BOOTS is set to launch its highly-anticipated 70 per cent off sale tomorrow – and we can’t wait.
Okay, so the retailer is yet to confirm the start date but traditionally the sale starts the fourth Friday after Christmas which is at the end of this week.
Boots is set to launch its annual mega sale any day nowGetty Images – Getty
Boots is keeping details of the sale on the down low but we’ve taken a look at previous sales so that you can get an idea of what to expect.
When is the Boots 70 per cent off sale?
The mega sale has happened annually for the past four years and is expected to be unveiled within days.
It’s one of the retailer’s most successful sales and is designed to help banish those January blues.
It’s one of the retailer’s most successful sales and is designed to help banish those January bluesGetty – Contributor
The sale is anticipated to launch on Friday, January 18, 2019 – but the retailer is expected to keep this under wraps until the morning of the sale.
Last year’s sale kicked off at the same time so we have our fingers crossed.
What will be included in the mega discount bonanza?
The sale is often made up of leftover Christmas stock, including beauty gift sets, rather than on everyday essentials like toiletries.
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At the moment, there is an up to 50 per cent sale off but prices on these goods are likely to drop even further by the end of the week.
Here are some examples of what we expect to be included in the sale:
Ted Baker Pause for a Pamper Gift Set, NOW: £25, WAS: £40.22, 70 per cent sale price: £12.07
Soap & Glory Scent-Sational Bunch Gift Set, NOW: £20, WAS: £43, 70 per cent sale price: £12.90
Yankee Candle Mother’s Day Gift Set, NOW: £24.50, WAS: £49.99, 70 per cent sale price: £15
Of course, we’re speculating based on how the deals have run in previous years so these aren’t guaranteed to feature in the sale.
Shoppers will be treated to huge cuts on beauty and bath gifts as well as toys, and perfumes are usually discounted by up to 50 per cent.
The Boots UK seasonal half-price sale is boosted to 70 per cent off in store only so you won’t be able to bag the bargains online.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 78 24516.Don’t forget to join the Sun Money’s Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.
You’d be hard pushed to find a shop or website that ISN’T offering discounts in the January sales, but these are some of the retailers to particularly look out for….
Amazon
The online superstore is always one to look out for, and its annual New Year Sale is back with thousands of ‘lightning deals‘.
The online retailer’s sale has now come to an end. Their New Year’s offers included everything, from top sports brands and designer togs, to high-quality watches and beauty products, with savings of as much as 70 per cent.
The Boots sale kicked off on Christmas Eve and is still running.
Boots are famous for clearing their Christmas stock out at cut-rate prices so it’s a good time to hunt for a bargain on fragrances and gift sets in particular.
Prices on some items were slashed by up to £150 but these discounts ended at midnight on January 8, 2019.
During the mega sale, savvy shoppers were able to get their hands on Apple MacBooks and iPads, as well as household items including large kitchen appliances.
Currys were offering £150 off selected 12-inch MacBooks, as well as £60 off selected 10.5-inch iPads.
Those wanting to capture more special moments this year were able to snap up a GoPro Hero 7 for £219 – £60 off the original price.
Debenhams
Debenhams is currently in the middle of its winter sale which began before Christmas.
The store has discounts on thousands of items including cosmetics, fragrance, electricals and fashion.
Womens clothing and handbags, lingerie, shoes, beauty and menswear are all on sale for up to half price, with electricals, luggage, furniture and homeware heavily discounted too.
Halfords
The Halfords BIG SALE includes bikes, helmets, trackers and the retailer has even thrown micro-scooters into the bargain.
It started on Boxing Day, and continues well into January, but you might need to move quick to grab the best deals.
Hamleys
From Boxing Day and throughout January, as Hamleys holds their epic ‘Super Sale’.
Shoppers can save up to 50 per cent on selected lines in store and online, with things for grown up and littles on available at bargain prices.
All Hamleys stores take part in the mega sale, including their Regent Street Flagship, as well as their Lakeside, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin stores.
The online retailer has slashed prices on men and women’s, clothing designer perfume, electronics and PJs – with some prices slashed down by 70 per cent.
If your sofa is worn out from a Christmas TV marathon, then you might want to check out DFS’ New Year deals which will see hundreds of pounds knocked off some of their best selling ranges.
Wynsors World of Shoes Wynsors‘ sale is well under way and will run until mid-January at least, with shoppers able to make savings of up to 50 per cent are on big brands including Adidas originals, K Swiss and Skechers.
BOOKING an exciting holiday is one of the most popular New Year resolutions.
The average family break costs £227 per person. But if you start planning now, you will make a huge saving by the time it comes along.
Start now to save money on summer hols and bring per person cost downGetty – Contributor
Use my tips to trim the cost of your getaway . . .
Bank it: Start carefully putting away a small amount of cash each week to build up your spending money. Booking a Sun Hols from £9.50? If planning a break in September and you keep scanning Sun Savers codes, you will have £40 in your Sun wallet by the time you go away.
Beach Bargains: If bedding and towels are not provided, it is much cheaper to take your own rather than hire them at a holiday park. Raid the sales now, while out of season. You can pick up a beach towel for £6 in the Debenhams sale, down from £20.
