Money
Major energy firm to give hard-up households up to £2,000 off bills this winter – you can apply within days
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.
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 Giving is Utilita’s charity partner and offers grants to vulnerable customers to help clear energy debt. The fund provides grants to wipe or reduce energy debts.
However, it’s only available to customers on legacy credit meter.
To find out more and how to apply, visit www.utilitagiving.org/helping-hand-fund.
Utility Warehouse offers financial assistance to customers struggling with their bills. 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.
There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free.
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.
Utilita
Utility Warehouse
How to get free debt help
Money
Full list of supermarket vape rules explained as single-use e-cigs set to be banned
SINGLE use vape are set to be banned across the UK – but some supermarkets already don’t stock the e-cigs.
New laws will prohibit the sale of the tobacco products from June 1, 2025, to protect kids’ health.
The Labour Government’s crackdown on single use vapes plans to put a stop on plastic littering after five million were thrown away in 2023.
Retailers will still be able to sell refillable vapes as doctors use them to help people quit smoking.
However, despite the Government’s latest intervention, some supermarkets already don’t sell certain vapes due to company policy. Some still do for now though.
A number of supermarkets banned Elf Bar 600s last year when they were found to contain 50% more nicotine than the legal limit.
Below we explain the rules on selling vapes and which supermarkets have already removed the devices from shelves.
Aldi
Aldi does not sell refillable or disposable vapes in its more than 1,020 stores across the UK.
The retailer does not sell tobacco either.
Waitrose
Waitrose has never sold single-use e-cigs although it does currently stock refillable vapes.
A spokesperson for Waitrose said: “We absolutely support the Government’s ban.
“We look forward to finally seeing collective action to help protect young people and prevent unnecessary and dangerous waste going to landfill.”
M&S
M&S does not sell either single-use or refillable vapes in any of its branches.
The posh retailer also does not sell any form of tobacco.
Lidl
Lidl does not sell any form of vape in its branches, be it refillable or single-use.
The German discounter also does not sell tobacco.
Co-op
Co-op currently sells a variety of disposable vapes on its website from a range of brands including Vuse, Cirro and Elfbar.
It is understood it has a policy in place which restricts the sale of vape products and flavours that appeal to younger shoppers and has a challenge 25 policy in place as well.
This implores staff to ask anyone they think looks under 25 for ID when buying an age-restricted product.
The retailer declined to comment on whether it would implement a ban on any vapes ahead of the legal requirement from next June.
Tesco
Tesco also sells a variety of vapes on its website across a range of brands from Lost Mary to SKE.
The retailer pointed The Sun toward the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) response on whether it will be banning vapes ahead of next June.
The BRC said: “Retailers will continue to comply with requirements surrounding the sale and disposal of vapes.
“We ask that the Government ensures that retailers are given sufficient information to prepare for the upcoming ban on disposable vapes in the UK.”
What are the rules for selling vapes?
In the UK, it is illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18.
Laws also cover the ingredients, strength of nicotine and capacity of tanks:
- The maximum nicotine strength should 20mg/ml
- E-liquid bottles should be no larger than 10ml
- Vape tanks have a capacity of no more than 2ml
- Products containing nicotine must carry health warnings
- There must be a leak-proof refilling mechanism
- Manufacturers must provide testing and toxicological data
- Advertising must comply with restrictions
How to make sure you’re buying legal vapes
- Check for authenticity
- Look for well-known brands
- Be wary of unusually low prices
- Ask the retailer to provide proof of Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) compliance
- Stay informed with the latest regulations and safety guidelines
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s sells TEREA, Edge and blu vapes on its website.
The retailer also pointed The Sun toward’s the BRC’s response when asked whether it would be banning vapes in the immediate future.
Morrisons
Morrisons stocks a range of vapes from Blu Bar, Vuse, Elf Bar and Ivg.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said it had no bans in place on the sale of vapes and didn’t have any plans to bring any in in the immediate future.
Asda
Asda shoppers can get Blu bar, 88Vape and Lost Mary vapes on the retailer’s website.
The supermarket did not respond to a request for comment when asked by The Sun if it has plans to bring in bans on any vapes in the immediate future.
Iceland
Iceland also has a host of vapes on its website on sale. Shoppers can pick up 88Vapes, Lost Mary’s and Zillion brands.
The retailer did not respond to a request for comment by The Sun on whether it would ban the e-cigs earlier.
