Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.

I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.

Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.

My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.

I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high street fave River Island.

I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.

Frilly Ra-Ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.

Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.

At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.

Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.

I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.

One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!

That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.

It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When ‘Cool Britannia’ hit in the Nineties, they all turned up in one big store.

‘Designers at Debenhams’ was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson to name a few.

This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.

Years later I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.

In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.

Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!

Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.

I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.

I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.

At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?

High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.

Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!

A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.

Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.

I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.

Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.

Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.

The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.

The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!

THOUSANDS on state pension could be eligible for a cost of living payment worth up to £200.

Pensioners missing out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year are set to receive a cash boost to help cover energy costs.

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Residents in Middlesbrough who are aged 80 and over, receive Council Tax Reduction, and are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment may be entitled to receive £200.

Those aged between 66 and 79 who meet the same criteria could also be eligible for a cash payment of £150.

An estimated 1,500 households are expected to benefit from one of the two payments.

Pensioners receiving Attendance Allowance, who are not on other benefits and have incomes less than £20,000 for a single person or £26,000 for a couple, can also apply for a £100 payment to help with the cost of living.

Middlesbrough Council also announced that they would issue automatic payments of £60 per child for families eligible for free school meals.

However, it will only be available if the council’s £1.65million scheme is approved.

Cllr Nicky Walker, Executive member for Finance, said: “When this phase of the Household Support Fund was announced, I made it clear where I thought we should prioritise our efforts to help pensioners of Middlesbrough on low incomes who will just miss out on getting the Winter Fuel Payment this year.

“The proposal strikes a balance between universal payments for families in receipt of certain benefits and targeting help at other groups, including pensioners.

“Given the national changes around the Winter Fuel Payment, it’s pleasing we’re able to propose something locally to support those pensioners this winter who may have worked hard all their lives but just miss out due to, for example, having a small works pension.”

Middlesborough Council have distributed a total of £1.5million Household Support Payments since April.

The proposed scheme will allow families who are not eligible for free school meals but are receiving Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit, or Housing Benefit to receive £60 per child.

Middlesborough residents claiming Council Tax Reduction benefits will also be able to apply based on their income.

A single person will be entitled to £35, couples will receive £45, and households with children will get £60 per child under the proposed scheme.

Other details of the scheme include:

• Pensioners not receiving Council Tax Reduction or other benefits can apply for £100 per household if income is below £20,000 for single people and £26,000 for a couple
• Residents receiving Attendance Allowance who aren’t entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment or other aspects of the Household Support Funding can apply for £100 per household.

It comes after millions of households eligible for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment will receive another cash bonus from the DWP this winter.

And thousands of households not claiming pension credit will still get a winter fuel payment due to a little-known loophole.

The government recently announced that thousands of pensioners will get a £200 one-off payment for energy bills after the winter fuel allowance cut.

It is part of the latest phase of its Household Support Fund, which offers vouchers to struggling Brits.

The funding is available across England, but the amount up for grabs depends on your local council.

More than 32,000 eligible households in Nottinghamshire will get the help to cover food and energy costs in the run-up to Christmas.

They include families with children eligible for Free School Meals and people receiving Pension Credit.

Social workers have identified other households which need financial support.

The council will contact eligible households next month, so residents do not need to take any action.

Those eligible can expect to get a one-off payment of around £100 per household.

The help comes via the latest round of the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million.

The fund is designed to help hard-up households cover the cost of living, mostly through cash grants, supermarket and energy vouchers.

Each council across England has been allocated a share of the £421million pot and decides who to distribute money to.

Other help on offer

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might be able to get a grant from your energy firm to cover energy debt.

British Gas is handing out grants worth £1,700 to struggling households through its Individual and Families Fund.

The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers living in England, Scotland or Wales.

You won’t be eligible if you received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.

And you must be seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account.

Crucially, you also need to have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months.

If you don’t qualify for help with British Gas, a number of other energy firms offer help to customers struggling with energy bill debt.

This includes OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.

How has the Household Support Fund evolved?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

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Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.

BARGAIN retailer Aldi is selling giant inflatable Santa and Snowman figures perfect for Christmas at cheap prices.

The holiday season is just around the corner and these life-size inflatables will be the perfect addition to your home decorations.

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Aldi is selling six-foot inflatable Santa and Snowman figures for just £19.99.

The balloons are filled with lights that glow up when connected to power.

They are a must-have item in case you are planning to create your own little Winter Wonderland at your place.

