If you shop at Tesco, and don't have a Clubcard, then you are missing out. When you shop with a Tesco Clubcard, you'll not only get exclusive pricing on hundreds of grocery products, but you'll also earn points which can be turned into vouchers that can help cut the cost of everything from your food shop to days out with the family.

While Tesco might not be the absolute cheapest supermarket, it does offer a really good reward scheme with its Clubcard. Even if you don't shop at Tesco, it's a really good idea to sign up to your supermarket's loyalty scheme to access a host of perks.

Clubcard vouchers are valid for two years from when they were issued, although there is a trick you can try if you are worried about your Tesco vouchers expiring soon.

If you're not sure what to do with your vouchers, we've found 14 family-friendly ways you can spend them.

1. Save money on your groceries with Clubcard vouchers

One of the simplest ways to use your Clubcard vouchers is to get money off your grocery shop, whether you are shopping in-store or online. Just save up your Clubcard vouchers and enter the code online or show them at the till when you checkout.

But remember, you get more value from your Clubcard vouchers if you choose to spend them with a Tesco Reward Partner rather than in-store or online at Tesco.

2. Use your Tesco vouchers to get money off F+F clothing, including back-to-school basics

Save some cash and put your Clubcard vouchers towards clothing or shoes for the kids - or for you - at F+F. Tesco’s clothing range is great quality and excellent value so it’s well worth saving up your Clubcard vouchers and putting them towards some items for next season’s wardrobe. And when the time comes for school uniform shopping, Clubcard vouchers come in especially handy.

3. Use your Clubcard to cut your fuel costs

You can use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to save money on fuel when you fill up at any Tesco filling station. You can also use the vouchers at any Esso petrol station with a Tesco Express on site. So if you have a £5 Clubcard voucher, you could use it to get a fiver off your fuel bill.

4. Get Disney+ for three months with just £12 of Clubcard vouchers

Did you know you can exchange your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a Disney + subscription? And because Clubcard vouchers are worth two times more when you spend them with a Reward Partner instead of at Tesco, a Clubcard voucher worth £12 is actually worth £24 when you spent it with Disney+.

If you pay monthly, Disney+ costs £7.99 a month, so with just £12 worth of Clubcard vouchers, you can get three months of Disney+, worth £24. (There are other ways you can get Disney+ for free if you've not got enough vouchers.)

5. Pay less for an English Heritage membership with Clubcard vouchers

An English Heritage membership grants you unlimited access to more than 400 historic places - as well as free or reduced entry to seasonal events. And for every £1.50 you have in Clubcard vouchers, you can claim £3 off the cost of an English Heritage membership.

Individual Adult Membership costs £69 and includes free entry for up to six accompanying children under 18 within the family group. Visit the English Heritage Membership website for more information on using your Clubcard vouchers in this way.

6. Use your Clubcard vouchers to book a mini-break

Everyone loves a mini-break but hotels can be expensive. So why not save your Clubcard vouchers and put them towards a fun-filled family getaway? If you save up to £30 in Clubcard vouchers, you can exchange them for £60 off a booking with Cottages.com.

You can also get double the value of your Clubcard points when you trade them for a booking with selected hotels, including Best Western, Novotel, Mercure and Warner Leisure, where every £5 you collect in Clubcard vouchers counts as £10 off your booking. If you want to head across the Channel, you can also use vouchers to save on LeShuttle crossings. Heading to the airport, you can also use your vouchers to save on airport parking with APH. Check out the Clubcard website to find out more.

7. Get RAC breakdown cover using Tesco vouchers

Why not use your Clubcard points to save some money on something pricey but practical? The RAC offers breakdown cover for Tesco Clubcard members and you’ll get twice the value of your vouchers off the cost of breakdown cover. You can choose from three levels of cover - Standard, Advanced or Ultimate - and each includes roadside rescue wherever you break down.

If you don’t have enough vouchers to cover the full cost of the cover you wish to buy, you can top up using a debit or credit card. Returning Clubcard customers get the same prices as new Tesco Clubcard members, too.

8. Take the family to a theme park using your Clubcard vouchers

From Alton Towers to the Eden Project, you can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for Reward Partner codes to get money off adult and child general admission tickets for a range of fun family days out and experience days.

Participating theme parks include Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND Windsor, and Drayton Manor. You can also use Clubcard vouchers for a wide range of days out. Fancy checking out the view from The Shard, taking a London Open Top Bus Tour, or visiting the London Eye? Or how about a trip to London Zoo or a day out at Madame Tussauds in London or Blackpool?

There are so many trips and experience days on offer - you're spoiled for choice.

9. Use Tesco vouchers to save at Cineworld or Picturehouse cinemas

Your Clubcard vouchers are worth two times more than their value when you use them to pay in part or in full at Cineworld or Picturehouse cinemas. So for every 50p you earn in vouchers, you’ll get £1 off at these venues. You can also use your vouchers to purchase snacks or refreshments as well as cinema tickets.

Make sure you check out these other ways to bag cheap cinema tickets to keep the cost of your trip as low as possible.

10. Take the family out to eat for less with your Tesco vouchers

Give yourself the night off and use your Clubcard vouchers to take the family out for tea. For every 50p you earn in vouchers, you'll have £1 to use at the following restaurants:

• Pizza Express
• Bella Italia
• Cafe Rouge
• Prezzo
• Zizzi
• ASK Italian
• Hungry Horse pubs
• Chef & Brewer

11. Save money on train travel and Virgin flights with your Clubcard vouchers

If you're planning a day out for your family, or even a short trip abroad, you can bag some great discounts if you have a Clubcard. But before you book, factor in that you can use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to get money off flights and transport - including Eurotunnel and Railcard tickets.

With Virgin Atlantic, for example, you can turn every Clubcard point into 2 Virgin Points. That means £1.50 in Clubcard vouchers will bag you 300 Virgin Points. You need to be a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club member to participate, but it's quick and easy to create an account.

12. Use your Tesco vouchers to reduce your mobile phone bill

If you’re a Tesco Mobile customer, you can use your Clubcard vouchers to cut the cost of your monthly phone bill. Or you could use your vouchers to knock money off the upfront cost of a new pay monthly phone or SIM contract.

In addition, if you link your Tesco Mobile phone to your Clubcard you’ll earn a Clubcard point for every pound you spend on your phone bill.

It’s easy to convert your Clubcard vouchers into Tesco Mobile partner vouchers - you can do it in the Clubcard app or on the website.

13. Buy something for a special occasion using your Clubcard vouchers

Whether it's for a birthday present or a special life event like a wedding, jewellery is a luxury that often comes with a hefty price tag. But there's no shame in boosting your value for money by putting your Clubcard vouchers towards your purchase. You can exchange your vouchers for twice their value on lots of brands (some exclusions apply) in one of 100 Goldsmiths jewellers in the UK. However, you'll need to shop in person as you can't exchange the vouchers online.

14. Use your Tesco vouchers to donate to a good cause

You can also use your Clubcard vouchers to donate to a selection of charities including The British Heart Foundation, WWF, British Red Cross, Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK. Simply sign into the Clubcard website to use your vouchers to make a donation.

How to collect Clubcard points

When you collect Clubcard points (by shopping in-store or online), you'll earn one point for every pound you spend, and once you've earned 150 points, you'll get a Clubcard voucher worth £1.50. You can save your vouchers up and use them to get money off your food shop or exchange them for twice their value on other goods or experiences through Tesco Reward Partners. Vouchers used to be worth triple their value when spent with reward partners, but the rules changed in 2023.

Finally, if you've just remembered that you're a Clubcard member but don't know what you've done with your vouchers, remember that you can reclaim up to two years' worth of lost Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Knowing how to get Disney+ for free is a pretty nifty trick, especially when you realise that the streaming giant is no longer offering free trials to new customers.

TV streaming has become a regular outgoing for thousands of families, but the cost of living crisis means many people will be looking for ways to cut the cost of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. However, as well as reducing the cost, you might be able to get Disney+ and other streaming services for free. This might be especially useful, now that the streamer is cracking down on password sharing.

Disney+ launched in the UK on 24 March 2020, just as the country went into lockdown and saw 73.7 million subscribers in its first year alone. By April 2023, that number has risen to 157.8 million, although it has since fallen back to about 150 million worldwide.

Housing Disney classics, like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, as well as newer family-favourites like Encanto, Wish and Moana, Disney+ is also home to all the Marvel movies, like Iron Man, Thor and Black Panther, in addition to popular series for adults including The Bear and Only Murders in the Building.

With more than six million households signed up to more than one streaming service (according to Finder) telly-watching can be an expensive pastime. Here we look at how you can save by taking advantage of free subscription offers.

How to get Disney+ for free

While Disney+ no longer offers a free trial to customers in the UK, there are a few clever ways to get anything from two to 12 months of Disney+ for free. If you already have Disney+, you may have to cancel your subscription before taking advantage of the three, six and 12 month free offers mentioned in this article.

Personal finance expert Andrew Hagger from money website MoneyComms adds: “There are so many streaming services to choose from now, you can easily lose track of just how much you're paying out each month in total.

“With many people still struggling due to the cost of living crisis and higher bills, now may be a good time to review what you're paying for and how much you use each one – if you don't want to ditch any, consider downgrading to a plan with ads – it may be a bit more annoying, but it will certainly benefit your bank balance.”

How to get up to two months Disney+ for free

Pay the annual subscription fee: You can get two months of Disney+ for free simply by opting for an annual subscription instead of a monthly one.

A Standard subscription costs £7.99 per month (and means you will pay £95.88 over the course of a year). But if you pay up front in one go, it costs £79.90. This is the equivalent of only paying your subscription for 10 months of the year, meaning you get two months for free.

Disney+'s newer Premium subscription costs £10.99 a month, which adds up to £131.88 a year. But if you pay for a year up front it costs £109.90, which, again, is the equivalent of two months free.

Use a cashback site: Paying for your Disney+ subscription through cashback site TopCashback means you'll get up to £11.55 back, which can help to reduce the cost of your subscription. The amount you get back will depend on which subscription package you choose and whether you opt to pay the annual fee in one go or pay it monthly. All of the details can be found on the TopCashback website.

It's worth remembering that you can use the cashback site for loads of retailers to effectively save money everytime you shop online.

How to get three months Disney+ for free

Use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers: If you have a Tesco Clubcard, you can use your vouchers to get a three-month Disney+ subscription. Remember, you get two times the value of your vouchers when you spend with one of Tesco's Reward Partners, which includes Disney+.

There are two options:

• Use £7.50 of Clubcard vouchers to get three months of Disney+ Standard with ads (worth £14.97)
• Use £12 of Clubcard vouchers to get three months of Disney+ Standard (worth £23.97)

If you don't fancy Disney+, there are plenty of other ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, on things like cinema tickets, holidays, and days out.

How to get four months free Disney+

Opt for a plan that includes ads: Disney+ offers a selection of subscription plans, including one where you'll get all the same programmes and films, with some ads in between.

If you go from an annual subscription for £79.90 to a standard (with ads) subscription for £4.99 per month (which works out as £59.88 over 12 months) - you'll save £20.02, which is the equivalent of getting four months of the standard with ads plan for free.

How to get six months free Disney+

Add it to your O2 account: If you are an O2 customer, you could get six months of Disney+ for free when you upgrade. You simply add it to your account as an extra when you upgrade to a new handset or SIM-only deal, and once the six months are over, you can continue to pay the £7.99 monthly fee with the rest of your mobile bill.

All is not lost if you don't want to upgrade. Existing customers can add the Disney+ Extra to their account and pay £7.99 a month for the Disney+ Premium plan (normally £10.99) and O2 will also give you £2 off your bill.

This deal isn't limited to six months like the free offer, and over the course of a year, works out to about £14 cheaper than paying the annual subscription fee as the table below shows:

Samsung used to offer six of 12 months free Disney+ access to customers with an eligible device , but that offer is no longer available, having ended on 31 March 2024.

How to get 12 months free Disney+

As a benefit to a Club Lloyds bank account: If you bank with Lloyds and are a Club Lloyds member, you get a choice of lifestyle benefits, which includes a 12 month-subscription to Disney+. If you opt for this perk, you'll get a year's worth of the standard-with-ads plan, which is worth £4.99 per month, or £59.88 a year. The Lloyds website states that right now, you're not able to upgrade to ad-free plans with this perk, so bear that in mind before you commit.

As a perk of Uber One membership: If you regular travel by Uber and order food via Uber Eats, then you may benefit from becoming an Uber One member (£5.99 per month). You'll get a host of perks including free delivery (where eligible) and exclusive discounts. But if you sign up for an annual Uber One membership (£59.99 per year), then you'll get 12 months of Disney+ (standard plan, worth £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year) for free. After that, it will auto-renew unless you cancel it. This promotion is available until 30 November 2024. If you cancel your Uber One subscription, you may also lose your Disney+ access.

How much does Disney+ normally cost?

How much Disney+ costs depends on which subscription type you pick. The streaming service introduced a new pricing strategy on 1 November 2023. Up until this date it offered just one subscription at £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year if you paid in one go. Its cheapest price is now a £4.99 a month deal if you’re happy to watch adverts.

Disney+ has three subscription options:

• Standard with Ads: £4.99 per month (no annual option). Allows for two concurrent streams; full HD 1080p resolution, 5.1 and Stereo sound. No download functionality.
• Disney+ Standard: £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year. Allows for two concurrent streams; full HD 1080p resolution, and 5.1 and Stereo sound. Download functionality and no adverts.
• Disney+ Premium: £10.99 per month or £109.90 per year. Allows for four concurrent streams; 4K UHD and HDR, and superior Dolby Atmos audio. Download functionality and no adverts.

Existing subscribers were automatically switched to the £10.99 a month option – an increase of £3 a month – unless they actively changed their subscription in their account settings.

 Does Disney+ offer a free trial? 

Disney+ no longer offers a free trial to new customers. When the streaming service first launched in the UK in March 2020, it came with a seven-day free trial to encourage new subscribers. But the freebie was only available for a few months – it was scrapped in June 2020 ahead of the Hamilton and Frozen 2 premieres.

Newer streaming services like Apple TV+ and Paramount+ offer short free trials for new customers, but out of the bigger streaming services like Disney+, Netflix and Amazon Prime, it's only Amazon Prime that still offers a free trial.

Is Disney+ free with with Amazon Prime?

Disney+ isn't free as part of your Amazon Prime subscription - it's a separate streaming service. However, you might find some shows or movies are available on both platforms, although you might have to pay for it. For example, Marvel movies are available for free as part of a Disney+ subscription, but you will need to pay extra (on top of your Amazon Prime subscription fee) to be able to watch them through Prime Video.

It's worth also understanding the hidden benefits of a Prime membership, if you are trying to decide which streaming service to choose.

Which streaming services offer free trials?

Out of the big hitter streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, it's only Amazon Prime that offers a free trial. That trial lasts 30 days.

Max Beckett, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Unfortunately, two of the biggest streaming services, Netflix and Disney+, no longer offer free trials to new customers. However, there are still lots of other big streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, NOW TV, and BritBox, that offer the chance to try before you buy.

“You may have signed up for more streaming services than you realise, with many running in the background and costing you money each month without you actually watching anything on those platforms. So it’s a good idea to set reminders in your calendar when you sign up for free trials if you decide that you don’t want to pay for the full subscription.”

Apple TV+ and Paramount+ both offer seven day free trials. Don't forget too, that if you buy an Apple product, like an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, you will get anything from three to 12 months free Apple TV+ access.

If you are a fan of Netflix, make sure you are aware of the streamer's ban on password sharing to avoid falling fowl of new rules.

As families and supermarkets prepare for one of the busiest times of the year with millions of online grocery orders expected to be placed, a study of customer reviews has revealed the supermarket that's been branded the worst for Christmas food orders.

Marks and Spencer recently opened its Christmas Food to Order slots and other supermarkets are expected to soon follow suit, with Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons having announced that their delivery slots will be available to book in October. Shoppers at Tesco, meanwhile, will be able to reserve a slot before the end of November. 

But no matter how organised you are ahead of the festive season, whether it's tracking down the cheapest supermarket, buying the best chocolate advent calendars, or shopping party food for quick and easy canapes, there's always room for something to go wrong.

And last Christmas, both home deliveries and click-and-collect orders were plagued by chaos. Food shortages, missed deliveries and bizarre substitutions were rife. Some unlucky customers were forced to skip Christmas dinner altogether. 

With this in mind, researchers at Britsuperstore have taken to Trustpilot and analysed reviews from some of our favourite supermarkets to find the very best - and worst - for Christmas deliveries. And the results might just change the way you do your shopping this year...

3 worst supermarkets for Christmas home delivery

1. Asda - It received 343 reviews, of which 196 of them (57.1%) were complaints about food delivery.
2. Iceland - It received 97 reviews and of those, 42  (43.3%) were complaints about delivery.
3. Waitrose - It received 89 reviews with 36 of these (40.4%) related to complaints about delivery. 

To conduct the study, Britsuperstore used the review platform Trustpilot to analyse reviews from eight UK supermarkets, specifically selecting reviews from the Christmas period. It recorded complaints which criticised Christmas delivery and represented this number as a percentage of total reviews.

But it's not all doom and gloom, there are some supermarkets who have delighted shoppers with their home delivery service standards.

3 best supermarkets for Christmas home delivery

1. Tesco - It received a total of 408 reviews, of which 44 of these (10.8%) were complaints about delivery, making it the best choice for Christmas food delivery. 
2. Co-op - The food retail company received 65 reviews, of which 11 of these (16.9%) were complaints about delivery.
3. Aldi - Despite being relatively new to the home delivery service, of which home delivery isn't yet available nationwide, in some locations it's only click and collect, Aldi has received 134 reviews and 43 of these (32.1%) were complaints about home delivery.

Richard Price, director of Britsuperstore, reveals his top tips for securing a Christmas supermarket delivery slot:

• Plan ahead: "Planning ahead is key. Try to organise your grocery shopping before delivery slots open. Take into account the number of guests you plan to have over Christmas and the number of meals you expect to make. Knowing when you need a delivery slot and being able to act quickly can make it much easier to secure one when the time comes."
• Try to be flexible: "If at all possible, try to be flexible with your delivery preferences. If you can get to the shop, consider booking a click-and-collect slot instead, as these are typically more widely accessible. Explore different supermarkets. These may have more slots available. Buying at a local independent store is also a good option. These might be slightly pricier, but are likely less in demand.”  
• Monitor queues: "During peak times, there might be online queues to book a delivery slot. Try checking early in the morning when queues might be shorter.”
• Look for cancellations: "Check the supermarket’s website regularly, as previously booked slots may occasionally become available as a result of cancellations. Some offer notifications.” 
• Consider joining a loyalty programme: "By becoming a member of a loyalty program, you’ll likely be able to access a greater number of delivery slots, and with priority access, too. Act quickly, and ask in-store or visit a supermarket’s website.”

In other food news, you'll only need 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to make this Halloween treat - and it's easy for kids to make too, some shoppers are wondering what is Glowberry Prime? ahead of it appearing in Aldi Specialbuys and Aldi is bringing back its Le Creuset dupe Pumpkin casserole dish - for under £17.

When you’re stocking up on groceries midweek, it’s normally much easier to head somewhere like a Tesco Express, than out of town to a big Tesco. But will you pay more by taking the convenient option?  I'm a money expert and also a parent to two boys, and I've hit my local Tesco and Tesco Express to compare two identical baskets to see if Tesco Express is more expensive. 

Using the cheapest supermarket is one of the easiest methods I use to cut the cost of my food shop, (and remembering to take my supermarket loyalty card to maximise any perks I get). But after investigating whether Aldi or Lidl is cheaper, I was wondering whether Tesco Express was actually more expensive than the main Tesco supermarket. So I did the same quick shop at each to compare. (We've also compared whether Waitrose is more expensive than M&S Food if you prefer a premium supermarket.)

As a quick bit of context, my list is made up of 15 items I regularly buy to feed my family of four. It includes items like bread, cheese, fruit and snacks for the kids’ lunches, chicken and curry sauces for dinner as well as squash, milk, juice and lemonade which my teen and tween boys consume at an astounding rate. I also threw in a bar of Cadbury chocolate for me (fruit and nut, my secret weapon to stop the kids eating it).

Is Tesco cheaper than Tesco Express? 

Tesco is cheaper than Tesco Express, and I wasn't surprised. After all, it's a universal truth that convenience comes at a price. In terms of actual costs, the Tesco Express shop cost £29.85, compared to £25.99 at Tesco, a difference of £3.86 or 15%.

The differences came down to two key factors. Firstly was that most like-for-like items were simply more expensive in Tesco Express - 15p on identical chicken breasts, 45p on Bear Yo-Yos, 35p on Andrex toilet roll and 20p on curry sauce.

Secondly, unsurprisingly for a smaller store, there wasn’t as much choice in Tesco Express, so in some cases I had to go for a pricier branded option. My local Tesco Express, for example, didn’t stock own-brand lemonade or easy peelers. It also didn’t stock the cheaper budget brands that are price matched to Aldi, like the Growers Harvest apple juice which is a bargain at 89p - that's 36p cheaper than Tesco own brand.

Here's how the specific prices of individual items compared:

Prices correct on 6th September 2023

Should you stop using convenience stores?

Popping into Tesco Express for a pint of milk or a pizza when you’re in a hurry will always be an easier option than driving further afield, even if you do end paying a bit more. Not only is it more hassle but there’s a higher chance that you’ll end up buying things that aren’t on your list too.

However, if you’re filling a basket (or worse, a trolley) in Tesco Express it’s likely you’ll spend a fair amount more than you would driving to your nearest Tesco.

But if you can’t face that – and regularly find yourself stocking up between big shops – it can help to step up your meal planning. By working out exactly what you’ll eat, being realistic about how much essential day-to-day food you’ll get through and writing a list, you can make sure you get all the food you need in one weekly shop (and save yourself a fortune in the process). 

 Are Tesco Clubcard prices cheaper? 

Whether you’re shopping at Tesco or Tesco Express, you’ll see that some products have a cheaper price for customers with a Clubcard. 

Clubcard prices are a canny way for Tesco to get more customers to scan their Clubcard at check out or sign up to the loyalty programme if they haven’t already. Tesco claims Clubcard prices could save regular shoppers as much as £351 over a year, but do they actually offer customers a good deal?

To find out I compared the discounts with what’s available at other supermarkets. The first thing I noticed about Clubcard prices was that they tend to focus on branded items (although there were some Tesco products available) and even though the discounts looked good initially, if you really want to cut your spend, a cheaper option would always be available.

And, while there were some essentials on offer, like toilet roll, a lot of the promotions were on products you might like to throw into your trolley but weren’t ‘must-buys’, which doesn’t help those trying to drastically reduce their shopping bill.

Take the example of a four-pack of Andrex Quilted toilet roll, with a Clubcard price of £3. I could still get four Andrex Classic Clean rolls for £2.85 or four luxury soft Tesco toilet rolls for £1.79.

Similarly, when I compared the Clubcard prices with deals at rival supermarkets, I saw that the product was often on offer too, taking the shine off the Clubcard price. If I really wanted the Andrex quilted rolls, Morrisons was charging £3 too (without needing a loyalty card) or I could get them even cheaper at Asda for £2.85.

Prices correct on 6th September 2023

That’s not to say that no Clubcard deals out did their rivals. The Clubcard price for Petit Filous fromage frais trumped all the other deals we looked at, while 70p for a single can of Heinz Baked Beans is great value too, even outdoing Morrisons’ five cans for a fiver offer.

Nonetheless, the findings do confirm that supermarket pricing is something of a ‘dark art’. Savvy shoppers can certainly save but it’s important not to assume that you’re always getting the best deal. For supermarkets, after all, it’s all about getting shoppers through the door and spending. 

