and it worked.

“I have to admit I was sceptical, but you were all right, and I was wrong. And, as somebody asked, it didn’t scratch the chrome.”

Another shared that they had tried the hack on their bathroom tower rail and were delighted with the results.

She hailed it a “game changer”, adding: “Vinegar didn’t make any difference this is much better.”

The method works because the acetic acid in the tomato sauce reacts with the copper oxide in the rust.

Meanwhile, the scrunched-up foil helps create friction to gently rub away the rust.

Cleaning enthusiasts should first apply the tomato sauce to the area, leaving it to sit for 20 minutes.

Then, you should use the crumpled foil to scrub the surface in circular motions.

Once finished, wipe the patch clean with a soapy cloth and dry.

It comes as Mrs Hinch fans also shared a handy trick for getting rid of kids’ ink stains – using hairspray.

Hairspray, which costs as little as 85p from Bodycare, can be used to help remove stains by letting the formula sit on the affected area for a few minutes before washing the item with a detergent and warm water.

B&M shoppers are rushing to do their Christmas shopping with toys scanning between 10p and £1.

Two savvy savers recently spotted the cheap toys in their local branches and finished festive shopping for the children in their family.

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The shoppers posted their find on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group after snapping up various toys for pennies.

One of the members who posted about their finds shared pictures of the toys they purchased and said that their daughter’s Christmas shopping was “finished thanks to this”.

Another member gushed over the find, saying they “never get any of the bargains but today [they] did!”

They also added that items were apparently reduced due to having old barcodes on.

Plenty of fellow bargain hunters have liked and commented on the posts keen to find toys in their local branch.

One user said: “Wow! Well done on being in the right place!”

Another commented: “Brilliant well done on your bargains.”

And: “That is amazing!”

A B&M employee even confirmed the discounts in the comment section.

They said: “These are all old stock so it’s not going to be every store. I work for B&M.”

Any B&M shoppers looking to snap up the £1 and under toys won’t be able to find it online.

It’s not guaranteed you’ll find it in your local branch either, so it might be worth calling your local branch ahead to avoid a wasted trip.

In any case, you should always shop around before buying something like this as you might find the same, or similar, item for less at another retailer.

You can use online price comparison sites like Price Spy and Trolley to see if a product you have found is the cheapest against others.

You can also use the Google Shopping/Product tab to do a quick scan of the internet.

However, we had a quick look online to see if any other retailers are selling some of these toys for under £1 and there weren’t any.

If you’re looking to pick up a bargain on your next B&M shop, you should get the retailer’s scanner app.

It’s free to download on to your smartphone via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Once downloaded, you can use the camera on your phone to scan barcodes in-store.

It then tells you if a product has been reduced in price, even before a member of staff has changed the label.

The app also offers you a description of the product you are scanning.

It’s quite common for shoppers to find under £1 bargains in their local B&M stores.

One customer recently found a stainless steel egg slotter for just 10p instead of £2.99.

Another shopper found pet toys slashed to 10p in their local branch this summer.

Remember, you can find your nearest B&M branch by using the retailer’s store locator tool on its website.

Other ways to save money at B&M

One ex-B&M manager said the best time to visit your local store is first thing on a Wednesday.

This is when staff slash items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new lines.

Deals expert Tom Church urged shoppers to keep an eye out for red stickers products as well.

These are put on special buy products that have also been reduced in price.

It’s worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too.

Some of the best ones to join are B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More and Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group.

HALF a million workers employed by more than 15,000 companies paying the real living wage will get a pay boost from today.

The rate will rise by 60p to £12.60 an hour across the UK and by 70p to £13.85 in London for workers.

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Unlike the government-set minimum wage, the real living wage is the only UK pay rate based on the cost of living.

It is voluntary meaning, employers can opt to pay their staff this amount but are not legally required to do so.

As of today, a full-time worker earning the new real living wage will earn £2,262 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum, according to the Living Wage Foundation.

Employers who are signed up have until the deadline of May 1 to pay the increased rates but are encouraged to pay it as soon as possible.

Katherine Chapman, director of the foundation said low-paid workers have been “hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis”.

She said: “The real living wage remains the only UK wage rate calculated based on actual living costs, and the new rates announced today will make a massive difference to almost half a million workers who will see their pay increase.”

The real living wage was introduced in April 2016, and since then thousands of employers have opted in.

Recent joiners include Pieminister, Fred Perry and the National Theatre.

