BY YOUR ovens, ready, set, bake!

The Great British Bake Off returns at 8pm tonight on Channel 4, but what do you do when you’ve baked more cake than you can possibly eat?

7

Here are some delicious ways to transform your leftover gateau.

TOP OF THE POPS: Cake pops are a fun way to give leftover cake a new lease of life.

Simply crumble the cake into fine crumbs, mix it with buttercream, and roll the mixture into small balls.

Insert a stick into each one, then coat them in more buttercream and sprinkles, or dip them in melted chocolate.

Pop them in the fridge to set, and you’ll have a fun and tasty treat for any occasion!

BACK TO BASICS: Leftover cake makes the perfect base for a classic trifle.

Layer chunks of cake with creamy custard, whipped cream and fresh fruit in a bowl or glass dish, especially if you’re serving guests.

You can even add jelly for that traditional touch. It’s an easy, budget-friendly dessert.

CRUMBS AWAY: Turn excess cake into crunchy sweet croutons to top your desserts.

Cut the cake into cubes, spread them on a baking tray, and bake at a low temperature until crisp.

Alternatively, pop them in your air fryer for a quick crunch.

These sweet, crispy bites make the perfect topping for ice cream, yoghurt, or fruit salads.

SHAKE IT UP: For an indulgent treat, blend leftover cake with milk and a scoop of ice cream for a “cake shake”.

You can use almost any type of cake, brownie, or even fudge to make your shake and the end result will taste amazing.

SAVE FOR LATER: If you can’t eat all your cake, just freeze it.

Slice the cake into portions, wrap each piece in cling film, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

When you’re in need of a sweet treat, simply defrost a slice or two – saving you the effort of baking or buying another pudding.

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

Deal of the day

7

WHIZZ around on the Zinc foldable scooter, now on offer at Argos.co.uk.

Previously £75, it’s now £35.

SAVE: £40

Cheap treat

7

ORDER a Burger King Chicken Royale, approx. £7.49, between 2-5pm on weekdays via the BK app and get it for £3.

SAVE: £4.49

What’s new?

Advertisement

GET up to 50 per cent off Decathlon sports gear rentals by collecting litter, with “rentals for rubbish”.

Log your litter on the Planet Patrol app – ten pieces gets you ten per cent off, the more you collect, the bigger the discount.

Top swap

7

7

STORE your toiletries in an IKEA Ljungan basket, £13, or head into Lidl and get two for £4.99.

SAVE: £8.01

Shop & save

7

Advertisement

BRING a fresh scent to this week’s laundry – a supersize Fairy Outdoorable Cherry Blossom 70 wash bottle was £3.99, now £3.49 at B&M.

SAVE: 50p

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

7

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!

SHOPPERS are rushing to buy a “fab” snack dupe scanning at tills for £1.20 less than the popular original.

Iceland is currently selling Toast’Em Pop-Ups for just £1.50.

2

The product is a dupe for Kellogg’s Pop Tarts range.

Prices for the original do vary, according to supermarket price comparison site Trolley.co.uk.

Frosted Chocotastic Toaster Pastries cost £2.25 at B&M, while the Strawberry Sensation flavour and the Chocotastic Breakfast Pastry Snack both cost £3 each at Sainsbury’s.

Most Pop Tart flavours though are available for £2.69 including “Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae” and “S’mores Choco & Marshmallow” flavours.

Taking to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook they wrote: “£1.50 in Iceland stores. Opinions?”

They also added a photo of their haul, showing the flavours Frosted S’mores and Frosted Cookies and Crème.

Other members of the group were suitably impressed with the breakfast treats.

One wrote: “My kids love the smore ones they are a firm favourite.”

Another added: “Cookies and creme ones are to die for in my opinion, better than any pop tarts I’ve had. Haven’t tried the smores.”

A third fan said: “My kids prefer these to the original.”

A fourth person chipped in with: “Just like the American pop tarts! Amazing for the money!!”

While one mum posted: “My boys said a bit doughy but good. A fab cheaper alternative.”

There are plenty of comparison websites out there that’ll check prices for you – so don’t be left paying more than you have to.

Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers.

Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web.

Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.

The news comes after the supermarket chain launched four different stonebaked pizzas for just £2.50 each.

The pizza’s aren’t the cheapest ones that Iceland sells.

The frozen food giant also has a range of thin crust pizzas which cost £1 each.

Iceland also recently announced that its classic drink Um Bongo is back on the shelves years after it was discontinued in 2003.

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

2

ALDI shoppers have been left overjoyed after the supermarket’s iconic Toblerone dupe returned to shelves.

Fans of the bargain retailer have been pleading for the Specially Selected Swiss chocolate bar to make a comeback, with Aldi finally giving in.

2

2

Advertisement

The blonde bar is seen as a family favourite with happy customers describing it as “lush” as they race into stores to grab one.

Each 100g pack cost is now priced at £1.69.