Why does the Government want to ban vapes?
A disposable vape sells for £3-£10 depending on the brand, with the total e-cig industry worth an estimated £2.8billion in Britain.
But more than 40 tonnes of lithium, used in the batteries to power the vapes, was thrown out in the UK in 2022.
Fears have also been raised by ministers that youngsters are illegally buying and getting hooked on disposables.
Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds used a vape last year.
“We know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today.
“Banning them will keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”
Environment Minister Mary Creagh added: “Single-use vapes waste precious resources and blight our towns, parks and cities.
“That is why we will be banning single-use vapes as we take action to end our throwaway culture.”
Last year, a number of supermarkets banned the sale of Elf Bar 600 disposable vapes over health fears.
A report by the Daily Mail found they contained between 3ml and 3.2ml of nicotine e-liquid, with the legal limit 2ml.
An Elf Bar spokesperson told the Daily Mail that some batches of the e-cigs had been “inadvertently” overfilled in the UK.
The Government’s latest crackdown on single-use vapes comes as a part of a wider smoking ban that will stop anyone born after January 2009 allowed to legally buy cigarettes.
What do Sun staff think of the ban?
TWO Sun writers said whether they’re in favour or not of next year’s single-use vape ban.
Yes, says Grace Macaskill, Sun writer and mother-of-two.
THE minute pupils leave my son’s school at 3.30pm many reach into pockets for a vape.
They are gasping for a hit of nicotine after being targeted by firms marketing flavours such as bubblegum, grape and candy.
Many headteachers here in East Yorkshire have banned toilet time in lessons to stop kids sneaking off for a toke.
One has even gated off the loos.
Statistics show 20 per cent of kids tried a vape last year, up from 14 per cent in 2020.
They might not be as dangerous as cigarettes but still contain nicotine and toxins.
A ban on disposables is good for parents’ peace of mind.
The habit becomes more costly and out of reach of most kids’ pocket money.
Now let’s raise the price of refillables.
No, says Alex Bellotti, Sun writer and vaper.
This ban is a disastrous and typically short-sighted move from the nanny state.
When my smoking spiralled out of control in lockdown, disposable vapes were a godsend.
They don’t leave that shameful stench of tobacco clinging to your clothes, or even send out plumes the size of steam engines like regular e-cigs.
In 2011, there were 77.1million cigarettes a day smoked in England.
This year it is 45.5million.
Spoiler alert . . . it’s not down to nicotine gum.
My main gripe with the ban is that no casual vaper wants to fiddle with clunky e-cigs.
Instead, they’ll just reach for the next most convenient product: a pack of 20 fags.
Isn’t that what we should be phasing out?
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
Money
Lottery ‘glitch’ saw me miss £500,000 jackpot after system ‘lagged’… it took 24 long hours for the penny to drop
A LUCKY lottery winner nearly missed that he had scooped a £500,000 jackpot after he “assumed” there was a lag on the system.
A computer maintenance engineer is finally celebrating his £500,000 lottery win a year after having surgery for cancer.
The win comes after a painful 24 hours of waiting as John Lingard, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, said he initially saw no increase on his bank account’s available funds.
“I assumed there must be a lag or something on the system, so went to work and didn’t give it another thought,” he said.
“Even when I logged on later that day to buy my EuroMillions ticket, I didn’t look more deeply into the message that popped up congratulating me on a win.
“It was only 24 hours later that I finally read my messages and the penny started to drop, although not fully, because at first glance I thought it was £500.10.
READ MORE NATIONAL LOTTERY
“I was just on my way out the door, heading to the supermarket, but when I worked out that it was actually £500,000 plus £10 on another line, I decided driving wasn’t a good idea so walked to the local shop,” he added.
John bought a Lucky Dip ticket for the September 25 draw via the National Lottery app, and his winning numbers were 13, 15, 18, 30 and 33 with Thunderball number 7.
He said he “felt like I was on cloud nine” when he realised he had won £500,000 in the Thunderball draw.
The engineer’s lotto success follows a nasty cancer diagnosis which saw him have one of his kidneys removed to stop the spread of the disease.
He has since been given the all clear.
The 66-year-old plans on spending some of his winnings with friends in Tenerife – a place he visited a year ago to find some peace and calm after he was first diagnosed.
“It’s crazy to think that at the start of the year I would come to the beach to find inner peace in all the turmoil of the treatment and my worries about the future,” he said.
