A SAVVY customer has shared how they managed to shave hundreds off their home insurance bill by using a nifty Martin Lewis hack.

The saver named Fiona told readers of Martin’s MoneySavingExpert about how she pocketed the hefty £423.

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“I received a renewal notice which shot up by a few hundred quid to £866 (for a standard four-bed),” she said.

“Your newsletter landed, I used your tips and which comparison websites to use, and 40 minutes later I found the exact same cover for £443!

“A huge saving of £423, woohoo!

“Thank you so much!”

Fiona was following the money-saving whizz’s advice to “combine comparison sites for 100s of quotes in minutes – don’t assume they’re all the same.”

It continues: “Never just auto-renew – there’s no guarantee your existing insurer will give you the cheapest or best cover.

“It’s always worth a check elsewhere. Comparison sites zip your info to dozens of insurers and brokers at once.

“Yet don’t just use one as a) they can cover different insurers, and b) they often have different prices for the same firm.”

It comes as home insurance premiums soared this earlier this year in a blow for households.

Premiums increased by 19% between the first three months of 2023 and the same time period this year, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

The body, which represents industry, said the average combined buildings and contents premium was £375 at the start of the year.

What is home insurance?

Home insurance is designed to cover you in the event of fire, flood, or theft or loss of any item inside it.

It’s not a legal requirement, unlike car insurance, but it can be useful if something goes awry.

There are two types of home insurance policy – contents and buildings.

Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing any damage to the structure of your property which might have been caused by a fire or flooding.

The “building” includes elements like your roof, walls and floors as well as permanent fixtures such as windows or fitted kitchens.

Contents insurance says what it does on the tin – it covers you in case the contents of your home are damaged, lost or stolen.

How else to save money on home insurance

There’s a few other ways you can save money on your home insurance…

Ceri McMillan, insurance expert at Go Compare previously told The Sun renewing your policy 27 days ahead of it expiring could save you £60.

And at the very least, don’t wait for your policy to auto-renew as you’ll likely pay more than if you shop around for a cheaper deal.

If you’ve got the money up front, it’s worth paying for your premium in one lump sum as well.

Ceri previously told The Sun you can save around 10% on your premium using the trick.

The ABI said the average home insurance premium was £341 in 2023, which means you could save around £34.

Combining contents and buildings policies rather than paying for them separately could save you £100 a year as well, according to Confused.com.

Installing a burglar alarm can help drive down your premium price as well, albeit after the initial up front cost.

Consumer group Which? says you can get an alarm for around £100, and install it yourself to save extra cash.

You can buy either buildings or contents policies separately, or combined so you are covered across all scenarios.

Not all home insurance policies cover the same things though, so it’s worth shopping around.

You can use price comparison websites like Compare the Market, GoCompare and Uswitch.

JUST in case it’s not ingrained in your memory – Porridge Week starts tomorrow.

Oats are a versatile, good-value food, and there are many different ways to enjoy them.

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Give these delicious recipes a try . . . 

WEIGH IT UP: Gram for gram, porridge oats make one of the best value breakfasts at under 5p a serving — half the price of supermarket own-brand cornflakes.

A morning bowl can be jazzed up with syrup, brown sugar, thawed-out frozen ­berries, banana, seeds or nuts.

SMOOTHIE OPERATOR: Use frozen berries and oats to make a tasty, healthy smoothie. Blend with milk and yoghurt for a filling drink that will release energy throughout the morning.

OH CRUMBS: Make a spicy, crispy crumb to coat around 400g of chicken or fish fillets for four people.

Use a mixer to whizz up 150g oats with two tablespoons of oil and a teaspoon each of herbs and spices — try oregano, paprika and garlic granules.

Dip the fillets in a dish of flour to cover, then in whisked egg, and follow with the oat crumb, before frying.

FLIP DON’T FLAP: For a simple flapjack swap, make some easy oat biscuits.

Use 100g each of oats, flour, sugar and butter. Mix the oats and flour with a teaspoon of mixed spice. Melt the sugar and butter with a tablespoon of honey.

Mix together and cool slightly before shaping into balls. Place on a baking sheet, press down slightly, then bake at 180C for 15 to 20 minutes.

