SHOPPERS are rushing to snap up the £2.49 gadget at Wilko that could help dry clothes quicker.

It comes as the average UK family is forking out £1,834 a year on gas and electricity.

2

2

Advertisement

And many of us are turning to heated airers to get clothes dry whilst it’s cold and wet outside.

The average Brit will do roughly four loads of laundry per week or 208 washes per year, a study by Ariel found.

For those who haven’t done the maths, it adds up to a shocking 13,000 loads of laundry across an entire lifetime.

But luckily Wilko has a £2.49 gadget that can help ease the costs of this unbearable load.

The Wool Dryer Balls, sold in a pack of two, offer an eco-friendly and reusable solution that claims to save up to £100 annually on dryer costs.

Made from 100% wool, these dryer balls help reduce drying time by increasing the airflow in your tumble dryer.

They work by separating clothes inside the drum, allowing heat to circulate more effectively.

This means your laundry dries faster, with less static, and comes out softer—all without the need for chemical fabric softeners.

According to Wilko, the balls not only help clothes dry quicker but also help soften fabrics and reduce wrinkles, making ironing easier.

The Wool Dryer Balls can be found in-store or purchased online, with free click-and-collect options or home delivery starting at £4.99.

Other dryer balls have been praised by buyers on Amazon.

A happy customer elsewhere told how similar products helped cut down drying time by 45 minutes.

Using dryer balls could be a way to reduce the amount of time and money spent on drying clothes, especially in the colder months when tumble dryers are in high demand.

A mum-of-three previously shared her huge savings after trying out tumble dryer balls.

She said: “Not only could I save £106.08 a year by using dryer balls, but my clothes came out feeling softer than usual and with less creases so they were easier to iron.”

This small, inexpensive purchase can help to bring down energy usage without requiring any drastic lifestyle changes or compromises in laundry routines.

MORE SAVING TIPS

Experts like Martyn James point out that tumble dryers, along with other “wet appliances” like washing machines and dishwashers, are some of the biggest energy users in the home.

He said: “The big offenders are ‘wet appliances’ including washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers,” he says.

“Try to only use them for full loads, learn more about what that ‘eco mode’ does as that could save you energy and drop the heat as low as you can go.

“These machines have to quickly generate heat, so can result in them adding a quarter of the cost of your energy bill.

“‘You should also regularly clean out the lint drawer, which can help your machine run more efficiently.

Other cost-saving tips include lowering the temperature when washing clothes, as consumer experts at Which? found that washing at 20°C instead of 40°C could reduce running costs by up to 62%.

Reducing the number of loads you do can cut your usage and bill, and making sure your doing a full load each time is one way to do this.

Another way is to get a bargain dehumidifier from B&M to dry clothes which can shave up to £74 off a crucial household bill.

A MAJOR energy supplier is reopening a grants scheme which can pay hard-up households up to £2,000 in free cash.

The British Gas Energy Support Fund will begin accepting new applications from Monday, 4th November, providing grants to customers facing difficulties paying their bills.

1

Any British Gas or Scottish Gas energy customer who is struggling to pay their energy bill and has sought financial and energy advice is eligible to apply for support.

Successful applicants could receive a grant of up to £2,000 to help with outstanding debts – £500 more than what was available to households last winter.

To be considered for a grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• Reside in England, Scotland, or Wales
• Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the past 12 months
• Have either a credit or prepayment meter with an outstanding account debt

Proof of income will be required at the point of application.

This will be assessed alongside household outgoings to determine if you are in or at risk of fuel poverty.

Customers must also have to have been receiving help from a money advice or guidance agency within the last six months to be eligible.

This could include support from charities like Citizens Advice or StepChange.

To apply, you’ll need to visit britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.

The fund that reopens on Monday is strictly for British Gas customers only.

WHAT IF I’M NOT WITH BRITISH GAS?

Another fund offered by the same firm can help support customers at other suppliers.

The British Gas Energy Trust’s Individual and Families Fund has been accepting applications from those struggling with energy debt since September.

The Individual and Families Fund was first set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.

However, unlike other energy supplier grants, this scheme’s support is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers.

Energy customers could previously get up to £1,500 in help from the fund, but it has increased to £1,700 this winter to help an increasing number of households in debt.

