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.

WITH rising energy bills a concern for millions of households, one family have found a way to beat the rising costs.

Matt Mecham, 48, decided to install solar panels after the energy crisis hit in 2021.

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The software engineer lives in Peterborough with wife Debbie and two children 16 and 8.

He said: “We became very aware of bills rising. As a busy family of four, we use a lot of energy, we also have a very energy-hungry hot tub and electric car.”

The family had nine solar panels installed on one side of their South Westerly facing home in September 2022, as well as a battery to store energy.  

The upfront cost was around £11,000 (VAT free).

They are now making between 20 and 25 killowatts of energy daily in summer, in winter this drops to around seven kw a day.   

The family uses about 20 a day and gets paid to send some back to the grid during summer – giving a credit to the bill of between £20 and £30.

Matt estimates the payback period will be around 4.5 years through bill savings and exporting.  

Matt said: “We look at the electricity pouring out. It’s been fantastic.

“Even when it’s rainy and grey you still produce.”

In January, the gloomiest and darkest month, the famly had an energy bill of £115, with around £65 of that charging the car.

It comes as millions of households will see their bills jump next month when the energy price cap increases by ten per cent to £1,717, from £1,568 under prices set  by regulator Ofcom.

Matt added: “We have no regrets doing it

“We keep off the grid during the day through the summer.

“And we pay a bit more in winter when the system generates less.”

How do solar panels work?

The panels are usually fitted on to the roof angles towards the sun absorbing the rays and turning into electricity that can power your home.

The position and size of your property will determine how many panels are worth getting fitted.

Usually, solar panels are installed by the company you buy the panels from.

It’s worth getting two or three quotes and read reviews of the company.

You could also ask to speak to customers to find out if they were happy with the work.

Changes in daylight mean there is quite a big difference between the amount of power generated in summer and winter.

Extra energy produced can be sold back to the grid, unless you have capacity to store it in a battery.

The amount you sell energy, depends on your provider – typically it’s 20-30p a unit. 

Or you can try to power more of your home with electricity.

For example, switching to electric cars or heating systems.  

Joanna O’Loan, knowledge manager at Energy Saving Trust said: “With electricity prices remaining high and more flexible tariffs becoming available which favour renewable energy generation, it could be a good time to consider if solar panels are right for you.

“In the bigger picture, domestic renewable energy will be an increasingly integral part of the UK’s transition to net zero, supporting the shift to a low carbon society, alongside low carbon heating, transport and a flexible, renewable energy grid.”

What’s the cost?

The solar panels usually require an upfront investment.

The average home needs around ten solar panels at a typical cost of around £5,000-£6,000, according to energy firm Ovo.

If you want to store energy, you’ll also need to invest in a battery, which is typically around £5,000.

Over time, the money is made back through savings on your bills.

The cash saved will depend on the size of your system, where you live and whether there is anyone at home during the day, says the Energy Saving Trust.  

The charity calculates that a 3.5kWp PV system on a home in Manchester, where the occupants are at home all day, could save £310 on annual energy bills.

 On the other hand, installing the same system in London on a house where no one is home until 4pm, could save £160 a year.

The Energy Saving Trust has an online calculator at energysavingtrust.org.uk which can help you work out how much you could save.

It’s also important to take into account how long you stay in the property, as the solar panels will stay there.

However, more firms are offering ways around the upfront costs.

For example, Ovo is offering eligible customers the opportunity to ‘bank’ solar panels through its reward programme.

Up to five panels can be collected over five years then redeemed and fitted by signing up to its solar and battery package.  

Another energy firm Egg offers interest-free loans for up to five years for the cost of solar panels.

It’s not just energy firms that are encouraging a move to solar.

Some mortgage firms, including Coventry Building Society, offer customers additional funds at a lower rate if the money is being used to make energy saving home improvements.

And if you’re a Halifax or Lloyds current account and mortgage customer you can also get up to £1,000 in cashback simply for installing solar panels or a battery as part of its Green Living Reward scheme.

Chris Sykes from mortgage broker Private Finance, says: “More mortgage firms are encouraging customers to make greener moves.

“However, there aren’t many initiatives like Halifax’s cashback scheme that actively encourage current borrowers to improve their properties.

