AN iconic high street brand with more than 1,000 UK locations is set to shut a popular branch in a major blow to a town’s trade.

Argos will be closing its large store in Plymouth city centre this month, delivering another hit to the already struggling high street.

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The standalone store in the former Derrys building on Royal Parade will close on the evening of October 17.

But a new Argos “store-in-store” will open the next day inside the nearby Sainsbury’s superstore at the Armada Centre.

Sainsbury’s, which acquired Argos in a £1.4 billion deal in 2016, has not yet commented on possible job losses, but reports suggest that up to 30 staff could face redundancy as part of the closure.

This is part of a broader trend, with Sainsbury’s gradually shutting standalone Argos outlets and relocating them inside its supermarkets.

Plymouth previously saw its New George Street Argos store close in 2016, with the Marsh Mills Sainsbury’s superstore hosting a replacement outlet.

With Argos sales falling, Sainsbury’s also discontinued Argos’ iconic printed catalogue in 2020 and has committed to closing 420 standalone stores by March 2024.

Since March 2023, 72 outlets have already shut, with 213 remaining.

Despite lower consumer demand for electronics and games, Sainsbury’s continues to expand its “store-in-store” Argos model, planning to close an additional 20 standalone stores this financial year while opening around 10 new in-supermarket branches.

Plymouth will retain another Argos store at Transit Way.

Argos, founded in 1972, became a high street staple with its catalogue-based model, and today operates around 1,230 outlets across the UK, including those inside Sainsbury’s.

While sales grew 1.7% to £4.23 billion in the year to March 2024, pre-tax profits dropped 15.3% to £277 million.

Argos has closed dozens of stores over the last two years.

The high street retailer has already closed 42 UK shops, including all 34 of its branches in the Republic of Ireland last June.

In July, Sainsbury’s issued a major update on plans to close more Argos stores.

CHRISTMAS is on the horizon, but the run-up to the festive season does not have to damage your finances.

The key to frugal festivities is organisation, pouncing on the best deals and not impulse-buying, according to experts.

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Dani Whitehead, of the credit-building firm Loqbox, said: “Vendors know they can take advantage of high demand and last-minute shoppers. Do shopping early and avoid higher prices and queues.”

Harriet Cooke looks at key sales dates and other tips to spread the cost.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

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FOR chocolates and sweets, look for the supermarket loyalty scheme deals or multi-buy offers starting this month.

At the moment, Morrisons is selling two tubs of famous-name chocolates for £8.

Sarah-Jane Outten, of My VoucherCodes, said: “Many of the deals come to an end as soon as December kicks in.”

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

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IT is not too early to draw up a list of potential gifts for loved ones, so you can monitor prices and get the best deals.

Shopping comparison site idealo.co.uk allows you to set up email alerts if your chosen items fall to a certain price.

There is a handy graph to show you the item’s lowest cost all year, giving you a target.

Only buy from reputable sites that you have heard of and trust, and never buy at full price.

TUE & WED, OCTOBER 8-9

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FOR early gift-hunters, Amazon is holding a day of discounts and deals for Prime members, with brands including LG, Sony, Bose and Tefal.

A similar Prime Day in July saw a Ring doorbell and Amazon Echo bundle previously costing £145 reduced to £60.

Check the product’s price history on  camelcamel.com to see how good the deal is.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

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PLAN your Christmas food delivery. Supermarkets typically open up their Christmas delivery slots in October and November, with

Sainsbury’s opening its bookings around mid-October and Tesco in early November. Bookings at Ocado, Asda and Morrisons are already open.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

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ON the hunt for kids’ presents? Check out supermarket toy sales. Sainsbury’s and Smyths are expected to be around mid-October, with discounted Lego, Barbie, Nerf, Hot Wheels, and Playmobil gifts up for grabs.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20

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CHECK out the “Fragrance Star Gift” deals at Boots, with discounts on brands such as Boss, Jimmy Choo and Rabanne. Choo perfume, for example, is £33, down from £55, and CK One was £74, now £34.

It ends on October 22, but Boots will have discounts on health and beauty products all the way through November.

Never buy perfume or aftershave at full price and research its previous highest and lowest prices.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23

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IF you are buying an advent calendar, particularly a pricey one containing toys, fragrance, books or booze, search online for discounts to avoid buying them at a premium on November 30.

For example, this week on Amazon you could get a Disney Princess advent calendar for £8, with an RRP of £21.99.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1

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BLACK Friday is not officially until the end of the month, but the sales typically kick off weeks before.