Each bar is packed with delicious ingredients from white chocolate, honey, almond, nougat and salted caramel pieces.

An actual bar of normal Toblerone will set you back a hefty amount with the smallest offering being a 200g bar for £4 at Tesco.

However if you want the white chocolate version like Aldi’s alternative then it will cost you a whopping £6 for a 360g bar.

The bars were last seen in November 2023 but seemingly vanished after winter leaving shoppers gutted to believe they were a Christmas treat only.

But with it being restocked already sweet toothed fans are raving about its return.

A picture of the bar back on shelves was shared to social media with one happy shopper saying: “This looks amazing!!!”

As another simply wrote: “That looks lush!”

Another said: “How yummy does this look.”

A four replied: “Oh yesssssss, you need to find me one.”

Before a fifth commenter added: “Oh these are the business. Really yummy.”

The product is still unavailable online at Aldi meaning those who want to get their hands on it will need to go their local store to check.

Bargain specialists Aldi are known as the kings of great deals.

They are selling an incredible dog-friendly product perfect for the chilly autumn weather.

The reversible puffer jacket item is being sold as part of the supermarket’s Specialbuy range later this week with it prices set to start from just £7.99.

Aldi Specialbuys are a unique and fantastic offering from the supermarket.

For a full run down of the best they have to offer check out this article.

It comes as Aldi bargain hunters were also rushing out to get their hands on a dupe for a popular Cadbury’s dessert.

Dairyfine Pots of Choc, Aldi’s version of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Pots of Joy, are described as a “smooth and creamy dessert”.

Other shoppers were going wild for a middle-aisle find that’s scanning at tills for as little as 99p.

The Kids Camping Chair – shaped like a fox – was already massively reduced at just £4.99 but one lucky shopper managed to bag one up for under a pound.

You can find your nearest Aldi store by using the retailer’s store locator tool on its website.

Remember it is always best to shop around to try and spot which shop has the best deal on any particular product.

DOG-LOVERS may want to take their beloved pooches everywhere, but many shops still don’t allow four-legged friends to browse their aisles.

Last week, The Range and Wilko delighted pet owners with the news that dogs will now be welcomed in their stores.

1

The two retailers, which operate under the CDS Superstores brand, said as long as furry companions are kept on a lead, they can be brought into stores.

But while the move is aiming to make shopping more inclusive, it has been controversial with some shoppers, who say they’d prefer dogs were not permitted in stores.

There is no law that prevents dogs from entering shops, banks or local businesses, so it’s up to individual retailers to decide whether to allow them on their sites.

All of the major supermarkets in the UK ban pooches, apart from assistance dogs, which they are required to admit under the Equality Act.

But, there are many other retailers who welcome dogs and website dogfriendly.co.uk lists more than 1,500 shops where dogs can accompany their owners.

A spokesperson for Dogs Trust said: “With so many families now owning a dog, it’s good news that many businesses are opening their doors and welcoming our canine companions inside.

“It’s important to remember, however, that even if a shop is dog friendly, it might not be suitable for your individual dog.

“Owners need to be mindful of how their dog may behave in a new or busy environment and consider whether they may become over excited or worried, and how they may be around lots of new people and other dogs.

“It’s also important to bear in mind that not all your fellow shoppers may feel comfortable around dogs so it’s important to be considerate of others.”

Shops welcoming dogs include many independent retailers, cafes and pubs as well as big-name stores including:

• John Lewis
• Oliver Bonas
• Go Outdoors
• Mountain Warehouse
• The Range
• Wilko

John Lewis began allowing dogs in store in 2019 and continues to welcome them in all stores as they are “well behaved” and kept on a lead or carried at all times.

Many high street clothing retailers also allow dogs in some stores, including:

• White Stuff
• Fat Face
• Jules
• H&M
• Reiss
• Zara

However, dogs are not always permitted across all locations.

The decision is often at the branch manager’s discretion, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and check ahead of a shopping spree.

Other high street retailers which often allow dogs in stores include:

Major garden centres including Dobbie’s and Wyevale are also dog-friendly.

While more and more shops are allowing dogs to enter, some are sticking firmly to their no dogs policies.

Marks & Spencer, Primark and Next all continue to refuse dogs access to their stores, aside from assistance dogs.

If you’re thinking of heading out shopping with your pooch Dogs Trust advised: “To ensure both you and your dog enjoy your trip to the shops, we recommend working on some basics skills before heading out, including loose lead walking and making sure they don’t jump up at people.

“If you have any doubts around how comfortable your dog will be during your shopping trip, please consider leaving them at home.

“Of course, it goes without saying that you should never leave your dog unattended outside a shop as they are at risk of being stolen, and not should dogs be left alone in cars.

“Not only is there a risk of them being stolen, even during the cooler months of the year, they could overheat, and sadly, in some cases, heat stroke can prove fatal.”

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

SAVING money for a rainy day or big purchase is no easy feat at the best of times, let alone when you’re battling against soaring bills with stagnant wages.