However, not everyone will be eligible for a grant under the British Gas Energy Trust’s scheme.

There are certain criteria that you need to meet to be considered for the Individual and Families Fund, including:

• Pre-payment meter customers must have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
• Credit customers must have between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
• You live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account. The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
• You have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months

Customers with energy debts worth more than £1,700 will not be eligible for support through the fund.

Although British Gas Energy Trust welcomes applications from customers of all energy suppliers, it is recommended that customers from the following companies first seek assistance through their own hardship schemes:

• Ovo Energy
• E.ON Next
• EDF Energy
• Scottish Power
• Octopus Energy
• Utilita

If you are rejected by your own energy company’s hardship fund, apply to the British Gas Energy Trust’s Individual and Families Fund by visiting www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.

WHAT OTHER SUPPLIERS OFFER

Most energy suppliers have a discretionary grant scheme to help support their most vulnerable customers.

Grants vary by supplier and, of course, the exact amount you’ll get will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Here’s a full list of other energy suppliers offering grants.

EDF Energy

EDF’s Consumer Support Fund provides grants to support vulnerable customers struggling with energy debt.

Grants are given to help clear debt and to help fund the provision of essential white goods, such as fridges or cookers.

You can apply to the scheme at EDF’s Let’s Talk website by visiting www.forms.lets-talk.online/Login

But before you can apply for funding, you need to sought independent debt advice.

You will also need to provide your EDF account number, current debt balance and details of your household finances and vulnerability.

E.ON Next

Customers of E.ON Next can apply for cash grants to help with their energy costs.

E.ON doesn’t have established eligibility criteria, but the fund aims to help as many people as possible, and applications from individuals with the greatest needs will be prioritised. 

You must know your energy account number and provide a recent meter reading to complete your application.

As part of your application, you’ll also be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, such as proof of household income or DWP benefit payments.

Find out more, including how to apply, by visiting www.eonnextenergyfund.com.

Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy offers a range of support, including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.

It could also include loaning a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, which you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.

It also conducts home energy visits to discuss how households can reduce their usage and gives out free electric blankets.

Octopus is encouraging all customers to get in contact if they’re struggling with their bills.

Octo Assist fund is still open for applications, and customers have no deadline for applying.

Find out more by visiting www.octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist.

ScottishPower

ScottishPower has handed out more than £60m in support to customers experiencing difficulties in paying their energy bills, through its Hardship Fund.

You could qualify for help from the fund if you receive support from the following benefits:

• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
• Income support
• Housing benefit
• Universal Credit
• Tax credits
• Pension credit savings credit

Help could also be available if you have a low household income or if special circumstances, such as illness, have impacted your earnings.

To apply you’ll first need to sought advice from debt charity Step Change by calling 0800 138 1111.

You’ll then need to apply for funding through Scottish Power‘s scheme by visiting www.support.sigmaconnected.com/scottish-power-hardship-fund

If your application is successful, the fund can wipe all or part of your energy debt.

Utilita

Citizens Advice Plymouth operates the scheme, which also provides Utility Warehouse customers with budgeting advice and benefits assessments.

The hardship fund allows for debt write-offs worth between £1,000 and £2,000, depending on individual circumstances.

To find out more and how to apply, visit www.help.uw.co.uk/article/billing_and_payments/Payment-help/uw-hardship-fund.

How to get free debt help

Advertisement

There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free.

• Citizens Advice – 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales)
• StepChange – 0800138 1111
• National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
• Debt Advice Foundation – 0800 043 4050

You can also find information about Debt Management Plans (DMP) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) by visiting MoneyHelper.org.uk or Gov.UK.

Speak to one of these organisations – don’t be tempted to use a claims management firm.

They say they can write off lots of your debt in return for a large upfront fee.

But there are other options where you don’t need to pay.

IS it too soon to put the heating on? That’s the question on millions of people’s lips as the winter months approach and temperatures start to drop.

But the combination of a higher energy price cap from October 1, and the loss of the Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners means that more of us than ever will be struggling to heat our homes this winter.

1

The new price cap is set at £1,717 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit.

This is an increase of £149 from the cap that was in place between July and October.

Worse, the government has confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment (worth between £200 and £300 depending on how old you are) will no longer be universal.