They join half of the FTSE 100 companies and household names like Aviva, Everton FC, Ikea, Burberry and LUSH.

Darren Taylor, country people and culture manager at furniture retailer Ikea, said: “A business’s success is purely driven by its people, and as a values-driven company we care about our co-workers and their wellbeing. “

“That’s why we’re committed to pay our co-workers a Real Living Wage that creates a fairer, inclusive and healthier standard of living for the many.”

You can find out which companies are signed up to pay the Real Living Wage on the foundation’s website, www.livingwage.org.uk/.

The rates are separate from the government’s national living wage, which sets the minimum hourly rate at £11.44 an hour for workers over the age of 21.

The national minimum wage is also set by the government and it is the minimum pay per hour for workers under the age between 18-20.

Will the national living wage increase?

The national living wage set out by the government usually rises every year to keep in line with increasing prices.

In April this year, the rate increased 10% from £10.42, and has generally risen by more than inflation in recent years.

In September, the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which advises the government on the minimum wage, announced plans to raise the statutory rate to £12.10 per hour.

The government usually confirms how much the National Living Wage will rise when it delivers its Autumn Statement, which will take place next week on October 30.

However, the national minimum wage for children under 18 will not be raised to the same level as that planned for adults.

This means kids aged 16 and 17 still have a slightly lower hourly minimum wage requirement.

Currently, those under 18 are legally required to get £6.40.

Apprentices are paid the same rate, too.

A MONEY-saving expert has revealed a little-known button on tumble dryers that could cut energy bills by £35 a year.

As temperatures drop, many households will be worried about the lengthy and sometimes costly process of drying their clothes indoors.

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Tumble dryers are household staples for many, but they can become pricey to run.

Especially now Ofgem‘s new energy price cap has come into effect, leading the average bill to rise by £149 a year.

But there is a little-known feature that could help curb the cost of running the device.

The Sun spoke to Fiona Peake a money-saving expert at Ocean Finance, who explained that by using the “sensor dry” function households could save up to 20% on costs.

Fiona said this setting “detects” when your clothes are dry and automatically stops the machine.

She explained: “This prevents over-drying—a common issue that wastes energy and can damage fabrics

“By making the switch to this setting, households could save as much as 20% on their drying costs, making a noticeable difference in monthly energy expenses.”

So for example, a vented tumble dryer can cost up to £179.21 to run per year, according to analysis by consumer website Which?

But using the sensor dry feature could shave up to 20% or £35 off the yearly bill.

This would mean a household would be left with a bill of £144.21.

But this could be higher or lower depending on your model and how often you use the machine.

For example, a heat pump washing machine usually costs less to run than its vented counterpart.

On average the annual cost to run one of these tumble dryers is £76.09.

With this in mind, a household could save £15 on their yearly bill by using the sensor dry feature.

To make the saving you will also have to ensure that your washing machine has the sensor dry feature.

Some tumble dryers will have the sensor dry feature built-in meaning it runs automatically without you having to do anything.

Otherwise, it can be found on the dial of your tumble dryer where the other settings can be found.

If you are confused it may be worth digging out your manual to see if your tumble dryer has the feature or searching the details of your model online.

Fiona added that cleaning the lint filter regularly can also help save money.

She added: “A blocked filter can cause your dryer to work harder and prolong drying time, wasting both energy and money.

“Keeping your dryer well-ventilated allows the machine to operate more effectively, helping you save more money.”

Other ways to save money drying your clothes

There are plenty of other gadgets which can help dry your clothes quicker this winter.

For example, heated airers can be a cost-effective tool that costs a few pennies to run.

Heated airers can save money on your energy bill as it offers a cheaper alternative to drying your clothes on the radiator.

This method can become costly as it requires you to turn on the central heating.

Heated clothes airers are like traditional ones, but you plug them in, with the bars of the dryer heating up.

You can buy covers for some as well, which speeds up the time it takes to dry your clothes.

Aldi launched an upright heated airer across its stores on October 20, for £79.99.

It was part of its Special Buy range meaning once stock has been cleared it will not be coming back.

The retailer also launched a smaller version for £34.99.

You can find a similar version on Amazon or Dunelm if you can’t find one at Aldi.

Another hack for keeping your clothes dry is using a dehumidifier.

These devices can help remove dampness from your home and can prevent the growth of mould.

They can also be great for helping clothes dry quicker when placed near your airer.

This is because it can help suck the moisture of your clothes helping them dry at a faster pace.