THESE are the key dates supermarket shoppers need to know about so they can get their Christmas bonus – and how you can pocket a free £25 cash boost.

The festive period is one of the most expensive times for families, as they stock up on food, drink, presents and decorations.

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Many households will fork out hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, to celebrate Christmas.

In fact, research by comparison site MoneySuperMarket found that the average cost of Christmas rose to £1,811.70 per household last year.

Given that’s more than 80% of the average monthly income, it’s no surprise that families are looking for ways to spread the cost of festivities and stretch their money as far as possible.

Major supermarkets have responded by creating Christmas clubs, which allow you to save up each month, typically in return for a bonus in terms of points, vouchers, or cash to spend.

However, there are risks with these schemes.

First, money held with a supermarket is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which means you won’t get automatic compensation and protection if the company goes bust.

The other thing to consider is that despite the bonuses involved, most supermarket saver schemes have a low rates of return, typically less than you’d get if you put the money into a savings account instead.

However, thanks to a clever hack you can get the best of both worlds. 

Most of these accounts have a final date that you need to have saved money by in order to get the rewards.

If you put money aside throughout the year into the highest easy-access interest-paying account you can find, and then transfer it to your supermarket of choice right before the cut off, you get the interest and the supermarket bonus.

This also minimises other risks such as losing your saver scheme card, or not being able to get money back out of the savings schemes if you need it for something else.

We’ve rounded up all the supermarket schemes that are available, explaining what bonuses are on offer, and how to get them.

Asda – earn up to £15

The Asda Christmas saver card rewards you with bonus cash for any money you save before November 10.

You need to have saved £30 or more on your card by 5pm on Sunday, November 10 to qualify.

The bonus is then added to the card by 9am on Monday, November 11. 

The more you save, the bigger the bonus. The max you can earn is £15, but you need to have at least £280 stashed away to get that.

If you save exactly £280, the return rate works out at 5.36%, which is competitive with many savings accounts.

But, if you have £78 saved and earn a bonus of just £1, then your rate of return is just 1.28% and can be easily beaten elsewhere.

However, you can transfer in all your savings just before the deadline to add the bonus onto interest you’ve earned elsewhere. 

You can spend the balance on your savings card at Asda either in store or online, and at George.com.

To join the scheme, you simply need to order a card online or pick one up in store.

There’s no limit to the number of Christmas Savings Cards you can have, too, meaning you can earn multiple bonuses.

Make sure you register and add your Christmas Savings Card to your account.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see a ‘top-up’ option next to your card.

Follow the instructions on screen. You can do a one-off top up or set up a regular payment.

You can also top up your card in-store at any checkout (including Self-Scan and Scan & Go) or at a customer service desk. You’ll need to have either your savings card, key fob, or digital eGift card.

As long as you’ve registered your card online, if it’s lost or stolen you can log in into your account to cancel it.

Once you’ve done this, the card will be locked and unusable. Asda will replace the card either with a digital version that’s available immediately or through the post which can take 7-10 days.

The remaining balance you had left on the card when you reported it will be applied to your replacement card.

However, Asda says it can’t replace balances if the card wasn’t registered online.

Iceland – earn £1 for every £20

Iceland’s “Bonus Pounds” scheme isn’t technically a Christmas saver – but you could use it as one.

The supermarket will give you a £1 bonus for every £20 you top-up, which works out as a 5% return. 

There’s no limit to the amount you can save and spend on the card throughout a year, but the most you can have loaded at any one time is £1,000 including bonuses.

If you managed to save £20 a week, you’d have £52 in free cash over the course of 12 months.

If you’re topping up whilst at the shop, just let the cashier know how much you want to add and they will load it to your card.

To do it online, sign in to your account on the Iceland Bonus Card app. Go to ‘My Card’ and select ‘Top Up’. You can then top up any amount with your preferred payment method.

You can sign up for a Digital Bonus Card online at iceland.co.uk/bonuscard, or pick up a physical card in an Iceland store and register it online or through the Bonus Card app. 

Iceland does warn that it reserves the right to withdraw, decline, cancel or issue a new card at any time and without notice. 

You can cancel your Bonus Card at any time, but any remaining balance will be lost, so you need to make sure you spend any savings first.