If you want to know how to save money on food, it's also worth understanding the sneaky tricks supermarkets use to get you to spend more. And if you are a Clubcard member, make sure you know how to collect more Clubcard points, and what you can spend your Clubcard vouchers on to make the most of the perks you get from the loyalty scheme. 

Asda, Sainsbury's and Aldi has joined Tesco by recalling some of its popular chilled pastry products over fears they may contain pieces of metal and plastic.

The three supermarket giants are among the latest stores to be involved in the urgent recall from The Compleat Food Group alongside the Food Standards Agency and it affects some of its pastry food items.

The recall comes after Tesco issued A Free from recall last month and both Tesco and home Bargains recalled a popular condiment and a Lentil Chips recall was issued earlier in 2023.

The following foods that have been declared "unsafe to eat" include popular pastry slices, snack pack sausage rolls and pies. 

Anyone who has bought these items are being asked to check the pack size and best-before dates against the affected products recalled.

Tesco was first to issue a recall notice to its customers explaining why the products are being recalled and what they can do if they have purchased any of the items.

It advises, "Please do not consume these products and return them to store where a full refund will be given. No receipt is required."

It added, "Tesco apologises to our customers for any inconvenience caused. If you require further details, please contact Customer Services directly on: UK: 0800 505 555."

Aldi customers are asked to return the product to their nearest store for a full refund, or contact customer services on UK: 0800, 042 0800.

Asda customers are told, "Bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund. You do not need your receipt" or call Asda Customer Relations on UK: 0800 9520101.

And Sainsbury's customers are also asked to return the items to store or contact its Careline on UK: 0800 0288303.

Which chilled pastry items have been recalled? Full list

Asda

• Asda two Chicken Tikka Slices, 300g, Use by 04 September 2023 
• Asda Two Steak Slices, 300g, Use by 03 September 2023
• Asda 10 Snack Pork Sausage Rolls, 600g, Use by 05 September 2023
• Asda 12 Snack Pork Sausage Rolls, 620g, Use by 05 September 2023
• Asda 20 Snack Pork Sausage Rolls, 620g, Use By 05 September 2023
• Asda Extra Special 6 Wykes Farm Extra Mature Cheddar and Caramelised Onion Chutney rolls, 4x47g, Use by 04 September 2023
• Asda Extra Special 6 Wykes Farm Extra Mature Cheddar and Caramelised Onion Chutney rolls, 4x47g, Use by 04 September 2023
• Asda 2 Salt and Pepper Chilli Chicken Slices, 300g, Best Before 04 September 2023
• Asda Mini Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls, 7x24g, Best Before 04 September 2023
• Asda Pesto and Mozzarella Pinwheels, 8x11g, Use By 30 August 2023
• Asda 6 Cheese and Onion Rolls, 360g, Use By 03 September and 04 September 2023
• Asda Deep Filled Chicken and Gravy Puff Pastry Pie, 500g, Use by 31 August 2023, and 02 September 2023
• Asda 12 Snack Cheese and Onion Rolls, 360g, Use by 04 September 2023
• Asda 6 Snack Pork Sausage Rolls, 360g, Use by 04 September 2023

Sainsbury's

• By Sainsbury’s 9 Cheese and Bacon Snack Rolls - 270g, Use by 01 September 2023
• By Sainsbury’s 2 Cheese and Onion Rolls - 120g, Use by 31 August 2023
• By Sainsbury’s 6 Cheese and Onion Rolls - 360g, Use by31 August 2023
• By Sainsbury’s 20 Mini Sausage Rolls, 200g, Use by 31 August, 2023
• By Sainsbury’s 38 Mini Sausage Rolls, 380g, Use by 31 August 2023
• By Sainsbury’s 9 Pork Snack Rolls, 270g, Use by 01 September 2023

Aldi

• Aldi Crestwood Cheese and Onion Rolls, 360g, Use By 01 September 2023

Tesco

• Tesco six Cheese and Onion Rolls - 360g, Best Before 31 August 2023
• Tesco finest Steak and Ale Pie - 250g, Best Before 01 September 2023
• Tesco nine Mini Pork Sausage Rolls - 270g, Best Before 30 August 2023 
• Tesco 20 Mini Sausage Rolls - 200g, Best Before 29 August 2023

The Food Standards Agency issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to advise members of the public and local authorities know about problems associated food. Such problems result in an item being taken off the shelves or returned by customers.

In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.

If you'd like to know how to make sausage rolls try this sausage and onion roll recipe or this Hairy Bikers Steak and Ale Pie and for a meat free option there's this vegetarian sausage rolls recipe.

With millions of Tesco vouchers expiring - they're only valid for two years - we share how to make them last longer by using this clever 'renew or lose' trick.

Tesco Clubcard remains one of the most popular supermarket loyalty cards for shoppers, despite Tesco introducing a major change in June this year. The change, which took effect on 14 June 2023, means that Clubcard vouchers can now only be exchanged for two times their value with Tesco Reward Partners, rather than the previous three. In other words, a £5 voucher can now only be exchanged for £10 instead of £15.

These Clubcard points can then be exchanged for vouchers, to do this you’ll need to earn a minimum of 150 points (you earn points just by swiping or scanning your Clubcard when you shop)  - 150 points will give you £1.50 in vouchers. You can then use your vouchers to save money in Tesco stores or at Tesco petrol filling stations. Or, the more cost-effective option is to exchange them for two times their value with Tesco’s Reward Partners.  

There’s a wide range of ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, from days out to trips abroad to eating out. I’ve already saved £495 this year by using my Clubcard vouchers on LeShuttle journeys. So the last thing you want to do is forget to use up your Tesco vouchers before they’ve expired. Goodto.com’s Money Editor, Sarah Handley, says; “Tesco Clubcard vouchers can offer valuable savings at a time when the high cost of living is eating into household budgets. This means that if your vouchers are near to expiring, it’s important to know how to extend their lifespan.”

Tesco vouchers expiring? Act fast to extend their lifespan

If your Clubcard vouchers are approaching their expiry date, there is a clever way to extend that date for another two years, meaning you don’t have to miss out (more on this below). But you are not able to renew Tesco Clubcard vouchers after their two year lifespan - after that point, you won’t be able to use or renew them. 

It’s also possible to reclaim lost and unused Tesco vouchers from the last two years. Log in to the Tesco Clubcard website and click on My Clubcard account and then find the vouchers tab. There you will find all of the vouchers that have been issued to you in the last two years so you can go ahead and spend them online or in store. 

How can I make Tesco vouchers last longer? 

1. Use your soon-to-be expired vouchers to make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard website. The purchase must be less than the value of your voucher
2. Your change will be credited to your Clubcard account in the form of points, which will then be generated into new vouchers with a two-year lifespan.

If you’ve discovered your Tesco vouchers are expiring, there is a nifty trick you can use to make them last longer. To do this, you need to use your expiring vouchers to make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard website. Note, that this won’t work if you do it in store or on the Tesco grocery website.

Once you’ve made your purchase, the remaining balance is credited back to you, as personal finance expert and co-founder of price tracking website alertr.co.uk, Andy Barr explains: “The rest of the balance that was on your voucher is added back into your account as points. Then, it’ll be generated into new vouchers, so you can keep those points for another two years.”

As an example, if you had a £10 voucher and you made a purchase for 50p, you’d then receive a new £9.50 Clubcard voucher that would last for another two years. 

To get the most value from this trick, you want to keep your purchase on the Clubcard website as small as possible. The minimum spend is 50p, and this can be traded up to £1. You might choose to spend your 50p on restaurant vouchers, such as for Prezzo or Pizza Express, but there are other options too, including theme park visits and English Heritage membership. 

The drawback is that you’ll need to make a purchase for each voucher you have, which means it’s best suited to vouchers that are worth a decent amount - say £5 or £10. If you have lots of £1 vouchers, it probably won’t be worth the effort.

How can I check if my Tesco vouchers are about to expire?  

1. If you have a paper voucher, the expiry date should be printed on it
2. For digital vouchers, go to the Tesco Clubcard website
3. Select 'Clubcard account'
4. Then click 'Vouchers'
5. Then log in. You will need to have a Tesco.com account and know your Clubcard number.

If you’re not sure exactly when your Tesco vouchers expire and you have the vouchers in paper format, simply check the voucher itself as the expiry date should be printed there. Alternatively, as many people now have digital vouchers, you can check the expiry dates of those vouchers on the Tesco Clubcard website. Simply select ‘Clubcard account’ and then click on ‘Vouchers’ and log in. 

CEO and founder of freebie website Latest Free Stuff, Deepak Tailor, says: “You'll need to have a registered Tesco.com account and know your Clubcard number, which can be found on your Clubcard or Clubcard key fob. This will allow you to view a table listing your available vouchers and their respective expiry dates.”

You can also check via the Tesco Clubcard app (which you can download for free from the App Store or Google Play. Just head to the vouchers tab and you should be able to see the expiration date of your vouchers. 

 Can I still use out of date Tesco vouchers? 

You won’t usually be able to use out-of-date Tesco Clubcard vouchers after their two-year expiry date. 

However, Deepak Tailor from Latest Free Stuff says: “If you speak to the customer services team and have an exceptional reason for why you didn't use it then there might be a possibility to extend the vouchers. This is judged on a case-by-case basis.” 

To get even more from your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, make sure you know how to collect more Tesco Clubcard points. If you're wanting to save money on your food shop, make sure you know which is the cheapest supermarket, including whether Aldi is cheaper than Lidl. If you prefer a premium supermarket, we've also done an experiment to see if Waitrose is more expensive than M&S Food.

Where do kids eat free this summer? We've got the lowdown on restaurants and eateries offering free food for kids or child-friendly meals for just £1, throughout the summer holidays.

While you might find some cheap things to do with kids over the summer, school holidays usually mean the family budget is stretched thin. And with the unpredictable British weather, you might find you need to plan some last-minute indoor activities. If that sounds familiar you're not alone, and there are lots of ways that you can save money in the school holidays.

To help give you some inexpensive ideas, we've compiled this list of all the places kids eat free (or for just £1), so you can save money on keeping the kids fed. Our handy guide to the many great kid's dining deals you need to be aware of this summer holiday takes the stress out of hunting them down yourself. This will help to squeeze a little extra out of the weekly shop, and help you save some extra cash in the process.

Where do kids eat free?

1. Angus Steak House

When? Daily until 1 September 2024

Kids under eight eat free when accompanied by a full-price paying adult.

2. Barbican Kitchen, London

When? Ongoing

At London's Barbican Kitchen, children under 10 can get a free kid’s meal from the children's menu with every adult meal over the value of £10 purchased.

3. Beefeater

When? Ongoing

Two kids under 16 eat breakfast for FREE with every adult breakfast purchased.

4. Bella Italia

When? Sunday - Thursday

Kids eat free all day Thursday, or for just £1 between 4 and 6pm Sunday-Wednesday.

5. Bills

When? Weekdays until 30 August 2024

Up to two kids aged 10 and under can eat free ALL DAY until Friday 30 August (excluding Saturday & Sunday), if one adult orders any main dish (breakfast, lunch or dinner).

6. Brewers Fayre

When? Ongoing

For every adult purchasing breakfast, TWO kids under 16 can eat breakfast for free. For more: brewersfayre.co.uk/en-gb/school-holidays

7. Burger King

When? From 19 August to 4 September 2024

Kids can get a free King Jr meal when an adult buys a burger meal via the Burger King App (which is available on Google Play and the App Store). Offer is not valid at Burger King's in motorway services, airports, train stations or holiday parks. And can only be used once per transaction.

8. Dobbies Garden Centres

When? Daily from 12 noon until 3pm

Get a free kid’s meal (from the children’s breakfast or lunch menu) per adult traditional or vegetarian main course lunch purchased. Offer is available daily from 12 noon until 3pm. £1 supplement applies to kid’s roast dinner on Sundays. Offer valid in Dobbies Restaurants with the exception of Beaconsfield, Hungerford, Keston, Andover, Lelant, Marple, Reading, York & Anchorwood.

9. Dunelm

When? Daily after 3pm

For every £4 spent in the Dunelm Pausa Cafe, kids can eat one mini main, two snacks and a drink for free. This offer is available after 3pm.

10. English Heritage sites

When? Ongoing

if you are an English Heritage member and spend at least £10 in participating cafes, you'll get two free child's lunch bags, including a sandwich, snack, sweet treat, juice box and fruit. Children must be under 18, and present at the time of purchase, and you must show a valid membership card.

11. Future Inns

When? Ongoing

At Future Inns in Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth, under 5's always eat for free with any meal purchased by an adult. This includes breakfast, lunch and evening dinner.

12. Gordon Ramsay Restaurants

When? Ongoing

Kids aged 8 and under can eat free from the Ramsay kids menu when ordering an adult main meal from the a la carte menu. There is also the option to add a sweet treat for dessert for just £3.50 extra. Available at selected UK restaurants only – BSK Battersea Power station (weekdays only), Heddon Street Kitchen (weekdays only), all Bread Street Kitchen & Bars, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, and Pizza East

13. Heathrow Airport

When? Until 1 September 2024

If you're flying between now and 1 September 2024, then remember that kids eat free when an adult chooses an item from the main menu. Participating restaurants only.

14. Morrisons Cafe

When? Ongoing

Kids under 16 eat free at Morrisons Cafe when an adult spends £5 or more on a meal. This is an ongoing offer.

15. OK Diners

When? Ongoing

For every adult purchasing a main course from the a la carte menu, a child under 10 can eat free from the children’s menu. This offer is available all day every day at all OK diners except those on the A1. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion.

16. Premier Inn

When? Ongoing

Interesting fact, you don't have to be staying to tuck into breakfast at a Premier Inn. Which is just as well as up to two under-16s can eat breakfast for free when one adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast or a Meal Deal.

17. Preto

When? Weekdays from 4pm

This Brazilian restaurant has an ongoing offer that kids (up to 10 years old and proof of age might be requested) eat free every week day from 4pm, with a maximum of one child for full-paying adult. You'll need to download a voucher and show it to a member of staff.

18. Purezza

When? Ongoing

For every full-paying adult at vegan Purezza pizzerias in Brighton, Hove, London, Bristol and Manchester, one child under 10 can choose a free mini pizza.

19. Sainsbury's Cafe

When? Daily from 11.30am

Kids eat a hot meal or lunch bag (kid's mains include one main, three sides and a piece of fruit) for free with every purchase of a hot adult meal over £5.50.

20. Subway

When? Daily until 25 August 2024

Get a free 4” Sub, snack, and drink, with any full price Footlong Sub or SubMelt, at participating venues.

21. The Real Greek

When? Ongoing

Get a free Kids Meal for every £10 spent by an adult. Offer includes Kids meal from Kids Menu, drink and ice cream/sorbet. One free kids’ meal per adult only. Available to all children under 12.

22. Tesco Cafe

When? Until 30 August 2024 (16 August in Scotland)

Get a free kids' hot Meal Deal, kids' breakfast or kids' Pick ‘n’ Mix deal per any adult item purchased in The Café for dine-in.

23. TGI Fridays

When? Ongoing

Kids eat free all day every day when Stripes Rewards Members purchase a full priced adults main meal. If you're not a Rewards Member, download the app before your visit and still claim your free food.

24. Travelodge

When? Ongoing

Up to two children aged 15 and under eat breakfast free per paying adult (excludes breakfast boxes).

25. YO! Sushi!

When? Weekdays until 30 August 2024

Kids aged 12 and under eat free all day (weekdays only), when dining with a full-paying adult (£10 minimum spend).

26. Whitbread Inns

When? Ongoing

Two children under 16 can eat breakfast for free with every adult breakfast purchased at any Whitbread Inns pub or restaurant.

In addition kids can eat for £1 at the following places:

1. Asda Cafe

When? Ongoing until end of 2024

Asda's Kids Eat for £1 all day, every day, will now continue until the end of 2024. Asda also provides free Ella's baby food pouches for children under 18 months with any purchase.

2. SA Brains Pubs

When? Wednesdays

On Wednesdays all day, kids can eat for £1 with every adult meal purchased.

3. Bella Italia

When? 4 - 6pm Sunday to Wednesday

Kids can eat for just £1 at Bella Italia with the purchase of any adult main meal.

4. Hungry Horse

When? Mondays only

Kids can eat for £1 with every adult meal purchased on Mondays only at Hungry Horse.

5. Sizzling Pubs

When? Monday to Friday, from 3pm

Choose from kid-friendly favourites like fish fingers, pasta, chicken wraps, pizza and veggie nuggets. For every adult 'sizzling meal', you’ll also get a kid’s main meal for £1.

Alternatively, if you can't afford to eat out there are some great meal-saving ideas below that will help you shop well for less.

How to feed the family for less

1. Make a list of household items you have

While making a list tells you what you need to get, it doesn’t tell you what you don’t need. You can shave a little off your shop each week by checking what you’ve already got at home. If you’re looking for a cheap food shop, this is also a good way to plan your meals. Rather than going for something that will require you to buy a whole host of new ingredients, take a look at what’s in the cupboard, fridge, or freezer, and base your meal plans around your existing ingredients.

2. Plan out meals for the week

Planning your meals is a must if you’re trying to shop on a budget, try money-saving store cupboard meal recipes and look up clever food hacks to keep our food fresher for longer. Making these changes means you can buy only what you need and make sure you’re not wasting money on food that will end up in the bin or uneaten. It enables you to focus on the items that you actually need rather than browsing the aisles and picking up whatever takes your fancy.

You can also add up how much the shop will be online and make adjustments if needed to manage your money using a spreadsheet, budgeting current account or app. The UK currently produces the highest amount of food waste in Europe, throwing out around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in just one year. Planning your meals effectively will help reduce the impact of food remaining unused with so many living in food poverty.

3. Stock up on the cheap basics

Most supermarkets do their own brand or cheaper version of essential items such as tinned tomatoes, beans, rice and pasta. You can often buy them in bulk or in much larger quantities, meaning that you can use them as staples for your meals for many weeks to come. Frozen fruit and vegetables are a cheaper alternative to fresh, and can be just as nutritious, as well as less wasteful.

Spices and dried herbs are another good shout when it comes to keeping your costs down, as they are relatively cheap and can save you from having to buy more expensive sauces or marinades. For an even cheaper shop, look for versions of these essentials in the world foods aisle.

4. Try to batch cook

Batch cooking is a great way to save money at the supermarket. Many people find this to be the case as batch cooking uses more individual ingredients, which tend to make for a much cheaper shop than ready meals. Ingredients will also stretch further in batch cooking with just a few simple additions, check out these best batch cooking recipes.

Sometimes batch cooking can mean that you end up eating the same meal over and over again. If you want to avoid this, try freezing some of your portions to have another week. It will also save you time, giving you more chances to explore the great outdoors.

5. Search for money off coupons online

Weekly food shops can be very expensive no matter how much you budget and plan. To try and reduce the costs, have a search for any coupons or discounts for supermarkets in your area. Printable coupons used to be the most commonly found, but in this digital age, finding them online and via apps is the most popular way of accessing them.

To find extra coupons and if your inbox can take it, signing up to newsletters can occasionally come with the reward of birthday freebies or money off vouchers for certain celebrations and occasions. Vouchercloud often has a list of the discounts available for the week ahead, and there are loads of other websites offering similar coupons or advice on how to get supermarket groceries for free.

6. Use reduced sections in supermarkets

If you aren’t too fussed about what you’ll be eating in the week ahead, the reduced section could be your best friend when it comes to saving on your shop. Larger supermarkets will often have plenty of reductions on items set to expire, and so you can pick up a few things to last you the week at a fraction of the cost.

The times supermarkets place the yellow "reduced" stickers on food can vary - although it is usually early in the morning, or into the evening just prior to closing. It's best to research when your local supermarket is likely to add the stickers, to enable you to go in at an optimum time and pick up the best bargains.

7. Try one meat-free day a week

Reducing your meat consumption can be beneficial for your wallet as well as your health and the environment. By switching out meat just one day a week, you could halve the price of one of your meals and reduce overall shopping bills by 1/3. This is another money-saving option that is also good for the planet, reducing emissions, deforestation and soil degradation.

Information from Oxford University shows that Vegan diets were the most likely to reduce food bills by one third, with vegetarian diets coming a close second. Flexitarian diets with low meat and dairy content reduced costs by 14 per cent. They concluded that pescatarian diets actually increased costs by up to two per cent.

Eat seasonally

Eating seasonally doesn't have to be difficult, and looking for the well stocked fruit and vegetables in the supermarket will indicate the seasonal ones - they'll be the most reasonably priced too because they won't have travelled very far to reach the shelves.

This handy fact sheet from Love British Food, has plenty of information regarding which meats, fruit and vegetables are in season. Not only will seasonal eating result in fresher and more nutritious meals, it will also reduce energy and O2 emissions, and support the local economy - a win all around.

For even more ways to make more of your food shop, and great ideas for cheap, quick and easy meals, look no further. One savvy shopper has shared how she saved £121 on monthly food bills by making one simple change.

Tesco is the latest supermarket to issue a product recall, after an undeclared allergen was found in some of their 'Free From' products.

Supermarket chain Tesco has issued a recall for three different snack products in its 'Free From' range, which have been found to pose a "health risk" to customers due to an undeclared allergen. Shoppers are being urged to return the affected products to their closest Tesco store.

The news follows several other supermarket product withdrawals, after Asda recalled a number of baby sleeping bags over safety fears, Lidl issued a recall on lentil chips over undeclared ingredients and Iceland recalled a number of frozen foods from its stores in Ireland.

Tesco Free From recall

Three different snacks from the Tesco 'Free From' range have been recalled. These include Tesco Free From Onion Rings, Tesco Free From Cheese Flavour Balls, and Tesco Free From Bacon Rashers.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), has revealed, "Tesco is recalling the above products from customers and has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers."

Which Tesco Free From products have been recalled?

• Tesco Free From Onion Rings, 150g, best before December 16, 2023
• Tesco Free From Cheese Flavour Balls, 150g, best before December 16, 2023
• Tesco Free From Bacon Rashers, 150g, best before December 16, 2023

Why are Tesco Free From products being recalled?

The Tesco Free From snacks have been recalled because they contain undeclared gluten. This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease - a condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissues when gluten is consumed - and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten.

In the recall notice, Tesco said, "We have been made aware that some packs of Tesco Free From Crisps 150g may have gluten present in the product. This is not declared on the packaging and could therefore pose a safety risk to those people with an allergy or intolerance to gluten."

What to do if you have bought recalled Tesco Free From products

Tesco has urged customers to return the affected products to a nearby Tesco store if they have coeliac disease or an allergy to gluten.

The full statement from Tesco reads, "If you have bought the above products and have coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten, do not eat them. Instead return them to the store from where they were purchased for a full refund. For more information please contact Tesco Customer Services on 0800 505 555."

What is coeliac disease?

The NHS says, "Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. This damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients."

Symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach aches
• Bloating
• Indigestion
• Constipation

It can also cause tiredness, unintentional weight loss, and an intch rash, and children with coeliac disease may not grow at the expected rate and may have delayed puberty.

There is no cure, but following a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of the condition.

Those who live with or think they may be living with coeliac disease can visit Coeliac UK for help and support.

If you or someone in your family is gluten intolerant, you might want to check out these gluten free recipes for kids. We've also got recipes for gluten free olive bread, gluten free scones, and gluten free rocky road too.

As a mum of two, I’m always on the lookout for new money saving hacks, and right now, knowing how to save money has never been more important.

The cost of raising a child is becoming increasingly expensive, so it’s a relief to know that there are some surprisingly easy ways families can save money without trying. 

While some methods of saving are easier than others, there's one hack in particular that is my absolute favourite - and it's so easy! And it's meant that we've saved almost £500 so far this year alone.

