MARTIN Lewis has revealed how thousands on Universal Credit can access an “unbeatable” savings account that pays a 50% bonus.

The MoneySavingExpert website founder told viewers of his ITV Money Show last night you can earn £1,200 in free cash with a Help to Save account.

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Those on tax credits or Universal Credit and earning a certain amount can open one of the accounts.

You can put in between £1 and £50 each calendar month and receive a 50% bonus on any cash saved.

Martin explained: “Totally unbeatable is Help to Save via gov.uk.

“It’s amazing. You put in up to £50 a month and then you get a 50% bonus.”

Jeanette Kwakye, who also co-hosts the Money Show alongside Martin, went on to share the story of a viewer who got a £500 bonus after opening one of the accounts.

What is Help to Save?

Help to Save is a type of savings account available to those on tax credits and Universal Credit.

It is a Government-backed scheme which means your money is protected and you won’t lose any put in.

You can save between £1 and £50 each calendar month and get a 50p bonus for every £1 saved.

You can save into one of the accounts for a maximum of four years, with bonuses paid out at the end of the second and fourth year.

That means if you put in the maximum £50 a month for four years, you could get £1,200 in free money overall.

One major benefit to a Help to Save account is that you get a bonus at the end of the second or fourth years regardless of what your final balance is.

So, if for example you had £600 in your account and then took £300 out for an emergency and had £300 left at the end of the first two years, you would still get a £300 bonus – 50% of £600.

Currently, you can only open a Help to Save account if you are on Universal Credit and you, or you and your partner, had take home pay of £793.17 or more in your last monthly assessment period.

Take home pay is what your pay is after deductions such as National Insurance.

However, Budget documents revealed the scheme will be rolled out to all Universal Credit claimants who work from April 6 next year.

It’s worth bearing in mind, if the savings you have stashed away in a Help to Save account mean you breach £6,000 it could see your Universal Credit payments reduced.

This does not apply to those on working tax credits who have opened an account.

Other help you can get if you’re on Universal Credit

It’s worth checking you can claim Universal Credit as not only will you get payments on a regular basis, it can unlock other perks.

The Household Support Fund is a giant pot of cash worth £421million that has been shared between councils in England.

They then decide how to distribute their share of the cash, and who to distribute it to.

But, in most cases you will get help if you are on a low income or benefits, like Universal Credit.

The eligibility criteria varies from council to council but if you are on a low income or benefits it’s worth checking if you qualify for help.

You can find out what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.

You can also get 85% of the cost of your childcare covered if you’re on Universal Credit.

The most you can get each month is £1,015 for one child and £1,739 for two or more kids.

And new or expectant mothers on Universal Credit can get one-off payments worth £500 through Sure Start Maternity Grants too.

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PEOPLE living with a specific illness are eligible for a whopping £500 worth of cost of living payments.

The MND Association – a charity which supports people affected by motor neurone disease – has announced that the value of its Cost of Living Support Fund is increasing to a maximum of £500 from £350.

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This is an uplift of £150.

MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time.

The fund can be applied for by those with a confirmed diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of MND or Kennedy’s disease.

The scheme was set up in 2023 for those who are struggling with household bills, food or shopping costs.

It’s not means tested, so you will not be required to provide proof of income, and no quotes or receipts are required as part of
the application process.

With many people living with MND experiencing their bills rise, the charity made the changes to the fund on 1 November.

It was partly in response to the latest survey from the charity which revealed that over 80% of carers of people with MND have used savings or retirement plans to cover household costs.

Furthermore, research in 2023 found households affected by MND spend an average of £14,500 a year on costs associated with living and managing the condition – a clear indication that the financial impact of the disease has never been higher.

Those who have already received the previous amount can still apply for the difference, should they need to.

Sally Hughes, director of services and partnerships at the MND Association, said: “We know many people living with and affected by MND will be anxious and worried as household costs continue to rise. 

“As we head into the colder months, we want to ease the financial burden on people with MND. People shouldn’t have to worry about whether to eat, heat their home or turn on vital equipment. 

“It is once again another example of charities stepping up where statutory services have failed to do so.  