If you don’t use the card for 24 months, it will expire, and you will lose any money you have saved.

Iceland adds that it is not liable for any bonuses that are not spent before expiry, nor for any bonus amounts which have failed to load onto the card due to a technical or user error, nor for any bonus amounts which are not used due to lost or stolen cards. 

Savings can only be used to purchase products in participating Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores or online at the Iceland website.

They cannot be redeemed in a franchise store or at The Range.

Morrisons – earn up to £6

The Morrisons Christmas saver scheme pays you a bonus for any money you save. To get the extra cash, you need to have the savings in your account on October 31.

The more you have saved, the higher the reward amount – and the rate of return improves too. For instance, you get £1 if you have £49 saved, which works out as a 2% increase. But if you save £109, you get £6, which works out at 3%.

The rate of return is lower than you’ll get in many savings accounts, so it makes sense to save elsewhere and transfer the cash in before the deadline to get the rewards.

The different reward levels are:

• £49 = £1 total bonus
• £97 = £3 total bonus
• £149 = £4 total bonus
• £197 = £6 total bonus

You can continue to save after reaching £197 however you will not receive any further bonus cash from Morrisons.

The cut-off point to buy stamps is October 31. If you buy Christmas Saver stamps after this point, they will go towards your Christmas 2025 balance.

The total saved and bonus added is then converted into a voucher that you can use to shop use in-store or online. 

You have to select on your My Morrisons account which you want, but it’s worth knowing that if you select in-store you have to collect the vouchers yourself.

You also can’t get change from a voucher. So, if you have a £100 voucher you need to spend £100 or more in a single transaction at the till.

If your card is stolen, you simply login to your Morrisons More account and select ‘Replace / Cancel card’ from the main page, then click ‘Block & Report as Lost / Stolen’.

You can then click ‘Add / Request card’ to have a replacement sent to your home.

Doing this means the lost or stolen card becomes invalid and can’t be used, and all your More Points and Christmas Saver stamps will be transferred to your new card.

You can opt out of Christmas Savers any time before the cut-off date of October 31.

If you choose to opt-out and have Christmas Saver stamps in your account, these will be transferred into your Morrisons More account as More Points. 

Christmas Saver stamps are available from all Morrisons stores (excluding Morrisons Daily).

To buy, ask the cashier for the amount you want to purchase and scan your Morrisons More card to link the stamps to your account.

Sainsbury’s – earn up to £25

Sainsbury’s pays its Christmas Club members a 5% bonus on any savings made up until 23:59 on November 1^st.

You get £2.50 for each £50 you save, however, the maximum bonus you can be paid in a year is £25. 

That means if you put more than £500 on the card, your rate of return gets significantly less competitive. However, you can load any amount from £1 to £1,975.

The Sainsbury’s Christmas Club card can be activated and reloaded at a Sainsbury’s in-store checkout and self-service till only – it cannot be activated or reloaded at an Argos till.

But the money can then be used at Sainsbury’s in-store, Argos in-store, Sainsburys.co.uk and Argos.co.uk.

The full list of bonus levels are:

• £0.00 – £49.99 – £0 bonus
• £50 – £99.99 – £2.50 bonus
• £100 – £149.99 – £5 bonus
• £150 – £199.99 – £7.50 bonus
• £200 – £249.99 – £10 bonus
• £250 – £299.99 – £12.50 bonus
• £300 – £349.99 – £15 bonus
• £350 – £399.99 – £17.50 bonus
• £400 – £449.99 – £20 bonus
• £450-£499.99 – £22.50 bonus
• £500 and over – £25 bonus

To redeem your savings, present your Christmas Club Card at the checkout.

If the entire balance of a Christmas Club Card is not spent in one transaction, the remaining balance will remain available on the card for future use. The card balance will be printed on the till receipt.

If you’re shopping online, at the checkout page, under ‘Payment section’, select ‘Payment Card’.

Click “add a new payment method” and enter the 16-digit card number on the back of the card starting with 5339. You also need to add the expiry date, which is on the front of the card.

