BRITISH banks have been offering new and existing customers up to £200 free cash just in time for Christmas – here’s how you can claim.

More than four major banks have launched new schemes, allowing customers to pocket free cash.

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Lloyds revealed that users who switch to their Club Lloyds account can receive a whopping £200.

Nationwide Building Society is offering customers £175 to switch to its FlexDirect, FlexPlus or FlexAccount current accounts.

Switching bank accounts has never been easier thanks to the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Through the CASS, customers can pick their switch date and leave it to the banks to move any active direct debits to their new account.

Here is the full list of banks offering the best switch offers.

Lloyds

Lloyds has confirmed that customers who switch to their Club Lloyds account can receive a whopping £200.

Both new and existing customers can take advantage of the free cash offer available for those who switch between October 2 and December 10.

Those who switch to the Club Lloyds account can expect the £200 to be paid within three days.

To finalise the switch, customers can either scan the QR code available on the bank’s website or use the mobile app.

Once completed, Club Lloyds customers will be able to select from a range of perks, including a 12-month Disney+ subscription, a choice of Vue or Odeon cinema tickets, a magazine subscription, or a Coffee Club and Gourmet Society membership.

Here are the details and costs of the Lloyds’ account.

Club Lloyds

• £3 monthly fee, waived each month that you pay in £2,000 or more.
• Earn credit interest on balances up to £5,000,  when you pay out two different direct debits each month.
• Choose a yearly benefit from: 12 months of Disney+, six x cinema tickets at ODEON or Vue cinemas, An annual Coffee Club and Gourmet Society membership, An annual magazine subscription.

Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide Building Society has launched a new offer of £175 to switch to its FlexDirect, FlexPlus or FlexAccount current accounts.

To get the free money, you must switch through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

It’s also giving account holders a £50 interest-free overdraft buffer to ease burden at what can be an expensive time.

First Direct

First Direct has confirmed that they have relaunched its popular cash switch incentive for anyone who opens a 1st Account.

Customers can receive a payment of up to £175 by using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Users have to switch at least two direct debits or standing orders within 30 days of opening the account to qualify for the cash.

Switchers also need to add at least £1,000 into the account, register and log on to internet banking and use the debit card at least five times within 30 days of opening the account.

Customers who meet the criteria should expect the free bonus in their accounts by the 20th of the following month.

The bank revealed that new customers switching to their current account to first direct can expect several extra perks, including a £250 interest-free overdraft.

You won’t qualify for the switching incentive if you have previously held a First Direct product or opened an HSBC current account on or after January 1, 2018.

Customers moving across to the bank will also get access to a regular savings account paying 7% interest, one of the best deals around, as well as a 0% overdraft on the first £250.

How do I switch bank accounts?

SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up – there’s a full list on CASS’ website.

Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days.

You don’t have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you.

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All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you’re moving.

There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account.

You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements.

When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society.

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Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts.

And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts – but these accounts might come with a monthly fee.

Co-operative Bank

The Co-operative Bank has announced eligible customers could receive up to £150.

The first £75 is given when a customer completes a switch to the bank.

Then, the bank is offering three monthly instalments of £25 – another £75 – to make up the £150.

Both new and existing customers can apply to switch to a current account to make themselves eligible for the payment.

Like any good offer, there are a few boxes to tick off before the big payment comes in.

Customers must apply for a Standard Current Account or Everyday Extra account.

To be eligible, customers must not have benefited from a switch incentive at The Co-operative Bank since 1 November 2022.

And to receive the first £75, customers need to follow a series of rules.

They are:

• Deposit a minimum of £1,000 into their new account (this includes balances transferred as part of the switch).
• Have 2 active Direct Debits.
• Make a minimum of 10 debit card or digital wallet transactions (pending payments will not count toward the fulfilment of this criteria).
• Register for our online and/or mobile banking service.
• Set up the debit card in a digital wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Wallet or Google Pay).

That leaves the three £25 instalments – and there are some rules to claim them too.

Bankers need to deposit at least £1,000 into their account, have two direct debits and make a minimum of 10 debit card transactions.

Barclays

Barclays is offering £175 to new customers who switch before August 30.

The offer is only open to new customers who open a Barclays Bank Account or Premier Current Account.

To get the money, you must start a full switch by the deadline  – and complete it within 30 days.