BURGER BOOST: Beef up your burgers by adding some oats. You can mix around 400g of minced beef or turkey with 80g oats. Stir in a finely chopped and fried onion, then add a dash of salt, pepper and garlic granules.

Bind the mixture together with a beaten egg — add a bit at a time until you get the right consistency, where the mixture holds together without being too wet. Form into patties and gently fry.

• 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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BRIGHTEN your walls with a classic poster, now half price at the London Transport Museum shop. The 18in x 13in Off To The Zoo is down from £15 to £7.50.

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THE Aeroccino milk frother, from nespresso.com will help you make a tasty at home latte for £79. Or you can have foam and fortune with Aldi’s Ambiano frother, £19.99, which hits stores today.

SAVE: £59.01

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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!

BRITISH Gas offers a variety of help to its customers, which is worth being aware of if you are struggling this winter.

The UK’s biggest energy supplier was founded back in 1812 and has over eight million customers.

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The company has been running a number of schemes to help its customers who are struggling financially.

It comes as millions will see their energy bill rise by £149 this winter after Ofgem‘s new price cap came into force earlier this month.

Households previously paid £1,568 a year but the figure is now set to rise by nearly £150 to £1,717.

The government has also axed its £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over 10million pensioners who are not on means-tested benefits.

Free cash to help with energy bills

British Gas has a fund open to pre-payment meter and credit customers who have found themselves in debt worth up to £1,700.

The Individual and Families Fund was first set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.

This scheme’s support is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers.

However, if your provider is Ovo Energy, E.ON Next, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Octopus Energy or Utilita it asks your go to them for assistance first.

There are certain criteria that you need to meet to be considered for the Individual and Families Fund, including:

• Pre-payment meter customers must have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
• Credit customers must have between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
• You live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account
• The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
• You have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months

Customers with energy debts worth more than £1,700 will not be eligible for support through the fund.

You can check out your eligibility for the scheme here.

Match debt repayments

Earlier this year, British Gas also launched a £15million “You Pay: We Pay” initiative.

This scheme works by matching 100% of a customer’s energy debt repayments to help them clear their arrears faster.

For example, if a customer pays £100, British Gas will pay off £100, too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.

The scheme opened in June and June and eligible customers will be contacted directly – they won’t need to apply.

A detailed assessment will be made to determine if customers qualify for the scheme but broadly, they must:

• Be in or facing fuel poverty
• Must have obtained or will obtain debt advice 
• Have been a British Gas customer for at least six months
• Pre-agree a payment amount following the assessment

You must be a British Gas customer for at least six months to be considered.

Help with energy bills worth £150

British Gas is giving eligible customers £150 worth of extra cash through the government’s Warm Home Discount scheme.

The payment is issued to those on the lowest incomes and is designed to cover the additional heating costs over the colder months.

Households in England and Wales don’t have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.

However, some Scottish households do have to apply for the discount.

Eligible households get the cash credited to their electricity bill between October and March 2024.

To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or a different means-tested benefit, including:

If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the payment.

What other support is available?

You do not need to be a customer at British Gas to get help with your energy bills this winter.

 EDF has a customer support fund which on average wipes £1,250 off customers’ bills. 

It is available to vulnerable customers experiencing hardship. 

To apply, visit EDF’s website and make sure you have details of your account number (find it on your energy bills or EDF emails) and the current debt balance on all EDF accounts you have.

Meanwhile, Octopus Energy offers a range of support, including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.

It could also include loaning a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, which you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.

It also conducts home energy visits to discuss how households can reduce their usage and gives out free electric blankets.

You might also be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or can’t afford to pay for necessities like energy bills, water bills, and food.

Some councils offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays, as well through the scheme.

Eligibility criteria vary by council, so you need to check your local authority’s website to see what’s available and how to apply.

SHOPPERS are racing to get their hands on an energy gadget after its price was slashed from a whopping £99 to just £9.99 and it will help keep the heating off.

With energy prices still high and the winter fuel payment cuts affecting thousands of pensioners, finding ways to keep warm this winter is proving challenging.

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However, the EGL 2000W Oil Filled Radiator could be the money-saver households are looking for.

The easy-to-use heating device has been reduced by a staggering 90 per cent after its price was slashed from £99 to £9.99, saving shoppers an eye-watering £89.01.