Liz Hunter, of MoneyExpert.com, said: Black Friday’s reputation as the cheapest time for Christmas shopping is often overstated.

“In fact, a study by Which? found that just one in 50 Black Friday deals are at their cheapest price on the day of the sales extravaganza.

“So if you spot a good deal before Black Friday or Cyber Monday, grab it while you can.”

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7

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ANY Disney fans in the family? Check out the Disney Store website to get a code for 25 per cent off toys, such as this Mickey Mouse soft toy.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14

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FOR sports-related presents, Adidas normally has 50 per cent off selected items around this time.

Later in the month, Nike has 25 per cent off for spending £50 or more.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18

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MID to late November is a good time for getting in the festive booze, with supermarkets typically offering 1-litre bottles of Baileys for £10.

Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda usually offer 25 per cent off six or more bottles of wine, sparkling wine or prosecco around now.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

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GET an array of discounts on designer and high street clothing brands online.

The last week of November has previously seen French Connection doing 30 per cent off, Asos 80 per cent, Disney Store 30 per cent, Ralph Lauren 30 per cent, Urban Outfitters 50 per cent, Gap 20 per cent and Selfridges 20 per cent.

Some shops discount everything, but with others it is only selected items.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25

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WITH one month to go, check your wrapping paper supplies before buying any more.

Amy Knight, of NerdWallet, said: “Reusing last year’s giftwrap leaves more money in the pot to buy the actual presents.”

BLACK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29

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IT’S Black Friday – the year’s biggest shopping day, with deals of up to 80 per cent off.

Cyber Monday offers another round of online discounts. If you are looking for tech for Christmas, such as a Fitbit or iPad, it is a good time to look, especially if you are prepared to buy an older model rather than the latest.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

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GET a letter from Santa by sending one to the big man himself at Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.

Include your full name and address and don’t forget to put a stamp on it.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

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MARKS & Spencer is likely to start its “12 Days of M&S” online daily deals, with discounts and freebies for members of its loyalty scheme.

Last year’s complimentary handouts included a box of chocs and an Apothecary reed diffuser, each worth £6, and Percy Pigs, which usually cost £2.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

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STARTING from the first Saturday of December and lasting for two weeks, American Express cardholders can normally get £5 cashback for a minimum spend of £15 or more at selected local businesses, normally including clothes shops and hairdressers, after registering their Amex card with the Shop Small website.

It is a great way to cut costs and helps your community.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10

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THE last days for online Christmas orders are normally between December 16 and 20, depending on the retailer.

But do not leave it until then. In recent years, large delivery companies have struggled to clear the backlog of parcels before Christmas Day, so get orders in by early December.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

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SMYTHS Toys was running a three-for-two sale on board games about this time last year, so keep an eye out for another promotion.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

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MID-December and onwards presents the best opportunity for getting some bargain Christmas decorations. John Lewis, for example, normally does half-price on selected ones around now.

M&S tends to discount from early December.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

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DASH to the post box! It is the last day for sending Christmas cards by Second Class post, which costs 85p per stamp.

Send by this date or earlier, or you will need to pay for a First Class stamp, which rises to £1.65 on Monday, for which the last date to post in time for Christmas is December 20.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

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Don’t buy any Christmas dinner veg until supermarkets start slashing prices to 19p per kilo. This normally happens around now.

Brits can get a free breakfast this weekend – simply by getting their steps in and saying a secret codeword.

Chef & Brewer Collection pubs have linked with All Trails to guide Brits outside this autumn and help them work up an appetite.

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The free breakfast offer is available at more than 130 Chef & Brewer Collection pubs nationwide every weekend for the month of October.

Customers are able to claim their free breaky between 9am and 11:30am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

However, they must first prove they’ve hit the pavement and worked up appetite by showing staff their step count and saying the secret code word.

Alternatively, guests can redeem by simply showing that they’ve downloaded the outdoor platform AllTrails.

Available for free through Apple and Google app stores, AllTrails provides route maps, reviews, and photos of more than 450,000 trails worldwide—including over 32,000 UK trails.    

AllTrails is the world’s largest and most popular platform for outdoor exploration.

The offer follows research revealing seven in 10 Brits don’t know where their nearest local beauty spot is.

Thankfully, more than 75 per cent of Chef & Brewer Collection pubs are within walking distance for beauty spots and the best of British nature.

The breakfast offer comes as the pub brand partners with AllTrails to encourage Brits to reconnect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors with friends and family this autumn.

Kate Dell, senior marketing manager of the Chef & Brewer Collection, said: “There’s no better way to start or end a brisk autumn walk than with a delicious breakfast in front of a log fire.