When redeeming in Argos there are no excluded items. When redeeming in Sainsbury’s the following items are excluded:

• Branded Gift Cards
• All lottery related products
• PayPoint products and services
• Stage 1 Infant Formula milk
• Tobacco and related products
• Postage stamps
• All in store concessions
• Petrol and Diesel
• Mobile phone top ups
• Travel Money

The Christmas Club card is available in most Sainsbury’s supermarkets. It must be activated before use, which can be done at the till or at self-checkout, and at least £1 must be added to activate the card.

The card has an expiry date printed at the front of the card – any remaining balance will be deducted on the expiry date, so you must spend the full card value before then.

Be aware that Sainsbury’s warns the card cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.

Tesco – earn up to £12

Tesco’s Clubcard Christmas Saver lets customers earn a bonus worth up to £12 for their savings.

However, this scheme ended on October 17.

To get the full amount, you needed to have saved £200, which works out as return of 6%. The maximum you could save is £360, but the rate of return will be lower.

The full list of reward levels were:

• Top up your savings over £25 and get a £1.50 bonus voucher 
• Top up your savings over £50 and get a £3 bonus voucher
• Top up your savings over £100 and get a £6 bonus voucher 
• Top up your savings over £200 and get a £12 bonus voucher 

In November, Tesco sends customers vouchers for the value of what they save – including any bonuses, which they can spend over the Christmas period.

You can spend your Clubcard, top-up and bonus vouchers in-store, online and in the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app.

You can also spend them on fuel at a Tesco petrol filling station or Esso sites with a Tesco Express.

To join the scheme, you need to download or open the Tesco app, or sign into tesco.com/clubcard.

In the ‘Clubcard account’ menu, click ‘Christmas savers’. Then, find the top-up and bonus section. Select ‘Top up now’ to add to your savings.

Clubcard vouchers and top-up vouchers are valid for 2 years, and bonus vouchers are valid for three months.

Tesco says that Clubcard Christmas Savers top-up money is held in a separate bank account until vouchers are sent.

This account is managed by trustees, one of which is a professional trustee company, independent of Tesco. 

You can opt out of Clubcard Christmas Savers and change to a different voucher scheme.

If you opted out of the scheme before 11.59pm on October 17, 2024, your top-up value will be sent to you on a money card within the first two weeks of November 2024 and you won’t receive any bonus.

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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A MAJOR change to Universal Credit, set to be unveiled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, will provide more than one million households with a £420 pay rise.

Rachel Reeves is set to lower the cap on the maximum level of deductions that can be taken from a claimant’s benefit payments.

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can deduct money from a Universal Credit claimant’s allowance to help them make debt repayments.

These deductions can cover a range of debts, including benefit advances, historical overpayments of child tax credits, rent and council tax arrears, as well as outstanding water and utility bills.

The amounts are subtracted from a claimant’s Universal Credit standard allowance each month until the debt is fully repaid.

Currently, the DWP and third parties can typically deduct up to 25% of a claimant’s standard allowance to manage their debt repayments.

However, Rachel Reeves is expected to reduce this cap to 15% when she delivers her Autumn Statment on Wednesday, The Guardian reports.

A Whitehall source said: “It’s a downpayment on poverty reduction.

“It is unacceptable that people are in this kind of deep poverty, and this is a small victory for people in deep poverty.”

The measure, dubbed the Fair Repayment Rate, is expected to come into force next April.

The change is projected to benefit 1.2 million households, including 700,000 families with children, boosting their incomes by up to £420 a year.

However, some Universal Credit claimants still have more than 25% of their standard allowance taken off if they pay what’s known as a “last resort deduction”.

Whether the new cap will apply to those with such deductions remains unclear.

The DWP has been contacted for comment.

TYPES OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT DEDUCTIONS

There are a number of reasons why the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will deduct money from your Universal Credit allowance to help pay off any debts.

Conor Lawlor, benefits expert at Turn2us, says: “These debts can accrue in several ways, including for Universal Credit and other benefit overpayments (even if the overpayment was made in error by DWP), benefit advances and recovering hardship payments.

“The DWP can also deduct on behalf of third parties if a claimant is in debt to them, including for rent and service charge arrears, council tax arrears, court fines, child maintenance, and for utilities like electricity, gas and water.”