Pensioners can still get it if they receive Pension Credit, but Age UK has warned that 2.5million people aged over 66 who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it and will be in serious trouble as a result.  

Against that backdrop, many people are desperately looking for ways to delay putting their heating on, or to minimise how much they use it.

Aydin Sigva, an expert in energy saving and insulation at Cavitech.uk, says that there are lots of gadgets that can help people keep their energy bills under control.

However, he cautions that the first thing that households need to do is make sure they have the right insulation in place.

He warns this is important because homes are a bit like a sieve with lots of places valuable heat can escape.

The loft, walls, floors, door and window frames, even keyholes will see heat you’ve paid for flying out into the street.

He says: “Cavity and loft insulation save a few hundred pounds a year each – loft insulation is usually cheaper so should be the first job you do.

“If you’re a tenant, you’ll need the landlord to do it or get permission to do it yourself but its only worthwhile if you’re staying long-term as it’ll take a few years to get your money back in savings.”

This is backed up by the Energy Savings Trust, who calculate that cavity wall insulation can save around £155 a year from your bills, while solid wall insulation saves around £210 a year.

Loft insulation saves the average household up to £135 a year, and you can even insulate your floor saving up to £40 a year.

However, these things aren’t cheap to do, for instance, insulating the loft costs £950 on average, while cavity wall installation can set you back a whopping £1,700.

Of course, you’ll make your money back in the long run through cheaper bills, and good insulation also protects you from cold draughts which can have you reaching for the thermostat controls.

MONEY-SAVING GADGET

Sigva also has a list of simple quick fixes that Brits can do themselves to save a few pounds.

He says: “Put a brush and flap over the letterbox, draught excluders around leaky doors and windows and even block unused keyholes with some tissue and tape.”

However, he also recommends a nifty gadget which costs around £89 and can help you reduce your bills by between 5% and 15% according to the Energy Savings Trust.

He says: “Consider an energy use monitor – a clever gadget that attaches to the meter and displays on a screen exactly what you’re using at any moment. 

“Discover what devices use more power and use them less. Turn off items on ‘standby’ and remind the kids to turn off lights and consoles when not in use!

“There’s no magic answer, but a few simple steps can save a lot of wasted money.”

You can pick up a monitor for as little as £12 from B&Q.

What energy bill help is available?

There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

Advertisement

If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

Advertisement

British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

Advertisement

The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.

These devices work by measuring the amount of energy your using on individual devices around the home.

They are placed between a socket and the plug of the device being measured.

A screen on the plug shows how much power the item is using, and they run on batteries so they don’t add more usage to your bill.

Each plug is different but it measures the energy use of the individual appliance you’ve plugged in.

With some you can enter the price you pay for energy and then the gadget works out the cost for you.

The cost per unit you pay depends on the tariff you’re on but you can usually find this information on your latest energy bill or online account.

For your chosen appliance, you can use the plug to check the cost of running it when it’s in use, or just on standby.

They are different to smart meters which can also help you track the cost of energy around the whole home.

Either device can you help you better understand what energy you’re using around the home, and then reduce it where you can saving money.

MORE WAYS TO SLASH HEATING BILLS

Sigva also recommends that households invest thermostatic radiator valves.

These are relatively cheap, but you will probably need a plumber to install them.

The valves can be set so that radiators only click on when the temperature drops to a chosen level, so you don’t waste money heating a house that’s already warm.

Rooms that you do not use very often such as a spare bedroom can be turned down very low, which will decrease your bills.

You can pick these handy gadgets up for just £9.99 each from Screwfix.

Another tip is a tube of mastic, which can be used to close up gaps around windows where the masonry has separated from the wood or plastic frame.

Sigva says: “Houses move a little in hot and cold weather, so gaps can open up allowing cold air and warm out.”

A tube of mastic costs just £6.69 from DIY.com.

He even says that ordinary silver foil can be put behind radiators to reflect a little more heat back into the room.

This radiator foil is just £7.51 for a roll from Screwfix.

Heat activated fans can be placed on wood burners and even certain types of gas fire to throw heat into the main part of the room. 

Also called stove fans, these can be picked up from the likes of B&Q for as little as £15.

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

WITH changeable weather and the cost of Christmas looming, October half-term can be tough to manage.

Keep the kids entertained for less with these awesome autumn ideas.