'I’ve saved £495 so far this year using Tesco Clubcard vouchers'

In our house, we do most of our shopping at Tesco. That means we get a Tesco delivery once a week and tend to include everything from food to toiletries to postage stamps in that shop. On top of this, where we can, we fill up with petrol at a Tesco fuel station and buy the kids’ clothes from F&F. 

Every time we spend in this way, we use our Tesco Clubcard to earn Clubcard points. Each Clubcard point is worth 1p to spend in Tesco, meaning 500 points is equal to a £5 voucher. 

It’s easy to redeem these points in Tesco stores or at Tesco filling stations to save money on your bill, but the biggest savings can be made by trading your points for vouchers to spend with Tesco Reward partners. Doing so means you’ll be able to choose from a greater variety of ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, including days out, trips abroad, eating out, Disney + subscriptions, and RAC breakdown cover. 

In the past, we’ve used our Tesco Clubcard vouchers to save money on treats such as family meals out or trips to wildlife parks. But where we’ve benefited the most is by using them to pay for Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) bookings. 

In fact, this year, we’ve paid for two trips to Europe with our vouchers on LeShuttle, and although we did have to add some of our own cash, the savings we’ve made so far stack up to a pretty impressive £495.

'It’s a pretty effortless way to save a few hundred pounds'

Up until 14 June this year, it’s been possible to exchange Tesco Clubcard vouchers for three times their value with Tesco Reward partners. As a result, every £5 we’ve had in vouchers has become £15 to use with LeShuttle. 

A typical return crossing at peak time in the summer holidays costs around £375. Save up £125 worth of vouchers, take advantage of the triple boost, and you’ll have your £375 and your trip covered. 

Unfortunately, the rules have now changed, meaning that Tesco Clubcard vouchers can only be exchanged for two times their value - in other words, £5 becomes £10, so you’d need £187.50 in vouchers to cover the journey mentioned above. (Note that any vouchers you exchanged for triple the value before 14 June are valid for a year.)

But even so, in my view, there are still some serious savings to be made just for doing your shopping at Tesco each week. It’s a pretty effortless way to save a few hundred pounds.

We only live 40 minutes away from Folkestone, so using our vouchers for LeShuttle is a no brainer for us. But there are plenty of other ways to save money on holiday with your Tesco Clubcard vouchers. You can also use them at Eurocamp, Irish Ferries, Hotels.com, Butlins, Hoseasons and cottages.com, to name just a few. But do check the terms and conditions carefully as exchange limits will depend on where you use your vouchers.  

If you shop at Tesco (or are thinking of switching to Tesco from a more expensive supermarket), and haven't got a Clubcard yet, then you can register now to start earning points. Don't forget to take your Clubcard when you shop in the supermarket as you'll also get exclusive discounted prices on hundreds of products. 

Top tip: make sure you maximise your earnings

There are lots of ways to maximise your earnings with Tesco Clubcard, from using Tesco for the majority of your shopping to earning extra points with a Tesco Clubcard credit card to completing online surveys with market research company Shopper Thoughts. You can discover more ways in our guide on how to collect more Tesco Clubcard points.  

Video of the Week

Here's everything you need to know about the Iceland recall.

Iceland Ireland shoppers have been left concerned after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served a notice this week for the immediate recall of certain frozen foods. The action that has been taken is against Metron Stores Limited - known as Iceland Ireland.

The news comes just days after the Food Standards Agency in the UK issued a lentil chips recall and a Cadbury recall, while shortly after Tesco recalled some Free From products. Much like in these previous instances,  families want to know how the news affects them, so here's everything you need to know about the Iceland recall.

Iceland recall 2023: Everything you need to know

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has ordered Iceland Ireland to recall certain foods due to a number of identified breaches of food legislation. An investigation is ongoing and while there have not been any reports of illness, consumers have been asked not to eat recalled products.

Head of the FSAI Dr Pamela Byrne said in a statement, "All food businesses must also have full traceability information on the food they are importing, producing, distributing and selling. Due to these breaches of food legislation and in the interest of consumer protection, this action has been taken."

Consignments of food were detained at Dublin Port and a notice was issued to either return the products to Britain or destroy them, the FSAI said. As part of the investigation, the FSAI has informed the European Commission, the Food Standards Agency UK, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland.

Which Iceland products have been recalled?

The FSAI has served a notice on Iceland Ireland for the immediate withdrawal of imported frozen food of animal origin. Foods of animal origin are any products that contain ingredients that come from an animal, such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.

The notice orders a recall of these products imported into the Republic of Ireland since 3 March, and the FSAI is advising consumers not to eat any of the implicated food.

Why have Iceland products been recalled?

The FSAI said there was "inadequate evidence of traceability" of imported frozen food from, adding alleged non-compliance with import legislation from non-EU countries.

"Some frozen food of animal origin has been imported into Ireland without pre-notification and completion of entry declarations and health certificates since 3 March 2023," the FSAI said in a statement.

The action by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is part of an ongoing investigation that started when officials from the Department of Agriculture, the Marine Border Control and Revenue identified undeclared frozen food of animal origin with no documentation being imported into Ireland for Iceland stores.

What to do if you have purchased a recalled product

It is worth noting that this recall notice only applies to products bought from Iceland stores in Ireland, but if you have purchased any affected products, you should not eat them.

Dr Byrne has said: "As a precaution, we are therefore advising consumers not to eat imported frozen food of animal origin bought from Iceland Ireland stores since 3 March 2023."

She added that so far there have been no reports of illness.

Video of the Week

Snack product, Lentil Chips, has been withdrawn from supermarket shelves over health fears - here's everything you need to know about the Lentil Chips recall.

21 different varieties of Lentil Chips have been recalled after the brand owners, Warp Snacks, issued a product recall. Following the news that the products contain an undeclared allergen, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has urged customers with a gluten intolerance or allergy to return the recalled lentil chips to the store where they were bought.

The news comes just weeks after the Cadbury recall, which saw six chocolate desserts removed from shelves, and a breakfast cereal recall issued by Tesco, Aldi, and Iceland. More recently, Tesco recalled some Free From products due to undeclared allergens. Now that another product has disappeared from shelves, we've got everything you need to know about the Lentil Chip recall and what you need to do if you have recently bought this popular snack.

Lentil Chips recall: Full list of Warp Snacks products that have been recalled

• Aldi The Foodie Market Lentil Bites Salted: 113g, all batch codes, all date codes
• Eat Real Lentil Chips Salted: 22g & 40g, batch codes 3139, 3141, 3142 & 3152, best before 28 February 2024 & 13/16/26 May 2024
• Eat Real Lentil Chips Tomato and Basil: 40g, batch codes 3142 & 3151, best before 16/17/25 May 2024
• Eat Real Chips Multipack 5 Variety Pack: 5x22g, batch codes 3146 & 3153, best before 20/27 May 2024
• Eat Real Chips Variety 15 Pack Multibox: 5x30g, 5x40g, 5x45g, batch codes 3144, 3155 & 3152, best before 19/26/27 May 2024
• Lidl UK Snaktastic Lentil Bites Sea Salt: 113g, batch codes 3139, 3140, 3145 & 3146, best before 13/14/19/20 February 2024
• Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon: 22g, batch codes 3142, best before 16 May 2024
• Eat Real Lentil Chips Creamy Dill: 40g &113g, batch codes 3140, 3141, 3142, best before 14/15/16 May 2024

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an alert for the 21 items over fears of undeclared allergens. The lentil products are all made by Warp Snacks, the creators of Eat Real.

Eat Real has recalled several flavours and pack sizes carried in various UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose, Lidl, Morrisons, and health food store chains Holland & Barret and Grape Tree.

Meanwhile, Aldi has recalled The Foodie Market Lentil Bites Salted, which Warp Snacks also make.

Why are Lentil Chips being recalled?

The range of lentil chip products has been recalled because of undeclared allergens that may pose a health risk to some consumers.

The FSA has said: "Warp Snacks is recalling several Lentil Bites and Chips products because they may contain gluten which is not declared on the label." 

They add, "The exact cereal is currently unknown. This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten."

A customer notice from Eat Real Lentil Chips says, "As always, our focus is on our customers’ safety, and we are removing the impacted product from shelves and supply chains."

What to do if you have bought recalled Lentil Chips

If you have bought one of the recalled lentil chip products and have an allergy or intolerance to gluten, you should return them to the store where you purchased them. Consumers have been promised a full refund.

The FSA advise: "If you have bought any of the above products and have coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten, do not eat them. Instead, please return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund."

In addition, those who have purchased the Lidl Snaktastic products can contact customer.services@lidl.co.uk or call 0203 966 5566. Those who have purchased The Foodie Market Lentil Bites from Aldi can contact 0800 042 0800 or visit help.aldi.co.uk.

Video of the Week

Tesco has urged its Clubcard customers to spend their remaining points by June 14, when major changes to the British supermarket's loyalty scheme will officially kick in. 

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to grip the nation, money-saving hacks have never been more popular. From how to cut down on energy bills to reducing food waste, the Internet seems to brimming with tips on keeping our wallets tight ahead of the incoming recession. 

One key way to get great deals has been to join one of the many supermarket loyalty card schemes, which typically offer rewards for their returning customers. 

The Tesco Clubcard is the most popular available on the market today, with over 20 million people across the UK signed up to the iconic program. As it stands, a Tesco Clubcard voucher is worth three times the value. But from June 14, 2023, when folks exchange their Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner code, they'll receive only 2x their value.

"We’re making this change to the scheme to make sure we can continue to provide a wide range of rewards that meet the needs of all our Tesco Clubcard members while keeping prices low for everyone," a statement on the supermarket chain's website reads. 

"Tesco Clubcard continues to have the biggest and most generous Reward Partner scheme with access to over 100 Partners at 2x your Clubcard voucher value." 

If you're unsure of the expiry date on your code, check your order email or head to the My Rewards section of your Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app.

The Tesco Clubcard has been an iconic feature of the retailer's business ever since it was established in 1995. Points are accumulated based on what you buy in-store, with one point being rewarded for every £1 or €1 spent. Customers are then sent vouchers to the value of their points, usually by post or email. 

These nifty tokens can be spent in-store or online, or alternatively, on Clubcard Rewards, which cover special treats like spa getaways, restaurant meals, and even hairdressing trips. As of 2021, over 20 million people in the UK owned a Clubcard. 

All Tesco Clubcard vouchers have an expiry date of two years, so be sure to use them within this time frame. There's also a Clubcard app for your phone, which helps save paper and keeps your keychain lighter.  

With price hikes all around, many parents will be wondering how to get free baby formula as the high cost of living continues. Most parents, including those who are unable or choose not to breastfeed, will use baby formula at some point. But with the cost of raising a child on the up, rising baby formula costs can be incredible difficult for struggling parents to manage. 

Data compiled by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) shows that the price of the cheapest brand of baby formula has increased by 22% over the past year.

Goodto.com's Money Editor Sarah Handley says: "Living costs have been so high for so long, that it's no wonder family budgets are so stretched. But for parents who are struggling with the cost of feeding their babies, this cost of living crisis must be completely heartbreaking."

If you are struggling with the rising cost of formula, we explain how you can get it for free. 

How to get free baby formula 

Some parents will be able to get free baby formula via something called the Healthy Start Scheme. This is a government initiative run by the NHS. To be eligible, you’ll need to be on a low income and receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’ such as Universal Credit, income-based jobseeker's allowance, child tax credit or income support.

You can sign up to the Healthy Start Scheme when you’re 10 weeks pregnant and use it until your child turns 4. You’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Money will be added to your card every four weeks.

You’ll get £4.25 a week during pregnancy, then £8.50 a week for babies up to one-year-old, and £4.25 a week from when your child is aged one to four. You can only use your card to buy:

• plain liquid cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
• infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
• Healthy Start vitamins
• vitamin drops for babies and young children

Scotland has a different scheme called Best Start Foods which works via a prepaid card. You’ll get £19.80 every four weeks during pregnancy, £39.60 every four weeks from your child being born up until they're one-year-old, then £19.80 every four weeks when your child is between the ages of one and three-years-old. 

Rules around the sale of baby formula

There are specific laws governing the sale of baby formula and these mean that retailers aren’t allowed to offer deals and discounts on baby formula. Parents are not allowed to use Boots Advantage Card points, Sainsbury's Nectar Points or Tesco Clubcard points to buy these products either.

The aim of the rules is to not undermine breastfeeding. However, there is no restriction on baby formula products being sold, as long as they comply with labelling and composition requirements.

All brands of baby milk meet the same nutritional standards and all infant formula is subject to strict legal guidelines regarding the composition and manufacture. 

Can I get baby formula from a food bank? 

Unfortunately, you can’t normally get baby formula from a food bank. The largest networks – including the Trussell Trust and Fareshare – have policies in place which prevent their food banks from redistributing formula donations.

This is because they follow guidance from Unicef, which suggests giving out formula in these settings 'can inadvertently cause harm' as young babies could accidentally be given the wrong kind of formula by volunteers and staff. However, infant feeding charity Feed UK disagrees with this stance and says food banks should be able to accept and provide formula to families in need.

You might have more luck at a baby bank. These set-ups are like food banks but offer baby-specific items. Some baby banks don’t accept donations of baby formula but they do buy it – and pass it on to families – using money from donations. 

 What should I do if I still can’t afford baby formula? 

If you can’t afford to feed your baby, double check if you are claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to (as well as receiving the benefit, you could also find yourself eligible for future cost of living payments from the government). You should also check whether you qualify for the Healthy Start Scheme. You might be able to get help from your local authority via the Household Support Fund or a crisis loan or grant.

Make sure you shop around for baby formula too – all formulae have the same nutritional standards but brands can vary in price. The BPAS says Mamia First Infant Milk is the cheapest infant formula on the market. It currently costs £9.39 for 900g from Aldi (£1.04 per 100g). 

Formula comes in two different forms: a dry powder you make up with water, or a ready-to-feed liquid formula. Baby sleep and mother wellbeing expert, Emma Roberts of Dear Mama, said: “The powdered version works out much more cost effective compared to ready-made. Consider buying in bulk, you can often save a bit here.” Which? found that for most baby formula milk powders, Asda and Morrisons tend to have the best price.

Cows’ milk formula is often cheaper than soy or goat milk – so if your baby doesn’t have any allergies or intolerances, this will be cheaper. If your baby is diagnosed as being allergic to cows' milk, a GP will prescribe an appropriate hypoallergenic infant formula with fully hydrolysed (broken down) proteins. If you get free prescriptions, this will mean you can get this type of milk for free. 

Can I make my own baby formula?

It's not a good idea to make your own baby formula, as it could be dangerous for your child. It’s not a good idea to water down formula or feed babies with food that is not suitable, such as porridge, either. Feed UK said these practices put babies at risk of malnutrition and serious illness. 

We've all noticed the price of our food shopping going up over the last 18 months. Even if we shop at the cheapest supermarkets, and make the most of our supermarket loyalty cards, food is really expensive right now. 

Take cheddar cheese for example. In February 2022, the average price of a kilogram of cheddar cheese was £6.20. Skip to July 2023, and it's £9.55, according to the Office of National Statistics. But with cheese being such a family food shop staple, it's never been more important to understand how you can cut the cost.

So I tried this mum's money-saving hack - and I'm telling you, it's a game changer!

Watch @Moneymumofficial’s cheesy tip

Many people (myself included) don't always realise just how much extra they are paying for the convenience of pre-prepared items, like grated cheese. 

But a popular mum and money influencer, who has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, has shared a super simple hack that can save you 25% on the shopping trolley essential. 

Filming in her local supermarket, @Moneymumofficial shared how she compares the prices of grated cheese and a block of the exact same cheese and shares her tip for getting the convenience of the more expensive option for less. 

While in her local Tesco supermarket, Gemma Bird, aka @Moneymumofficial shared that a 250g bag of grated extra mature cheddar costs £2.65, while a 400g block of the same cheese costs £3.20. 

So on the face of it, you might opt for the bag of grated cheese because it’s cheaper and super convenient (even though you actually get less).

But Gemma goes on to point out that it is crucial to compare the price per kilogram of each of the cheese options to discover the true price difference. Looking at the labels on the supermarket shelf, Gemma points out that the grated cheese costs £10.60 per kilogram, while the block of the exact same cheese costs only £8 per kilogram (if you tend to do your food shopping online, you should find a price per kilogram next to the product price for easy comparison). 

That means for every kilogram of this grated cheese you buy, you are paying £2.60 (or an extra 25%) for someone to grate it for you. 

Gemma then shares her hack of buying the block version of her favourite cheese and grating it when she gets home, storing it in food bags (and even freezing it) so that it’s still super convenient and ready whenever she needs it. 

Followers commented on Gemma’s post, offering even more tips for perfect at-home grated cheese. One commented that if you add a teaspoon of cornflour to the bag of grated cheese you can prevent the cheese from clumping together. Similarly, another commented that she likes to spread the grated cheese out on a tray and freeze it before putting it in a bag to also prevent clumping. 

Grated cheese price versus a block in other supermarkets

And it's not just Tesco where grated cheese is more expensive. We compared the prices of mature cheddar in the biggest supermarkets to see how much you're paying for someone to grate the cheese for you. 

For anyone like me, who has been paying extra for grated cheese because of the convenience, I timed myself grating an entire 400g block of cheddar - and it took me less than two minutes. 

So now, whenever I am doing my food shopping and I'm tempted by the convenience of grated cheese, I remind myself how quickly I did it myself, the fact that I could freeze it, and the fact it tasted exactly the same when defrosted, and decide that I should opt for the block instead. 

Whenever you do your food shop, it's worth wising up to the sneaky ways supermarkets get you to spend more money. And if you shop at Tesco, make sure you know how to collect more Clubcard points, and reclaim up to two years worth of lost Clubcard vouchers.

Tesco, Aldi and Iceland have recalled breakfast cereal over fears for consumer safety.

When it comes to choosing breakfast cereals that are healthy you need to know the best and worst cereals for your diet. And while Weetabix previously came out top as the healthiest cereal for kids, shoppers are being warned to check their cupboards for another healthy cereal that could actually put consumers at risk.

The supermarkets have decided to pull boxes of Free from Bran Flakes 300g off its shelves because the missing ingredients on the food packaging is at risk to those with allergies. It comes as Iceland Ireland recalls a number of frozen products and Cadbury recalls six dessert pots over contamination fears.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued the product recall because some packs may contain a small amount of another cereal variant (Chocolate Pillows) that contain milk and hazelnut (nuts) which are not mentioned on the box label.

As a result, anyone who has an allergy or intolerance to these ingredients - milk or milk constituents and / or an allergy to hazelnut (nuts) would be at risk.

Trading standards shared, "Allergy Alert Tesco is recalling Tesco Free From Bran Flakes as some packs may contain a small amount of another cereal variant (chocolate pillows) that contain milk and hazelnut (nuts) which are not mentioned on the label."

The recalled items have the best before date of May 26, 2024.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) stated, “If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or an allergy to hazelnut (nuts) do not eat it. Instead, return it to a Tesco store for a full refund, no receipt is required. For further details please contact Tesco customer services on 0800 505 555.”

Shoppers who have bought the affected item are asked to return it to store for a refund.

Aldi is also recalling various cereal bars - Harvest Morn High Protein Bars because they contain milk and/or peanuts and/or soya, which may not be emphasised in bold type on the label.

This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, an allergy to peanuts and/or an allergy to soya.

If you do suffer from a food allergy, you can sign up for free alerts service to get an email and text updates when unsafe food is recalled. Simply sign up online .

You can read more about which bars are affected at the Food Standards Agency here.

It's worth checking to see if shops are open on Easter Monday before you head out for those last minute Easter Egg bargains. 

The annual Easter weekend often leaves many people with questions around opening and closing times of services like banks, post offices and of course, supermarkets. The long weekend traditionally includes two Bank Holidays which means shops and supermarkets are subject to government restrictions on trading hours, which usually mean their opening hours are different than normal.

It's no surprise then that the public are wanting clarification on whether shops are open on Good Friday and when supermarkets open on Easter Sunday. We've shared details of operating hours for popular supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl, Tesco and Sainsbury's for Easter Monday, so you know exactly where you stand if you need to make a shop dash to stock up on Easter eggs for the kids and any other traditional Easter foods.

Are shops open on Easter Monday?

Yes, most supermarkets in the UK have confirmed that they will be open on Easter Monday - though opening hours will differ from usual. Tesco and Waitrose have confirmed their stores will close at 6pm on the day, whilst Aldi, Lidl and ASDA will also close earlier at 8pm on Easter Monday.

Elsewhere, Sainsbury's have announced that all their supermarkets will remain open until 10pm on Easter Monday. However smaller supermarkets like Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local and Co-op convenience stores are expected to be open until later on Easter Monday.

Easter 2023 - Supermarket opening times

Aldi

• Good Friday: 8am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 8am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-8pm

Check your local Aldi store's opening times here.

ASDA

• Good Friday: 7am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 7am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-8pm

Check your local ASDA store's opening times here.

Co-op (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 7am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-10pm

Check your local Co-op store's opening times here.

Iceland

• Good Friday: Normal hours
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: TBC

Check your local Iceland store's opening times here.

Lidl

• Good Friday: 8am-8pm
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-8pm

Check your local Lidl store's opening times here.

Morrisons

• Good Friday: 7am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 7am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-8pm

Check your local Morrisons store's opening times here.

Sainsbury's (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 6am-11pm
• Saturday 8 April: 6am-11pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-10pm

Check your local Sainsbury's store's opening times here.

Tesco (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 6am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-6pm

Check your local Tesco store's opening times here.

Waitrose (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 8am-8pm
• Saturday 8 April: 8am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-6pm

Check your local Waitrose store's opening times here.

Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in the UK?

Yes, Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - but not in Scotland. As Easter Sunday falls on a weekend day, the Monday after has always been a Bank Holiday, commemorating the Christian holiday.

According to Public Holiday guide, Easter Monday was initially included in the original list of Bank Holidays proposed by Right Honourable Sir John Lubbock MP as part of the Bank Holidays Act of 1871.

As Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday, services like banks, building societies, pharmacies, post offices and supermarkets will operate at reduced hours.

Related Easter features:

• Does Royal Mail deliver post on Good Friday and Easter Monday?
• Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?
• Why do we celebrate Easter and why does the date change every year?
• What day do you give Easter eggs and where does the tradition come from?
• Easter baskets 2023: 17 of the cutest options for an Easter egg hunt
• 24 of the best Easter hampers: Thorntons, Cadbury, Hotel Chocolat and more
• Best Easter gifts for kids 2023: 40 non-chocolate treats for children
• Easter games and activities: 26 fun ideas for toddlers and kids

Video of the Week

Check which shops are open on Good Friday to save yourself a wasted trip to the supermarket this bank holiday weekend.

With the long weekend on the horizon, shoppers have been asking if shops are open on Easter Sunday and whether supermarkets are open on Easter Monday. But many are equally eager to know the details for Good Friday, as it presents a last-minute chance to treat yourself to an Easter hamper of goodies, stock up on Easter eggs for the kids and other traditional Easter foods ahead of the big day.

While large supermarkets are usually open on the bank holiday, their hours sometimes differ, which is why it's important to check ahead. Here, we share the Good Friday opening times for Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and more...

Are shops open on Good Friday?

Yes, most supermarkets in the UK have confirmed that they will be open on Good Friday - though the hours may differ to usual. This applies to most Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local, Co-op convenience stores and other smaller supermarkets, as well as large stores.

However, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Iceland and the Co-op are among the retailers to confirm that most of their supermarkets in England and Wales will close on Easter Sunday. Scottish stores will mostly be open for their usual Sunday hours, however.