“It is a really good step in the right direction and hopefully will encourage more firms to create bigger incentives.”

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

CHOCOLATE is popular at any time of year, but at Christmas often all rules go out the window and it becomes perfectly acceptable to eat it before breakfast.

That’s why choosing the right chocolate advent calendar is so important.

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It is believed the custom of marking advent dates as far back as the 6th century.

But it wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that shops started selling calendars with chocolate behind the doors.

The first Cadbury‘s calendar arrived in 1972 but things have come along way since then.

Now so many brands have their own unique takes, so whether you like Reece’s or Galaxy, or a posh Hotel Chocolat truffles, there’s a calendar for you.

We gave them a go to see which are worth splashing the cash on.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Advent Calendar – £6

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A must-have for peanut butter lovers, this calendar is packed with foil-wrapped miniature cups in both milk and white chocolate.

On Day 24, you’ll find full-sized cups to enjoy.

I thought there was a generous amount of chocolate for the price and I liked the festive design of a Santa in headphones.

Simple but satisfying.

It’s a perfect choice for anyone who can’t get enough of the sweet and salty flavour of Reese’s.

SCORE: 9/10

M&S Chocolate Shop Advent Calendar – £12

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A surprising win, M&S has packed this well-priced calendar with the tastiest of its Christmas confectionary.

There are blond fudge bites, peanut butter and caramel chunkies, mini whips and more.

On the big day itself, you get a whole bag of delicious chocolate buttons.

I loved both the variety and the quality of the delicious treats.

Score: 10/10

Galaxy Advent Calendar – £2.50

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Simple but effective, this Galaxy calendar contains smooth milk chocolate moulded shapes all the way through December.

There’s also a special, bigger, Galaxy treat on Christmas Eve.

It’s not as fancy as some of the other offerings for 2024.

But you do get the unmistakable Galaxy taste  – and it’s cheap as chips.

Score: 8/10

Hotel Chocolat The Everything Advent Calendar – £29.95

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Here is a confectioner that really knows what they’re doing.

This rather posh Hotel Chocolat calendar guarantees a little bit of luxury every day – the challenge is not to break it open and eat them all at once!

Whether you’re a dark, milk, or white chocolate fan there is something here for you.

It’s packed full of Hotel Chocolat’s most indulgent treats, including Champagne truffles, chocolate praline and chocolate fudge sundae.

I enjoyed the variety and whilst it’s not the cheapest option, it felt like a really special festive treat to countdown to the big day.

Score: 8/10

Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Creamy Advent Calendar – £4.99

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I’d never tried this creamy Cadbury Dairy Milk chocs calendar before but they were surprisingly more-ish.

I thought perhaps it was a little overpriced.

There is one small chocolate behind each door until December 24th when you get a double-sized one.

But the chocolate designs could have been a bit more enticing.

They were absolutely delicious, though.

Score: 5/10

Chococo’s Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar – £29

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Chococo has won awards for its luxurious chocolates, which are handcrafted in Dorset and this Christmas countdown box deserves a prize of its own.

Filled with 25 artisan chocolates – in an assortment of milk, gold, dark and oat milk chocolate – the selection box contains everything from gin-filled chocolates to festive truffles.

I particularly liked the new flavours such as, cherry bakewell, chilli con choc and toffee apple caramel.

There are no actual doors to open on the box but it’s a gorgeous design with a frosted and numbered sleeve.

A classy option for grown-ups who want to join in the countdown.

Score: 7/10

Nestle KitKat Advent Calendar – £2.50

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A cheap and cheerful choice that will go down well with the kids.

Behind each door is a delightful KitKat treat, each one a signature crispy wafer covered in creamy milk chocolate. cheap

There’s not a lot of variety but for £2.50, who is complaining?

My daughter Ivy, aged four, picked this one out over far fancier options and was delighted with her choice.

Score: 6/10

Divine Seriously Smooth Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar – £4

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Divine is a Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by cocoa farmers who receive a share of the profits from this calendar, so you can feel good about yourself whilst tasting the contents.

If that doesn’t persuade you, it contains 24 milk chocolate hearts, which all taste “divine”.

I did prefer calendars with a bit more variety but if Fairtrade chocolate is what you are after, this is it.