However, it’s important to note that not every deduction is compulsory, and some are voluntary.

Here are the six main forms of deductions you could be affected by…

1. ADVANCE PAYMENTS

One of the most common reasons for a Universal Credit deduction is because a claimant applied for advance payments.

When you make a new claim for Universal Credit, you will normally receive your first payment seven days after the end of your first assessment period (four weeks) – this is known as the “five-week wait”.

You can apply for an advance payment of your Universal Credit if you are in financial hardship while you wait for your first payment, for example, if you can’t afford to pay your rent or buy food.

However, as this is a loan, you will be expected to pay it back.

The first deduction is made on the day you get your first payment.

You must usually pay back the advance within:

• 24 months if you apply for the advance if you’ve made a new claim for Universal Credit
• Six months if you apply for the advance because of a change of circumstances

2. BUDGETING ADVANCE

The budgeting advance should not be confused with an advance payment.

Instead, this is an interest-free loan that can be used to cover certain expenses like household furniture, equipment, and clothing.

What you get will depend on how much you need.

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

• £348 if you’re single
• £464 if you’re part of a couple
• £812 if you have children

The budgeting loan repayments will be taken automatically from your benefits.

The amount you repay is based on your income.

A budgeting advance should normally be repaid within one year, but this is extendable to 18 months in exceptional circumstances.

3. UNIVERSAL CREDIT OVERPAYMENTS

If you’ve been paid too much Universal Credit you’ll accure an overpayment.

To learn more about an overpayment, sign into your online Universal Credit account, go to your journal, and look for a message about overpayments.

If money is being deducted from your Universal Credit to pay back the overpayment, the amount deducted depends on your circumstances.   

If you are receiving Universal Credit and have no earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 15% of your standard allowance. 

If you are receiving Universal Credit and have some earned income, the maximum amount that can be deducted from your Universal Credit for overpayments is 25% of your standard allowance.

4. TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENTS

If you are getting tax credits and you claim Universal Credit, HMRC will be told to stop your tax credits.

However, if you receive tax credits after you have made your claim to Universal Credit this could result in you being paid too much tax credits. 

Universal Credit will take action to get this money back as well as any other tax credit over-payments you have.

HMRC will send you a letter called “Your Tax Credits over-payments (TC1131)”.

This will tell you about any tax credit repayments that will be taken out of your Universal Credit payments.

5. FRAUD AND SANCTIONS

If you deliberately do not provide details about a change in your circumstances that could affect your Universal Credit payments or you give false information, this is fraud. 

A fraud penalty or sanction will reduce your Universal Credit standard allowance.

This can be up to 100% of your standard allowance if you are single, or up to 50% for each person in a joint claim.

If a fraud penalty or sanction is being taken from your Universal Credit payments, no other repayment or deduction will be taken, except for last-resort deductions. 

6. THIRD-PARTY DEDUCTIONS

A third-party deduction is an amount that is taken from your Universal Credit payments and paid direct to the person or organisation you owe money to, such as your landlord or your gas or electricity supplier (Fuel Direct).

Third-party deductions can also be taken, without your permission, for things like:

• Housing costs (for example, rent arrears for your current address)
• Unpaid rates
• Child maintenance

Only three third-party deductions can be taken at any one time.

Universal Credit will send you a message in your online journal when a third-party deduction starts.

Third-party deductions are fixed at 5% of your Universal Credit standard allowance for each third party. 

However, for rent, deductions are fixed between 10% and 20%.

Unlike the other non-voluntary deductions listed above, claimants can initiate deductions for certain bills to help better manage their costs.

For example, you can contact your energy supplier to set up deductions for your ongoing bills through the Fuel Direct scheme.

How to get free debt help

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.

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

KEEP your home mould-free with a £2.99 hack.

Condensation on its own can be harmless but left untreated can lead to the growth of mould which can lead to asthma attacks, skin rashes, fever and in severe cases can cause serious illness or death.

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Condensation can also cause thousands in damage to your home, it can warp your fixtures and fittings, destroy your window seals and even cause structural damage.

Whilst condensation is normal, it’s often first to appear in bedrooms.