Several shoppers left great reviews about the product on HotUKDeals, with many eager to get their hands on the portable radiator.

One user wrote: “These are great to have, only heat one space in the home rather than the entire thing, I’ve used them for years.”

“Ordered mine, fingers crossed,” another added.

A third said: “Absolute steal.”

And a fourth shopper commented: “Very good deal.”

The EGL 2000W Oil Filled Radiator is estimated to cost around 50p per hour, meaning an 8-hour day would add up to £4 in total.

This would make it “cheaper to stay at home rather than driving to work and staying warm in the office,” another user added.

Unfortunately, this deal is no longer available but there are still similar heaters for discounted prices on offer.

Shoppers can bag themselves an Electric Freestanding Oil-Filled Radiator for just £26.99 from Screwfix.

Similarly, Amazon has stocked up on heating devices, with the cheapest portable radiator selling for just under £30.

B&Q’s Oil-filled radiator is currently scanning for just £24.

Ways to save this winter

Heated airers are a great way to save money when you can’t dry your clothes outdoors, but they’re not the only gadget you should seriously consider investing in.

Heated throws are great for keeping warm without switching on the heating. Pop one over you while you’re on the sofa watching TV, drape one over your bed – there’s even one from Lakeland you can wear. They offer several temperature levels and often have timers to automatically switch off.

Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and when it’s drier in your home you tend to feel warmer. They can also be great for drying washing and some brands even have a laundry setting.

Air Fryers are the kitchen must-have of the last few years. They generally cook food quicker than your main oven does and in less time, using much less electricity.

Heavy or lined curtains can help keep out the cold, while draft excluders not only help keep cold air out but warm air in.

Before it gets really cold and you turn to your central heating for the winter, check to see if your radiators need bleeding. It’s a simple job whereby you use a radiator key to release any build-up of air bubbles that can stop the radiator from functioning effectively.

DOBBIES will shutter one of its sites in Bristol in just a matter of months, devasting shoppers.

Its Little Dobbies store in Clifton is one of the 17 sites the retailer has marked for closure as part of a restructuring plan.

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Dobbies will also work with landlords to seek temporary rent reductions at a further nine sites.

The business began a financial overhaul back in August, which it warned would lead to shop closures.

Dobbies has many stores across the South West of England, but it has been confirmed that its location in Clifton, Bristol could now close.

The news has devasted shoppers, with one describing the move as “very sad”.

Another local said the decision to shutter the site was “such a shame”.

While a third said: “A shame that any shops have to close, especially that gardening became more popular during and following lockdown.”

It comes as Bristol locals have had to wave goodbye to a number of retailers in recent years.

House of Fraser shut its site at the Cabot Circus shopping centre back in August, and The Guild department store closed in May.

The full list of Dobbies stores set to close are:

• Altrincham
• Antrim
• Gloucester
• Gosforth
• Harlestone Heath
• Huntingdon
• Inverness
• King’s Lynn
• Pennine
• Reading
• Stratford-upon-Avon

Six Little Dobbies, which are smaller branches selling houseplants located locally rather than out of town, are set to close in these areas:

• Cheltenham
• Chiswick
• Clifton
• Richmond
• Stockbridge
• Westbourne Grove

If the restructuring plan is approved the 17 sites will close by the end of the year.

They will continue to operate as normal until the plan is approved.

The nine sites where its seeking rent reductions from landlords have not been named.

A spokesperson previously told The Sun: “Subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved, we expect the affected sites to cease trading by the end of the year.

“Thereafter, Dobbies will operate 60 stores and continue to play a key role in the market, working constructively with stakeholders and suppliers, and having an active and committed role in the communities in which it’s based.”

The garden centre chain, which was bought by investment firm Ares Management last year, fell to a £105.2 million pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023, against a £7 million loss a year earlier, according to its most-recently filed company accounts.

Restructuring plans are often launched by businesses when they find themselves in financial difficulty to help shore up extra costs.

It comes as many retailers are struggling to keep their heads above water.

High inflation coupled with a squeeze on consumers’ finances has meant people have less money to spend in the shops.

Garden centres and home improvement businesses also boomed during the pandemic when customers were stuck at home.