There’s a dark chocolate version for Vegans, too.

Score: 7/10

Nestle Milkybar Advent Calendar – £2.50

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The perfect choice for white chocolate lovers and little-ones, this contains mini chocolate pieces with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

The chocolates are small but this is great if you have young children and don’t want them overindulging before they’ve even had a chance to finish their breakfast cereal.

Simple, straightforward – and only £2.50.

Score: 4/10

Lindt Truffles Advent Calendar – £12

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You get a proper Lindt truffle every day with this luxurious-looking calendar and in different flavours too including my personal favourite, the salted caramel.

If you like Lindt, you can’t go wrong with this.

I liked trying the different flavours and there’s a decent amount of chocolate for the money.

Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Score: 8/10

COSTCO is selling a “fantastic” £21 gadget that will keep you warm throughout the winter – and is even cheaper than the Aldi version.

And, the simple, budget-friendly item could even save you money on your heating bills.

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The Berkshire Life Heated Throw, a cosy electric blanket, is on sale on the Hot UK Deals website for a modest £21.58.

On the Costco website, it is listed for a reasonable £23.98.

Electric blankets work by having electrical wires embedded in the fabric.

The Costco version is made from faux fur, with a velvety underside, designed to keep you extra warm in the winter months.

It has four heat settings and a four-hour shut off setting to mitigate overheating or fire risks.

It is available in brown, grey and dark teal colours and is even machine washable.

How does it compare to other electric blankets?

The comforting throw is even cheaper than Aldi’s version, which retails for £29.99.

This Ambiano Heated Throw, which has nine settings, comes in a snowy white, cool grey, and toasty charcoal.

It is also cheaper’s than Asda‘s £30 electric teddy fleece.

However, shoppers looking to cut costs even further could opt for an £18.99 version on Amazon.

On the other end of the spectrum, Lakeland offers an £84.99 electric blanket, with The White Company version coming in at £150.

How much can you save on your electricity bill?

With heating costs being a hot topic of conversation this year, these blankets could be a solution to keeping those bills down.

Many homes are set to be subjected a detrimental change in their energy bill as the cold snap approaches, with some set to rise by £149 each year.

Electric blankets generally run at only a few pence per hour, while opting for cooler settings can further reduce costs.

SHOPPERS have been left baffled by a strange new addition to Aldi’s Christmas range – that would never normally be seen at Christmas.

The budget supermarket revealed the new range earlier this month, with customers calling the strange new item “cursed”.

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The hollow chocolate eggs, on sale for £1.99, seem more Easter-appropriate than Christmassy.

Riffing on the cross-seasonal concept, Aldi has playfully named them “Chreaster Eggs”.

The product, described as the “perfect stocking filler”, is available in red “Garry the Gingerbread Man” and blue “Parker the Penguin” versions.

Shoppers quickly rushed to social media to share their thoughts.

One celebrated the addition, saying on X: “I’ll take them all thank you!”

Another joked: “I love Aldi. Just when you think they can’t do better.”

They added: “This is so cursed I actually love it.”

However, others were more disturbed by the product, with one saying: “Eggs! Just no, Aldi. We all know that Christmas chocolate is either sphere, triangular, circular or hexagon shaped!”

Another cynic wrote: “I saw these in my Aldi on Saturday and I was so confused.”

Others have accused Aldi of not paying due regard to Christmas as a religious festival.

One said: “May as well cut the Christmas story short and ‘roll the stone away’ immediately with a Chreaster Egg, no point in prolonging it all.”

To this, Aldi replied: “We could turn the entire year into one big festive event.”

While others have jokingly suggested extending the chocolate eggs to Halloween too, saying: “Where are the Chreasterween eggs?”

Indulging in the online discussion, Aldi replied that its “final destination” was “Easumalloweemas eggs”.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi we’re always looking for fun and creative ways to enhance our Christmas range.

“The ‘Chreaster egg’ trend has really taken off because it blends Easter’s most popular treat, the Easter Egg, with the beloved season of Christmas.

“Whether it’s a stocking filler or a conversation starter, we hope shoppers love our charming Dairyfine Hollow Character Eggs.”

How to save money on chocolate

WE all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

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Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

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Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.