Bedroom expert Adeel ul-Haq from Bunk Beds explains why this happens and how you can keep mould out of all of the rooms in your home.

Adeel said: “As the temperature drops in the colder months it creates a perfect environment for condensation.  

“As we sleep we create humidity through breathing and sweating, this warm air then circulates until it comes into contact with a cooler surface such as  a window, this allows condensation to form.

“The longer the condensation is present the greater the chance that mould can form.  

“Mould spores are all around us but can grow quickly when they find a damp surface.

“Mould can start to grow within 24 hours of finding a damp surface, so you must remove the condensation as soon as possible.”

You can’t completely prevent moisture from forming in your home, but it’s important to remove it as soon as you notice it.

While that’s not always practical, the following hack can help speed up the process.

The expert added: “Window vacuums are excellent for removing moisture from your surfaces which prevents the build-up of mould.

“However, they can be expensive and during this time when we are all trying to keep costs down it may not be an affordable option.

“If you can’t afford a window vacuum the good news is that you can achieve the same results with a £2.99 squeegee and an old towel.  

“All you need to do is wipe down the window with your squeegee getting all of the moisture into one place, you can then wipe it up with the towel.

“Using a window squeegee instead of just a towel will save you time removing moisture, especially during the colder months when you’ll need to do this every day in multiple rooms,” Adeel said.

Other tips for keeping mould at bay on a budget

While you can’t eliminate moisture you can take steps to minimise it in your home.  

“If you can keep the air flowing in your home you can minimise the chance of mould growing, you can do this by moving your furniture away from your walls, along with making sure no vents are obstructed,” the expert added.

“With the weather also being terrible, many of us won’t be using the washing line to dry our clothes.

“A big mistake that people make is putting their wet clothes on the radiator, by doing this you are releasing a lot of moisture into the air which will turn into condensation when it touches a cold surface.

“Avoid doing this if you don’t want mould to grow in your home,” Adeel warned.

Common Bathroom Habits That Increase Mould

Plumbworld, a leading expert in bathroom and kitchen products, has shared the daily habits that increase the chance of mould growing in homes.

Leaving wet towels and bathmats on floor 

Wet towels and bathmats on the floors after a shower or bath can increase humidity levels which provides a perfect breeding ground for mould spores.

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To prevent this, hang towels and bathmats in an area where they can dry quickly and to wash them regularly.

Not turning on the fan 

An exhaust fan is critical in reducing moisture levels in the bathroom. 

When taking a hot shower or bath, steam increases the room’s humidity level, creating an ideal setting for mould to flourish on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.

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An exhaust fan helps by moving the moist air outside, significantly reducing the risk of mould growth. 

Experts suggest running the fan during the shower and for at least 20-30 minutes afterwards to lower humidity levels.

Ignoring small leaks

Even minor leaks from the sink, toilet, or shower can contribute to increased moisture levels in a bathroom, fostering an environment where mould can thrive. 

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Over time, these leaks can cause significant water damage, promoting mould growth in less visible areas such as inside walls or under flooring. 

Fix leaks promptly to prevent mould and potential structural damage.

Keeping shower curtains or doors closed 

Keeping the shower area closed after use traps moisture inside, delaying the drying process and creating a humid environment conducive to mould growth. 

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Mould can easily develop on shower curtains, doors, and in tile grout if they remain wet for too long. 

To avoid this, leave the shower door or curtain open after use to improve air circulation and allow the area to dry more quickly.

Storing too many products 

Shower caddies and corners filled with bottles and accessories may seem harmless, but they can obstruct airflow and trap moisture and creates hidden, moist niches where mould can grow unnoticed. 

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Keep shampoo and shower gel bottles to a minimum, and regularly clean and dry the areas underneath them to prevent mould growing. 

COLMAN’S has confirmed it has axed an “amazing” condiment as shoppers say other brands “just aren’t the same”.

The decision was initially revealed on social media after one fan wondered what had happened to the product after they couldn’t find it on the shelves.

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Colman’s is a household name, known for a wide range of mustards, condiments and recipe mixes.

The concerned shopper wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Why don’t you make your French mustard anymore? I used to love it. Amazing with cheese on toast!”