But customers have been forced to cut back on spending since.

Back in August, Homebase announced that 10 of its stores would close and be transformed into Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Homebase’s owner, Hilco Capital, is preparing to sell the company.

The retailer has closed 106 stores since it was taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018.

A SINGLE mum-of-two has been forced to move house three times in one month and fears her kids aren’t safe.

Harlie Swann, 29, has been living in temporary housing for 13 years, along with her kids; Frankie, 8, and Finnlie, 2.

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The Croydon resident was first moved into temporary accommodation after having Frankie at 21.

Harlie told MyLondon they lived there for seven years but after Frankie’s ADHD diagnosis, the home was no longer suitable.

Finnlie also has complex learning difficulties and Harlie fears “constantly moving around” is taking its toll on them all.

The family are due to move into a property in Lambeth this week marking the third time in a month Croydon Council have ripped their stability away from them.

Harlie said the constant moves come down to discovering each home is unsafe – for anyone to live in, let alone children.

In a previous home in West Norwood, the family were exposed to sewage spurting up the sink, persistent mould, and damp.

Due to the extent of the problem, environmental health assessors had to get involved.

Luckily the next house and latest home was deemed “fine on the paperwork”, Harlie explained.

However, when they moved in they discovered a major leak problem and improper fire-safe windows.

According to Harlie, the council said “don’t unpack we’ll find you somewhere else, then they found me this place in Streatham this Monday (September 30).

“It’s an absolute nightmare,” she said.

A neighbour even told Harlie that the previous tenants put up with the same problems yet the council still deemed it safe to move into.

Harlie, who experienced being homeless as a teenager said: “I saw things that no 16-year-old should have seen by living in these horrible places, and around a lot of concerning people.”

One night, she even slept in a police cell because she was so young.

She continued: “I feel like I’ve gone through so much but still, nobody is willing to give me and my kids somewhere stable and safe to live.”

Harlie’s eldest, Frankie, who has regular ADHD therapy needs extra care right now as he cannot attend school.

She said: “He needs that permanent stability.

“I go to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) three times a week with him, he is in intense therapy.

“There’s a shortage of ADHD medication at the moment, which means he’s not taking his medication.

“The school have said they can’t have him there any more because he had an issue with the teachers.

“Because of this I’m having him stay with me at home, but this is all going on at home and they’re expecting me to deal with all of this.

“It’s too much.”

Temporary accommodation or interim accommodation is organised by the council and exists for people who are at risk of becoming homeless.

People will live there until a permanent home can be found.

Harlie said: “They can make me move out in 24 hours because it’s classed as interim emergency accommodations.

“It’s not even temporary accommodation, it’s the lowest of the low basically.

“If they then decide I’m moving you again I will have to pack up all my stuff again.

“I’m in a constant state of not knowing what the hell I’m meant to be doing.”

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Harlie feels she is experiencing “one problem after another” and the family “need to be in a set routine”.

She continued: “The kids also get a lack of attention as well, because my time feels like it’s constantly filled with emails to the council.”

Harlie feels the council don’t truly understand the trauma her family are experiencing.

She said: “I have so many letters from the GP, CAMHS, the school and social workers.

“Nothing like that seems to make a dent with them, nothing seems to help with me getting a more permanent place to stay.

“I don’t care where they place me, they could place me anywhere.

“However, because I’ve got them it makes it that much bit harder, especially with all of their requirements.”

In an attempt to secure a forever home, for the past nine years Harlie has bid for council housing via the local bidding system.

Each time she has been left empty handed.

She said: “I don’t understand why I haven’t been given that yet.

“I know everybody’s circumstances are different but it hurts.”

Harlie is also a trained teaching assistant and has qualified as a parent group leader for local children’s centres but due to Frankie’s needs and her housing situation, she’s had to put her career on hold.

She told MyLondon that having to move so much is putting pressure on her financially.

Having to pay for three moving vans in two weeks has left her with “no money left”, she said.

She hopes her new home will give the family the stability they need but fears it could result in yet another disappointment.

Harlie said: “I’m a good tenant, I’ve always looked after my properties.

“There just must be a mark against my name, because I constantly feel like I’m at the bottom of the pile.”

Croydon Council have been approached for a comment.