“That’s why we’re offering customers a breakfast on the house and partnering with AllTrails to encourage the nation to explore the natural wonders of our British countryside.

“With pubs up and down the country, your nearest Chef & Brewer will be closer than you think.

“So, come on down to your local pub and fuel up on a free breakfast while enjoying the great outdoors. What more could you want?”

With charm and character in abundance, the Chef and Brewer Collection pubs are a collection of unique country-style pubs set in 152 beautiful locations across the country.

The relaxed pubs feature beautifully decorated interiors, seriously good pub food and expertly chosen drinks ranges, with the fine wines hand selected by award-winning wine buyers

To find your local Chef & Brewer Collection pub and view local walking routes, visit: https://www.chefandbrewer.com/

If you’re keen to get outside and start walking towards a free breakfast, then remember to say the secret code word “ALLTRAILS” to claim your delicious prize.

The offer is subject to availability and at Chef & Brewer pubs only and cannot be combined with any other offer, daily deal, promotion or discount. Redemptions are restricted to one per person for the month.

WITH the price of a first-class stamp hitting £1.65 on Monday, sending a letter or card will cost a packet.

The hike means it’s important to find other ways to save on postage.
So follow these tips to the letter . . . 

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STAMP IT OUT: Beat Monday’s 30p rise on first-class stamps by bulk-buying today.

As long as the stamp doesn’t have a price on it, and just says the postage class, it will still be valid after the hike.

Buy from a post office or reputable retailer to avoid fakes.

SEND SECOND CLASS: The price of second-class stamps is staying at 85p.

It should take two to three days for a second-class letter to be delivered, compared with one day for first class.

So, by being a bit more organised, you can save 80p on sending each letter.

BOX CLEVER: If you have an item weighing more than 1kg, a parcel courier website, such as Parcel2Go or ParcelHero, might end up being cheaper than Royal Mail.

E-CARDS: You can send all the sentiment without any of the cost of a stamp with a free e-card.

Lots of companies do this. Check out friendsoftheearth.uk/take-action where you can send a card to a whole group of people, and it’s up to you if you want to make a donation, too.

There is also a good selection at worldwildlife.org.

PACK IT IN: Use the right packaging as postage costs are determined on size and weight. Pack things as small as possible, making the packaging as thin as you can.

Envelopes and plastic mailing bags are the cheapest — so if you can fit gifts you want to send to a friend into a bag, it could cost less to send.

• 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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STASH your outdoor cushions and blankets in a 270-litre Keter box, down from £45 to £30 at Argos.

SAVE: £15

Cheap treat

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SAVE 20 per cent on selected eye make-up at Superdrug, with the Morphe 2 Ready In 5 eyeshadow palette down from £7 to £5.60.

SAVE: £1.40

What’s new

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ENJOY beef bourguignon and molten cookie dough from the new Gastropub deal at M&S, with dishes by chef Tom Kerridge.

For £15, get a main, a side, and a dessert or starter.

Top swap

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BLOCK breezes with the luxury velvet draught excluder, above, £39.95 from Graham & Green.

Or stay warm with Dunelm’s version, for £16. Both available in a range of colours.

SAVE: £23.95

Little helper

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KIT out a bedroom with a Lexington bedside table, four-drawer chest and two-door wardrobe for £210 at The Range. Items can be bought individually.

Shop & Save

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GET bready to try the new 800g farmhouse batch loaf from Hovis, down from £1.65 to £1 for Tesco Clubcard holders.

SAVE: 65p

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!

HMRC has issued a one-day warning to Vinted and eBay sellers to check if they need to register to make a Self Assessment tax return.

Those who need to register for the 2023-2024 tax year have just over 24 hours to do so, or they could risk being fined by HMRC.

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This is because anyone selling items online might be liable to pay tax, if they earned £1,000 or more between 6 April 2023 and 5 April 2024.

The warning to register comes ahead of a major deadline in the tax year tomorrow (Saturday October 5).

This is when you need to have registered to file a Self Assessment tax return if you haven’t done so before.

This is not the date you need to file your Self Assessment, just the date you need to register your intention to file.

If you’re unsure whether you need to register you can complete a simple assessment on the gov.uk website.

It’s particularly important to register this year as since the beginning of 2024 firms like Vinted have to pass on customer data to HMRC if a user sells 30 or more items, or earns over £1,700, in a year.

While the reporting rules have changed, this is not a new tax.

Those who earn more than £1,000 outside their regular employment were already required to file a Self Assessment tax form with HMRC.