For those gearing up for the Christmas season already, The Sun revealed Aldi’s quirky new Christmas range including fudge-flavoured cheese and a festive twist on a shopper’s favourite.

Everything from classic turkey, to mince pies, party picky bits and kids’ toys will soon be available to customers to make their Christmas celebrations even better.

Some of the standout items include Specially Selected Wagyu Tomahawk steak, which costs £24.99 per kilo and is on sale from December 19.

As well as the traditional 1.8kilo Specially Selected Slow Cooked Turkey Crown landing in stores on the same date.

Aldi is also selling a range of Bluey toys including a plush toy for £12.99 which is hitting shelves on November 28.

But the main event this year is Cuthbert, with a new Christmas-themed cake based on the iconic character set to go on sale.

It is the first time the popular caterpillar character has been featured on the Christmas range.

We have asked Aldi how much the cake will cost and when it will go on sale and will update this story when we’ve heard back.

Christmas is a time of indulgence and magic – and this year’s Aldi certainty hasn’t held back.

Aldi is not the first retailer to launch a Christmas showcase this year – our reporters have already been to Sainsbury’s, M&S’ and Tesco’s.

Meanwhile, M&S shoppers are rushing to buy £15 Christmas chocolate boxes with a “magical” surprise feature.

The fancy supermarket has brought out a gift box with a magical miniature forest inside – and when you shake it, it snows.

You can also buy a 140g box of festive chocolate shortbread stars for £2.10 in Tesco.

Or Cadbury‘s 110g snow-ball themed chocolate bar is available to buy in most supermarkets.

In Sainsbury’s, for example, it is £1.65 for a bar of snowball chocolate, or £4.50 for a 270g bag of snow balls.

Aldi is also selling a 125g box of Dairyfine mini chocolate snowmen for £3.29.

Supermarkets are always changing their prices, so it’s best to check how much your product is online before visiting the store.

Websites like Trolley are useful for comparing prices between major supermarkets and making sure you bag the best deal.

And when you’re in store, it always helps to keep an eye out for yellow stickers, as you never know what might unexpectedly be reduced.

A TOWER sketch on your 50p could mean it’s worth 300 times it’s normal value.

The Kew Gardens 50p features a tall tower with leaves wrapped around and was circulated in 2009.

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One of the ultra-rare coins has sold on eBay for an unbelievable £150.

The coin launched a bidding war, with 10 attempts made to nab the incredible design.

And what’s more, there was no cost for delivery.

The coin sold for 300 times its value on 26 October.

When the Kew Gardens 50p was first issued in 2009, collectors didn’t initially realise just how rare it would be, and many people who found one in their change parted with it and later kicked themselves.

A Changechecker spokesperson said: “Now, 15 years later, the Kew Gardens coin regularly sells for between £150 to £250 on the secondary market.

“In terms of identifying rare coins, we would urge collectors to check mintage figures as well as keep up to date with our Scarcity Index which is updated quarterly.”

Other rare 50ps have also been gaining traction online recently, including a Blue Peter 50p which sold for £216.

CHECK IF YOU HAVE A RARE COIN

Rare coins and valuable notes can be worth tens of thousands of times their face value.

But sometimes it’s just tiny differences which make them so lucrative.

The most valuable coins tend to be ones with low mintage numbers or an error.

Those qualities typically make them valuable to collectors.

Your next step would be to check if your coin is still available to purchase in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.

Certified Brilliant Uncirculated coins have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality which set them apart from the coins you may find in pockets.

SELLING YOUR RARE COINS

There are many different factors to consider when trying to value a coin, including its condition and mintage, so it’s important to do your homework first.

If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction, you can contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

It has a team of experts who can help you to authenticate and value your coin.

You’ll need to enquire via email, and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.

Take a picture of your coin and attach this to the email – you can find the details on The Royal Mint’s website.

Be aware that you will be charged for this service though – the cost will vary depending on the size of your collection.

If you are looking to buy a coin online through a marketplace such as eBay, it’s important to know exactly what you are purchasing.

This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish.

You should also be wary of fakes online – and keep in mind that on eBay a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won’t have sold for the price it says it has.

Meanwhile, we have put together a guide on the rarest and most valuable coins.

We also tell you what you should do if you find a lucky penny in your pocket.

THERE are lots of products that can help women cope with the effects of the menopause.

But there is no need to spend a fortune on feeling better.