The switch must include at least two active direct debits, and you need to pay £800 into your new bank account by August 30.

If you choose to open the sole Barclays Bank Account, you’ll need to join Blue Rewards, which costs £5 a month.

In return, you get Apple TV+ and MLS Season Pass subscriptions, you can earn up to 15% cashback with participating retailers and you get up to 5% interest on your savings with a Rainy Day Saver. 

The Premier Current Account is free, but has strict eligibility criteria.

To qualify, you need to either pay a gross annual income of at least £75,000 into the account, or have a total balance of at least £100,000 in savings, in Barclays UK investments, or in a mix of both.

You get access to all the same benefits as a Blue Rewards member, and can also choose to pay £12 a month to join the Avios Rewards programme.

You can read the full details and apply to switch on the Barclays website.

How to switch current accounts

Switching bank accounts can in most cases be done via the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up, including Barclays, First Direct, Lloyds, Monzo, Santander and TSB.

The full list of participating banks and building societies is on the CASS website.

All you have to do is apply for your desired new current account and the new bank will tell your existing one that you’re making the switch – then they will do the rest of the legwork.

Any direct debits are moved across for you, but there are a few things you can do before applying.

This includes choosing the date you switch and transferring any old bank statements to your new account.

You can get these by asking your existing bank.

Not interested in free cash?

Switching current accounts has long been an easy way to pocket free cash from banks luring in new customers.

However, these lucrative deals might not be for everyone.

But other perks including free travel insurance, interest-free overdrafts, and cashback, can also make shifting providers worthwhile.

A MAJOR supermarket has slashed the price of chocolates in the lead up to the festive season.

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Morrisons has introduced a two for £8 deal across its popular Christmas chocolate tubs.

Quality Street (600g), Celebrations (550g), Cadbury Heroes (550g) and Cadbury Roses (550g) are all part of the festive promotion.

Customers can make a purse-pleasing saving of 33 per cent on these household must-haves, which would otherwise cost £6 each without having a Morrisons More Card.

The offer is available in-store and online for one week only from October 2 – 8, so customers will need to be quick if they want to get their hands on these festive favourites.

Lee Mountain, Category Director of Impulse at Morrisons, said: “Tubs of chocolate are a must-have for the festive season with every family member having their own preferred sweet treat.

“Our deal allows customers to pick up two different options for just £8 to ensure everyone is happy – not just your pocket.

“It’s never too early to start stocking up and help spread the cost of Christmas celebrations.”

It comes as Quality Streets tubs have landed on shelves as the countdown to Christmas begins.

Usually, the octagonal tins don’t make an appearance on supermarket shelves until the winter months but recently they have started cropping up as early as July.

They can retail for up to £6 at most retailers but if you are savvy there are chances to nab them for a bargain.

Shoppers have noticed the pricey sweets for sale at supermarket Tesco.

“It’s that time of year to stock up,” wrote one bargain hunter in a social media post.

The UK’s biggest supermarket is running an offer where you can pick up a 600g tub of £3.95 but the offer is not available to everyone.

To cash in on the deal you will need to scan your Tesco Clubcard at the till otherwise you’ll have to pay £6.

This offers a saving of £2.05.

The loyalty scheme allows shoppers to earn points as they shop, which can be turned into money off food or other items.

Quality Street tubs are available to buy at a discount from Tesco supermarkets and online.

Asda

Supermarket Asda is also stocking Quality Street tubs, but they do not have any tubs on offer.

So if you buy from here you will have to pay the full price of £6.

When on the hunt for a bargain it is important to not only look at the retail price but the unit price as well.

Aldi

German discounter Aldi is also selling Quality Street tubs for £4.49.

They are only available to shop in-store so it is worth ringing up ahead of time to see what stock is available.

The tubs are £1.51 cheaper than what Asda and Tesco charge at full price.

When looking at the unit price, it comes in at 75p per 100g.

This is 25p cheaper than Asda’s but remains pricier than Tesco’s offer of 66p per 100g.

However, it is the second cheapest place to currently buy the sweets.

Sainsbury’s

The nation’s second-largest supermarket is also charging £6 for a 600g chocolate tub.

But there is a chance to nab a bargain.

If you have a Nectar Card you can pick up the tin for £4.50, offering a saving of £1.50.