By the time food and household costs are met, many of us have barely anything left at the end of the month to save

1

However, if you can bring your earnings up and the cost of living down, you will start to increase your disposable income which can be used for savings.

It sounds easier said than done, but the cash you earn each month, as well as living costs are heavily influenced by where in the UK you live.

It means that if you choose your location wisely you can start to increase the gap between wages and costs for the better – giving you more free cash to put into savings.

There are nine locations in the UK where the amount you’re paid is on average at least £1,000 more than living costs – see map above – according to research from property site Compare My Move.

The location with the highest gap between the cost of living and earnings is York.

The cost of both buying or renting a flat in the historic city  is low compared to other parts of the UK, and you can get on to the property ladder for around £198,093, found Compare My Move.

At the same time, the cost of living comes in at £1,415 while average earnings after tax are £2,846, leaving £1,431 of disposable income each month. 

Even if the cost of living is relatively high, you can still save if salaries are higher.

For example, in second place is Cambridge where the average salary is a bumper £3,143 while the cost of living is £1,829 meaning there is still £1,314 leftover.

And in third spot is Reading with the highest employability rate of any city or town in the UK with 86.1% of its residents in employment, according to Compare My Move.

In the South East, means buying a flat is more expensive than other locations at a typical £227,525. However, the average salary is competitive at £2,909 after tax, while the cost of living is £1,714 meaning that disposable income is still high at £1,195.

Wigan, Derby, Bolton and Glasgow are among other spots where there is a sizeable difference between earnings and costs – and some of the most underrated spots in the UK for young adults, according to Compare My Move.  

Of course, your earnings in any location will depend on other factors such as the job you do and the company you work for.

However, you can use job sites to see advertised salaries in your field across different locations and compare with your current earnings.

Costs will also depend on exactly where you choose to live but you can use a property site to look up rent or house prices in different locations to try to gauge how to create a bigger disposable income in your budget.

SAVING £1,000 A MONTH

If saving to buy a home is an important achievement for you, living in one of the locations on the list could help.

Putting away £1,000 a month after a year would give you £12,000. And after three years you could have £36,000 – enough for a 10% deposit on £360,000 property.

If you are going to start saving, it’s also important to keep your cash in a spot where it will earn the highest interest.

It’s also important to be able to access at least a month or two’s worth of income in an easy access account for emergency situations – such as a job loss.

You can currently earn as much as 5.2% in an easy access account with Ulster Bank if you have at least £5,000 in savings – you will earn 2.25% if you have less than that.

Or for smaller sums from £1 you can get a rate of 4.84% with app-based provider Chip.

On a lump sum of £12,000 you’d earn £580.80 worth of interest after a year at a rate of 4.84%.

Opting for as high rate of interest as possible helps you to achieve your savings goals faster. It also stops inflation eroding the value of your nest egg.

If you want to save regularly, you can rates of up to 7% with first direct. You will need to hold a current account with the bank but can then put away up to £300 a month over a year at the top rate.

A GREAT gran who won £166,666 says her husband will have to write a “begging letter” if he wants to see a single penny of it.

Gill English landed the cash on People’s Postcode Lottery in Rugby, Warwickshire – and is now planning a slap-up carvery dinner for her big family.

2

2

Advertisement

The retired carer also said she is prepared to buy her hubby a new pair of shoes – but only once shes sees his “begging letter”.

Gill said: “Oh my God! Flippin’ heck! I’ll take the family to a carvery. I also said I’d buy Kev a new pair of shoes.

“He’ll have the begging letter written!”

Retired chauffeur Kev laughed: “I’ve already written the begging letter.”

The couple are both recovering from cancer.

Kev had melanoma and Gill is still receiving treatment after having part of her right lung removed.

But Gill said they are more interested in helping family – including her three sons, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren – than treating themselves.

She said: “I love buying presents and love doing things for people. It’s lovely when you feel you have done something for somebody.

“I love giving. I get great joy out of it. If you’ve got money, you’ve got it. If you haven’t, you haven’t.

“I’m not money motivated, but I am now! This is so lovely. Thank you.”

Gill also revealed she hadn’t told her hubby that she played Postcode Lottery until she got the call to say she’d won.

She said: “Kev didn’t know I even played; I don’t tell him everything. I hadn’t told anyone except my youngest son.

“I’ll never get any sleep now just working it all out.”

Kev said: “It wasn’t a secret, she just never told me.”

How to enter the People’s Postcode Lottery

• The Postcode Lottery is a subscription-based lottery in which players sign up with their postcode.
• Your postcode is your ticket number – 40p a day ensures entry into all drawers, or £12 a month.
• Once subscribed, they are automatically entered into every draw.
• Prizes are announced every day of the month.
• If your postcode gets luck, every player in your postcode wins.
• 33 per cent of the ticket price will go to charity that is re-funnelled back into the community.