5

FIENDISH FUN: Create a monster! Get a roll of old wallpaper and cut off a piece as big as you or your child.

Lie down on the blank side and get someone to draw around you.

Cut out the outline, paint the “monster” and, once dry, decorate with whatever takes your fancy — tin foil for scales, painted screwed-up newspaper for warts etc.

Add teeth, tusks and claws cut from other paper.

TRAIL FINDERS: From parks to garden centres, there’s bound to be a free Halloween trail near you.

5

Kids will love the suspense of following the scary clues.

AUTUMN TREASURE: A good scavenger hunt adds fun to walks.

This is the perfect time to search for autumn treasures, from jagged fallen leaves to shiny conkers.

Download a free sheet of things to spot.

The Woodland Trust has a great autumn scavenger hunt at treetoolsforschools.org.uk.

FROCKTOBER: Make your own Halloween outfit.

5

Advertisement

Transform charity shop finds or old clothing into frightful fancies.

Spooky make-up, fake blood (or food colouring) and batty bits from your Halloween kit can give clothes a chilling new look.

MAKE A MEAL OF IT: Take advantage of the half-term meal deals, where kids can often eat free or for £1 when you buy an adult main course.

There are offers at cafes in Morrisons, Asda, Tesco and Dunelm, plus at Bill’s and Bella Italia.

Check their websites first.

CREEPY CRAFTS: Make some DIY decorations.

5

Ghostly paper chains look spooktacular, or use black paper to cut out a chain of witches or spiders.

YouTube and hobbycraft.co.uk have some great ideas.

FARMS FOR FREE: Find out the Halloween fun planned at your nearest city or working farm.

Many are low cost or free (though they welcome donations), including Swansea Community Farm, Bath City Farm, Heeley City Farm in Sheffield and Balsall Heath City Farm in Birmingham, plus others in London.

DINNER DATE: Host a “dinner party” for your children and their friends.

They’ll love playing at “grown-ups”.

Plan an interesting menu you can all cook together, then decorate the house and invite everyone to dress up.

TREE FUN: The forest floor is filled with brightly coloured fallen leaves, twigs, seeds and conkers you can take home to create a masterpiece.

5

Advertisement

Try leaf printing, leaf rubbing or make a leaf crown.

Search “autumn leaf craft” at woodlandtrust.org.uk.

ANIMAL MAGIC: Animal-mad kids will love the free My Pet Pals workshops at Pets At Home.

This half-term they have a fun Halloween theme.

They run every day from October 26 to November 3.

Visit petsathome.com to book and find out more.

MILLIONS are being locked out of cheaper prices at the supermarket and other retailers through no fault of their own.

Which? has found shoppers are being excluded from loyalty scheme pricing due to three major restrictions.

2

The vast majority of supermarket chains offer customers lower prices if they sign up to reward schemes.

Sainsbury’s has its Nectar Card, while Tesco shoppers can sign up to its Clubcard.

But Which? discovered customers are being locked out of cheaper deals across the major UK supermarkets and Boots and Superdrug.

It found shoppers are being shut out due to minimum age requirements, lack of UK residency or an address and not having an email address or app.

Researchers found that customers have to be 18 or over to join loyalty schemes at Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose but only 16 at Co-op and Morrisons.

Co-op and Sainsbury’s shoppers under 16 can get a junior membership or be added to a parent or guardian’s account to access loyalty scheme prices.

Shoppers only need to be 13 to access Boots and Superdrug’s schemes.

Which? also discovered big differences in retailer’s address requirements and whether or not customers need access to smartphones or a computer to sign up for loyalty schemes.

Harry Rose, Which? magazine editor, said: “Our research shows there are differences between supermarkets and retailers and their loyalty schemes, which mean some people could miss out on the lower prices offered because of factors such as minimum age requirements and needing an email address.

“All retailers should prioritise making their best deals accessible to all customers by implementing changes to their conditions for signing up.”

Which?’s findings come hot off the back of separate research from the consumer group in August showing customers not on loyalty schemes are having to pay up to 33% more on average.

It means due to the restrictions, several vulnerable groups such as young carers and the homeless are excluded from lower prices despite possibly struggling with their finances more.

For example, Which? said a 17-year-old single parent living independently would not get a discount on baby food at some supermarkets.