Easter 2023 - Supermarket opening times

Aldi

• Good Friday: 8am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 8am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-8pm

Check your local Aldi store's opening times here.

ASDA

• Good Friday: 7am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 7am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-8pm

Check your local ASDA store's opening times here.

Co-op (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: Normal hours
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: TBC

Check your local Co-op store's opening times here.

Iceland

• Good Friday: Normal hours
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: TBC

Check your local Iceland store's opening times here.

Lidl

• Good Friday: Normal hours
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: TBC

Check your local Lidl store's opening times here.

Morrisons

• Good Friday: 7am-10pm
• Saturday 8 April: 7am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-8pm

Check your local Morrisons store's opening times here.

Sainsbury's (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 6am-11pm
• Saturday 8 April: 6am-11pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 7am-10pm

Check your local Sainsbury's store's opening times here.

Tesco (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: Normal hours
• Saturday 8 April: Normal hours
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: TBC

Check your local Tesco store's opening times here.

Waitrose (bigger stores)

• Good Friday: 8am-8pm
• Saturday 8 April: 8am-10pm
• Easter Sunday: CLOSED
• Easter Monday: 8am-6pm

Check your local Waitrose store's opening times here.

Are any shops closed on Good Friday?

Most supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies will be open on Good Friday, though the hours may differ to normal. Shops that will be closed on Good Friday are more likely to be local or independent stores, so you'll need to check ahead to find out if they're open.

As well as the smaller versions of superstores - such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local - other supermarket shops that will likely be open include:

• Budgens
• The Co-op
• M&S Simply Food
• Service station supermarkets

Farm shops are also allowed to stay open to sell their produce, but it's always best to check ahead.

Is Good Friday a bank holiday in the UK?

Yes, Good Friday is a bank holiday in the UK. It is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and occurs every year on the Friday before Easter Sunday.

This means that as well as some shops changing their trading hours, Royal Mail in England, Wales and Northern Ireland won't be delivering or collecting post, and most Post Offices will be closed. In Scotland,  there will be normal collections and deliveries on Good Friday, but none on Easter Monday.

Related Easter features:

• Does Royal Mail deliver post on Good Friday and Easter Monday?
• Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?
• Why do we celebrate Easter and why does the date change every year?
• What day do you give Easter eggs and where does the tradition come from?
• Easter baskets 2023: 17 of the cutest options for an Easter egg hunt
• 24 of the best Easter hampers: Thorntons, Cadbury, Hotel Chocolat and more
• Best Easter gifts for kids 2023: 40 non-chocolate treats for children
• Easter games and activities: 26 fun ideas for toddlers and kids

Video of the Week

From 14 June 2023 Clubcard users will no longer be able to triple their points when they spend with a Reward Partner, as Tesco makes the decision to double their value instead.

Savvy shoppers will likely already know the details of Tesco's Clubcard scheme, which allows you to convert the points you collect while shopping with the supermarket into vouchers to use at the store. And there's a number of other ways to get the most out of this supermarket loyalty card, including making Clubcard vouchers last longer and reclaiming lost or unused Tesco vouchers.

But while 500 points will be worth a £5 voucher in the supermarket, there's an even bigger perk to the scheme: if you exchange your voucher for one of Tesco's Reward Partners, that £5 voucher becomes worth £15.

However, from 14 June this is changing, as Tesco has announced that instead of tripling the value of your Clubcard points, they will be doubled instead. The supermarket has said: "We’re making this change to the scheme to make sure we can continue to provide a wide range of rewards that meet the needs of all our Tesco Clubcard members, while keeping prices low for everyone."

The good news is that the supermarket is extending the validity on Reward Partner codes ordered until 13 June, to give customers extra time to use them. Usually, rewards expire after six months, but Tesco has said that any Reward Partner codes ordered before 14 June will now be valid for 12 months instead.

We've rounded up some of the best Tesco Clubcard Reward Partners below, so you can make you points go further before the change is in place.

Sign up for a Tesco Clubcard here.

How to maximise your Tesco Clubcard points

1. Disney+ subscription 

Select £8 of Clubcard vouchers to get a 3 month Disney+ subscription. If you're already a Disney+ subscriber, you can still use the voucher to get 3 months free.

• Find out more about the Disney+ offer at Tesco.com

2. Days out

Turn every 50p in Clubcard vouchers into £1.50 to use on a wide range of days out and attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, West Midland Safari Park, the Eden Project, an English Heritage membership and many more.

• View the full list of days out at Tesco.com

3. Restaurant vouchers

Again, Clubcard members can get £1.50 to spend for every 50p in vouchers a variety of restaurants, including Pizza Express, Zizzi, Prezzo and Hungry Horse pubs.

• View the full list of restaurants at Tesco.com

4. Railcards

Every £1 in Clubcard vouchers gives £3 on an annual Railcard. This includes the 16-25 Railcard, the Disabled Persons Railcard, the Family & Friends Railcard, the Senior Railcard and the Two-Together Railcard.

• View the Railcards on offer at Tesco.com

5. Shopping and gifts

Two stand-out retail offers include £15 for every £5 in vouchers at jewellery retailer Goldsmiths, and £1.50 for every 50p in vouchers at Denby Pottery.

• View the full list of retail offers at Tesco.com

6. Holidays

Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used on a variety of holiday providers. Cruises include Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises, while Hotels.com, Al Fresco Holidays and Butlins are also all part of the scheme.

• View the full list of holiday providers at Tesco.com

7. Cinema and theatre tickets

Movie fans can get £1.50 for every 50p in vouchers to spend at Cineworld or Picturehouse, and £30 for every £10 to spend on a Cineworld Unlimited Pass. There's also the option to upgrade 50p in Clubcard vouchers to £1.50 to spend on a variety of musical theatre tickets.

• View the cinema and entertainment offers at Tesco.com

Related features:

• 15 surprising ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers
• 14 ways to collect more Tesco Clubcard points

Video of the Week

 
With Mother’s Day fast approaching on Sunday 19th March, it’s time to celebrate the nation’s mums and maternal figures. But the best Mother's Day gifts, in my book, are those small, affordable items that help the kids to appreciate the value of their money.  

And that's why this year I've set the kids a challenge when it comes to buying me a Mother's Day gift. They have to spend less than a tenner. And they have to go to Tesco. Why? Well, the tenner bit is self-explanatory. Kids are living through a cost-of-living crisis too. And I'm using this as a teachable moment to help the kids grasp that money is not to be wasted. If you're going to spend some of your hard-earned cash or savings, you might as well get something back at the same time. And with Tesco Clubcard prices on selected Mother's Day gifts, the kids can add to my Clubcard points AND pick up some bargains while they shop for my Mother's Day treats!

This year, Tesco is introducing a range of brand-new gifting products and they've also brought back some firm favourites to help shoppers spoil the mum-figure in their lives - without spending a fortune. From pamper sets and candles to indulgent chocolates and even bottles of fizz to toast the celebrations, there’s something thoughtful for every mum, auntie, gran, step-mum, or motherly figure - no matter your budget.   

The supermarket also has a brand-new selection of plants and bouquets plus the usual variety of Mother’s Day cards. And gifting options are available both in-store and online, with selected items available on Clubcard Prices.

So whether you're looking to celebrate fantastic mothers, awesome grans, amazing step mums or any kind of mother figure, you could definitely do worse than directing the kids to the nearest supermarket. Just don't forget to arm them with your loyalty card while you're at it. 

Best Mother's Day gifts from Tesco

Here's my pick of this year's best Mother's Day gifts from Tesco. And all except one of these items cost less than a tenner. 

1. Mum Mug, £2.50 |Tesco

This charming floral mug is the perfect Mother's Day gift if your mum loves nothing more (except for you!) than a nice cup of tea. Featuring the official verdict - wonderful mum - with a lilac handle and rim, it's also dishwasher safe and suitable for the microwave. Also perfect for the mum who never gets to drink her tea while it's still hot!

• VIEW AT TESCO

2. You're Lovely Scented Candle, £3.50 | Tesco

If candles are more your mum's cup of tea - see what we did there - then you can't go wrong with this pretty little scented number from Tesco. It has a sweet vanilla and honey scent with a pretty floral design on the glass jar. I collect candles like they're going out of fashion so kids if you're reading, this is definitely worth wrapping up for Mother's Day.

• VIEW AT TESCO

3. The Fuzzy Duck Cotswold Bath Salt, was £7.00 now £3.50 | Tesco

This Bayliss and Harding Baylis & Harding The Fuzzy Duck Cotswold Bath Salt is just the ticket for a mum whose favourite pampering ritual is a long, hot soak in the bath. That'll be me, then. This price is for Clubcard holders so don't forget yours in your dash to the checkout. Apparently the bath salts are themed around 'calm', 'indulge' and 'sleep' and have scents that will soothe mind, body and soul. One box won't be enough, boys.

• VIEW AT TESCO

4. Make Your Own Gin, £8 | Tesco

This needs no introduction. Crafted for gin-loving mums who have a creative flair, this kit simply requires you to add 200ml of your favourite gin and a couple of pinches of your preferred botanical of choice to the glass bottle provided - and allow the delicious concoction to infuse to create the perfect flavoured gin. Yum.

• VIEW AT TESCO

5. Baileys, was £21.00 now £13.00 | Tesco

If gin isn't her thing but she loves a tipple, treat her to a bottle of Baileys. With this cracking Clubcard price, it's a steal, saving you £8. Put that towards a bouquet of flowers and your Mum will be chuffed to bits for barely more than £20. This famous cream liqueur blends the finest aged Irish whiskey with fresh dairy cream and a hint of cocoa and vanilla.

• VIEW AT TESCO

6. Cadbury Milk Tray Boxed Chocolates 360g, was £4 now £3.50 | Tesco

If all else fails, most mums will be delighted with a warm hug and box of their favourite chocs or treats. It's Milk Tray on Mother's Day in my house. Containing all the classic favourites including Hazelnut Swirl, Strawberry Temptation and (my personal fave) Caramel Charm, this box of chocs is bround to bring a happy smile to your mum's face this Mother's Day.

• VIEW AT TESCO

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• Kidly Sale - unmissable £10 and under Flash Sale bargains
• JoJo Maman Bebe sale steals! 5 cute buys our editor has in her basket

With food inflation being a huge driver in the cost of living crisis, it's unsurprising that families are concerned about how to save money on food as they try to make ends meet. 

There are multiple complex reasons why food prices are going up. But the end result means that families are struggling to stretch their household budgets to cover the rising cost. 

But there is a simple change that you can make to significantly reduce how much you spend on food. And it's a change that sticks - I made the change at the start of the pandemic and slashed my monthly food bill by more than 30%. And I haven't gone back.

So what did I do? I swapped to the cheapest supermarket. And if you're wondering if Aldi or Lidl is cheaper - the team at Goodto have done the research to find out.

Now this is something you might have already considered, but when I told my friends just how much I'd saved, they were surprised. They thought it would be much less, and so hadn't made the change themselves, thinking it wouldn't be worth it. 

But I think it absolutely is, and here's why.

Why I switched supermarkets 

I was a die-hard Sainsbury’s fan for years, decades even. I’d shop online and the nice delivery person would bring my groceries right to my front door.

But the pandemic changed all that. Suddenly getting a Sainsbury’s delivery slot was incredibly difficult. And as a fit and healthy person, I thought it was best to leave the limited online delivery slots to old or vulnerable people who didn’t feel safe going to the supermarket in person.

Forced to now drive to the supermarket, I decided to try a cheaper one and for a while alternated between Aldi and Lidl. 

The result? I’ve switched to Aldi permanently (it has better parking than my local Lidl) and saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of pounds. While money-saving wasn't my main goal when I switched, as prices have skyrocketed, I'm very glad I did!

What I spend on a big shop

A quick look through my online Sainsbury’s account shows that, pre-pandemic, I normally spent about £100 on each online order, which would last me about two or three weeks. With food inflation at its highest in 40 years, I expect those online orders would cost a lot more now.

Now I do my “big shop” at Aldi, at the same frequency, and my bill is normally about £60 for a car boot load of food. That's a 40% saving based on Sainsbury's pre-pandemic prices. Even with food prices going up, the price differences between the two supermarkets would still be quite similar.

In between big shops, I still have to top up things like fruit, vegetables and milk at my nearest Sainsbury’s Local or Tesco Express. 

How do prices compare?

Here are some examples of things I always buy and how the prices compare (prices were correct at the time of writing):

Even if I just bought those five items from Aldi instead of Sainsbury's, I would save £6.90.

But let's compare an actual big shop. Conveniently, my bank, Monzo, categorises my spending so I can see what I spend on groceries each month. 

According to Monzo, I spent £386 on groceries in April 2019 (when I was still a Sainsbury’s fan) but just £265 in April 2022 (when I was an Aldi regular). These total monthly figures for groceries also include top-up shops at Sainsbury’s Local, Tesco Express or the local corner shop.

That's a saving of £121 over the course of the month!

But don't just take my word for it

It’s not just my experience that suggests you can save a fortune by switching to Aldi or Lidl – my claims are backed up by the experts.

For example, The Grocer magazine found that Aldi is, on average, 35% cheaper than some of its rivals. 

Meanwhile Which? has just crowned Aldi the cheapest supermarket for the seventh month in a row and the cheapest supermarket overall for 2022. But there’s not much in it between Aldi and Lidl – the basket of 48 items Which? looked at cost £81.63 at Aldi and just £1.61 more at Lidl (£83.24).

The same items cost £95.71 at Sainsbury’s, £102.87 at Ocado and a whopping £112.62 at Waitrose.

What I learned by switching supermarkets

Pros of switching supermarkets

• It's cheaper
• On the whole, I can't taste a difference
• Great seasonal options 

Some people think the quality of food in budget supermarkets won’t be as good as in the more expensive supermarkets. While arguably, this is probably true for some items, it’s not what I have found on the whole. I like to eat quite healthily, cook meals from scratch and batch cook for convenience (which can also help reduce the price of your food shop). Since I’ve switched to Aldi my meals have tasted the same as before.  

I even cooked a family Christmas dinner with food from Aldi – and no one noticed any difference. Moving on to Easter, Aldi has some of the swankiest looking and nice-tasting Easter eggs I’ve ever had.

Switching supermarkets has made me realise I need to be more organised and go more often. When I pop into Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local for a few bits (and always take my supermarket loyalty card), I realise I’m paying over the odds compared to Aldi. A Tesco Clubcard offers discounts on lots of items – but, in my opinion, Tesco has simply hiked up prices for non-Clubcard users. 

Downside of switching supermarkets

• Less choice
• Can't always find branded items
• Limited options for those with specific dietary requirements
• Lack of online deliveries

A major downside of ditching Tesco, Waitrose or Sainsbury’s for Aldi or Lidl is that they sell less products.

With both Aldi and Lidl stores typically a fraction of the size of a large Sainsbury’s or Tesco store, they don’t have as much choice. If you like certain branded food, you might find you can’t buy your favourite items. For example, I couldn’t see any Doritos (£1.75 in Sainsbury’s) in Aldi on my last visit so I bought budget tortillas (48p) instead – they were a fraction of the price but, admittedly, not as nice. 

Aldi also lacks decent oat milk – I still go to Sainsbury’s or Tesco for that. 

If you buy toiletries with your supermarket shop, it’s slim pickings in both Aldi and Lidl, although their basic brands of shower gel, shampoo and face cream are cheap and good quality.

A big issue is that neither Aldi or Lidl do online deliveries, so you’ll need both the time and transport to go and do a “big shop” in person. Fortunately, I have a car and a trip to my local Aldi would be pretty tricky without it. 

But online grocery shopping is ultimately a lot less time-consuming – pre-pandemic I could whizz through an online Sainsbury’s order while watching TV.

Weighing everything up, the extra effort of a trip to Aldi (or Lidl) is worth it for the cost savings, and I’d recommend other people think about making the switch too.

Other ways to slash the cost of your food shop

Changing to a cheaper supermarket is a great starting point if you want to save money on food, but there's lots more you can do to keep food bills as low as possible.

• Write a shopping list and stick to it - it'll help you avoid impulse purchases
• Don't shop hungry
• Be wise to supermarket tricks that encourage you to spend more
• Shop later in the day for the best reductions
• Avoid pre-prepared fruit, salad and sandwiches
• Buy a brand level lower - in most cases, you won't be able to taste a difference
• Sign up to the supermarket's loyalty scheme for exclusive offers and discounts
• Click and collect if you shop online - it's cheaper than delivery
• Remember to take your shopping bags. 

News that Tesco has bought Paperchase has come as a surprising blow to those of us of a certain age. Here’s why it matters to our Consumer Editor. 

Tesco purchased Paperchase after the iconic stationery retailer fell into administration. The deal, which saw Tesco buy the Paperchase brand and intellectual property but not any of the retailer’s 106 stores means Paperchase stores are closing down soon. But for now, the shops continue to trade as normal, with the brand continuing in Tesco stores across the UK in the forseeable future.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Paperchase is a well-loved brand by so many, and we’re proud to bring it to Tesco stores across the UK. We have been building out plans to bring more brands and inspiration to the ranges we currently offer, and this will help us to take those plans further. We look forward to sharing more with our customers in due course.”

I look forward to that too but it doesn't stop me from feeling a tad sad about the demise of one of my favourite high street stores. It's especially sad, of course, for all those Paperchase workers wondering what will become of their jobs and waiting for more news.

And I'm not alone. The news that Paperchase stores are closing has ruffled feathers on social media too. 

'Nothing in my life will ever be as wonderful as Paperchase on Tottenham Court Rd to me as a little girl,' wrote one Twitter user. 'I can't tell you how magical it was: Iridescent pink pearl sheeting, rolls of stickers, exotic graph exercise books, floors of wildly coloured pens and paper...'

So, here are ten reasons why we'll miss Paperchase stores when they shut their doors and move to Tesco. 

1. A Paperchase fix can lift your spirits

Since my first foray into my local Paperchase store as a kid, I’ve held the belief that a new notebook was the answer to so many of life’s questions. Yes, other stationers sell notebooks. And yes, I should use the 8 notebooks I have on my desk before I even think about buying another one. But the point is that for many of us Paperchase, launched by a pair of art and design students in the 1960s, will forever be linked to our love of writing letters, of sending cards, and of eternally attempting to wrestle life’s chaos into lists written neatly inside a nice notebook.

2. The flagship store was my spiritual home

The flagship store on Tottenham Court Road was my local branch for many years and I’ve spent many happy afternoons browsing the card racks and meeting friends for coffee in the cafe. The thought of it closing reminds me of when Top Shop shut its Oxford Street branch. It’s the end of an era.

3. Photo albums from Paperchase were a thing

Back in the days when filling albums with your precious photos was a thing, rather than keeping them on your phone or ordering photobooks, I used to buy my photo albums from Paperchase. It started with a trip to buy one for my wedding album and then matching albums were needed for each of my three children’s baby snaps. Sob.

4. Paperchase did the best thank you cards

 When I got hitched we spent the afternoon arguing in Habitat on Tottenham Court Road (also no longer there…) over what items to include in our wedding list. Afterwards I bought thank you cards from Paperchase to send to our wedding guests.  

• Notecards - Pack of 10, £4 | Paperchase

5. Wait, they did the best cards full stop

I have shoeboxes full of cards received during my Uni days. So many of them are Paperchase classics. The joy of writing ‘I saw this and thought of you’ inside a Paperchase card never faded. I also have piles of Valentine’s cards that my now-husband and I sent each other when we lived at opposite ends of the country. Yes, cards are cheaper elsewhere and I’m as much a fan of the 29p card from Asda as the next person but I’ll miss popping into Paperchase for a special card that I know the recipient will probably keep forever. Sorry, but cheap, flimsy cards can’t compete.

6. Fancy paper

The wrapping paper! The writing paper in every colour conceivable with matching envelopes! The fluorescent writing paper! If you know, you know.

7. Coffee at Paperchase

Meeting mates in Paperchase for coffee and then wandering around the store showing each other all the funny cards and fancy bits we couldn’t afford may well have something to do with why the brand’s sales have struggled. Nearly as good as reading books over a latte in Borders back in the day. But I still wish the magic could continue.

8. Christmas decorations

If my memory serves, at some point the whole third floor of the Tottenham Court Rd branch of Paperchase was a Christmas shop - I remember a riot of colour, kitsch, and irreverence the likes of which my friends and I had never seen before. You couldn’t do Christmas shopping in London without nipping in to pick out all the tree decorations you’d buy one glorious day in the future when your budget wasn't limited to your Saturday job wages.  

9. The annual diary shopping trip

I have been on a lifelong quest to find the perfect diary - it has to start in September, not January - and Paperchase has never, ever let me down. Of course, I can still buy one from a Tesco store but chucking one in my basket with my cat food and bin liners will never match the annual diary shopping trip that has come to mean so much to me.  

• Yellow Amazing Things Daily 2023 Diary, £6 | Paperchase

10. Choosing the perfect pen

Lest you think I’m being daft and making a silly fuss about yet another retailer biting the dust, I asked my husband what he’d miss about Paperchase stores. He didn’t miss a beat - shopping for the perfect pen - proving I’m not alone in mourning the end of Paperchase’s bricks-and-mortar days. 

Yes, you can still buy his favourite Paperchase fountain pen online but it’s not the same as testing out all the nibs by writing your name over and over again on the little bits of paper by the pens.

It will never be the same.

Still, there's always the Paperchase sale to cheer me up... 

• Clear Black Fountain Pen, £9 | Paperchase

Tesco has pulled a popular cheese product from its shelves and issued a warning to customers against eating it over fears it may contain plastic. 

The UK supermarket chain announced that it has withdrawn one of its popular dairy products from its stores because it may be contaminated by "small pieces of clear, soft plastic." 

The urgent recall applies to all of the Tesco Creamfields grated cheddar 500g products with the Best Before Date of 23/03/23. Customers who have bought the cheese have been warned not to consume it and to instead return it to their local store, where they will be given a full refund (even without a receipt). 

Anyone seeking further information is advised to contact Tesco Customer Services at 0800 505 555.

Other products that have been recalled recently include six Cadbury dessert pots and a chocolate Easter egg from Lidl, while earlier in January, Tesco, Morrisons, and Iceland recalled several food items and issue warnings over safety concerns. Amongst the products removed were the Morrisons Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce, the Wicked Kitchen Spinach & Wild Garlic Ravioli and Whitakers Lime and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Inclusions Bar. 

More recently, Costa Coffee issued a product recall for its Glass Heart Cup, which was released in January 2023 as part of the coffee company's sustainable range. 

M&S has also pulled its Belgian Dark Chocolate from shelves after its packaging failed to disclose that it contains milk. The product is therefore not suitable for anybody for vegans or those with an allergy or intolerance to dairy. 

The recall news comes as millions of people across the UK struggle to make ends meet amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. As energy prices soar, folks everywhere are looking for cheap ways to keep warm and how to cut down their electricity usage without compromising their quality of life. Other popular money-saving hacks include shopping at the cheapest supermarket, using homemade cleaning products, and avoiding these costly heating mistakes. 

Tesco has given its Clubcard members a four-week warning that millions of pounds worth of Clubcard vouchers are due to expire on 28 February 2023. 

As the cost of living crisis continues to stretch the household budgets of families all over the country, it’s never been more important to keep on top of any opportunities you have to save money. That could be anything from shopping at the cheapest supermarket, making sure you have a supermarket loyalty card, or understanding all the ways you can spend your Clubcard vouchers. 

Tesco Loyalty Director, Tash Whitmey, said: “We want to help customers’ household budgets stretch further right now and Clubcard is the best way to get great value with Tesco – from Clubcard Rewards to thousands of exclusive deals through Clubcard Prices.