He added: “I couldn’t have dreamt that less than 12 months later I would be here celebrating a National Lottery win!”
His trip will be the first week of unpaid leave for the engineer since he started work at 16.
“I visit Tenerife three or four times a year, but when I left in September I told friends I probably couldn’t make it back before early 2025,” he said.
“Now, thanks to my Thunderball luck, I can afford to take a week off – unpaid – and head back for a little winter sun, and to celebrate with my friends over there,” he continued.
The engineer also said he might do a little house-hunting while on the island to have a “bolthole for the future” and so that he can share some of his fortune with those closest to him.
John added that he has no plans to retires but is keen to spend his money doing fun things with friends.
But first it will take some time adjusting to his new fortune.
He said: “I started playing when the National Lottery first began 30 years ago and, while all along I’ve believed that one day I would win big, now it’s happened it’s taken a bit of getting used to!”
“And having been through such a challenging time with my cancer diagnosis and treatment, I want to be sure I make the most of every moment, whether that’s work, rest or play.”
How to enter the National lottery?
For just £2 you can enter the National lottery and be in with the chance of winning up to £10 million.
- Pick 6 numbers from 1-59 or go with a LuckyDip for randomly selected numbers.
- You can play up to 7 lines of numbers on each play slip and buy up to 10 slips at a time.
- Choose to play on Wednesday or Saturday – or both, and then the number of weeks you’d like to play.
- Follow the link here to play.
Money
The £2.49 Wilko buy that will slash energy bills and dry clothes quicker
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.
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.
How to save on energy bills
If you don’t have a smart meter and haven’t sent your supplier recent meter readings – it’s worth submitting one now.
An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage to bill you accurately.
There are several cheap and easy ways to heat your home and cut down your electricity costs.
Every degree you increase the temperature of your thermostat is estimated to hike your heating bill by about 10% – so get the balance right.
The Energy Saving Trust recommends that your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C.
You can also turn your boiler’s flow temperature down as well as any thermostatic radiator valves in some rooms – you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but it’s the first place where heat will escape.
If there’s a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.
Prices for draught excludes start from a fiver in most stores but a thick blanket rolled up next to a problematic door will work just as well.
Seal up any draughty windows with easy-to-use draught excluders, prices for them start at £1.99 and they could save up to £70 on your energy bills.
Loft insulation is also very important as it can stop heat escaping, therefore slashing your heating bill.
You can buy insulation from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q and Wickes.
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.
Save money on your laundry and reduce bills
Here are some more ways to save money on your laundry and reduce bills
If you’re shopping for a new machine, consumer group Which? says choosing a more efficient washing machine could save up to £55 a year.
It might cost more upfront but you will spend less over the lifetime of the product.
An extra washing machine spin before you tumble dry your load could shorten the time you have the dryer on.
Tumble dryers use far more energy, so reducing this cost can add up, and of course in better weather avoid it altogether if you can hang it out to air dry.
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.
The Good Housekeeping Institute reckons you should wash jeans, jumpers and towels after every three uses. But if they look and smell OK, hold off for the sake of the planet — and your wallet.
Money
Energy saving gadgets that cost as little as £7 that can delay turning the heating on this winter
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.
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.
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.
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).
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
Money
9 autumn crafting ideas to keep your children busy during half term
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Money
Millions of shoppers locked out of cheaper prices at major supermarkets – are you paying 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.
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.
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.
What is loyalty pricing?
You may have heard of loyalty pricing, but do you know what it is?
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons are three supermarkets that offer customers signed up to their loyalty schemes exclusive discounts – known as loyalty pricing.
All three retailer’s schemes, Nectar Card, Clubcard and More Card, are free to sign up to as well.
The obvious advantage to loyalty pricing is that you can save potentially hundreds of pounds a year on your shopping, all without spending a penny.
But different supermarkets offer exclusive discounts on different products, so do some research before doing your shopping.
Either way, be wary of supermarkets artificially inflating prices to make it seem like you’re getting a better deal than you are.
A previous investigation by consumer group Which? found Sainsbury’s and Tesco have increased the price of everyday goods then slapped loyalty prices on them thinking customers wouldn’t notice.
Either way, it’s worth shopping around though.
Supermarkets change their prices all the time, sometimes multiple times daily, so it’s worth researching to ensure you’re getting the best price on an item.
You can use websites like Trolley to see how the major supermarket’s compare in terms of price on any number of goods.
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
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