“What we really need is for the Government to do more to help vulnerable people rather than take away support, as they have with the recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment.”

How can I apply?

If you would like to apply, a simple form asks you to outline why the Cost of Living fund is required and how it will be used.

You can download the application form from The MND Association’s website.

Once you have completed the form, you will need to email it to support.services@mndassociation.org and your application will be considered.

If you are awarded the fund, the MND Association will arrange for the payment to be made to you.

What other cost of living payments are available?

The current economic climate is seeing more charities step in to fill the gap left by a lack of support from the Government and statutory services. 

For those living with cancer, Macmillan’s Financial Grants Scheme was established to help support those who are struggling to cover essential living costs.

So anyone living with cancer and who needs help with bills and other essentials can apply for the grant.

It’s worth up to £350 and is a one-off payment and can be used to help with things like:

• Energy bills
• Home adaptions
• The cost of travel to and from hospital
• Any extra costs you might have because of cancer

However, unlike the MND Association fund, it is means-tested.

This means both the following need to apply to become eligible:

You must have no more than £6,000 in savings for a household of one person or no more than £8,000 for a household of two or more people

You must have a weekly income of no more than £323 per week for a household of one person or no more than £442 per week for a household of two or more people.

Benefits like personal independence payments (PIP), disability living allowance (DLA) or attendance allowance (AA) do not count towards income for this.

To apply you can call 0808 808 00 00 or you can speak to one of your healthcare team, like a district nurse or Macmillan nurse, care professional or benefits adviser who can fill in the form with you online.

The British Legion has also set up a Cost of Living grant, which can be applied for here using the Lightning Reach portal.

You can also find out what grants may be available to you using Turn2Us’s grant search on the charity website.

There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person.

What is the Household Support Fund?

You may also be eligible for up to £500 worth of cost of living payments from the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421 million in total.

It’s available to support those who are struggling to afford household basics including food, energy, wider essentials, and exceptional costs.

The fund has been split up between councils in England who are in charge of distributing their allocation.

It was set up in 2021, however, it has been extended by the UK government a number of times. 

How much you are eligible for is usually based on what benefits you already receive and your financial circumstances. 

To be eligible for help, you usually have to be in receipt of a council tax reduction or show proof of being in financial difficulty.

Each council has a different application process – so you’ll have to ask your local authority or find out via your council’s website.

To find out how to contact your local authority, use the gov.uk authority tool checker.

In the last round of funding, some residents received their share automatically, while others had to apply.

For example, Haringey London Council is issuing automatic payments to eligible residents, as well as a support fund which can be applied to.

It is also issuing payments to schools, which means they can distribute free school vouchers.

AMAZON has revealed its top 10 toys for Christmas this year including iconic brands like Play-Doh and Lego – but they come with a hefty price tag. 

The online giant has tipped a £60 Play-Doh pizza delivery scooter set as being one of the top gifts for kids this year. 

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As well as a £149.99  LEGO Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Starship Building Toy set, which includes seven Lego Star Wars minifigures, including Darth Vader.

The wishlist was handpicked by Amazon experts and it does include cheaper options, including a £7.99 Snackles Surprise Capsule plush soft toy. 

Matthew Redfearn, toys category leader at Amazon UK said: “Our Top Ten Toys list has something for all ages, interests and budgets, making it easier to find that perfect gift this holiday season. 

“With thousands of glowing customer reviews, people can shop with confidence, knowing that our Top Ten Toys list offers the latest in fun and entertainment.”

Shoppers can get 10% off any toy in the list by visiting –  amazon.co.uk/toptentoys2024.

Although, you only have until November 12 to take advantage of the deal. 

It’s worth keeping an eye out on Amazon though because prices may drop on Black Friday, which this year takes place on November 25.

Before splashing your cash on these toys, remember to check sites such as Price Spy and Idealo to find out if you can buy items cheaper at another store.

Free online price trackers like Price History and CamelCamelCamel will also give you an idea of whether you can save cash by buying it later in the year.

Here are the top toys Amazon reckons your children will want under the tree this year, in price order starting with the cheapest.