Another fan of the condiment wrote on Facebook: “Can anyone tell me why French mustard has been unavailable in shops for several weeks.

“Usually buy Colman’s but not even shops own brand available. I don’t know how they grow mustard seeds but I am wondering if it’s a failure in the crops.

“I hate my steak without mustard, and English version is too hot.”

In response to the post on X, Colman’s wrote: “Hey, unfortunately we have discontinued it from the UK, but we’ll pass the feedback on to the team to say you want it back!”

In another post on the social media site, many people expressed their love for the French mustard.

One person, responding to the call for Colman’s to bring the mustard back, wrote: “Definitely. My husband misses this.”

Another said: “This really needs to come back used to luv this on my steak.”

While a third added: “Oh god yes. I’ve searched and searched for it. Other brands aren’t the same.”

However, the good news is the product hasn’t completely disappeared.

It is still available from major wholesalers such as Booker, Bidfood and Brakes and it can also still be sourced on Amazon.

Fans can get a huge 2.25 litre jar, which should keep them going for a little while, for £15.58, from the online retailer.

Why are products axed or recipes changed?

ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.

Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.

They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.

There are several reasons why this could be done.

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For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.

Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.

They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.

For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.

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It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.

Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.

Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.

While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.

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

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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SPOOKY season is here but forget the the ghastly ghouls and spooky spirits.

The most horrifying thing of all is running out of sweets for children on Halloween.

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Whether you’re throwing a party to celebrate October 31 or just embracing the spirit by giving treats out, you’ll need to be well prepared.

The shops are stocked up on sweets perfect for trick or treaters and there are plenty of offers to help get the best price.

Big tubs often work out as some of the best value, and you can remind little monsters to just take one or two.

Or individually wrapped sweets from treat sharing bags may feel like a more hygienic options if there are going to be lots of little hands dipping into tubs.

If you don’t want to answer the door Halloween night, you can get free ‘please take one’ printable signs on social media site Pinterest.

These are ideal when leaving a bowl by the door, helping to remind everyone to take no more than their fair share of goodies so you don’t run dry early on.

Here are the best deals on sweets in the shops this year…

ALDI

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Aldi has brought back retro sweetshop hero Flying Saucers, 99p (20g) in sweet and sour flavours, especially for Halloween.

The grocer’s Halloween Scary Sweets, 99p, for 160g, include spiders, brains, and fangs – perfect for emptying and mixing in a big bowl.

ASDA

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Asda is running two for £4 on a variety of sharing packs, including Haribo Share The Happy 22-packs mini treat bags usually £3 each.

Cadbury Freddo & Friends 12-packs, normally £3, are also included in the offer, as well as Swizzels scary mix of sweets, and trick or treat lolly mix – both usually £2.50.  

B&M

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You can get a dedicated Trick or Treat glow in the dark box for £4 from B&M, it’s filled with around 66 sweets – perfect for holding out when you get a knock at the door.

Or the retailer also has £1 packs of monster gummies, fizzy fangs, and witches fingers, which can be popped into a bowl.

The store is also stocking smaller packs of gummy treats for 89p each.

LIDL

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Lidl is one of the best value stores for Halloween sweets this year

You can get a great value tub of 1kg jelly Halloween sweets for £4.49 which is one the cheapest around.

Or Halloween chocolate balls are a great option for popping in a bowl, as each is individually wrapped. A 200g bag is £1.99.

Or a giant 1.2kg bag of Halloween fruit chews, again individually wrapped, is £5.99.   

Smaller 200g bags of vampire teeth are £1.29. And Chupa Chups mini 30 lollies are £1.99.

MORRISONS

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At Morrisons you can get fun size treat bags for £2.75, down from £4.20.

The supermarket is also offering two sweet tubs for £7 for More card customers.

And Rocky Mountain Mega Marshmallows £2 down from £2.75

POUNDLAND

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Hop over to Poundland and you can pick-up a 420g tub of Haribo starmix or tangfastics for £2.75.

Or a pack of 11 mini Haribo starmix is £1.50.

You can also get a pack of 30 mini chuppa chups lollies for £2. Or a 140g bag of Maoam stripes is £1.40.

SAINSBURYS

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At Sainsbury’s you’ll also find the best deals if you are a Nectar card holder.