If you take the unit price into account it works out at £1 per 100g if you pay full price.

Alternatively, it will cost 74p per 100g if you scan your loyalty card.

Tesco’s offer for Clubcard holders is still the cheapest by around 8p.

What other stores are selling Quality Street tubs?

A number of other supermarkets are selling tubs of Quality Street, but Tesco has continued to come out on top.

These include:

• Morrisons – £6
• Ocado – £5
• Iceland – £6

Supermarkets tend to run offers on chocolate and other sweets in the run-up to Christmas so it is always worth keeping your eyes peeled.

Shopping around for the best bargain

When hunting for a deal it is important to shop around to make sure you are not being overcharged.

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

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

For example, Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.

Price Spy also logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets.

Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.

BARGAIN-hunters are rushing to Lidl to stock up on “beautiful” seasonal homeware essentials scanning for just £4.

The seasonal leaf lamp is currently reduced to £3.99 at Lidl and comes with batteries already fitted in.

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A savvy shopper posted the bargain buy on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, writing: “Beautiful leaf lamp in Lidl reduced to £3.99.

“[They] had other leaf designs lamp’s… batteries already fitted in.”

Replying to a comment, the person revealed the found the savvy buy in Sheffield.

Fans of the seasonal essential buy flocked to the comment section.

One person simply said: “Need xxxx”

While another person added: “Cute”

A third poster revealed another design in the comments, saying: “This is the other one”, while showing another leaf lamp.

A fourth person added: “Think I need a trip to Lidl.”

The seasonal leaf lamp has dotted leaf design and orange light to give warmth and ambience.

Lidl has several seasonal homeware items in its “Middle of Lidl” section, including a light up toadstool lamp for £5.99, decorative mushrooms for £4.99, and an autumn wreath for £6.99.

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 Lidl store using the locator tool on the website.

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

Meanwhile, shoppers have gone wild over a £4 Sol De Janerio dupe at Lidl.

Bargain hunters have rushed to pick up their favourite fragrances at a fraction of the original £24 price.

It’s always a good idea to shop around to make sure you can find the best deals.

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

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

Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.

Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and supermarkets.

Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.

A MAJOR beer brand has been placed in to administration after the company applied for a company voluntary arrangement in March.

It comes after the Fourpure brewing company closed its production site and taproom in Bermondsey.

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In Good Company, the business that owns Fourpure and Magic Rock, said the move would “protect the brand from future liability, and tough commercial realities in the drinks and hospitality industries.”

Fourpure had previously applied for a CVA in March to secure more time to pay its creditors.

The company said: “Fourpure would continue to exist in the same way it does currently with its beers brewed, canned and produced at Magic Rock Brewing.”

In Good Company claimed that the administration would not “impact staff” or any of the In Good Company’s Beverage Limited’s wider portfolio.

However, a number of Fourpour staff have allegedly been made redundant following the closure of the Bermondsey site, according to The Grocer.

In Good Company CEO Steve Cox said: “We’ve had to make a number of tough decisions to protect the overall business, which includes moving Fourpure’s London brewing operations to its sister brewer Magic Rock in Huddersfield, and this month voluntarily filing for administration for Fourpure Limited.

“Both decisions have been made to futureproof the brands and the wider business, as we look to maintain stability but also strive for ambitious growth targets.

“Anyone in the craft beer, drinks and hospitality sectors will be familiar with the current challenges of operating in this space.

“We are determined to keep taking positive strides to safeguard In Good Company and its portfolio to allow for growth and innovation.”

The company has not filed a full-year set of accounts since it was acquired by In Good Company from Lion in August 2022.

The Sun has contacted Fourpure for comment.

The news comes after more than 2,000 Costa Coffee branches have abruptly shut, leaving customers “absolutely gutted”.

The Costa Coffee branch in Fleet Walk, Burnley, has pulled down the shutters for the final time.

The branch has actually been closed since the start of the month with customers left confused as to why it was empty.

But the company has now confirmed the closure is permanent, and it is set to be replaced by another shop.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “We can confirm that our Costa Coffee store on Fleet Walk, Burnley, which is owned and operated by one of our corporate partners, closed for trade at the beginning of September 2024.”

Many shoppers were left disappointed after the branch shut down.