Snackles – £7.99

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This ultra-squeezable 12.7cm plush is made from cotton and is bound to but a smile on any kids’ face.

The soft plush is perfect to snuggle with while relaxing at home, watching a movie, or taking a long car or plane ride.

There are 11 Snackles to chose from and each one comes with its own snack including a Krispy Kreme doughnut, Mentos and a tub of Baskins Robins ice cream.

It’s the cheapest item on Amazon’s Christmas list.

We did find this item for sale at Argos for £8, which is just a penny more than at Amazon.

If you chose to visit your local branch of Argos, you could save cash by buying it there instead of Amazon and save on delivery.

Blue Orange Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game – £10

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Blue Orange has launched the perfect card game for kids and parents to enjoy on Christmas Day.

This card and word game is a race to see who can slap their hand on the pile of cards in the middle first once there’s a match.

The last one to do so must take them all, so players will want quick to be the first to get rid of all their cards.

Amazon describes the game as “addictive” and “unique”.

We also found this game for sale in Argos and John Lewis for £10, so you could save yourself on delivery by visiting one of these stores.

Simba SCREAMERZ Babbling Bear – £11.99

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The ScreamerZ bear has fluffy blue fur, sticking-up ears and crazy big round eyes – but don’t get draw in by his cuteness.

All you have to do is press the toy’s belly gently to hear him let out a little scream.

If you press his belly harder, he will let out a scream at the top of his lungs.

But if you shake it, the ScreamerZ lets out a funny, shaky scream.

Amazon’s price is the lowest on the market, we could only find it on sale at The Entertainer for £15.

Rainbow High Watercolour and Create DIY Fashion Doll – £24.99

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Rainbow High Water Colour and Create Brown Eyes Fashion Doll lets you custom your own Rainbow High doll in so many different ways, even with Tie-Dye.

Just add water to the six rainbow-coloured powders to create watercolours, then dip her clothes and hair using the included dual end application sponge.

You can even use the washable watercolours on your own hair.

Repeat play, just wash in soap and water, let dry and start creating again.

We found the same doll on sale for exactly the same price at The Entertainer.

However, we did find it slightly cheaper at Very for £21.99.

Lexibook Disney Stitch, Electronic Diary – £39.99

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This beautiful Disney Stitch Electronic Secret Diary is perfect for any stitch fan who wants to closely guard their secrets.

The electronic diary can be locked with a four-digit password and hidden in the diary is a secret compartment with an adorable notebook to store notes away from curious eyes.

With lots of fun features like voice recorder, voice changer, photo frame, or magical sound effects this is a perfect place to store memories.

The only other retailer we could find selling this toy was The Entertainer, and it was marked at the same price as on Amazon.

Hape Marble Run – £48.44

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Get ready for some marble madness with this do-it-yourself block set.

You children can build the towers and tracks then send the marbles rolling down through all the tricks, twists and surprises.

The set includes blocks, tracks, slides, marbles, marble trays, a jump, a bell-bucket, a spiral funnel, a ringing bell and a sliding track for your marbles to get through.

But do note that it is only suitable for children aged three and above.

HATCHIMALS Alive, Mystery Hatch Pufficorn – £49.99

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This Hatchimals Mystery Egg needs love to hatch.

Cuddle, tap, lift and rock the egg to encourage your character to hatch — the egg lights up and rocks and you’ll even hear the Hatchimal reacting from inside.

Once the egg has been given enough love, it will be ready to hatch.

Magical mist will appear and the egg will glow rainbow colours, building the anticipation.

Inside every Mystery Hatch Hatchimals egg is one of two characters, so the hatching will will be an exciting surprise to see which is revealed.

The Entertainer and Argo are also selling this toy for the same price as Amazon.

Gabby’s Dollhouse – £54.99

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The Rainbow Celebration Dollhouse is two-foot-tall and rainbow-themed.

It also comes with a 3.5-inch Gabby Girl figure, dollhouse furniture, and 10 accessories, like a kitty-themed Toilet and a Piano/DJ Table.

You can also Drop deliveries in the delivery tower and press the button to discover secret treasures hidden in the house.