“With more than £16m worth of Clubcard vouchers due to expire at the end of February, we’re reminding customers to spend them in what can be a tough time of year, as family budgets feel the new year strain.”

Clubcard vouchers are valid for two years from the date they were issued. If you’re a Clubcard holder with vouchers that were issued in February 2021, you only have until the end of February 2023 to spend your vouchers before they expire. Once they’ve expired, you won’t be able to use them or exchange them for other vouchers. 

But there is a simple trick you can use to buy yourself more time to spend them. 

How to extend the life of your Clubcard vouchers 

If your Clubcard vouchers are about to expire and you’re worried you might lose them, this is the trick to use. 

Simply go to the Tesco Clubcard Rewards website and buy something cheap with your voucher. (Remember, this trick won’t work if you buy something on the main Tesco website or in your local store - you must use the Clubcard Rewards website).

For example, if you have a £10 voucher that is due to expire at the end of February, you could use it to buy something for £1 via the rewards website. Then, as change, you will be given £9 worth of vouchers that will be valid for another two years!

How do I know if my vouchers are about to expire? 

If you have paper vouchers, the expiration date should be printed on the voucher itself. If you have digital vouchers, you should be able to see when the voucher was issued and when it is due to expire in your online account. Once signed in, just click on My Clubcard, then Vouchers to see all the vouchers you have that are still in date.  

What should I do if I’ve lost my vouchers?

If you had paper vouchers and can’t find them, all is not lost. You should be able to access them by using the Clubcard app on a smartphone or tablet, or by logging into your Clubcard account online. Any active vouchers you have will be listed. 

If you like to spend paper vouchers in store, you should be able to print them out from your online account too. 

Tesco has issued a warning to customers to use their Clubcard points before the vouchers' fast-approaching expiry date. 

As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the UK, saving money on food has become a top priority for families across the nation. 

From shopping at the cheapest supermarket to using leftovers for dinner, people have found all sorts of ways to tighten their wallets this January. One trick that many budget-conscious folks swear is signing up for loyalty schemes, which typically reward customers with generous discounts and spendable points. 

Tesco's Clubcard is one of the most famous examples of these programs, having gained a massive 20 million users in the UK alone since it launched in 1995. The supermarket has now issued an urgent message about the scheme, advising shoppers to spend their unused points before they expire on February 28. You can use this simple trick to extend the life of your vouchers.

Tash Whitmey, the Loyalty and Membership Director at Tesco, said, "We want to help customers’ household budgets stretch further right now and Clubcard is the best way to get great value with Tesco – from Clubcard Rewards to thousands of exclusive deals through Clubcard Prices.

"With more than £16m worth of Clubcard vouchers due to expire at the end of February, we’re reminding customers to spend them in what can be a tough time of year, as family budgets feel the new year strain." There's also this guide on how to reclaim up to two years of lost and unused Tesco Clubcard vouchers if you need some extra support. 

The easiest way to access your vouchers is to download the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app, where you will be able to manage your account and Clubcard. You can even check stock at your local stores to save you a wasted trip, which can come in especially helpful if you're trying to cut down on petrol expenditure. 

The Tesco Clubcard scheme rewards customers one point, which is valued at 1p, every time they spend £1 in-store and online. You need a minimum of 150 points to avail of the vouchers, however, which can then be spent in-store just like cash. 

A UK consumer expert has shared a possible way to save on your next food shop, after revealing a supermarket 'basket trick' that could be making you overspend on shopping. Watch out for other supermarket tricks that encourage you to spend more.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect millions of people across the UK, folks are looking for all sorts of ways to curb their spending. 

From avoiding pricey heating mistakes to finding cheaper ways to boil the kettle, it seems that the Internet nowadays is choc-a-block with tips on making ends meet during this difficult time. Some of the most popular tools for budgeting include using these clever food hacks, making homemade cleaning products, and even reclaiming lost Tesco Clubcard vouchers. 

A UK retail expert has now shared an important money-saving hack that could reduce your grocery bill - and it doesn't even involve much effort. 

"People used to find that if they put too much in a basket that you hold they got too heavy and that was a sign they should stop shopping, as they couldn't carry it. That's why you often see the baskets on wheels these days," consumer psychologist Dr. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd from Anglia Ruskin University told the Mirror.co.uk. 

What consumers may not understand, however, is that these baskets on wheels are often much larger than the standard ones you'd carry in your hands. 

"They can almost hold the same amount as a small trolley, but because it's a basket, you have the perception that you're buying less," Dr. Jansson-Boyd explained. 

"So when you're trying to save money, using one of these baskets is not necessarily a good thing to do, because you do tend to fill them up."

Supermarket bosses also tend to place these handheld baskets at more inconvenient spots in the store, requiring customers to travel further to retrieve them upon arrival. The trolleys and the baskets on wheels, however, are often situated at the entrance, making them a more appealing option for time-poor shoppers.

"If you want the smaller one you have to walk all the way round to get it, so it's usually just easier to grab the bigger one when you walk through as it's near the door," Dr. Jansson-Boyd added. 

Tesco, Morrisons, and Iceland have issued warnings to customers over fears for the safety of certain recalled food products. 

The three UK supermarket chains have urgently asked shoppers to return the following items after the FSA (Food Standards Authority) flagged them as potentially dangerous in its latest list of product recalls. 

The request comes just a few months after Tesco recalled these popular chocolate bars from its shelves, having been alerted that their packaging failed to mention they contained milk. More recently, a chocolate Easter egg from Lidl has been recalled for not properly listing one of the allergens.

Morrisons Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce

Morrisons is recalling the Morrisons Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce after becoming aware that it contains milk and this has not been mentioned on its label. The product could pose a health risk to anyone with a milk intolerance or an allergy to milk or its constituents, such as lactose. It would also not be suitable for vegans or anyone following a dairy-free diet. 

The recall applies to all Morrisons Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce with a use-by date of January 25, 2023. 

Wicked Kitchen Spinach & Wild Garlic Ravioli

Tesco is recalling its Wicked Kitchen Spinach & Wild Garlic Ravioli because it could contain small pieces of metal, making it (obviously!) unsafe to eat. The pasta is a popular choice for vegans and those with celiac disease, due to its lack of gluten, dairy, and eggs.  

The items which are affected by the recall have a use-by date of January 12, 2023.

Mars Dessert Bar

Low-cost supermarket Iceland is recalling its Mars Dessert Bars due to concerns it could contain peanuts and egg, neither of which have been mentioned on its label. Some packs have been accidentally packaged with a Snickers Dessert Bar, which means it is no longer safe to consume for those with allergies/intolerance to peanuts or eggs. 

The recall applies to all Mars Dessert Bars with a use-by date of 23 February 2024. 

Whitakers Lime and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Inclusions Bar 

Whitakers Chocolates is recalling Whitakers Lime and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Inclusions Bar because it contains milk which is not mentioned on the label. Like the Morrisons Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce, the product is a potential health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents. 

The recall applies to all bars with a use-by date between July 2023 and August 2023. 

Tesco and Morrisons are treating their customers to a very exciting Christmas gift over the next few days - free carrots. 

Tesco is giving away Rudolph's favorite snack for free from December 20 until Christmas Eve, so there's no chance of Santa's magical reindeer going hungry during his worldwide trip this weekend.

Large stands will be stacked with complimentary carrots at the UK supermarket giant's stores over the next four days, giving customers plenty of time to snag the delicious root vegetable ahead of the Christmas season. The sweet gesture will likely be especially welcomed by families with young children, many of whom have been struggling to budget for groceries and presents amid the cost-of-living crisis. 

In Tesco Superstores, Express, and Extra, customers should be able to find free 'Carrots for Rudolph' at the entrance of the stores. 

Morrisons is also participating in the sweet giveaway, with over 175,000 Farmer Christmas-approved Wonky carrots ready to be snapped up in Morrisons stores nationwide between December 22 and 23. Despite being misshapen and/or oversized, the carrots are 100% edible - feeding Rudolph and avoiding food waste at the same time. 

“Christmas is a magical time of year and we want to help our customers celebrate in any way we can," Andy Todd, Senior Carrot Buyer at Morrisons, said. "Our delicious Wonky carrots are hugely popular as they help our British farmers reduce waste and are a cheaper alternative for customers. We only hope the reindeer enjoy them as much as our customers do!" 

Tesco first encouraged its shoppers to take the orange vegetable with a cheerful note back in 2018, and has upheld the tradition every year since. 

Morrisons, however, appears to have been the first supermarket to give away carrots for free in 2016, after its research found that about 6.2 million UK families planned to leave out a snack for Santa and his hardworking reindeer.

Tesco has brought back its popular Baileys 1 litre deal for shoppers - but you better be quick to bag the bargain.

The supermarket chain is selling 1 litre bottles of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur  for just £10 - saving Tesco Clubcard customers a whopping 52% off the RRP and making it the cheapest price it's been available at Tesco all year.

Forget the Costa Festive Menu or the Pret Christmas menu, as you can make your own hot drinks at home - with an added splash of *alcohol (*please drink responsibly). 

Baileys is the most popular Irish cream liqueur around the globe and has been awarded more medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition than any of its competitors. With its distinct velvety texture, it is a perfect combination of smooth cream and whiskey. Enjoy on its own, over ice or in your favourite coffee or Baileys hot chocolate. 

And if you are looking for more ways to indulge, from gooey Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake to classy Baileys Espresso Martini, Baileys recipes hit the sweet spot every time. Drawing on Irish traditions in dairy and distilling, the unique combination took four years to perfect the ultimate liquid treat.

And shoppers who have already snapped up the saving are already loving the purchase. One reviewer wrote, "One of the best alcoholic beverages that you will taste!! Extremely indulgent!!"

Another put, "I am a regular drinker of Baileys It’s the best No other taste like it Also at the prices discount that Tesco had on it makes for a great Christmas present for family and friends."

And a third fan added, "Simply the best no other comes near, and great when on offer."

Every year, roughly 200 million litres of fresh Irish milk are required to produce the creamiest of cream used in the production of Baileys. That's enough to make about 3.3 billion Baileys milkshakes, give or take.

This delivers its signature blend of smooth Irish cream and triple-distilled Irish whiskey. Rich chocolate and vanilla flavours. The velvety texture and perfect combination of cream and whiskey delight the senses.

Carrying out your weekly food shop at the cheapest supermarket is one of the simplest ways to save money on food. Family budgets remain tight thanks to stubbornly high inflation, and with the colder months now upon us, there’s the extra pressure of high energy bills to contend with. 

Retail expert at online discount platform Wethrift, Nick Drewe, told us: “As we navigate through the ongoing cost of living crisis, the impact that rising inflation is having on the prices of everyday supermarket essentials has been impossible to ignore. 

“While many shoppers will be looking to make cuts on their non-essential purchases where possible, or looking to swap from branded goods to supermarket own ranges, in order to ease the strain on their bank accounts, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to decipher exactly where the best deals and highest quality offerings are to be sourced. In times of financial uncertainty, the average shopper is less likely to retain brand loyalty if they are able to find notably cheaper goods at rival supermarkets.”

Whichever supermarket you choose to shop at, always ensure you’re signed up to its loyalty card scheme to maximise any savings or benefits you can get. It's also a good idea to wise up to sneaky supermarket tricks that retailers use to encourage you to spend more in store. If you tend to shop online, make sure you know where you can get the cheapest online food shopping. 

Which was the cheapest supermarket in October 2023? 

The latest research by Which? shows that for the first time in 17 months, Lidl has been crowned the cheapest supermarket for October 2023. Aldi was knocked off the top spot to take second place. We did our own experiment to see if Aldi or Lidl was cheaper and that's what our latest research found too.

Which? checked the price of 44 popular grocery items and found that Lidl was the cheapest at £74.58, just 17p less than closest rival Aldi. 

Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket in October 2023. The equivalent basket cost a total of £91.15 – that’s 22% (or £16.57) more than Lidl. Of the ‘big four’ supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons), Asda was cheapest at £82.11.   

Cheapest supermarket for larger shops

Which? also compared the cost of a larger trolley of 135 items (the original 44, plus 91 more). As this larger shop includes more branded items, which may not be available at the discounters, Aldi and Lidl weren’t included in this comparison.

Asda was found to be the cheapest of the ‘big four’ traditional supermarkets, with an average trolley price of £328.42. Morrisons took second place, with a total trolley cost of £339.40 (£10.98 more).

At the other end of the scale, Waitrose was once again found to be the most expensive supermarket in October, having been overtaken by Sainsbury’s last month. The Waitrose trolley cost £378.08, £49.66 more than Asda. 

How do supermarkets compare for kids' essentials?

Raising a family doesn’t come cheap, so if you’ve recently had a baby, the table below looks at how the cost of essential baby items compares across the major supermarkets.  

Although Aldi and Lidl often offer cheaper products, they don’t sell as wide a selection of products (and some products tend to come and go), which means you might need to go to the bigger supermarkets to get the remainder of your items. Prices are pretty similar across Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury's, while Waitrose stands out as being the most expensive – primarily because it offers a smaller range of own-brand products.

If your children are older, the table below outlines how prices compare at the same supermarkets for a selection of kids’ favourites.

Again, Waitrose tends to be the most expensive. Aldi and Lidl do have some great deals, but didn’t stock all the products we were after. Lidl also only publishes the prices of some of its products online – the product, or an equivalent, may be available in store, even if it’s not listed on our table. 

Which is the most expensive supermarket?

According to Which’s annual survey, Waitrose was the most expensive across the 12 months of 2022. In fact, a basket of items from Waitrose cost from £9 to over £30 more per month than the cheapest supermarket. It also remains the priciest supermarket so far this year. We also did our own experiment to see if Waitrose was more expensive than M&S Food.

However, separate research from Which? reveals that in September this year, Sainsbury’s saw the highest level of inflation on food and drink, with prices up 14% year-on-year. This is the first time Sainsbury’s has been highest for inflation and it was followed by Lidl at 13.3% and Aldi at 12.8%.

Waitrose, on the other hand, had a lower inflation figure of 7.7%.

How to find the cheapest supermarket

Monitoring surveys and research from publications such as The Grocer and Which? is one way to keep track of supermarket prices. But there are also a number of apps and tools that can help you find the cheapest prices for the items you need to buy.

The Trolley app is a good example that lets you compare prices across 16 supermarkets – including Aldi and Lidl. You can even use the app in store and scan a bar code before you buy to ensure you aren’t paying more than you need.

Other options to try include Latest Deals, MySupermarketCompare and Superizon. These all let you compare the best deals across a range of supermarkets, while Supermarket Wizard helps consumers carry out a full basket price comparison across the big six supermarkets. Once you’ve placed all the items in your basket, you’ll be able to see which supermarket comes out cheapest.  

It can also be worth trying out food waste apps such as Too Good To Go, as shopping expert at MyVoucherCodes, Sarah-Jane Outten, explains: “Too Good To Go offers magic bags from several supermarkets including Morrisons, Waitrose, and M&S Food. These bags are packed with foods close to the end date for a fraction of the full price.” See how this app saved one mum more than £35 a month.  

Is the cheapest supermarket the best?

At a time when the cost of living remains high, hunting out the cheapest supermarket and finding the biggest savings will be a top priority. However, cost isn’t the only factor that should be considered when looking for the best supermarket for your circumstances. 

Finance expert at lender Cashfloat, Sarah Connelly, told us: "Choosing the cheapest supermarket can save you money, but it's essential to consider your overall shopping needs. Quality, variety, convenience, and value also play a significant role in determining the 'best' supermarket for you. The key is finding the right balance between affordability and the other factors that matter to you.”

Food expert and owner of online supermarket Britsuperstore, Richard Price, agrees, saying: “One crucial consideration is the quality of the products on offer. Cheaper supermarkets might cut corners in terms of product quality or freshness, potentially leading to subpar food items that can impact your health and overall satisfaction. Therefore, it's essential to strike a balance between affordability and the quality of the goods you're purchasing.

“Customer service, cleanliness, and the overall shopping experience also play a role in choosing the right supermarket. A frustrating or uncomfortable shopping environment can make the cheaper option less appealing, and the convenience of a more expensive store with better service may be worth the extra cost.”

You’ll also need to think about how easy the cheapest supermarket is for you to get to. There’s no point travelling miles to a cheaper supermarket if increased petrol or public transport costs eat up your savings. 

Consumer finance specialist, Sarah Pennells from Royal London, also points out that while discount supermarkets can be cheaper, you might not be able to do your full weekly shop at one.

She says: “Some discount stores have very limited ranges, which can mean the cheapest option isn’t available so you have to pay more, or you need to make a separate trip to another supermarket if they’re out of stock of something you need. I use discount supermarkets regularly, but have experienced both of these.”

It’s also important to note that neither Aldi or Lidl offer a full online shopping service either. Lidl is in-store only while Aldi only offers click and collect.

If you're after more ways to save money on your food shop, try this cheese hack. You might also like our guide on how to get free food (or at least heavily discounted food).  

When does Tesco release its Christmas delivery slots? As soon as we get Halloween done and dusted, our thoughts immediately turn from handing out sweets, to our what will be on our Christmas dinner plates. 

As Autumn turns to Winter and thoughts turn to Christmas, there's a few things that make the festive period special that require intensive early planning. Some might be looking to book a special day out for the little ones, with many asking if Lapland UK is worth it, and how to get tickets. Then there's which presents might end up on letters to Santa, with the top Christmas toys often selling out quickly. 

Love it or hate it, that pesky elf might make a return or introduction to your home - this could mean families are on the hunt for ingenious Elf on The Shelf ideas to add to the yuletide fun. One of the biggest considerations in the run up to the big day is food; and with Tesco's Christmas delivery slots always in hot demand, we have everything you need to know about grabbing one to ensure you don't have to queue for your cheese selection and pigs in blankets. 

When does Tesco release its Christmas delivery slots?

Tesco Christmas food delivery slots will open from 6am on November 7 for Anytime Delivery Saver customers, except those with off peak plans. For non-Delivery Saver and off-peak customers, Christmas slots open November 21 at 6am. These slots cover both Click+Collect and home deliver options, and delivery dates are dependant on location.

Within certain areas, there will also be same-day Whoosh slots available, for any last-minute or forgotten Christmas goodies. Christmas Eve and Boxing day slots will be made available, with food delivered to your door in as little as 20 minutes. However, this service doesn't run everywhere, and food options can be limited.

What time do Tesco add new delivery slots?

Tesco adds new slots to the Tesco website at midnight all year round. While booking a regular slot it's best to keep checking the website as new times are released. For Christmas, you'll need to book quickly to secure the perfect slot for the big day as they fill up fast.

With many shoppers looking into the cheapest supermarkets in the run up to Santa's arrival, Tesco are urging customers to use their Clubcard points to save money, and have announced other budget-friendly helpers for Christmas. This includes an Aldi price match - they've matched over 500 products with the fellow supermarket giant, and marked them with an 'Aldi Price Match' bubble in-store and on the website.

Tesco have also promised price cuts across hundreds of items - online, these are listed under a price cuts tab, where customers can filter by any particular product they're hoping for a discount on. 

How far in advance are Tesco delivery slots?

Tesco customers can order deliveries or Click+Collect up to 3 weeks in advance. Once you've selected your slot, it will be held for 2 hours while you complete your shopping and check out. Should you need extra time, this can be extended by a further 2 hours.

Booking a delivery slot costs between £3 and £7, with Click+Collect slots costing between £0-£2, depending on your location. Click+Collect runs at over 500 locations across the country, so you're sure to find a convenient, great-value slot that fits around your schedule. When it's your slot time, Tesco will have your shopping ready and waiting for you.

How many Christmas slots do Tesco have this year?

Tesco is yet to announce how many Christmas Delivery slots it has available this year, but reportedly had over 1.2 million slots available in the run up to Christmas in 2022. 

For those looking to get a few Christmas goodies in early, Tesco already have some festive treats available. These range from advent calendars and Christmas chocolate tubs, to frozen party food and savoury snacks - frozen turkeys are also on sale for those getting ultra prepared.  

For more preparation ideas, we have the lowdown on the Argos top Christmas toys for 2023, and have tried and tested the best Christmas games for the family to come together and enjoy. Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without the Cbeebies Christmas Panto, and we reveal which story the beloved presenters will be telling this year.

Tesco has raised the price of its iconic 'meal deal' in light of the cost-of-living crisis, much to the outrage of its customers. 

The UK supermarket retailer will now sell its famous sandwich, snack, and drink combo to Clubcard Holders for £3.50, after 10 years of customers in its loyalty program paying just £3 for the takeaway lunch. 

People without a Tesco Clubcard will be charged £3.90 for the meal deal, a 40p increase from the previous price of £3.50. 

The disheartening news comes in light of the nation's cost of living crisis, which has seen food prices push UK inflation into double digits for the first time since 1982. Much of this inflation can be attributed to Russia's war in Ukraine, as energy prices soar due to an increased demand for oil and gas. 

Despite Tesco's insistence that the price of its meal deal is still "great value," outrage has broken out across the Internet in response to the update. Many folks have taken to Twitter to share their reactions - some of which are hilarious and others, downright angry. 

"I’m finding it very hard to believe Tesco needs to up the meal deal price. As if they will be at a loss if they don’t," one suspicious person wrote. "I just don’t believe it." 

"Ummm @Tesco upping their meal deal price to £3.40 WITH a Clubcard?! This cost of living crisis really be crisising," another person remarked. 

Some Tesco customers suggested they may go to competitor chains, like Waitrose and Co-op, to get their Meal Deal fix in light of the price jump. 

"Waitrose and coop and boots meal deals are £3.50-£4 and the sandwiches are actually decent boots in particular, why pay that much for a Tesco's one," one person wrote. 

The news had a handful of people feeling particularly despaired, with one heartbroken person even writing, "I don’t wanna live in a world where a Tesco meal deal isn’t £3." 

The Tesco toy sale is a brilliant way to spread the cost of Christmas - with selected toys up to half price while stocks last exclusively for Clubcard members.

Whether you're hoping to bag some bargains from this year's Top Christmas Toys list or just browsing for a birthday present idea - check out our pick of the best toys for 1 year olds if so - it's always good to hear about a toy sale at this time of year.

All the toys in the Tesco toy sale are discounted by 40 to 50 per cent with some costing as little as £7.50. We've price-checked many of the items in the Tesco toy sale to check they're not cheaper elsewhere, and so far we've been impressed with the bargains we've found. 

You must have a Tesco Clubcard to take advantage of the Tesco toy sale - otherwise, you'll pay full price instead of the discounted Clubcard price. 

Tesco toy sale - our consumer editor's top picks

• View Peppa Pig 1,2,3 Soft Toy at Tesco 

• View Pets Alive Robotic Boppi Llama at Tesco

• View Scentos Ultimate Compound Collection at Tesco 

• View the Dickie Toys Parking Garage Playset at Tesco

Also in the Tesco Toy Sale are plenty of ‘plush’ stuffed toys which have been in growing demand this year, including items from the Squishmallow, FNAF and Talking Duggee ranges.

Brands that feature in the sale include LEGO, Barbie, Disney, Peppa Pig, VTech, Paw Patrol, Hot Wheels, Pokemon, DC Batman, Marvel Avengers, Sylvanian Families,  Funkopop, and Glitzeez.

'We know that with the cost of living Christmas can be quite a strain on the wallet – especially for families with more than one child - so we want to make it easier for them to spread the cost of buying presents,' said Tesco Toy Category Manager Anne Borrett. 'We’ve chosen some of the most popular and latest toys for children of all ages for the sale, with big name brands such as Lego, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol – all at up to half price!”

The Tesco toy sale runs for one month until Nov 2 in up to 260 Tesco stores and online.