Commenting on news of the closure one said: “Absolutely gutted on Saturday when I couldn’t get my Costa!”

Another wrote: “Town centre is dying of a slow death.”

A third quipped that the situation was a “Costa living crisis”.

Costa closed its branch in Alexandra retail park, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday 1 September.  

The franchised site had been open for nine years, and customers have said it was a “great place”.

Coffee giant Costa regularly reviews its store estate across the UK.

This can include the closing or renovation of existing stores, or the opening of new stores.

Below we reveal the full list of Costa Coffee sites which have already shut and those which are due to close this year.

To find your nearest store or Costa Express machine, you can visit the chain’s website.

MILLIONS of households are still set to get the £300 Winter Fuel Payments this year.

However, there are four simple errors that those on state pension could make which would mean missing out on the cash even when eligible.

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The winter fuel payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help with the cost of heating through the colder months.

Last year the payments were worth between £300 and £600, depending on circumstances.

This was because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.

However, this year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for those with someone aged over 80.

That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.

But the rules have changed this year and around nine million pensioners will no longer get the cash.

The benefit used to go to all people over state pension age regardless of circumstances.

Now just those on low incomes and claiming certain benefits like pension credit will get the cash.

Around 880,000 people are eligible for pension credit and not claiming though. meaning they will miss out on the extra cash.

There are four further reasons you could miss out on the payment too.

Figures for last year show that 110,000 Brits saw their payments cut.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that the vast majority of winter fuel payment underpayments last year resulted from claimant’s failing to notify the department about a change of address.

Like with other certain benefits you’ll often be required to report a change in circumstances to ensure that you’re paid the correct amount each winter.

One of the slip-ups that people have made in the past is failing to let the Department for Work and Pensions know about a change of address.

If you forget to do this, you could see the amount of winter fuel payments your due drop.

The second stumbling block to watch out for is if you or someone else eligible for the winter fuel payment moves in or out of your house.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

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Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains all you need to know about the payment.

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help cover the cost of heating through the colder months.

Most who are eligible receive the payment automatically.

Those who qualify are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.

If you do meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.

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You’ll qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:

• you were born on or before September 23, 1958
• you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known as the “qualifying week”
• you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

• you live in Switzerland or a EEA country
• you have a “genuine and sufficient” link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK

But there are exclusions – you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.

This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

You will also not qualify if you:

• are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole “qualifying week”
• lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Payments are usually made between November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.

Again, it’s important to let the DWP know about these comings or goings.

The third thing to keep in mind is if you or someone else eligible for the extra cash moves into a care home.

This move will mean that you or the person moving out will no longer receive the money.

Lastly, it’s vital to let the DWP know if someone entitled to the payment has passed away.

What to do if you’ve been underpaid the winter fuel payment

Most payments are made automatically in November or December.

You’ll get a letter telling you how much you’re entitled to and which bank account it will be paid into.

If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025 and you think you’re eligible you must contact the winter fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

You’ll also need to report a change in circumstances to ensure you’re not overpaid too.

Fail to do this and the DWP could force you to repay the money you owe.

To avoid being overpaid, you should report if you will not be living at home during the Winter months but will be in hospital getting free in-patient treatment or in custody serving a court sentence.

The deadline to claim for this winter is March 31, 2025.

Contact the winter fuel payment Centre by calling 0800 731 0160 to report a change in circumstances.

Make sure you have your National Insurance number to hand.

A DWP spokesperson previously said about last year’s figures: “Where errors do occur, we are committed to fixing them as quickly as possible and this equates to just 1.1% of all winter fuel payment expenditure.

“Anyone with a change of circumstances should inform the DWP to ensure they get the right amount of money they are entitled to, while those eligible for this year’s payment have until the end of March to claim it.”

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SPLASHING out on a coffee pick-me-up doesn’t need to cost as much as you think it does.

Dee Bespalova, named the best Starbucks barista in the UK, has shared her top tips on how to save money – including the secret to free refills.

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Star barista Dee was awarded after taking on her fellow Starbucks coffee connoisseurs from up and down the country.

She has now shared her top tips for saving money at Starbucks – and who better to get the inside information from?

Buying coffee on the go can be shockingly expensive when added up over time.

According to Wholesale Coffee Co, Brits spend on average £5.50 per week on coffee, which is £286 a year.