Meanwhile, a homeless person would have to pay more for a meal deal at other retailers.

Couples without smartphones shopping in Lidl wouldn’t be able to access its Lidl Plus scheme as it is only available on an app.

See our table below for each retailer’s loyalty scheme, age requirements, address requirements and whether they are digital-only.

2

Advertisement

Which? asked all the retailers included in its research to comment.

A Boots spokesperson highlighted that anyone aged 13 or above with a UK postal address can join its Advantage Card scheme.

Co-op flagged to Which? that shoppers can become members with permission from a parent or guardian.

Lidl said everything it does is designed to give households access to “good food at low prices” and those without a smart phone can get in-store promotions through its Pick of The Week offers.

A spokesperson for Nectar, Sainsbury’s loyalty scheme, said if a customer contacts the Nectar Helpline team they can manually register for a Nectar account without requiring an email address or mobile number.

A Superdrug spokesperson said delivery was only available to addresses within the UK and Republic of Ireland and its loyalty scheme reflected this.

It added that customers don’t need an address to become a member and can sign up in store or online using their name and either an email address, address or phone number.

A Tesco spokesperson said it was “free to sign up and join the 22million UK households who already have a Tesco Clubcard”.

A Waitrose spokesperson told Which? its “digital approach allows us to personalise offers and share benefits quickly, easily and securely”.

They added that its age and address requirements are in line with other retailers.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Driving strong value for customers remains our number one priority.

“Together with our Aldi and Lidl price match, our savers range, our vast range of low everyday prices and our More Card – we have thousands of products that not only offer outstanding value on brands and essential items our customers love – but also have the quality they’ve come to expect from us.”

In other Which? news, the consumer website ranked the best cheddar cheeses, with a supermarket own-brand pack winning.

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

MAKE a scary Halloween meal without freaking out your finances.

You can conjure up these three courses for little witches and wizards for just £2.62 per person.

12

And with ideas for leftover pumpkin as well as using up that pile of sweets after trick-or-treat fun, nothing will go to waste.

• Meal ideas from recipes.lidl.co.uk. Cost per serving based on proportion of ingredients used to make the dish.
• Prices correct at time of going to press.

Bonfire chilli graveyard

(Serves six)

Total cost: £8.10 Per person: £1.35

12

GRAB a tombstone tortilla to dig and discover what lies beneath this ghoulish graveyard.

We’ll give you a hint: There are layers of devilishly delicious Tex-Mex flavours.

YOU NEED:

• 2 red onions
• 2 red peppers
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 750g pack of 10% fat beef mince
• 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
• 250ml beef stock
• 2 tsp clear honey
• 2 tortillas
• 1 x 400g tin kidney beans
• 50g mature cheddar
• Handful of rocket spinach and watercress salad

METHOD: Finely slice the onions, peppers and garlic.

Heat the oil in a large casserole. Fry the onions and peppers for six to eight minutes, or until soft.

Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.

Stir in the spices for a bit of kick and cook for one to two minutes, before adding the mince.

Use a wooden spoon to break up the mince, then cook on a medium heat for four to five minutes, or until the mince has browned all over.

Add the tinned tomatoes, stock and honey and bring to a simmer.

Simmer gently for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium.

Cut out some Halloween shapes from the tortillas and place on a baking tray.

Grill for two to three minutes, until crispy, then set aside.

When the liquid of the chilli has reduced to a sauce-like consistency, add the kidney beans and cook for ten minutes.

Remove from the heat and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

Place under the grill for six to eight minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

To serve, stick the tortilla shapes in the top of the chilli and cover the top with some watercress and spinach leaves.

Warm Pumpkin Blondies

(Makes nine)

Total cost: £5.49 Per person: 61p

12

NOT sure what to do with leftover pumpkin after you’ve finished your Halloween carving?

Try this tasty spin on brownies, made with sweet white chocolate and pecan nuts. You can ­substitute the pumpkin for squash, if you prefer.

YOU NEED:

• 275g pumpkin flesh, cubed
• 175g butter softened, plus extra for greasing
• 2cm ginger, peeled and grated
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 200g light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 225g plain flour
• 125g white chocolate, roughly chopped
• 100g pecan nuts, roughly chopped

To serve:

• White chocolate, finely chopped
• Pecan nuts, finely chopped
• Vanilla ice cream

METHOD: Place the pumpkin flesh in a saucepan and cover with boiling water from the kettle.