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As the end of Menopause Awareness Month approaches, give one of these deals a go.

THREE-DOM: Get three vitamins, supplements and other products for the price of two at Holland & Barrett.

The deal includes Health & Her menopause multi nutrient supplement, £20.99 for 60, and a pack of ten cooling forehead patches, £9.99.

SKIN SAVINGS: You may find you need to tweak your skincare routine as your menopause kicks in.

Avoid wasting money by trying some samples before you buy.

If you are already a fan of Boots No7 Menopause Skincare range, you can currently get up to 20 per cent off, or buy three for the price of two.

NEW CHAPTERS: Books can be a brilliant source of help and advice about the menopause.

The best-seller, Meno-pausing, by Davina McCall with Dr Naomi Potter, is down from £22 to £11 at The Works.

Don’t forget your local library.

You can borrow a pile of books covering everything from mood changes to nutrition.

TESTING TIMES: If you are not sure whether you are approaching the menopause, a hormone testing kit may help.

You can get 20 per cent off menopause test kids from newfoundland.io, which tests the amount of follicle stimulating hormone in your urine.

The menopause test is down from £9.98 to £7.99, plus £2.99 postage.

SHOP WISELY: Not everything labelled “menopause” is worth buying.

Money saving expert Sarah-Jane Outten, of myvouchercodes.co.uk, warns shoppers not to be sucked in by menopause skincare and clothing.

She says: “When it comes to skincare, needs are different depending on the person.

“Labelling a product ‘menopausal’ suggests it’s one size fits all. That’s not the case.”

She says that any clothing with wicking or 100 per cent cotton will help with sweating or hot flushes.

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

Deal of the day

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TRANSFORM a corner of your room with the Bailey Sherpa Accent Chair from Dunelm, down from £299 to £149.50.

SAVE: £149.50

Cheap treat

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GET four Halloween Doughnuts from Sainsbury’s for £1.40, or 85p with a Nectar card.

SAVE: 55p

What’s new?

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GET some Halloween items for half price at Matalan, including a girls’ Day Of The Dead costume for £8.50 instead of £17.

Top swap

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SHARE a bag of Properchips salt and vinegar lentil chips, 85g, £2, from Sainsbury’s or tuck into a bag of Snaktastic Lentil Chips sharing pack from Lidl, also 85g, £1.15.

SAVE: 85p

Shop & save

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WHETHER you are celebrating Diwali on Thursday or not, use a Morrisons More card to get a 10kg bag of Trophy Basmati Rice for £13 instead of £20.

SAVE: £7

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GEARING up for a crafty Christmas? Use the code HC20 to get 20 per cent off when you spend £40 or more at Hobbycraft, online or in-store.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

MARKS and Spencer is kitting its changing rooms out with self-checkouts to prevent shoppers from having to queue twice.

The high-street giant is planning to roll-out self-service tills in 180 of its clothing stores by early 2028.

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It comes despite warnings from M&S chairman Archie Norman that theft is “creeping” among middle-class shoppers due to faulty self-checkouts.

The retailer’s operations director Sacha Berendji insisted staff will be present in fitting areas to make sure customers don’t leave without paying for their items.

He told The Telegraph: “We’d like customers to be able to walk straight into the fitting room with no queue, try on what they’ve chosen, then pay there and just walk out…”

He added: “Shoplifting is a major problem in this country, but there are things that we’re all doing to mitigate some of those losses.”

The new kiosks have already been introduced in 28 recently revamped stores.

Similar such is used elsewhere in the world, including Australia.

Department store Kmart Southland in Melbourne is trialling technology which identifies clothes taken into a fitting room and displays them on a screen, reports the Sidney Morning Herald.

Customers can then scan a QR code for the details and the price.

It also allows customers to request different sizes or colours from their changing cubicle.

Over the last 18 months, M&S has opened 31 new stores, while also spending tens of millions of pounds refurbishing 45 existing in London and the South West.

Larger self-service conveyor belt checkouts operated by staff will also have self-scanning tech for trolley shops.

The Fosse Park store has already seen four of its 10 staff-operated conveyor belt checkouts replaced with six new self-service versions.

All across the high street, self-checkout stations are being installed at retail shops, with Marks & Spencer, Primark and Zara some of the earliest adopters, The Telegraph reported previously.

That’s despite supermarkets, including Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda, reigning in their usage.

In the US, self-service checkouts are removing them at Target stores amid shoplifting concerns.