And on average, people who buy a Starbucks three times a week spending approximately £54 a month, which is a whopping £648 annually.

At The Sun, we always recommend you make coffee from home to save money.

For example, with Tesco Clubcard prices you can buy 6 sachets of Costa Barista Creations in any flavour for £1.75 – that’s 30p a coffee.

Meanwhile, a Starbucks can typically set you back around £4.50 for one drink, or up to £6.55 for special recipes.

Starbucks prices change based on availability, and between locations.

However, we also know that, sometimes, a DIY coffee from home isn’t quite as exciting as a Starbucks on the go.

And with experts like Dee making the coffee, sometimes it’s okay to spend a little extra on a hot drink you know you’ll love.

For this reason, we put together Dee’s top tips for enjoying a Starbucks the savvy way – so you don’t have to miss out on that coffee catch up with friends.

By combining all of these tips across the year, a person who drinks three coffees a week and spends £648 annually will save £343.20.

The amount you save will vary depending on how much you typically spend of course.

GET FREE REFILLS – £271.20

One of the most exciting tips Dee whispered to The Sun was that filter coffee-drinkers are actually able to get refills for free.

She said: “Whilst lattes and flat whites are many people’s favourites, if your usual order is a black coffee, or a coffee with just a splash of milk, consider asking whether your local store offers filter coffee, which you can swap out for your americano and enjoy a free refill.”

A filter coffee at Starbucks is easy on the wallet too, starting at just £1.95. 

If you were to buy two americanos (£3.80 each), this would cost you £7.60.

If you did this once a week for a year, you would rack up a spending of £364.80.

Instead, you could save a total of £5.65 a visit by ordering a filter coffee and getting a free refill instead.

If you did this once a week for a year instead, you’d spend £93.60 a year – saving £271.20 across the year just by swapping for filter coffee.

Dee recommends going up and asking your barista if it offers filter coffees, as they are not in all stores and might not always be on the menu at the tills where you’ll usually find the latest additions and seasonal drinks on show.

You’ll need to purchase the first drink to have in to then qualify for a free tall refill.

SWAP SYRUPS – £72

When you fancy your coffee with a little twist, a syrup will usually do the trick – but if you are looking to save, there is a cheaper option.

You can swap out the dairy milk for an alternative to bring a different flavour to your drink.  

According to Dee, dairy alternatives at Starbucks are offered at no extra charge.

Customers can request oat, soy, almond or coconut milk.

“But if you’re a bit stuck for where to start, choose a drink with a dairy alternative as standard”, she told The Sun.

“For example, the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso is designed to work best with the delicious roast nutty flavours of oat dairy alternative.”

Starbucks is one of very few chains which offers completely free milk alternatives.

In Costa for instance, soya is the only non-dairy milk you can buy free of charge. For oat or coconut, the customer must spend 45p.

A shot of syrup at Starbucks typically costs 50p, so you can save £1.50 a week based on having three drinks a week on average – that’s £6 a month, and £72 a year.

Of course, keep in mind that out calculations are based three coffees a week – the amount you save will vary based on how much you usually spend on coffee.

GET FREEBIES WITH STARBUCKS REWARDS – £72

Regular Starbucks customers can download the Starbucks app and collect points, which can be used to gain free rewards.

Dee said: “It pays to be loyal and Starbucks Rewards is quick and easy to use.”

Customers can collect three stars for every £1 spent, and when you reach 150 stars, you’ll get a free drink of any size.

If customers reach 450 stars, they will be rewarded with Gold status.

This means extra shots of espresso, selected syrups and whipped cream are all on the house. 

Each of these extras usually cost 50p, meaning you could save £s off a single purchase.

If you cashed in on these extras three times a week, you’d save £1.50 – that’s £6 a month, and £72 a year.

To begin collecting rewards, download the Starbucks app and sign up with your email address.

However, keep in mind that with all schemes such as these, the goal of the company is to get you spending more money.

If you become a rewards member, be sure to use it as a perk, and not an excuse to buy more coffees when you’re out of the house – otherwise you will lose money rather than saving it.

Also remember that having apps and email notifications from businesses like Starbucks may subconsciously encourage you to spend more money, so be mindful of marketing influences.

In moderation, rewards are much more enjoyable.

To find the nearest Starbucks near you, visit their website.

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