A bumper box of 50 Haribo starmix treat bags is £5 with a Nectar card of £5.50 without, working out as 10p a bag.

A 22-pack of Haribo Share The Happy, 352g is down from £3 to £2 with Nectar, this is actually a slightly better value option than the box with the treat bags working out at just over 9p each.

IF you want to pour some sweets in a bowl, try Sainsbury’s fruity blood bites, 70p with Nectar or 85p without.

Other offers include a 20-pack of fun size chocolate bars is £3 with Nectar or £5.20 without.

Or Skittles sharing pouch, 318g, is £1.25 with Nectar or £2.50 without.

TESCO

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If you’re a Clubcard customer you can save a third on a range of sugary delights perfect for handing out on Halloween.

A bag of 14 Milky Way, Malteaser or Mars fun size is down to £2.75.

Or 18 fun size Skittles bags are £2.75, from £4.

You can also get Haribo Share The Happy Fizzy & Fruit Gums, or Starmix 22 multi pack, both 352g for £2.35, down from £3, This is slightly more expensive than Sainsbury’s which is stocking the same pack.

How to save money on your food shop

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:

Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.

Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.

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Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.

Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.

Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.

Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.

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Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.

Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.

But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.

Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.

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“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.

The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.

STRUGGLING households on Universal Credit can top up their income with these 14 freebies and discounts.

From free cash grants to discounts on childcare we have rounded up all the help available to help you can snap up.

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The exact amount you can get will vary depending on your circumstances.

But if you qualify for all the help available then you could be in line for help worth £9,470.15 a year.

Here is all the help you can get in November.

Warm Home Discount – £150

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

The scheme opens in October each year, however, you may not get the help until March at the latest.

To qualify you’ll usually need to be actively claiming one of a number of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week – which is usually in August.

However, if you later launch a successful claim for backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date and once it’s confirmed.

If you qualify for the WHD, you should receive a letter telling you. These are usually sent between October and January

Your electricity supplier will automatically apply the discount to your bill by the end of March.

Some suppliers have already started applying the discount. See if you’re eligible in our guide.

Household support fund – up to £500

Struggling households can apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, was first launched in 2021.

It has been extended multiple times since, with the latest funding round opening in October.

Many councils will be dishing out funding this month,

However, what you’re able to access depends on whereabouts you live, and the money will either be given to you as a direct cash transfer, shopping vouchers or in another form.

To find out what you may be eligible for, visit your local council’s website.

If you’re unsure of the name of your council, find out using the Government’s council locator tool.

Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the amount handed out varies across the country.

But in the past, some families have had up to £500 help.

You can find out more about the Household Support Fund, by reading this article.

Free insulation or boilers – £1,000s

Low-income households may qualify for major discounts on installing boilers or insulating their homes.

For example, the Energy Company Obligation, set up by the Government, lets households on certain benefits apply to have energy-saving measures installed in their homes.

It might mean cavity wall or loft insulation, or maybe even a new boiler fitted, sometimes for free.

To qualify you usually need to be on one of the following benefits

• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Pension Credit Saving Credit

Households’ needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis, so there’s no guarantee you’ll get help, but it is worth looking into.

Check out more on the scheme here.

Council tax – £2,171

Council tax is a priority bill, which means if you don’t pay you can end up in court.

But you can get money off the bill and in some cases have it wiped completely.

Council Tax Support is a scheme where those on a low income or benefits can get money off council tax.

The discount you get varies depending on your circumstances and where you live.

That said, if you do get it wiped completely it can be worth thousands of pounds, with the average Band D council tax bill currently standing at £2,171 a year.

Check out what help you can get by using the Government’s online tool at gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount.

Universal Credit childcare costs – up to £1,739.37

Parents on Universal Credit and in a paid job can have up to 85% of their childcare costs covered, up to £1,014.63 a month for one child and £1,739.37 a month for two or more children.

It doesn’t matter how many hours you work.

If you live with a partner, you both need to work to qualify.

You usually have to pay for the childcare and claim back the costs, but if you go back to work or increase your hours you can request for the money to be paid upfront.

You can learn more about the benefit by clicking the link here.