You can also buy separate accessories and dollhouse furniture for the house too, but of course these come separately.

Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset – £59.99

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This isn’t just a scooter for children, it’s also a Play-Doh pizza toy that lets them make and deliver their own kitchen creations on wheels.

The stamp and spin action in the toy oven at the back of the scooter makes it fun to make pretend pizza creations again and again.

Box them up and put them in the slot on the side of the scooter for delivery, then sound the horn when it arrives.

The checkout station on the side of the toy scooter has a make-believe credit card reader and moulds to make Play-Doh money.

This toy is also suitable for children aged three and over.

Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Starship Building Toy – £149.99

Dominate the galaxy with this Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer buildable toy starship playset for kids.

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Lego said it would make a great Christmas presents for boys, girls and fans aged 10 and up.

The Star Wars starship building toy features a hidden foldout carry handle for flying and two spring-loaded shooters, with a lift-off top panel and foldout side panels for easy access to the detailed interior.

Playful details inside include the bridge, command room, break room, armory, control panels and cargo box with thermal detonator elements.

It also comes with seven Lego Star Wars minifigures, including Darth Vader, Commander Praji and a special Lego Star Wars 25th anniversary minifigure of Cal Kestis.

Hundreds of toys from the must-have list will be donated to families in need in time for Christmas, as part of The Multibank charity initiative, co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon.

The Multibank initiative was initially created to meet the needs of families and individuals living in poverty by taking surplus products donated by businesses and giving them to families in need.

To date, the initiative has donated more than three million items to help over 400,000 families experiencing poverty.

The toys will be delivered on the back of another iconic childhood toy – a life-size toy train, which is on track to tour the UK in the lead up to Christmas, stopping off at Multibank sites including:

• Felix’s Multibank in London
• The Big House Multibank in Scotland
• Cwtch Mawr Multibank in Swansea
• Brick-by-Brick Multibank in Wigan.

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HAPPY shoppers raced to fill their baskets with a popular biscuit scanning for just 16p.

Sainsbury’s fans were delighted to find the sweet treats on the shelves for an incredible price.

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The mega discount had been applied to the supermarket giant’s own brand Brain Filled Bournons.

Despite Halloween having passed, the chocolate goodies are still perfectly tasty any time of year.

The helpful information was posted in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group.

“Sainsbury’s Weymouth, not with other biscuits, just in a Halloween section at back of store along with reduced sweets etc…stocked up for work staff room (if they make it that far)”, shared an excited shopper.

Another customer shared: “I took 10 packs into work and everyone ate them and said they were nice!”

“I think they’re lovely, normal bourbon biscuit and strawberry filling,” said someone else.

A third suggested: “Ours had the cola for 16p as well today in Hereford.”

“The biscuits taste nice, strawberry filling more suited to adult taste buds but I find that with standard bourbon biscuits anyway,” added a fourth.

“I bought them and I liked them,” said another.

The 150g packets of mixed berry flavour cream filled chocolate biscuits usually cost 65p.

Fans have hailed the Halloween candy, one said: “I bought these for Halloween, however my grandchildren scoffed the lot before we arrived home.”

Another wrote: “Fun, lighthearted, but tasty biscuits…ideal for Halloween or with a refreshing beverage.”

However do bear in mind that when prices are reduced by this much it’s usually in order for stores to clear excess stock, so availability will vary from store to store.

It’s always best to phone ahead to your local shop to check what they have available to avoid disappointment.

You can find your nearest Sainsbury’s store using the locator tool on the website.

It always pays to compare prices so you know you’re getting the best deal.

Prices can also vary day to day and by what deals are on at the time, plus remember you might pay for delivery if you’re ordering online.

You can compare prices on platforms like Google Shopping.

It comes as Sainsbury’s shoppers were also rushing to their local store to pick up an eight-pack of a popular fizzy drink which is scanning for just 25p.

Bargain hunters have been getting excited about the deal which could see them make a significant saving.

They took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to let others know.

Posting a picture of their haul of four eight-can packs along with the receipt, they wrote: “Eight can packs of Diet Coke is 25p at Sainsbury’s”.