Here are more of our favourite deals from this year's Tesco toy sale:

• Cry Babies Mori - was £30 now £18
• Barbie Bumper Craft Set - was £20, now £10
• Lego Friends Forest House - was £25 now £16.50
• Lego Friends Recycling Truck - was £18, now £12
• Lego Friends Pizzeria - was £13, now £8.50

Video of the week:

With food costing more than ever before, shoppers can use supermarket loyalty cards to cut the cost of groceries.

Families have been facing high food prices for more than a year, and may have already switched to a cheaper supermarket to reduce the cost of food shopping - if you're wondering if Aldi or Lidl is cheaper, or if Waitrose is more expensive than M&S Food, we've done the research to find out. As food prices rose by 18.4% in the year to May, according to the Office for National Statistics, it’s no wonder that families are looking for ways to reduce their food bills. And this is where a supermarket loyalty card can really come into its own. 

Kate Hardcastle MBE, retail expert and CEO of Insight With Passion, explains: “These supermarket schemes are certainly bringing more consumer benefits currently than disadvantages. It’s important to note that most large grocers are now offering preferential member pricing with more to follow suit. Whilst this is to garner loyalty, there is nothing to stop consumers from being savvy with their shopping, signing up to a number of them and using them where suits them best that week.” 

Wherever you shop, it's also a good idea to be aware of the sneaky supermarket tricks that retailers may use to encourage you to spend more money than you need to. 

Here we look at how supermarket loyalty cards actually work and analyse the loyalty schemes from the biggest supermarkets to see how they compare.

How do supermarket loyalty cards work?

Although there are variations depending on the scheme you, loyalty cards typically work in a similar way. Shoppers can earn points each time they spend money in-store or online. Points can then be used to make purchases at that supermarket or other retailers that the store has teamed up with. 

For example, if you save up enough Tesco points they can be used to buy Disney+ subscriptions, tickets to Alton Towers, and other adventures parks, and cinema tickets and passes. Similarly, with a Sainsbury's Nectar card, you can collect and spend points at a number of retailers including Argos, Esso, eBay, Caffe Nero, Habitat, and more. And, of course, you'll also receive money-off vouchers (in the post or via the app) at the supermarket. 

It's a good idea to read the small print, both when you join a scheme and when you receive points or vouchers, says James Owen, co-founder of internet marketing service Click Intelligence: “Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the program, such as expiration dates on rewards or any restrictions on redeeming points. You don’t want the effort of collecting lots of points, only to realise they've expired before you get a chance to enjoy them."

It’s worth remembering, ultimately, that loyalty cards are a great source of data for supermarkets – that’s why they want you to sign up. Collecting data on this scale helps supermarkets to understand their customers' shopping habits and identify any buying trends. This data can be used to inform everything from which products to sell and in which stores, to improving customer service and tailoring marketing campaigns.

Are supermarket loyalty cards worth it?

Supermarket loyalty cards are definitely worth having, but the value of supermarket loyalty cards depends on where you shop, how much you spend, and what rewards you are looking for. Someone spending £400 a month with Tesco Clubcard, for example, could earn £4 back each month. This could then be worth twice the value when redeemed at selected Tesco partners. For example, for every 50p you earn in Clubcard vouchers, you can get £1 off at Cineworld (on both tickets and snacks).

However, Tesco has gradually reduced the value of Clubcard vouchers in the past few years. “Shoppers are now only getting 2x face value after a recent drop from 3x and are now half of what we saw pre-2018 when you could get a whopping 4x face value,” explained Rob Burgess, editor at leisure and travel blog Headforpoints.

In comparison, a £400 monthly spend with a Sainsbury’s Nectar card would only earn you £2. But Nectar has the advantage of earning points at brands such as Esso, Argos, and eBay, so if you regularly spend at these brands, you’ll earn points faster. But Nectar has also seen a decline in available partner redemption offers – losing partners such as DFDS Ferries and all its rail partners.   

According to a study by Finder.com, 92% of adults in the UK have at least one supermarket loyalty card. The site’s research found that customers would have to spend an average of £6,998 in the biggest UK supermarkets to earn enough loyalty points to pay for just one weekly shop.

But even with loyalty schemes arguably not being as rewarding as they used to be, it’s still generally worth signing up to save what you can. If you shop at several different supermarkets, there’s nothing to stop you from holding a loyalty card for each one. 

Supermarket loyalty cards now give you access to exclusive discounted prices

Several supermarkets have recently changed their loyalty schemes to focus on discounted prices, rather than collecting points.

Tesco claims Clubcard also has 'the power to bring down prices' – as simply presenting your card at the checkout will give you an instant saving. However, some critics say that non-Clubcard prices are vastly hiked up – so joining Clubcard simply gives you access to affordable prices.

“Whilst supermarket loyalty schemes are nowhere near as generous as they were a few years ago, there is still good value on offer for shoppers who are prepared to put in some effort to work out the best value for their points,” says HeadforPoints' Rob Burgess. “Schemes are now more focused on price drops in store which are available to loyalty card holders. This is seen in abundance in Tesco for example.”

Finder tracked the loyalty and non-loyalty prices of products at Sainsbury’s and Tesco over two weeks in June 2023 and found that regular prices at Sainsbury’s were 45% higher on average than the Nectar prices. At Tesco, regular prices were 36% higher on average than Clubcard prices. 

Liz Edwards, editor-in-chief at finder.com, adds: “We also found that some non-loyalty prices were far higher at certain supermarkets than the regular price at others. For example, a 200g jar of instant coffee was on offer for £6 with Nectar, but cost £8.10 without a loyalty card,” said, “Yet at Tesco, the regular price of this item was £6 without any discount applied. This could therefore be seen as a penalty for those who don’t have a Nectar card, and begs the question: can consumers afford to shop in the UK without loyalty cards?” 

Most popular supermarket loyalty cards and the benefits you get

Here, we take a closer look at the best supermarket loyalty cards, assessing factors such as the best rewards, where rewards can be earned and redeemed, plus any additional perks.

Tesco Clubcard

What do you earn?  Collect 1 point for every £1 you spend in-store and online at Tesco and 1 point for every £2 you spend on fuel at Tesco filling stations. You can also earn points if you have a Tesco mobile contract or a Tesco Bank credit card; you’ll earn 1 point for every £1 spent on your mobile phone bill and 1 point for every £4 spent on your credit card. 

What can you use rewards for?  For every 150 points, you’ll get £1.50 worth of vouchers that you can spend on groceries or fuel at Tesco. Alternatively, points can be worth up to two times more if you spend them with Tesco’s reward partners on days out, eating out, travel and more. Partners include English Heritage, Pizza Express and Eurotunnel.

Tesco Clubcard user Rebecca Gore said: “I collect Clubcard points and usually spend them on vouchers for family days out such as Thorpe Park and Legoland – it’s better value than spending the points in Tesco. I also look for Clubcard discounts in-store when I go shopping.”

How much do you earn on a £100 spend? £1

Additional benefits?  Clubcard holders benefit from exclusive discounts on certain products in-store and online. You can request Clubcard vouchers within 24 hours via the Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app or via your online account. 

Pros: You can make some significant savings on days out and activities.
Cons: Clubcard vouchers expire after two years and cannot be reissued.

Sainsbury's Nectar Card

What do you earn? Shoppers earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Sainsbury’s in-store and online, and 1 point for every £1 spent on Sainsbury’s fuel. You can also collect points at partner brands including Argos, Esso and eBay.

What can you use rewards for?  You can redeem Nectar points in-store, either at Sainsbury’s or at partner brands, which means options are a little more limited compared to Tesco Clubcard. Each 500 points earned is worth £2.50 at Sainsbury’s, eBay, and Argos. You can also exchange 400 Nectar points for 250 Avios points which you can put towards British Airways flights.

Nectar card holder Joanna Docker said: “I spend a lot of money on petrol commuting to work so it makes sense to collect Nectar points on fuel to save some money.” 

How much do you earn on a £100 spend? 50p

Additional benefits? You can earn an extra 200 points each month by downloading the Nectar Yahoo Toolbar and using it for your online searches. Newly-launched My Nectar Prices offers discounts tailored to your shopping habits if you use the SmartShop app or handsets.

Pros: Option to collect and spend points at brand partners.

Cons: Can take a long time to build up points.

Co-op Membership

What do you earn? For every £1 spent on selected Co-op products and services, 2p will go into your Co-op Membership account. The same amount also goes to support community organisations and local causes.

What can you use rewards for? You can use your rewards on most things you buy, not just Co-op products. You can also choose to donate them.

How much do you earn on a £100 spend? £2

Additional benefits? You’ll receive special offers based on what you like to buy, plus exclusive member deals, as well as discounts on Co-op services such as insurance, funeral care and legal services.

Pros: Flexibility on where you spend rewards.

Cons: Not points-based and costs £1 to join.

Iceland Bonus Card

What do you earn? Cardholders earn rewards by saving up shopping money in advance. For every £20 saved, you’ll receive an extra £1.

What can you use rewards for? Rewards are paid into your account which you can then use along with your saved cash to pay for shopping at Iceland and The Food Warehouse.  You can save and spend online and in-store.

Iceland customer Jessica Lyons said: “I think Iceland have a good system. By preloading my card with cash I can budget for food shopping – then Iceland adds money too. It’s also a pretty cheap place to shop.” 

How much do you earn on a £100 spend? £5

Additional benefits? Your Bonus card will give you exclusive offers in-store and online, free home delivery when you spend £25 or more in-store, and the chance to win prizes.

Pros: Easy way to budget for your food shop.

Cons: Not point-based.

myWaitrose Membership

What do you earn? Rather than earning points, with this loyalty scheme from Waitrose you get personalised vouchers each week. You can also benefit from members-only pricing on a selection of products.

What can you use rewards for? Each week, you will be sent personalised vouchers which can be used for money off on selected items.

Additional benefits? You can get 5% off dry cleaning and laundry by showing your myWaitrose card when using in-store Johnsons the Cleaners services. Cardholders will also get free Waitrose Food and Waitrose Heath magazines. Any myWaitrose members who also have a Vitality health or life insurance plan can also benefit from 25% cashback on Waitrose products with the Good Health logo. Membership will also get you 10% off at Waitrose Cookery School.

Pros: Members-only pricing could see you make some nice savings on your weekly shop.

Cons: Not points-based. Also, Waitrose is the UK’s most expensive supermarket. 

Lidl Plus

What do you earn? Registering for the Lidl Plus rewards app gives you access to an array of exclusive discounts and prizes. However, as of 1 September, the scheme has changed, meaning that shoppers will need to spend more to earn the biggest discounts.  

What can you use rewards for?  You can use the reward coupons for money off your favourite products, or a free gift or money off when you reach certain spending targets. For example, spend £50 in a month and you'll get a coupon for a free in-store bakery item. Spend £100 in a month and you'll get a £2 off coupon. If you spend £150 in a month, you’ll get a coupon for a free item from Lidl’s W5 cleaning range. You’ll also earn 10% off your next shop when you spend £250 in a month (this was previously a voucher for £10 if you spent £200 in a month). 

How much do you earn on a £100 spend?  £2 (or 10% off your next shop when you spend £250 in a month). 

Additional benefits?  Exclusive discounts and prizes from Lidl partners, such as the AA and Kids Pass. You’ll also be able to access digital receipts, helping you to track your spend without collecting paper receipts. 

Pros: App-based, so you don't have to worry about forgetting your card.

Cons: Not point-based.

My Morrisons

What do you earn?  When you register for My Morrisons, you’ll get access to regular personalised offers on the things you buy the most, from digital vouchers to money off your next shop. 

What can you use rewards for?   Use your personalised offers to cut the cost of your next food shop. Join one of the My Morrisons Clubs and you'll be able to save even more with access to exclusive discounts, helpful tips and members-only treats and competitions. 

Additional benefits?  Access to My Morrisons Clubs, for exclusive member benefits tailored towards NHS staff, teachers, students and new parents. If you keep scanning your My Morrisons card, you could also bag a “Basket Bonus” which could give you £5 off your next shop, a bunch of flowers or something from the bakery. 

Pros: You can use the My Morrisons app or the Morrisons website to activate your rewards.

Cons: Not points-based.

Asda Rewards

What do you earn? Asda launched its loyalty scheme in August 2022 and to use it, you’ll need to download the app. Then, rather than earning points, you’ll earn ‘Asda Pounds’ to build up your ‘Cashpot’ every time you shop online or in-store and scan the app. 

What can you use rewards for? You can convert the money in your Cashpot into money-off vouchers which can be redeemed on your shopping in-store and online. You can earn Asda Pounds by buying certain ‘star products’ which  give your Cashpot an instant boost equivalent to 10% of the product’s price. You can also complete certain missions to earn more. These missions can range from buying a certain number of products from a particular department to spending a minimum amount over multiple visits. 

Asda customer Louise Bradford said: “I signed up to Asda’s loyalty scheme when they started it but it’s quite complicated and fiddly. I shop there anyway but it would be better if they just had cheaper prices.” 

Additional benefits? There may be the option of converting some of your Cashpot balance into a Boost voucher which will increase its value by a certain percentage. 

Pros: App-based, so you don't have to worry about forgetting your card.

Cons: Not point-based.

M&S Sparks Card

What do you earn? Rather than earning rewards, when you register for the M&S Sparks Card you’ll receive personalised offers based on the things you love, plus a weekly opportunity to have your shopping bought for you. 

What can you use rewards for? Use your personalised offers to cut the cost of your M&S shop. Plus, whenever you scan your card, M&S will donate to your chosen charity. 

Additional benefits? Every week in-store, M&S says it will treat a Sparks customer to the shopping they’re buying for free. Some customers will also be given a small gift each week, and there are various giveaways in-store and online.

“This year M&S unveiled a trial of a premium version of the programme, Sparks Plus, which offers a monthly £10 voucher, double charity donations, invites to exclusive store events and unlimited next-day delivery, on top of the regular Sparks benefits,” said Liz Hunter, director at Money Expert, “It’s worth noting that Sparks Plus costs an upfront fee of £120 a year and is only available to a small number of Sparks members at the moment.”  

Pros: You can register on the website or use the app to scan your card from your phone and keep track of your offers.

Cons: Not points based. 

Which other loyalty cards are worth considering?

The perks don't end with supermarket loyalty cards, if you are regular shopper at any of the below high street stores or restaurants, then make sure you sign up to their free loyalty schemes to bag the best benefits. 

High street loyalty schemes

If you regularly shop at Boots, it can also be worth looking at the Boots Advantage card which gives you 4 points for every £1 you spend. Each point is worth 1p and you can redeem your points in-store at any time, as long as you have enough points to cover the cost of the item. For example, you’ll need 499 points to cover an item priced at £4.99.

Superdrug also offers a loyalty card which gives you 1 point for every £1 you spend. Like the Boots Advantage card, each point is worth 1p, but unlike Boots, you can use a combination of points and cash to pay for items.

Restaurants and coffee shops loyalty schemes

Restaurants and coffee shops are getting in on the loyalty card action too. If you are a regular Starbucks visitor, make sure you register for a Starbucks Card - you get three stars for every £1 you spend. Collect 150 stars and you can get a free drink, while 450 stars will get you extra shots of espresso, selected syrups and whipped cream. With 450 stars, you'll also reach Gold Level status, which means you'll get a free drink on your birthday.

Pret Perks work in a similar way. Earn stars as you shop, and with 10 stars, you can unlock a perk.

Costa Coffee also has a rewards programme, the Costa Club. As a member of the club, you'll earn a point (or bean) for every hot or cold crafted drink you buy. Collect eight beans and you can get a drink for free.  Better still, if you buy four drinks in a reusable cup, you'll get your fifth for free. You'll also get free cake on your birthday.

If you are a regular frequenter of Nando's, it's definitely worth signing up for a Nando's card. You can earn a point (or chilli) for every £7 spend online or in the restaurant. Three chillis will unlock your first reward.

If you want to combine all your loyalty cards in one place, loyalty app Swapi lets you link all your loyalty cards in its digital wallet. You can then use it for any in-store or online purchases. You can also earn Swapi points at its partner brands.

If you're signed up to a loyalty scheme, it's worthwhile knowing which can be use to bag a birthday freebie for you and your family, a free coffee, or even a free bag of Percy Pigs!

We've probably all got multiple supermarket bags for life or reusable carrier bags stashed in a drawer or cupboard somewhere that we forget to take with us when we go shopping, but with some supermarkets raising the prices of their bags this summer, we've checked out which supermarket sells the cheapest options. 

Food prices continue to soar,  which was a major contributing factor to inflation surpassing 10%. While struggling families will be searching for ways to save money on food in order to save money, it can be quite easy to overlook how much you might be paying for a supermarket bag for life if you forget to take your own. 

It was back in 2015 when stores first started charging for single use plastic bags.  According to Government data, the main retailers (Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, The Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose) sold 197 million single use carrier bags in England between 7 April 2021 and 6 April 2022, compared to 294 million single use carrier bags in the same period from 2020-2021. In 2021-2022, the average person bought around nine plastic bags a year. This is compared to the 38 per person in 2016-2017. 

Firstly, these were charges at 5p a time, then 10p and now with retailers under pressure to do more to save the planet, they’re offering a range of paper, compostable and recyclable bags – at a price.

Where can you get the cheapest supermarket bags for life or reusable carrier bag? 

The cheapest bag you can buy to carry your shopping home in is the Co-op’s compostable carrier bag that you can pick up for just 10p.  The Co-op says it was the first UK food retailer to sell “certified compostable carrier bags, which are designed with the second use as a food waste caddy liner”.  

How much do other supermarkets charge for their bags? 

Asda

Asda no longer has single use plastic bags and since July 2019 there’s been no option to have carrier bags with your online orders, either for Click & Collect or home delivery.

Asda has three different bags for life.  Its basic version costs 20p and measures 44 x 43 x 18 cm in size. It also sells a larger version which measures 43 x 38 x 22 cm for  55p along with a cool bag for life at £1.75.

Aldi

Aldi sells its Eco Loop carrier bag for 25p per bag, but offers other bags for life for around 59p per bag. 

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s put up the price of its bags for life from 20p to 30p in June this year in an attempt to encourage customers to reuse them.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “its bags are made from 100% recycled content, are recyclable in store and customers can also return their old bags to store where they will be replaced for free”.

Tesco 

Tesco charges 30p for a bag for life in a bid to encourage customers to bring their own bags to cut down on plastic and avoid paying for a bag. 

Its bags for life are made from 100% recycled plastic and can be replaced for free in store as well as being recycled. Tesco also sells a more expensive range of reusable carrier bags ranging from 75p  - £1.25.

Iceland 

You can buy reusable and recyclable paper bags for your shopping for 30p a go or for £1 you can buy Iceland’s recently launched bag for life.   This is a woven reusable bag.

Morrisons 

Morrisons multi-use paper bags cost 40p and its multi-use plastic bags are 60p – which it says are priced according to encourage shoppers to choose paper over plastic.

Morrisons is phasing out all plastic bags by the end of 2022 and says it wants to encourage shoppers to re-use its paper bags and not to use them for a single shopping trip.  

Waitrose

Waitrose removed all its 10p bags for life from major stores last September and introduced a new reusable bag, which it says is “twice as durable, made from recycled materials and fully recyclable”.  

This costs 50p – however it also sells a range of other reusable bags – the cheapest of which is its 100% recycled shopper for £1.50 up to £6 for its Duchy reusable organic cotton bag.

Are reusable carriers and bags for life a good idea?

While bags for life can be good for the environment and your bank balance, they are only good if you remember to take them with you when you go shopping rather than needing to buy more, or treating them as single use bags.

According to environmental organisation WRAP,  90% of us own at least one reusable bag for life, but one in three of us have the bags at home and rarely use them. If that sounds like you, have a root around and dig out all the bags for life you can find. 

WRAP also says 13% of people ‘often or always’ buy bags at the till, and parents between the ages of 18-34 are the most likely to do this. The main reason being that reusable bags are left at home. 

Try and keep a bag for life in your handbag and a couple in your car to avoid getting caught short when out and about. While you might think buying a bag only costs a few pence at a time, if you have to buy one or more every time you go shopping, the cost soon adds up. 

From September, Waitrose is set to join leading retailers Tesco, Morrison, and M&S to remove best before dates on 500 products including fruit and veg.

In the bid to reduce food waste and help shoppers save money on food, major retailers have agreed to ban best before labels on a variety of products to encourage shoppers to use their own judgment when it comes to deciding when food has gone off. 

Why are supermarkets scrapping best before dates?

The label ban movement started back in 2018 when Tesco ditched dates on more than 100 fresh products. Last month M&S decided to do the same on 300 of their products in order to help eliminate millions of baskets worth of food waste.

Marija Rompani, director of sustainability and ethics at John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, told Sky News; "UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food every year, meaning that all the energy and resources used in food production are wasted.

"By removing best before dates from our products, we want our customers to use their own judgment to decide whether a product is good to eat or not, which in turn will increase its chances of being eaten and not becoming waste."

Best before and use by dates - what's the difference?

The best before date indicates when food should be eaten before the quality starts to diminish, while the use by date outlines when it’s no longer safe to consume.

The label 'best before' is often used on food with longer shelf life, where bacteria is less likely to grow or cause concern. Examples include cereal, pasta, and tinned foods. 'Best before' refers to the quality of the product meaning food is safe to eat after the best before date but the taste, texture, or smell may be compromised. Therefore leaving judgment entirely up to the consumer.

The 'use by' date however is there for safety reasons. 'Use by' dates are scientifically tested and labeled often found on perishable foods such as dairy, salads, or meat for example. To avoid serious illness, the use by date must be followed as food past the use by date could contain the food poisoning bacteria Listeria.

According to food safety site safefood; "the use by date is a DEADLINE but best before is a GUIDELINE, for when to eat your food."

Food safety expert Jenna Brown adds; "Put simply, use-by dates are there for your safety and mustn’t be ignored whereas best before dates are just for quality – so best before dates CAN be ignored if it looks and smells fine and there is no mould present."

Display dates are for the supermarket staff as a guide for when products should be removed from the supermarket shelves and not sold as well as stock control. 

Waitrose's decision to scrap best before dates has left shoppers divided. Some customers raised concern about the quality of the product and how the price should reflect this; "That's absolutely appalling and I won't be buying any fresh produce this is totally for you benefit no one else's!! absolutely disgusting were supposed to strive for better quality as you charge that price for it," customer @andrelondonuk commented.

Whereas others agreed on the decision was the right one; "Good, it's about time folk used their common sense. If it looks good and smells good it is good. Eat it," said shopper @darimi1.

Related features:

- How to keep fruit and veg fresher for longer

- Food hacks to save you money

- Freezer meals: How to make the most of your freezer

Video of the week

Tesco has slashed the price of Yankee Candle Megabuy giftsets to HALF PRICE - a saving of £20. 

Everybody loves a Yankee Candle and they make perfect presents. And now Tesco Clubcard holders can pick up the ever-popular Yankee Candle Megabuy Giftset for just £20, half price from £40.

Tesco shoppers can save a whopping £20 on this super-popular candle gift set that's perfect to pop away in the present cupboard for a premium gift at a bargain price. 

Shoppers who don't have a Clubcard and haven't joined the supermarket's loyalty programme must pay the full price of £40, as the discount is only available to Tesco Clubcard holders.

The Yankee Candle Megabuy Giftset includes five candles in a range of four sizes and five different summery seasonal fragrances. 

In the set, you'll get a large jar candle (Coral Peony) which burns for up to 120 hours. This candle alone is currently priced at more than £13 from other supermarkets, making this deal a steal for Yankee Candle lovers.

There's also a medium jar candle (Mango Lemonade) which has a burn time of up to 60 hours and a small jar candle (Island Blooms) which you can expect to burn for up to 30 hours.

In addition, there are two votive candles in the Megabuy Giftset, each with a burn time of up to 15 hours. That's up to 240 hours of burn time for just £20 - or 12 hours of candle time for every pound you spend!