Cheap travel – £150

Universal Credit claimants can get 50% off their bus and train fares with the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount.

However, it’s only available if you’re unemployed but looking for work and are on Jobseeker’s Allowance.

You’ll also need to have claimed Universal Credit for three to nine months if you’re aged between 18 and 24 years old.

For those aged 25 or older, you must have claimed the benefit for three to 12 months to be eligible for a discount.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get the discount, though – it’s up to your local JobCentre Plus branch to decide.

Meanwhile, there’s the Flexible Support Fund, which is a pot of money that has been set aside by the Government to help people with the costs of getting a job.

The fund is managed by local job centres and can be used to cover the following costs of job hunting:

• Training for a job, up to £150
• Travel to interviews
• Childcare
• Tools for work
• Cost of medical evidence required by a disabled person
• Clothing and uniforms to start work
• Support for single parents in financial emergencies in the first 26 weeks of starting a job.

You can find out more about how to apply in our guide.

Healthy Start vouchers – £442

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Families on Universal Credit can apply online if their take-home pay is £408 or less from employment.

If you get Child Tax Credit, you may be eligible for Healthy Start if:

• your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less
• you do not get Working Tax Credit

You can learn more about this benefit, by clicking the link here.

Free prescriptions – worth £9.90

Once you reach 60, you can get free prescriptions from your local pharmacy – prescriptions usually cost £9.90 each in England.

So if you usually buy a single prescription each month you could save £118.80 over the year.

This benefit is automatic and there’s no need to apply.

Free eye test – up to £30

If you’re 60 or over you’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60 if you haven’t already. 

Eye tests can usually cost between £20 and £30.

To qualify you may need to bring an entitlement letter stating the benefits you receive.

Discounted water bills – £1,000

If you claim Universal Credit you may be able to get a discount on your water bill.

Some companies offer a percentage discount, while others offer a fixed rate. If you get money off your council tax bill, you might qualify for an even lower amount.

The amounts you can get off vary, but someone got more than £1,000 refunded through the scheme.

To qualify, you need to receive certain income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, and have a water meter installed.

You’ll also need to show that you need a lot of water and that this is essential for your family.

If you are unsure if you qualify it may be worth reading the article here.

Social tariffs – £227.88

Thousands of low-income households could be eligible for discounted broadband and mobile phone contracts, with huge savings up for grabs.

A number of providers offer special tariffs for those receiving qualifying benefits.

These tariffs, known as “social tariffs”, are available to households on certain benefits, including Universal Credit, and usually cost substantially less than a firm’s standard broadband packages.

Tariffs begin at £12 for mobile contracts and £12.50 for broadband contracts.

BT’s Home Essentials social package starts from £15 a month, while standard tariffs begin at £33.99 – a saving of £227.88 a year.

You can read about how to apply here.

Sure Start maternity grant – £500

The Sure Start maternity grant is given to the new and expectant parents.

You usually qualify if you’re pregnant with your first child or already have children and are expecting a multiple birth (such as twins).

You or your partner will need to be on one of the following benefits to qualify:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• Universal Credit

You may also qualify if you are receiving support for a Mortgage Interest loan.

You can make a claim for a Sure Start grant by filling in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.

You can read more about how to scheme by clicking the article here.

Help to Save – £1,200

Help to Save is a scheme available to those on Universal Credit and offers a 50% bonus on any savings you make.

You can deposit up to £50 into a Help to Save account every month for up to four years.

So, if you added the maximum amount each month for 48 months, you would end up with a £1,200 bonus.

But you can still get some of the bonus even by saving a small amount – check out how it works.

Free school meals – up to £500

If you live in England and have children at a state school in reception, year 1 or year 2, they are entitled to free school meals regardless of your household income.

However, if you’re claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Child Tax Credits, you can get free school meals for older children too.

How you apply depends on your personal circumstances – some people may be able to via their local council, while others might have to speak to their children’s school directly.

You can type your postcode into the government’s website to see who to contact and how to apply at gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.

The exact amount you’ll get depends on where you live, but the help is worth around £460 on average per child per year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

If you’re eligible for free school meals, you may also get similar help during school holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as half terms.

You can learn about how to apply by clicking the link here.