The supermarket giant also recently launched their new winter clothes collection with budget-friendly pieces.

And, getting into the Christmas spirit, the superstore has dropped the price of the Baileys to £10 for a whole litre.

DISCOUNT retailer Lidl is launching its very own cola-themed Christmas truck for the first time.

The supermarket chain is taking the giant 15 tonne lorry on tour, visiting nine locations across Great Britain ahead of Christmas.

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The truck, set to rival Coca-Cola’s own HGV, will stop off at Dundee on November 14 first, before a final stop in Southampton on December 1.

The Freeway Truck will be giving out 2,000 present boxes containing a host of Lidl’s famous “middle aisle” products at the nine locations.

You’ll have to be quick, though, as they are being handed out on a first-come-first-serve basis.

One in 10 of the present boxes will contain a “Golden Ticket” too – a coupon worth £100 that can be redeemed via its Lidl Plus loyalty app.

Customers not signed up to the app can download it for free on to their smartphone via Google Play or the Apple App Store.

It’s worth noting that the £100 voucher coupons can’t be used to buy alcohol, infant formula or gift cards.

Lidl will also be handing out festive food from the lorry, alongside a giant gift box and Lidl van.

The supermarket chain said visitors to the truck can also make a “wish” for something they want this Christmas, with the retailer granting a number of them.

We have asked Lidl what type of middle aisle items will be in the present boxes and what types of “wishes” customers can ask for, and will update this story when we have heard back.

The full list of locations the truck will visit, and the dates it will arrive there are as follows:

• Dundee – November 14
• Harrogate – November 16
• Hull – November 17
• Nottingham – November 21
• Wolverhampton – November 23
• Wrexham – November 24
• Luton – November 28
• Bournemouth – November 30
• Southampton – December 1

The truck will be at the above locations from 12pm to 6pm, with shoppers able to track the route via www.lidl.co.uk/freeway_tour.

Those not so keen on popping down to the Lidl cola truck may be able to visit Coca-Cola‘s lorry that’s set to head out on its own tour.

The iconic red vehicle, which first appeared in a 1995 festive ad, is travelling around towns and cities across Great Britain before Christmas.

The 2024 tour promises to be “bigger and better than ever” and will be set in a magical winter wonderland.

Visitors will be able to take part in festive games and have a spin of a lucky dip which will give them a chance to win Coca-Cola merch.

A food truck will also serve up seasonal food and ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar drinks.

Locations have not yet been revealed for where the truck is heading, nor the dates it will get there.

However, last year it stopped at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Liverpool and Manchester.

CHRISTMAS AT LIDL

Lidl has already released its Christmas 2024 ad, which tells the story of a little girl who shares her woolly hat with a boy who looks cold.

The supermarket said the central theme of the ad is the magic of sharing.

The clip also features the return of Lidl Toy Banks, which is collecting and distributing more than 100,000 toys donated by customers to children in need this Christmas.

The retailer has also launched a dupe of a £20 Elf on the Shelf selling for just £2.99.

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A REVIVAL in men’s suits has helped Marks & Spencer fashion a dramatic comeback.

Its profits jumped by a fifth as both food and clothing sales rose.

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Boss Stuart Machin said 670,000 new shoppers had been tempted by its menswear ranges, as advertised by Mark Wright and Spencer Matthews, over the past six weeks.

He reported it had sold one million suits so far this year as more workers returned to offices after the pandemic and wanted a smarter look.

And he claimed the average age of its menswear customers had fallen by a decade as it was now winning more shoppers in their mid-20s and 30s.

He said: “Our menswear is getting better. I was wearing our £60 sell-out bomber jacket at the weekend and a friend thought it was Prada.

The chief exec, wearing head-to-toe M&S gear including Supima briefs, said it had been working on becoming more stylish.

Mr Machin, 54, added: “I wear my suit straight off the rack and, I shouldn’t say this, but former CEOs used to have theirs altered.”

Despite half-year profits of £391.9million, Mr Machin warned the high street giant faced a £120million hit from increased National Insurance and the minimum wage rise.

However, he said he had no intention of putting up prices.

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