The new rules will give the taxman greater visibility over what people have earned, increasing the chance of enforcement.

The rules were introduced as part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe.

After the rules came in Vinted said it would message users who needed to register, so if you’ve not received a message you don’t need to register.

Receiving a message from Vinted or making more than £1,000 from sales does not necessarily mean that you will owe tax.

If the money a member makes on online marketplaces over a year is less than the amount they paid for the items they are selling, then there should be no tax to pay.

But those “trading” for profit might need to pay tax.

The taxman will use the information gathered to verify against its own records to make sure sellers and renters are correctly reporting their income on their tax returns.

The deadline to submit the return for the 2023/24 tax year – and pay any tax you owe – is January 31, 2025 online.

But there’s an earlier deadline of October 31 this year if you file via post.

It is worth bearing in mind that HMRC will fine you £100 for failing to file your return by the deadline.

Then, a £10 daily fine applies every day you don’t submit your tax return.

Do I have to pay tax on my second-hand sales?

If you have made 30 sales or £1,700 this year you will be contacted by Vinted and asked to submit the seller report form on the app.

This year, the company said it will only approach new sellers who registered in 2024.

If you do not hear from Vinted then you don’t need to do anything, though you may need to file a tax return for other reasons.

Users who meet the criteria will be asked to add their National Insurance Number to a pre-filled form and check the details are correct before submitting it.

This will be done on the Vinted app.

You don’t need to calculate or count anything yourself.

A Vinted spokesperson said: “Reporting members’ details to the authorities does not necessarily lead to taxation.

“Taxation is a separate matter that doesn’t depend on HMRC reporting.”

They added: “HMRC requires Vinted to collect information from members who meet the criteria mentioned above, regardless of whether or not their earnings are taxable.”

Vinted said that it will be getting in contact with users who need to fill out these forms towards the end of the year.

What that means in practice is that money you make may be reported to the taxman if it’s over the amounts above.

Whether or not you have to pay tax will depend on your wider circumstances.

The majority of people pay income tax automatically through employment via what’s known as PAYE.

When do I need to file a tax return?

Self Assessment is a system HMRC uses to collect income tax.

Tax is usually deducted automatically from wages, pensions and savings, but people and businesses with other incomes must report it in a tax return.

It is not just online sellers who are required to fill out a tax return.

The rule applies to the following:

• Your income from self-employment was more than £1,000
• Earned more than £2,500 from renting out property
• You or your partner received high-income child benefits and either of you had an annual income of more than £60,000
• Received more than £2,500 in other untaxed income, for example from tips or commission
• Are limited company directors
• Are shareholders
• Are employees claiming expenses over £2,500
• Have an annual income over £100,000

Check out our step-by-step guide on filling out a tax return here.

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

TODAY The Sun launches a ­Winter Fuel SOS campaign to help thousands of pensioners worried about their energy bills.

More than 800,000 older ­people risk missing out on the £300 Winter Fuel Payment — and other ­benefits they may be ­entitled to — because they have not first registered for Pension Credit, which unlocks access to the payment.

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And the extra money will be even more welcome after this month’s ten per cent rise in the Energy Price Cap to £1,717.

But good news is at hand, with our Winter Fuel SOS crew ready to offer advice on getting all the money that is yours by right.

In her July statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that this winter, only households in England and Wales that receive Pension Credit or certain means-tested ­benefits will be entitled to the ­Winter Fuel Payment.

Previously it was available to everyone aged over 66.

The decision will strip ten million pensioners of the tax-free handout.

There are just weeks left to claim, so it is essential that those who are eligible apply now.

An estimated 880,000 UK retirees could be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment yet will miss out because they did not register for Pension Credit.

We have heard from readers who cannot work out if they are able to claim the ­benefit.

Others have said how worried they are that they won’t get the Winter Fuel Payment this year — raising fears they won’t be able to ­afford to heat their homes.

We want to change that.

That’s why we have gathered together a top line-up of experts — and our Winter Fuel SOS crew will be taking your calls this Wednesday.

We want to hear from you by phone or email — and it’s fine if you are calling or messaging on behalf of a friend or relative.

Our panel includes former ­pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, pensions expert Baroness Ros ­Altmann and consumer champion Martyn James.

They will be joined by The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans and Sun Savers Editor Lana ­Clements.

And even if you aren’t eligible for the payment, our team will be ­sharing tips on how to switch energy providers and save money, get help if you’re in debt or simply need to save this winter.

Your cases will be considered by our panel, who will aim to give you advice within one week of your call or email.

Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said: “People often think if you have some savings or a small ­pension there’s no point applying for Pension Credit, but that’s often not the case.

“Don’t be put off by the forms — Age UK can help.”

How do I claim pension credit

PENSION Credit is a weekly payment from the Government to those over the state pension age who have an income which is below a ­certain level.

If your claim is successful then the benefit will top up your income to £218 a week if you are single, or £11,343.80 a year.

Meanwhile, if you live as a couple, your ­combined income will be boosted to £332.95 a week, or £17,313.40 annually.

The money you receive in Pension Credit can be spent as you want, but it could be used to pay for food, fuel, energy or housing costs.

Retirees who receive Pension Credit are also entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300 and is designed to help you pay your heating bill over the chillier months ahead.

To qualify, you must have been eligible for Pension Credit during the “qualifying week”, which was September 16-22.

But Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months, which means the last date you can make a claim and still get the Winter Fuel Payment is December 21.

There are several ways to apply for Pension Credit, including making your claim online or by telephone.

To register for the payments you will need to be receiving the state pension. See gov.uk for more information.

You can also call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can help you to fill in an application form over the phone.

The lines are open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Before you call, it would be helpful to have your ­National Insurance number and bank account details, plus information about your pension, income and savings to hand.

To contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre call 0800 731 0160. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

You can also send a letter by post to: Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LR.

When you contact the centre you will need to tell them personal information including your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.

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What other help is there?

IF you are not eligible for Pension Credit but need help to make ends meet this winter, then there are still things you can do to save money.

You could save £162 a year by switching your gas and electricity ­supplier.

Around 28million homes have seen energy costs rise due to the new price cap.

On Tuesday it rose from £1,568 to £1,717 a year, which means bills are up ten per cent, or £149 a year.

This cap sets a maximum rate per unit that ­customers can be charged for their energy use and changes every three months.

The price cap only affects customers who are on a standard variable energy tariff, which rises or falls depending on the cost of raw energy.

Meanwhile, those who are on a fixed tariff agree in advance how much they will pay for their energy use for a whole year at a time.

A handful of suppliers are currently offering deals that are cheaper than the price cap. The current cheapest is from Outfox The Market and costs £162 less than this month’s cap.

You can reduce the amount of energy you use by lowering your ­thermostat, draught-proofing doors and windows and taking shorter ­showers to bring down your monthly costs.

Meanwhile, energy firms including EDF, ­British Gas and Ovo are offering customers up to £150 free to help with their bills this winter.

The help is provided through the ­Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme.

To be eligible, you need to be claiming certain benefits which include Universal Credit, ­Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits.

You do not need to apply for the cash and should receive it automatically.

Our panel of experts will be on hand to ­suggest other ways to save money, depending on your ­circumstances.

Call our expert team on 0800 028 1978

Sir STEVE WEBB: PENSIONS ­Minister 2010- 2015. Joined consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock in 2020 and campaigned to secure around £2billion for women underpaid the state pension.

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Baroness ROS ALTMANN: EXPERT on later-life issues. Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers 2014-15. Awarded a CBE in 2014 for her work on pensions and retirement planning.

MARTYN JAMES: AN award-winning consumer rights expert, journalist and broadcaster with two decades of experience working for the UK’s leading newspapers.

JONATHAN CHESTERMAN: DEBT advice policy manager at StepChange debt charity – the largest provider of free and impartial debt guidance in UK. He will help with readers’ debt queries.

ELISE MELVILLE: ENERGY expert at comparison website uswitch.com, she cares about demystifying bill myths. Elise will be on hand to help with energy-saving tips.

BEN GALLIZZI: THE uswitch.com energy specialist is focused on helping customers to manage their home energy usage. He can suggest practical tips to help you cut your bills.

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ADAM STACHURA: THE associate director for policy at the charity Age Scotland, Adam is part of a team that offers advice and tips to older people on their winter fuel issues.

FRAN McSWEENEY: HEAD of services at Independent Age, a charity supporting older people facing financial hardship. Fran and her team run a national helpline on cash issues.

EMILY SEYMOUR: AS Energy Editor for consumer group Which? since 2020, Emily has been at the forefront of its campaigns to help people manage their energy bills.

JOE RICHARDSON: DIRECTOR of operations at Octopus Energy UK. His team are responsible for looking after all aspects of the business’s award-winning customer ­service.

TARA EVANS: HEAD of Consumer at The Sun. She will be joined by Sun Savers Editor Lana ­Clements and our very own Consumer Champion Laura Purkess.

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