The gift set has proven a hit with Tesco customers in the past. 'I think these are really excellent value for money with the £20 discount,' wrote one Tesco shopper. 'I will give them as individual birthday and Christmas presents (and a gift for myself of course) and I bought 2 sets, thank goodness, because I just went to buy a 3rd but they're sold out.'

The Yankee Candle Megabuy Giftset offer for Tesco Clubcard holders is running in-store and online and is available until 10/08/22 for collection or delivery.

Tesco Click+Collect is a good idea if you plan to take advantage of this deal. That's because Click+Collect slots cost up to £2 and there are generally more slots to choose from compared to booking a Tesco home delivery. The minimum order value is only £25 for Click+Collect - compared to £40 for a Tesco home delivery.

If you're not a Tesco Clubcard holder, you can join the loyalty programme for free via the Tesco website. Clubcard holders earn points for every £1 they spend in-store and online, as well as access to exclusive Clubcard price deals like this one. 

You might also like:

• 15 surprising ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers
• The huge Tesco Clubcard hack shoppers need to know about to get free cash
• 14 ways to collect more Tesco Clubcard points 

As part of the government’s Help for Households initiative, big brands like Asda, Sainsburys and Amazon have pledged to offer discounts to help households with rising costs this summer.

Cost of Living Business Tsar and former Just Eat boss David Buttress has agreed deals and discounts with a range of businesses, including special offers on eating out, grocery shopping, entertainment, and phone bills.

The move comes as inflation hits 9.4% - a new 40-year high - and experts warn that families could pay £380 more on food shopping over the next year.

Deals include the extension of Asda’s Kids eat for £1 scheme until the end of the year, and  a "feed your family for a fiver" deal from Sainsbury’s. Meanwhile, Amazon has launched a new savings page on its site providing access to free entertainment such as Amazon Music, free educational resources for children, and hundreds of essential groceries price-matched to Tesco Clubcard Prices.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said families were “feeling the pinch” and that the deals would 

“provide much needed respite at the checkout”. He added: “This won’t solve the issue overnight but it’s yet another weapon in our arsenal as we fight back against the scourge of rising prices and inflation.”

The special offers form the first part of the Help for Households campaign. Some may look familiar; that’s because a number of the schemes are already running but are now being promoted under the Help for Households campaign to raise awareness.

Further discounts are expected to be secured for the autumn and run-up to Christmas. They will be hosted on the government’s new Help for Households deals and discounts website. 

In addition to these discounts, almost every household will benefit from extra support in the form of cost of living payments from the government, including the £400 energy rebate, and the £650 cost of living payment for low-income households.

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at the consumer group Which?, welcomed the campaign, saying: “Millions of people will be struggling to make ends meet in the coming months, so it’s right the government is working with businesses to ensure consumers can get value for money when the cost of so many everyday essentials is increasing at an alarming rate.”

What deals are included in the Help for Households scheme?

Tesco shoppers have less than 24 hours left to take advantage of the Clubcard hack that will earn them the most free cash.

With soaring temperatures its' hard to think ahead to Christmas but it's only 160 days away and some savvy shoppers will want to take advantage of the Tesco Clubcard Christmas Savers amid the current cost of living crisis.

With the cost of fuel, food and energy bills expected to continue to rise, families who want ways to save extra pounds will have to act quick if they want to make the most savings this festive season.

The saver account allows Clubcard members to save the vouchers they collect as they shop throughout the year. With the average weekly shop for a family of four costing £99.40**, shoppers could save at least 1,292 in points if they start saving today, which is the equivalent of £12.92 or an extra present under the tree.

And shoppers who take advantage of this free cash by signing up by 21st July will see an additional benefit - they can put all the points they receive in their August Clubcard Points Statement, earned on shopping and fuel purchases from May to July, towards their Clubcard Christmas Savers fund. Helping them to be even more prepared for the festive season.

Alessandra Bellini, CCO at Tesco said: “We know that many of our customers are feeling the financial squeeze this year and could do with a little help towards Christmas. The Clubcard Christmas Savers is a savvy way to spread the cost of Christmas, without compromising on the things that bring us joy at such a special time of year. It’s just one of the ways we’re helping customers to spend less at Tesco.”

But that's not all, customers can save even more by topping up their account with cash to turn into vouchers and get a bonus from Tesco. The bonuses range from £1.50 for a £25 top up, through to £12 for a £200 top up – that’s up to 6 per cent added to their savings.

In November, just ahead of the big festive shop, account holders will be sent all their vouchers. Shoppers can then use their Clubcard Christmas Savers balance to spend on groceries, fuel and presents, such as toys in-store or with Clubcard Rewards partners to give the gift of family days out, spa days or magazine subscriptions. Vouchers are also worth up to three times more with Clubcard Rewards, so customers can really spoil their loved ones with an experience this Christmas.

Boots has quietly rolled out a discount scheme for its Advantage Card holders, with lower prices on hundreds of products online and in-store.

Similar to Tesco’s Clubcard Prices scheme, Price Advantage allows shoppers to get discounts on certain items when using their loyalty card.

The scheme was trialled last summer, then launched in larger Boots stores in January. In April, it was expanded so that customers could access the lower prices online as well.

Pete Markey, chief marketing officer at Boots UK, said: “Price Advantage was born following customer feedback, with many telling us they would like to receive immediate benefits through their Boots Advantage Card, as well as being able to save up points and treat themselves in the future.”

At a time where households are dealing with food prices going up, worrying about how much energy bills will cost and how to save money on fuel, the Price Advantage Scheme comes at a good time. 

What is the Price Advantage scheme and how does it work? 

Boots Price Advantage scheme allows Boots Advantage Card holders exclusive access to lower prices on a range of products. Initially 150 products were included in the discount scheme, but this has been extended to include more than 400 products across categories including beauty, vitamins and suncream. Discounts can also be found on shampoo, conditioner, deodorants, shower gel, toothpaste, baby toiletries and nursery furniture.

The discounts are shown in-store via bright pink stickers. The customer then needs to present their Advantage Card when paying at the till in order for the lower price to be applied.

To claim a discount online, customers need to log into their account via boots.com or the Boots app - making sure their Advantage Card is linked to their account. 

In-store ordering is currently excluded from the Price Advantage scheme.

How much could I save? 

Boots Advantage Card holders who buy products included in the scheme will see an average saving of £2.65 per product. Some products are half-price, while others have much smaller savings. 

Some of the big offers currently are a £20 saving on a Mr Bright LED Teeth Whitening Kit with Case (usually £50, £30 with Price Advantage) and £11 off Vitabiotics Perfectil Platinum - 60 tablets (usually £44, £33 on Price Advantage). 

Are the deals any good? 

To make sure you’re getting a good deal, compare the price with other retailers. While some Price Advantage offers may offer the best deal for a product, you may find rivals like Superdrug, Savers or supermarkets stock the same item cheaper.

Don’t forget that you will still get reward points on your card at the same time as buying an Boots Price Advantage item. This means if the product is only slightly cheaper elsewhere, it could make sense to still buy it from Boots and grab the extra points.

Also check delivery costs if you’re buying online, so you can compare the overall price of a product on different sites.

I’m a Boots Advantage Card customer, but I’ve not heard of this scheme 

After launching the Price Advantage scheme in January, Boots then released a TV advert in May to raise awareness of it.

Chief Marketing Officer Pete Markey spoke to Campaign website about the advert: “Having launched at a time where people may be feeling the pinch, the creative idea is centred around the delight Price Advantage brings as its ‘bursts’ with savings that help people get more out of life for less.”

However, some customers say they have still not heard of the benefit. The new scheme does seem to have flown under the radar, especially compared to Tesco’s well-known Clubcard Prices initiative. 

When Goodto checked the Boots website on 12 July, we couldn’t see any mention of the Price Advantage scheme on the homepage. Instead, offers like £10 Tuesday, the Big Boots Summer Savings event, and double Advantage card points for the Parenting Club, were highlighted.

How can I get an Advantage Card and what other benefits could I get? 

It’s free to sign up for a Boots Advantage card. You can register for a card on the Boots website. If you already have a Boots online account, you can log into it and then apply for the card. If you don’t have a Boots account, you can register for one as part of the process.

If you’re not able to sign up online, or you have any Advantage Card queries, ring the helpline on 0345 124 4545.

The Boots Advantage Card continues to offer 4 points for every £1 spent at Boots. Parents can also sign up to the Boots Parenting Club to claim 8 points for every £1 spent on baby products and two annual offers of 16 points per £1 spent.

There is also an over 60s rewards scheme - as the name suggests, this is available to anyone over 60  – offering 8 points per £1 spent when buying Boots own brands and from selected ranges, including Liz Earle, No7 and Soap & Glory.

Boots recently announced that it would remove points from Advantage Card accounts that have not been used for one year. This means using the card when buying items in-store or online, or redeeming points. So act quickly if you think you haven’t used your card in a while! 

A pricing dispute between Tesco and Heinz means that you might struggle to get your hands on the likes of the brand's iconic ketchup and beans during your supermarket trips right now. 

It was revealed earlier this week that Kraft, the food giant behind the Heinz brand, had tried to introduce price increases on some of its most popular Heinz products, in light of rising production costs. 

However, Tesco announced that they were pushing back on the Heinz cost increase to support customers as food prices rise, sparking a price row between the retailer and the household grocery name. 

Why has Tesco stopped selling Heinz?

Heinz products such as beans, ketchup, salad cream and more are missing from some Tesco shelves after the supermarket shared that it would be pausing supplies of the brand following a price increase. 

In a statement, Tesco confirmed that the increase of Heinz products would not be "passed on" to shoppers, in order to support households across the nation dealing with rising energy prices and increases in the cost of living. 

"With household budgets under increasing pressure, now more than ever we have a responsibility to ensure customers get the best possible value, and we will not pass on unjustifiable price increases to our customers," Tesco said. 

"We’re sorry that this means some products aren’t available right now, but we have plenty of alternatives to choose from and we hope to have this issue resolved soon.

"We’re laser-focused on keeping the cost of the weekly shop in check, offering customers great value through our combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices and Clubcard Prices," Tesco added. 

Defending the price hikes, Heinz a issued a statement, with a Kraft spokesperson explaining, "We are working closely with Tesco to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

"In today’s challenging economic environment – with commodity and production costs rising – many consumers are working within tight budgets.

"We always look at how we can provide value through price, size and packs so consumers can enjoy the products they love and trust at a price point that works within their budgets, without compromising on quality."

How much are Heinz prices rising by?

While Tesco has pulled the supply of Heinz from its stores, the increase in the cost of Heinz products can be seen on the price tags of beans, ketchup, soup and more at other supermarkets. 

According to food trade magazine The Grocer, prices of Heinz products have rocketed recently, with a tin of Heinz beans surging to £1.20 at most major supermarkets. 

Meanwhile, a four pack of 400g Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup tins will now set you back £3.50 at Sainsbury's, up from its previous price of £2.50. 

A 910g bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup is now priced at £3.50 at the majority of retailers, while Morrisons is offering a price tag of £3.49 for the sauce. 

Find out everything you need to know about Amazon's online grocery store, Amazon Fresh. From how it works to delivery fees, from ordering online to our Amazon Fresh review. 

We're addicted to Amazon as it is, but now it should be easier to get everything you need in one go with online grocery store,  Amazon Fresh. Amazon can be a lifesaver when you need things quickly (and at short notice too), especially if you're an Amazon Prime customer.

Amazon Fresh is completely free for Prime members, with a minimum order spend of just £15. Delivery is currently £3.99 or free if you spend £40. There are around 130,000 products available on Amazon Fresh, which is a far wider range than most supermarkets. Research shows that an Amazon Fresh weekly shop costs an average of £58.93, making it cheaper than Asda.

So how is it? We put Amazon Fresh to the test by ordering a big family shop with a real mix of fresh and seasonal ingredients as well as weekly staples like bread, milk, and fruit. We also threw in some toilet rolls and nappies to see how these everyday essentials impacted the total basket price. "It's a great start for Amazon Fresh for your standard, typical basics, but a big selling point is their access to local markets and Artisan products," says Deputy Food Editor, Sophie Austin-Smith.

What is Amazon Fresh and how does Amazon Fresh work?

Amazon Fresh is a food delivery service - where you are able to order fresh produce, and everyday groceries as well as toiletries, hygiene products, and alcohol.

Available exclusively to Prime members, it’s essentially a standard online grocery shopping service. It is only available to certain regions, so best to check your postcode before signing up. There are currently six Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, the majority of which are in London.

Like most online grocery stores, it is easy to navigate sectioned into categories such as dairy, cheese, and eggs, fresh vegetables, salad and herbs, and meat and seafood.

Amazon Fresh includes well-known brand names from McCain, Birds Eye, Haagen-Daz, Pampers, Finish, Nurofen, and many many more. You can also buy a range of Morrison products and organic produce on Amazon Fresh too.

Current bestsellers on Amazon Fresh include:

• Pip & Nut crunchy peanut butter 1kg - £5.32
• Persil Colour 53 washes - £5.73
• Heinz Baked Beanz 6 tins - £4.75
• Finish All-in-One Max dishwasher tablets 90 tablets - £9.16
• Pedigree Schmackos mega pack dog treats 110 strips - £4.50
• Heinz Tomato Ketchup 910g - £2.80
• Whiskas 1+ Complete dry cat food 7kg - £12.57
• Garofalo Penne 500g - £1.19

Amazon also has its own range of products too which includes products such as fresh fruit, veg, tinned foods such as kidney beans and sauces as well as baked goods too like hot cross buns and pitta bread.

Is Amazon Fresh expensive?

According to Retail Week, it is estimated that when Amazon Fresh service first launched, product prices were 17% lower than Tesco, 21% lower than Sainsbury's, and 31% cheaper than Ocado, making it a less expensive online grocery option.

Prime members get access to Amazon Fresh for free, but if you're looking to sign up to Amazon Fresh, you'll need to sign up for a Prime account. You can take part in a 30-day free trial but after that Prime costs £7.99 per month. An annual subscription costs £79 per year, which works out at £6.58 per month.

Delivery costs £3.99, unless you spend over £40, you can get delivery for free.

Amazon Fresh also has a range of seasonal deals. At the time of writing, Amazon Fresh is offering up to 35% off products, any 3 for £5 on freezer fillers as well as 20% off cereal favourites like Kellogg's Coco Pops and Frosties.

Amazon Fresh review

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazon Fresh order

"It was simple to fill your online shopping basket just by clicking on the 'add to basket' icon but more complicated to remove items. Other online retailers have + and - buttons, but to remove from Amazon Fresh, you have to go back into your basket and it's more of a faff," says Deputy Food Editor, Sophie Austin-Smith.

We also liked that Amazon Fresh has a 'Past Purchases' page, which keeps a record of your previous buys if you wanted to order them again.

"There is a lot to choose from and we were excited to pop in a few treats, as one of Amazon Fresh's main selling points is its range of Artisan lines. Think Daylesford sausages and Primose Bakery biscuits. They went straight into our basket, unplanned. This could get expensive. But the range goes quickly from everyday essentials from Morrisons to more expensive Borough Market-style producers, with not a lot in between."

Sophie commented on how she was rather confused by Amazon Fresh showing unavailable items; "Confusingly, it also shows unavailable items, which is frustrating - but it also lets you know that you can choose a new delivery time for when they are next available. If you're not careful, you could end up with wholesale quantities at your door or end up scratching your head as to how the bill racked up so quickly, so many sure you double-check quantities before checking out."

For same-day delivery, you need to order before 1 pm and you'll get your shopping after 5 pm.

We ordered at 5 pm and managed to book a one-hour slot from 8 am the next morning. This is an excellent turnaround on last-minute orders.

Amazon Fresh delivery

"At 7.45 am, we got an email saying our shop was on the way and it arrived at 8.02 am, just 2 mins into our 1 hour slot. It arrived in a small non-refrigerated van, with all the fresh food packed within boxes with ice packs and two men who came in to help unpack," Sophie adds.

Everything comes in colour-coded paper bags; blue for fridge stuff and grey for the cupboard. Nothing was overly packaged, which was great. Everything was in paper bags which is much easier to recycle - you can also give bags back to the Amazon Fresh driver if preferred. You don't get a paper receipt either, but an email told us there were no substitutions.

"Once the delivery guys had left, we spread the shopping out on the table. It was a good family shop. But where were the Daylesford sausages and bacon or the Primrose Bakery biscuits? Where was the Parmesan? They just hadn't shown up and when we went back to check our email, they were never on the list. It was confusing and disappointing, as they had gone into our basket at the start," says Sophie.

All the products were of good quality; particularly the fruit and veg. All products that needed to be kept cool, were still cool on arrival, and no products were harmed or spoiled.

Would we use Amazon Fresh again?

"Yes and no; on one hand, it's really tempting to give it another go, as we already have Amazon Prime and there are some interesting items available. Plus, the amazingly quick turnaround and the option of same-day delivery could be a real lifesaver in the future," comments Deputy Food Editor, Sophie Austin-Smith.

"At the same time, the missing items with no warning were annoying to say the least. If they had been essential for one of our planned recipes, it would have upset our meal plan for the week. If you have to nip out to get extra items, it defeats the point of online shopping in the first place."

What do others say about Amazon Fresh?

According to Trustpilot, Amazon Fresh has been rated a bad experience amongst reviewers. However, a few customers have given the online grocery store 5 stars; "I tend to stick with Morrisons via Amazon but the £20 off offer they have now for coop and fresh new customers were worth a shot," said Amazon Fresh customer, Josie.

"Never had an issue with Morrisons or Co-op deliveries so gave it a try. I read these reviews while waiting on a driver collecting expecting the worse but surprisingly had no issue again. Turned up on time, pleasant driver and all items ordered. I ordered at 7 pm and arrived at 10.15 pm pretty decent service."

Amazon Fresh shopper Karen also gave the service 5 stars and commented; "I was panicking after seeing these reviews but cannot fault it. Delivery was between 10 am and 12 pm and the driver arrived at 10.05. Everything I ordered was there and packaged extremely well with ice packs between the fridge items also."

Related features:

• How to save money on food - the ultimate food shopping guide
• Cheap family meals: Recipes under £1 a head
• Store cupboard meals

A Tesco recall on popular breakfast item has been issued with retailer urging shoppers not to eat the product as its consumption could prove fatal for some.

The supermarket has issued the urgent recall after it discovered that a manufacturing error means a batch of Tesco's All Butter Croissants may contain almond croissants.

Tesco clarified that the allergen would not be declared on the packaging, with a risk of causing harm to some shoppers - particularly those who may have a nut allergy and need to eat nut-free foods.

Tesco shared the warning in a statement shared on Facebook, saying, "We’re recalling one batch code of Tesco frozen All Butter Croissants x6 as they may contain Tesco frozen Almond Croissants. This means that almond won’t be declared on the packaging."

The news of the Tesco croissant recall comes after salmonella fears over contaminated sandwiches that affected supermarkets earlier this month, with Tesco also recently warning shoppers 'do not eat these biscuits' due to metal contamination.

Anyone who has bought the croissants and has a nut allergy is advised not to eat them. The product can be returned to any Tesco store where a full refund will be given - even without a receipt.

The affected batch details are: Tesco frozen All Butter Croissants x6 (255G). The batch code is LL 111 and it has a best before September 2022. No other batches are said to be affected.

Customers who have any further information are advised to call Tesco Customer Services on 0800 505 555.

The Food Standards Agency has listed the recall online and it warns, "This product contains almonds (nuts) making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to almonds (nuts)."

Allergy alerts are made when there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold. Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).

Royal Mail has issued a warning over postal prices as it suggests that another major price hike could be likely amid rising costs. 

More people than ever are searching for how to save money on utility bills or wondering how to save on fuel as the cost of living crisis continues to affect households across the country. However, whilst many Brits are doing their best to save wherever they can, from reclaiming unused Tesco Clubcard vouchers to heeding the Boots Advantage Card warning, it seems the cost of sending a letter or parcel could be about to rise once again.

For anyone wondering when the stamps went up in price in 2022, sadly this came into force in April, shortly after they announced that non-barcoded stamps will expire in the coming months. Though now, according to The Guardian, Royal Mail has now warned that it's likely they could raise the price of stamps and letters again.

This potential price hike could reportedly come as part of their efforts to combat post-pandemic decrease in deliveries as well as rising costs. Royal Mail reportedly shared that they'll try make up for lower revenues and higher energy and staff costs through a series of “price increases and growth initiatives” carried out over the next year. 

Meanwhile, as reported by Birmingham Live, Royal Mail’s chief executive Simon Thompson declared, "As we emerge from the pandemic, the need to accelerate the transformation of our business, particularly in delivery, has become more urgent." 

"Our future is as a parcels business, so we need to adapt old ways of working designed for letters and do it much more quickly to a world increasingly dominated by parcels," he added. "Our focus now is to work at pace with our people and our trade unions to reinvent this British icon for the next generations, so that we can give our customers what they want, grow our business sustainably and deliver long-term job security for our great team."

This comes as the April price increase from Royal Mail saw first class stamps rise by 10p to 95p, whilst 2p was added to second class stamp prices, seeing them rise to 68p. For anyone who prefers to buy their stamps in bulk this will likely be all the more noticeable. 

It’s not known when a new potential price hike could be put in place after this Royal Mail warning or exactly how much stamps could go up by. It comes as the postal service announced earlier this year that another major change will be coming into force next year.

As revealed on the Royal Mail website, they will be adding barcodes to stamps and any non-barcoded stamps you still have after January 31st 2023 won’t be valid any longer. Customers can swap their old stamps for the barcoded ones with their Stamp Swap Out scheme. 

Expressing concern about this change from regular to barcoded stamps to Devon Live, managing director of wealth managers, Phillip J Milton & Company Plc, Philip Milton expressed his belief that the demonetisation after that date is “wrong”.

He added, “There are elderly people who have collected all their lives who are having that function withdrawn from them. Plus, money saving experts have always encouraged people to buy stamps in bulk to save money when the price goes up. It’s yet another cost to people struggling to make ends meet”. 

With this stamp change looming on the horizon, Royal Mail’s warning of another potential stamp price increase will no doubt be met with concern from many people who use the postal service regularly.

Consumers are facing the biggest squeeze on their household finances in a generation. So it's unsurprising that many families are wondering why are food prices going up and how will it impact their food bills.

Rising food prices are a key factor in inflation reaching 40 year highs. Households will also be keen to know how to save money on food and which is the cheapest supermarket in order to keep costs under control.

Abigail Yearley, a spokesperson for Topcashback, says: “With food inflation at its highest rate since 2013, and prices set to increase even more over the coming months, many consumers will be forced to tighten their belts further. “Supermarkets are already taking measures to help their customers where possible – extending their own brand ranges and offering discounts for example." And it doesn't end at the prices on the shelves. Asda has announced a new Kids Eat for £1 initiative that will run throughout the school summer holidays to help parents cope with the cost of living crisis. 

Why are food prices going up?

The answer to why are food prices going up now is different and wide-ranging. Increasing labour, energy, and transportation costs are behind the majority of increases. This is alongside production difficulties caused by severe weather conditions. These rises are all being passed to shoppers.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average UK household spends around £3,312 a year on groceries. This excludes alcohol and equates to around £276 a month. At the current rate of food inflation, the average shopper will pay at least £180 a year more on food.

However, Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at interactive investor, says: “Official statistics dramatically underestimate the extent of real-world food inflation, with some items, like pasta, rising by as much as 56% in some cases. Every shopping basket is different and, as such, the impact of food inflation is unique to each individual.”