Boil for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.

Drain, return to the pan and mash, then set aside and allow to cool.

Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 5.

Grease and line a 20cm x 20cm square shallow cake tin.

In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, ginger, vanilla and sugar until creamy.

Add the egg and beat well. Stir through the mashed pumpkin.

Sift over the flour and fold into the mixture using a wooden spoon.

Fold in the white chocolate and pecans.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until an inserted cocktail stick comes out clean.

Cool in the tin for ten minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack for a further 15 minutes.

If using for dessert, cut into nine squares and decorate with the finely chopped white chocolate and pecans.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Scary veggies and guacamole

(Serves eight)

Total cost: £5.28 Per person: 66p

12

Advertisement

A DEAD-GOOD veggie platter with cucumber, peppers, ­broccoli and carrots.

Dip into some spooky guacamole for an extra hit of flavour.

YOU NEED:

• 1 large cucumber (300g)
• 200g baby peppers
• 160g long, thin carrots
• 2 black olives
• 100g low-fat Greek yoghurt
• 200g Tenderstem broccoli

For the guacamole:

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1-2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp minced red onion
• ½ tsp minced garlic (optional)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

METHOD: First make the guacamole. Peel the avocados and carefully remove the stones from the inner flesh.

Mash the inner flesh with a fork then mix in the lime juice, minced red onion and garlic (if using).

Season to taste.

For the spooky veggies, slice the cucumber into 1cm pieces.

On each cucumber piece, slice 5mm off the left and right side at an angle, tapering towards the bottom to make a skull shape.

Use a metal straw to poke two eye holes and use a chopstick to poke out the nose and mouth.

Set aside one red pepper for the carrot fingernails. Half and deseed your remaining peppers.

Carefully carve out the eyes, nose and mouth with a paring knife.

Peel the carrots and cut three thin grooves into the middle of each using a paring knife – these will be your fingers.

Carve the fingernails from the red pepper you have set aside and place on the thinnest end of your carrots.

Now for your spider, which will sit on top of your guacamole.

Cut one black olive in half lengthwise and use as the body.

Slice the other half, together with your second olive, to make eight thin legs.

Spoon the guacamole into a shallow bowl and place the yoghurt into a squeeze bottle or piping bag and draw a web on top of it.

Carefully place the olive spider in the web.

Arrange your veggies, including the Tenderstem broccoli, around your spooky guacamole bowl and enjoy.

USE UP ANY LEFTOVER PUMPKIN

STIR up some magic with these tasty dishes made from leftover pumpkin flesh.

The full instructions can be found at recipes.lidl.co.uk.

ROASTED PUMPKIN AND PESTO SPOOKGETTI

12

Roast the chopped pumpkin flesh and serve with fried bacon lardons and pesto on pasta.

ROAST PUMPKIN RISOTTO

12

Drizzle the pumpkin with olive oil, roast and stir into a risotto.

PUMPKIN POTION SOUP

12

Advertisement

Whizz roasted pumpkin flesh into a warming soup with onion, garlic and spices.

NUTTY PUMPKIN HOUMOUS WITH SPICED TORTILLA DIP

12

Make a delicious pumpkin dip by mixing the roasted flesh with tinned chickpeas, garlic and peanut butter.

Serve with tortillas brushed with oil and sprinkled with smoked paprika.

USE UP ANY LEFTOVER SWEETIES

PROLONG the Halloween fun by using up Trick Or Treat sweets and chocolate.

CRUNCH TIME

12

Advertisement

USE up chocolate that has already been opened by melting it down and mixing with cereal for delicious chocolate or cornflake crispy cakes.

Decorate them with a sprinkling of mini ­marshmallows.

CHUNKS OF FUN

12

Advertisement

CHOP chocolate bars, such as Twix, Mars and ­KitKats, into smaller pieces and use in brownies and blondies.

DEVILISH DECORATION

12

USE spooky sweets to decorate fairy cakes, giving the sugary treats a darker side.

HOME SWEET HOME

12

SNAFFLE sweets away and use them to decorate a Christmas gingerbread house in a few weeks’ time.