The last time food price inflation soared was May 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. This was down to retailers trying to prevent consumers from stockpiling by stopping their food promotions. But

Retail research specialists Assosia looked at the average price rises across a range of everyday items over the past year in supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl. Some of the biggest average price rises were found in the following items:

Milk prices

The cost of four pints of milk has risen by 8p to an average of £1.17 (7%) in the year to March 2022. Milk is costing more because of multiple factors. The cost of fertiliser has been driven up my gas prices (manufactured nitrogen is used in the production of synthetic fertiliser).

Cattle feed prices have also shot up. Chronic worker shortages have also had a significant impact on supply. According to Kite Consulting, the adviser to dairy farmers, the cost of four pints of milk could rocket to £1.70 this year.

Average costs (at time of writing): Sainsbury’s - £1.25 | Asda - £1.25 | Morrisons - £1.29 | Tesco - £1.15

Instant coffee prices

The average price of instant coffee (200g) has risen by 34p (14.1%) to £2.43 in the year to March 2022. This increase can be attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly, one of the main producers of coffee, Brazil, suffered from a mixture of droughts and extreme frosts which impacted the crops.

The second is the soaring shipping costs faced by suppliers as the world came out of lockdown.

Average costs:  Sainsbury’s - £2.25 | Asda - £2.45 | Morrisons - £2.75 | Tesco - £2

Pasta prices

A 500g bag of penne pasta has increased by 18p (39.5%) to an average of 64p. This is due to an increase in the cost of pasta's key ingredient - durum wheat. A large portion of the durum wheat used to make pasta comes from Canada.

But in the summer of 2021, Canada faced an unprecedented heatwave and drought. This extreme weather took a significant toll on the crops, leading to a shortage. The shortage in supply pushes the price up.

Average costs: Sainsbury’s – 70p | Asda – 70p | Morrisons – 75p | Tesco – 70p

Teabags prices

A 40 pack of teabags has risen by an average of 14p (17.1%) to 96p over the past year. This is attributed to rising labour costs and unpredictable weather conditions. Tea is very sensitive to droughts and temperature, so the wave of droughts and colder-than-normal temperatures had a significant impact on tea production. Local lockdown rules during the pandemic also disrupted labour costs, the leaf-picking process itself and delayed shipments.

Average costs: Sainsbury’s – 60p | Asda – 28p (Smart price range) | Morrisons – 65p

Crisps prices

A six-pack of ready salted crisis has risen by an average of 8p (11%) to 73p in the past year. This increase is due to a variety of factors. These include rising energy costs, lorry driver shortages, and the soaring cost of rapeseed oil that’s sometimes used in crisp production.

The costs involved with producing potatoes, including labour, fertiliser, and transport, have also increased, with these increases passed on to customers. Complicated issues around Brexit won't have helped issues either.

Average costs: Sainsbury’s - 82p | Asda - 85p| Morrisons - 85p

When are food prices going up in the supermarket?

Supermarkets often increase the cost of items in January each year. Assosia found that there were 4,400 increases in product prices in January 2022. This compares to around 2,700 price rises in a typical year. There is likely to be more on the horizon as inflation is expected to rise further.

Karen Betts, chief executive of the Food & Drink Federation, says: “Food and drink manufacturers are grappling with soaring ingredient, raw material and energy costs – some businesses in our sector fear their energy bills will rise by 500% by the end of the year. Supply chains, already disrupted by COVID-19, have been further complicated by the war in Ukraine, which is causing shortages in some ingredients like sunflower oil and raising the price of substitutes.”

5 tips for dodging food price increases

1. Buy own brand or a brand level below your norm: Don’t stick to your usual brand. It’s always worth checking the price difference by stepping down a level to the supermarket’s own brand, or its value/basic range if you’ve yet to buy that. In most cases, you won't be able to tell the difference. If you do, you can always go back to your normal brand for specific items.
2. Look for special offers: Before filling up your trolley, see what offers you can find. For example, Tesco offers ‘weekly little helps’, including essential food items that are reduced for a limited time.
3. Search for short shelf life and freeze: Make use of your freezer if you want to save cash. You can buy products near their use-by-dates such as milk and bread, and keep them in the freezer for use when needed.
4. Shop for yellow stickers: Supermarkets usually have a ‘yellow sticker’ aisle with reduced products nearing or at their sell-by date. These reductions often start at around 6 pm, and you can often pick up meat for more than half the price it retails at.
5. Avoid impulse buys: Keep your wits about you as supermarkets are clever at finding ways to get you to part with your cash, such as putting tempting treats around the store and beside the till. Stick to a shopping list, or order online and use click and collect if available to dodge the delivery fees.

Related features:

• Tomato shortage: Why are UK supermarkets running out of tomatoes?
• Fruit and vegetable shortage in the UK - those empty shelves explained
• Why is there an egg shortage in the UK?
• Coffee Mate shortage 2023: Why are supermarkets running out of Coffee Mate?

Video of the Week

Lidl has issued an urgent recall of the Starovice Czech Lager because it contains sulphur dioxide that is not listed on the label.

Tesco customers were recently advised to 'not eat biscuits' following an emergency recall. Now, Lidl has followed suit, pulling Starovice Czech Lager 5.0 % from stores with a best before date of October 16 2022.

Lidl advises all customers who are hypersensitive to sulphur dioxide or sulphites not to drink this lager. Instead, you should return it to the nearest store for a full refund.

Sulfites can trigger allergy-like reactions, with symptoms including wheezing in people with asthma, hayfever, and hives. Sulfites have the potential to produce anaphylaxis, the most serious type of allergic reaction, in extremely rare circumstances.

The bargain store said in a notice on its website, "Lidl GB is recalling Starovice Czech Lager 5.0%, 500ml with Best Before Date 16.10.2022 only, due to undeclared sulphur dioxide which is an allergen. If you have bought the above product, and have an allergy or intolerance to sulphur dioxide, we advise you not to drink it.

"Instead, return it to a Lidl GB store for a full refund, with or without a receipt. Other Best Before Dates or other Starovice products are not affected by this recall."

Customers should contact Lidl at 0370 444 1234 or customer.services@lidl.co.uk if they are concerned or have any questions.If you've experienced any allergic reactions after drinking the lager, seek advice from a doctor.  Credit: Getty Images

You won't need your receipt to get your money back since the supermarket has recalled the product.

If you're still unsure, visit the websites of the Food Standards Agency and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute for more advice.

Tesco Clubcard holders have been warned that they would risk 'losing' their money off vouchers when the supermarket bosses stop sending out paper statements or vouchers to selected customers through the post.

In the coming months Tesco plans to scrap its automatic statements and vouchers so that they will no longer arrive through the letterbox under a new shake-up to the loyalty scheme.

The Tesco Clubcard shake-up comes after Boots issued an Advantage warning for all its customers.

Instead of getting the information through the post, customers points will be totalled up and transferred into vouchers over email. Simply scan the barcode at the till to spend in store. You can also use this simple trick to extend the life of any Clubcard vouchers that are due to expire.

According to the Mirror, Tesco has admitted it will make the change for shoppers who regularly buy online and that those users will receive an email informing them of the shake up to the loyalty points service.

But while customers who have received an email and still want to receive the quarterly Clubcard statement and vouchers through the post will have to actively opt back in or risk losing the postal information service.

Not all customers will be affected but with the cost of living rising, and many households looking to save money on their energy bills , a Tesco meal deal or the cost of fuel Tesco Clubcard users can benefit.

One Tesco shopper said, "I will never leave the house without my Tesco Clubcard. You never know when you’ll need it and I refuse to miss out on those sexy lil savings"

A new customer added, "I got a Tesco Clubcard.. I feel like an Adult."

Shoppers can money off things like food and also fuel by collecting points that will eventually convert to money off - if you have a Tesco Clubcard you’ll earn 1 point for every £2 you spend on petrol which will get you saving on a tank of fuel

But the shake up means that some shoppers might forget to dig out their emails and spend their points when they all start adding up as the vouchers are only valid for two years, so it's important that they check their junk mail or Clubcard account regularly.

And if customers like the elderly, would prefer to receive the vouchers by post so they can cut out and keep them in their wallet or purse, they will have to act quickly.

Following the Tesco Clubcard shake-up, to make the change back to postal, customers are advised to sign in to their online Clubcard account online, clicking on 'statement preferences' and changing it back to 'by post' by May 5.

If statement preferences are changed after this date them the May statement will be sent via email before the August statement resumes as postal.

Ken Murphy, chief executive at Tesco said, "Our priority is to be the most convenient retailer. That means serving customers wherever, whenever and however they want. No matter where our customers live, or how they shop.”

From rising energy bills to price hikes at the supermarket, we all feel the need to make our money go further. And it's never been more important to know how to save money. Improving your car’s fuel efficiency is one important way to do that. Here's how to save money on petrol and diesel.

If you found yourself wincing the last time you filled up the car, you had good reason. Petrol and diesel prices are at record highs, with the latest figures from RAC Fuel Watch showing that the average price for unleaded is 162.24 pence per litre and the average price for diesel is 175.94 pence per litre.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, of course, has only pushed up the cost of fuel worldwide, making it even harder to find the cheapest fuel, and with the ongoing train strikes it seems like public transport might be out of the question too. To save a few quid on your fuel bills, try these tips for reducing your fuel consumption and improving your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

How to save money on petrol

1. Choose your petrol station wisely

Convenience is always tempting. But by driving a little further than your local garage, you could end up paying less for your petrol or diesel. There's a point where driving around looking for cheaper fuel becomes a false economy but it's always worth comparing prices locally before you fill-up.

According to the RAC Fuel Watch, these are the average prices of fuel in the UK at the moment. So, if you’re paying more than this, you may be able to find a better deal elsewhere.

Unleaded - 162.24 pence per litre Super Unleaded - 175.94 pence per litre Diesel - 175.94pence per litre LPG -  86.82 pence per litre

If you don't already buy fuel when you do your grocery shopping, it's worth making this a habit. Petrol is typically a few pence cheaper at supermarket fuel forecourts compared to petrol stations owned by the oil companies. And if you take out a supermarket loyalty card like a Tesco Clubcard and fill up when you stock up on groceries, you'll earn points for every pound you spend on fuel. Those points convert to money off your next tankful of fuel. You can also earn points by using your Clubcard to buy fuel at Esso garage as well.

2. Check how much you get to the gallon

Unless you're a petrol head, there's a good chance you'll have no idea what your car's usual mileage is. But knowing your MPG - that's the number of miles you get per gallon of petrol or diesel - can actually help you to keep track of how much you're spending on fuel, and then make savings accordingly.

To work out miles to the gallon, note down your starting mileage. Record how many gallons of fuel you put in the tank before your next journey, and divide the distance you drive by the number of gallons of fuel added. Don't forget to take away the starting mileage from your final figure. Now that you know your vehicle's MPG, you can apply all this advice and then work out exactly how many more gallons per mile you can get with no roof rack and an empty boot...

2. Keep your tyres pumped up

Regularly checking your car’s tyre pressure will prolong the life of the tyre and improve fuel efficiency. Driving on underinflated tyres isn't just dangerous, it also uses more fuel.

“Tyres generally lose up to two pounds of air per month, so check their pressure every couple of weeks,” says Ben Scholes of used car retailer CarShop. “Research shows that if tyres are under-inflated by 20% - or around 6psi – between 3% and 10% more fuel is used. That would cost up to £1 for every 50 miles driven, at 50mph, in an average diesel car.”

Details on the correct tyre pressure can be found in your vehicle handbook, the driver’s door sill, or inside the fuel tank flap. As well as checking your tire pressure regularly, don't scrimp when it comes to your next tyre change. Choose energy-efficient tyres if your budget allows, as they help to reduce fuel consumption.

3. Buy new tyres

According to Kwik Fit, tyres account for up to 20% of your fuel consumption, so it’s important to choose the right ones. Tyres in the UK currently have an EU label that will tell you about wet grip, fuel efficiency, noise level, plus icy and snowy conditions.

Fuel efficiency is rated on a scale from A to E (as of 2021), with A being the most efficient. These tyres need less energy to roll and therefore burn less fuel. So if you need to buy new tyres, look for the EU label for guidance.

4. Clear out your boot to remove weight

When was the last time you checked what was in your car boot? Many of us drive around with unnecessary items stowed away, whether it’s a box of stuff you’ve been meaning to donate to charity, or sports equipment that you’ve forgotten about. But this extra weight can cause you to use more fuel.

“An extra 50kg in a vehicle reduces miles per gallon by up to 2%, so if you’ve got four sets of golf clubs in there you’ll be paying around £10 extra per week for fuel,” says Duncan McClure Fisher, founder and CEO of MotorEasy. “Have a good clear-out and remove anything you don’t need before travelling.”

Encourage the kids to get into the habit of taking their sports equipment, school gear and random beloved possessions out of the car with them every time you get home. Explain that they're doing their bit to reduce fuel consumption and, in turn, help the planet.

5. Remove the roof rack

Likewise, it’s worth removing your roof box when you don’t need it. Yes, it might be a pain, but roof bars and roof boxes create wind resistance and anything that affects a vehicle’s aerodynamics causes you to use more fuel.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a large roof rack adds around 16% to a car’s fuel consumption when driving at 75mph, while a roof box adds 39%.

6. Half fill the petrol tank

Did you know that you can save money by only half-filling your petrol tank? This one's a bit contentious. And you're bound to have a relative who'll disagree. But the idea is that your car weighs more with a full tank of petrol than it does when the tank is half empty.

There's a lot of maths involved in proving this theory. And, of course, you have to factor in that it requires you to nip to the petrol station more frequently. But nevertheless, it's more fuel-efficient to drive with half a tank. Try it.

7. Use stop/start functions

“Where possible and where fitted, utilise the auto stop/start on your car, so it isn't left idling unnecessarily in traffic or when the vehicle comes to a stop,” advises Kamran Saleem, managing director of Motorserv UK. “If your car is not fitted with an auto stop/start function, consider turning off your car when sitting for a period of time.”

A study by the American Automobile Association revealed that using automatic stop/start functions improved fuel economy by up to 7% and also reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

8. Get the air con/windows balance right

Switching on the air conditioning in your car can increase fuel consumption - but so can opening windows so it’s important to get the balance right. “Air conditioning in a car consumes between 0.2 and 1 litre of fuel every 60 miles travelled,” says Scholes. “That’s up to £1.79 in an average diesel car and £1.67 if your car is petrol powered.”

It’s usually more efficient to open windows rather than use air conditioning when you’re travelling at lower speeds, up to around 30mph. However, the additional drag caused by open windows when you’re going faster means more fuel will be used, so it’s more economical to use the air con when you pick up speed.

9. Maintain your car

Make sure you give your car some TLC and get it serviced in line with the manufacturer guidelines. Get any faults fixed quickly to ensure your car is running as efficiently as possible.

“Keeping your car in good condition is beneficial for a number of reasons, with saving fuel just one of them. An untuned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50%,” says Cuvva’s Loren Gould.

10. Check your wheel alignment

According to KwikFit, an annual wheel alignment check helps your tyres to wear evenly and last longer, adding up to 12,000 miles to the life of your tyre.

Tyre balancing helps to ensure the tyre spins evenly around the axle and having even tyre wear around the circumference reduces rolling resistance with the road. In turn, this helps improve your car’s fuel efficiency. Kwik Fit offers a free wheel alignment check, so there’s no excuse not to get it done.

12. Tighten the petrol cap

Simply checking that your petrol cap is closed tightly can be an effective way to gain some extra mileage. Like all liquids, petrol evaporates into the air when it gets too hot and if the cap isn’t tight enough, you’re bound to lose some fuel.

It might not make the biggest difference to your fuel bill, but it’s still worth making sure the cap’s tight whenever you fill up. After all, every little helps.

13. Use the right engine oil

It’s important to make sure you’re using the correct engine oil for your car - not only will it prolong your vehicle’s lifespan, it can also improve fuel economy. Your car’s handbook should tell you which oil to use.

“Modern engines are built with finer tolerances and therefore require thinner oils - those with lower viscosity – that can also improve fuel economy by around 3%. That’s over 30p per 50-mile journey, at 50mph, in an average diesel car,” says CarShop’s Ben Scholes.

“The rule of thumb is to change oil between 3,000–5,000 miles, but some vehicles and oil types will perform much better, giving up to 10,000 miles between changes.”

14. Switch off the extras to save cash

Heated seats are a lovely luxury in the dead of winter but such things come at a price. To reduce fuel consumption, switch off all the in-car extras - including air conditioning, headlights, demisters and yes, seat heaters - when you don't really need them. (Does anyone really need heated seats?!)

15. Drive with fuel economy in mind

There are plenty of steps you can take to improve your driving style which will also make your car more fuel-efficient. Sticking to a consistent speed, changing gear sooner, avoiding unnecessary braking, and accelerating smoothly are good driving tips that could also help to reduce your vehicle's fuel consumption.

Professional racing driver Rebecca Jackson is an expert on driving economically and told the RAC: "Accelerating from being stopped is very costly in fuel consumption terms and so is going up any steep incline. If you can keep moving slowly rather than stopping in traffic that’s good, but you do have to be conscious of not being a pain to other drivers by leaving too much of a gap behind the car in front. You need to listen to the engine to make sure you don’t use excessive revs but you need to use enough, so it’s a fine balance as you don’t want the car to be labouring too much either."

16. Don't be idle

Idling your car - that's sitting in a stationary vehicle with the engine running - isn't just wasteful. It's also damaging to the environment and illegal. Whether you're sitting in traffic, waiting at the school gates or picking up a passenger, always switch the engine off when the vehicle isn't moving.

The same goes for leaving the engine running on a chilly morning. Granted, it's a quick way to warm up the vehicle or clear the windscreen of ice. But a stationary vehicle with the engine running produces more harmful emissions than a car that's moving. Thus, idling is best avoided for the sake of the planet - and it certainly won't do your fuel consumption any favours.

17. Give the premium pumps a miss

We always thought the posh petrol pumps were full of better fuel. But unless you drive a very snazzy set of wheels, it turns out there's little benefit to choosing super unleaded over normal unleaded. So steer clear of the premium pumps at the petrol station and you'll save a few pence per litre every time you fill up the car with petrol.

18. Go electric

As money-saving steps go, this is a big one. Switching to an electric car isn't an option for everyone and electric vehicles are no silver bullet when it comes to reducing the cost of living, but it's a move that's guaranteed to cut your fuel costs.

Video of the Week

Tesco has issued a recall for some packets of its Tesco Free From Digestive Biscuits, advising customers not to eat them.

Tesco has recalled a batch of its own-brand biscuits due to concerns that they may contain metal fragments. Customers have been advised not to eat the pulled items and instead return them to the store for a full refund.

The products in question are 160g Digestive Biscuits and are expected to expire in March 2023.

The Food Standards Agency issued a recall notice, advising customers not to touch the recalled biscuits, in a statement that read, "This product may contain small pieces of metal which makes it unsafe to eat.

"If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund."

If you have a packet of biscuits that fits that description in your cupboard, you won't need a receipt to claim your refund since Tesco will accept the item back without proof of purchase.

Customers who are concerned about the biscuits should call Tesco's customer support hotline at 0800-505-555.

The stark warning comes after Kinder issued a recall warning on their iconic Kinder Surprise eggs amid salmonella fears ahead of Easter.

"We welcome the precautionary approach being taken by Ferrero and are advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert," the Food Standards Agency Head of Incidents said in a statement.

“It is really important that consumers follow this advice to avoid the risk of becoming ill with salmonella poisoning.”

This is far from the first time that major retailers have had to issue product recalls. Tesco and Sainsbury's had also recalled baby milk due to concerns about choking hazards, and supermarkets also recalled yoghurt, cake, and cereal due to concerns over metal contamination.

A Boots Advantage Card warning has been issued for customers to use their points or risk losing them completely as they prepare for a major change.

As the cost of living rises, more of us than ever are wondering how to save money on utility bills or ways to save on fuel. Whilst there’s always room for a deal or two in our daily lives to help balance things as people learn about what budgeting is and how to get started. And when it comes to living more cost-effectively there’s nothing like redeemable store and loyalty scheme points to give you another helping hand. 

If you’ve already discovered how to reclaim Tesco clubcard vouchers that have been lost or unused for up to two years, you might also have a little-used Boots Advantage Card in your bag.

Sadly, the rules are set to change as Boots warned customers that they could risk losing all their points in one go!

Reaching out to their loyal Boots Advantage Card customers on March 31st, the retailer announced a rather major change to the way their points system works.

Customers simply accrue more points with every transaction which could be redeemed in store or online on Boots products to the value of the points. Currently, you can retain your points for two years without actually using your card.

Later this year, however, anyone with a Boots Advantage Card better be prepared to use their card regularly. From June 20th 2022 the company will be removing all points from Advantage Card accounts that haven’t been used in just one year. 

Whilst this does sound like a reasonable length of time, if you don’t visit Boots on a weekly basis, it’s all too easy to forget to keep your Boots Advantage Card with you at all times.

This could make the likelihood of you accidentally going a full year and losing all your points much higher than you think. Commenting on the new Boots Advantage Card warning, David Beard, Editor-in-Chief of Lending Expert.co.uk expressed his belief that “many customers” could be out of the habit of using their cards very regularly.

“Loyal Boots customers won't like this change,” he said. “Boots isn't necessarily a retailer you shop with regularly, and many customers may not be in the habit of using their card every time they shop due to the frequency of their visits.” 

David continued, "To put a shorter time limit on one of their most loved benefits on the eve of the day many families' finances are set to be stretched could be a harmful move for the pharmacy." 

In their email, Boots stressed that as long as customers use their Boots Advantage Card at least once in a year, their points will be ready and waiting for them to redeem them whenever they wish. Whilst they reportedly clarified that “usage” means customers must use their card in either an online or in-store transaction to either collect or redeem their points.

Just like David suggested, loyal customers might be disappointed by the change. In the meantime, they could begin getting in the habit of using their card more regularly to avoid losing all their hard-earned points in one fell swoop in the coming year! 

The price of a Tesco Meal Deal is set to be upped with the popular lunch setting shoppers back £3.50 starting from next week and some customers aren't happy.

The cost of living is rising with many people worrying about how much their energy bills will cost in 2022? but it doesn't look like it's going to get any easier after Tesco has announced plans to put up the price of its popular Meal Deals.

The lunch-saving deal normally costs £3 and includes a selected Drink, Snack, Wrap, Sandwich, Roll, Pasty Or Salad but from next week, anyone who doesn't use a Tesco Club Card will have to fork out £3.50 for the deal unless they sign up to one.

But fans aren't happy about the Tesco Meal Deal price hike.

One unhappy shopper tweeted, "Tesco putting their meal deals up to £3.50 just sums up this week"

Another shopper put, "Just found out Tesco meal deals are gonna be £3.50 if u don’t have a Clubcard now."

And a third added, "Tesco have blinked first! Now watch all supermarket meal deals to go up!"

While a fourth disgruntled customer put, "I’m all for people living within their means and inflation is necessary but with everything going on, Tesco increasing their meal deals to £3.50 is TOO FAR!!"

Tesco chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said, "Adding our ever-popular lunchtime meal deal to Clubcard Prices is the latest way we’re rewarding our 20 million Clubcard members with exclusive deals on thousands of products.

"Clubcard Prices have already given millions of customers the power to lower the cost of their weekly shop – and all while earning points for money off their shopping or rewards like family days out at Alton Towers or a Disney+ subscription."

Everyone loves a money-saving hack and any opportunity to reduce the cost of raising a family is welcome these days.

But did you know that there are lots of ways to collect Tesco Clubcard points, besides swiping your Clubcard at the till when you check out? And, that you can reclaim lost and unused Tesco Clubcard vouchers for up to two years!

Alternative options to buying a Meal Deal is to follow a budget receipe for £1 ahead or making your own lunchbox.