Build a fuel fund: Using your car really drives up the cost of a trip. Readers tell me they bank their Sun Savers fivers for fuel on their holidays and it makes a huge difference. I use journeyprice.co.uk to calculate how much my petrol will cost for the route, so I know how much to save. I then turn to petrolprices.com, which sends me alerts with the cheapest garages in my area. It is also worth checking prices near the resort for the return journey. I’ve made savings of up to £10 a trip this way.
Extreme meal prep: Planning a self-catering break? Then start stockpiling the buy-one-get-one free and half-price deals on your weekly shop. This week there is BOGOF on chicken stock cubes at Tesco, saving you 90p.
Stay on track: If you are planning to book your Sun Hols tomorrow for the first available dates (February 4, 11, 18, 25) you could bag serious savings on advance train tickets. A single ticket to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk is £18. But buy an advance ticket now for £14, saving you £4. Travelling later in the year? Set a reminder on your phone for 12 weeks before your break to nab those cheaper, advance fares.
Deal of the day
Save £6 on The Body Shop’s Shea Festive Picks collection
Treat your skin with up to 50 per cent off The Body Shop online. Their Shea Festive Picks collection was £20, and is now £14. SAVE: £6
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Reader's saving tip
Lauren Chering from Reepham, Lincs says:
“When buying bulk items like washing powder, I write the purchase date on the box so have an idea how long it lasts. It helps you budget for shopping.”
Send tips to sunsavers.co.uk/tips and get 28 codes worth £5 if your tip is used. Include your name and town.
Prices correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers are subject to availability.
Shop & save
Get six Müller yogurts free when buying ready meals at Iceland
Buy three Slimming World ready meals from Iceland, and get a six-pack of Müller Yogurts for free. SAVE: £2.89
Cheap treat
Ocado have reduced Linwoods Active organic almonds by £1
Snack for less cash on Linwoods Active organic almonds from Ocado. Was £3.99, now £2.99.
SAVE: £1
How to book Hols from £9.50
All you need to do is collecting TEN Sun Savers codes or TEN tokens or codewords printed in The Sun. The next round starts in 2019 – between Saturday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 29.
If you’re collecting tokens or codewords use the booking form or book online at thesun.co.uk/holidays
Price per person based on four sharing. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions and date restrictions apply. For full T&Cs see thesun.co.uk/holidays.
Play now to win £15,000 on the Sun Savers Raffle
Join thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle.
Every Sun Savers code you enter will earn you a ticket for our £15k monthly Raffle. And for every ten tickets you collect in a calendar month, you get a GOLDEN TICKET for our £80k Raffle, which takes place every three months.
Join thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle
There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect. So the more you enter, the better your chances.
To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.
Every time you scan or enter a code into Sun Savers, you get a Raffle ticket in the £15k Raffle.
Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.
WANDERING around an Apple store in 2010 Lewis Blitz had an idea that turned into a business with a £15million turnover.
The then 22-year-old couldn’t understand why there were ten companies selling black or white phone cases while there was nothing bright or fun.
James, Lewis and Richard started Skinnydip when they were in their 20’sNick Obank – The Sun
He called up two of his mates who happened to be brothers – Richard and James Gold, aged 21 and 23 at the time, and sold them the idea to start Skinnydip London.
At the time the lads had all recently graduated from university and took a chance on starting the business selling phone covers with quirky and fun designs on them as no-one else was doing it.
“We thought we’d give it a go at selling phone cases into fashion retailers and if it didn’t work, we’d get proper jobs,” James, now 32, who lives in North London, told The Sun.
“At that time, if you wanted to get a case or headphones, you’d have to go to the traditional kind of tech retailers,” Lewis said.
“And we were thinking that the 18-25-year-old fashion-conscious girl, she’s not going to those places.”
Skinnydip has around 4,500 unique products each year and they can be found in every single Topshop storeNick Obank – The Sun
They rented an office in Wembley and bought desks and phones and started cold calling retailers.
James added: “We were literally just cold-calling everyone from the office we rented in Wembley.”
“There were three of us, three desks and three phones.
“I remember making calls from 9am to 11am – and by 11am we’d been rejected by everyone.”
But then they had their first break. High street fashion chain River Island, which has around 250 shops across the UK, agreed to a meeting and they put in an order for 20,000.
Tips from the successful trio
KEEN to be your own boss? Here are some tips from the trio on how to make it happen.
Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you launch: It’s important to go for it early and not waste a lot of time. A lot of people think you need to perfect every single aspect before you launch and for us, it was just about trying to get out to market and learn as we go. So that’s really proven to be a great way for us and model of how to start a business, said Lewis
Find good business partners: It’s also key to find good business partners. You should partner with people who have different skills compared to you, because different skills sets mean that you can do different things, said Richard
Don’t be afraid of failure: A lot of people are really nervous about setting up a business in the fear that it doesn’t work out and the repercussions of what other people may think of that. I think that if you can go with the feeling that ‘if it works, brilliant, but if it doesn’t, I’ll dust myself up, pick myself up and do something else’, that’s great, said James
Do what makes you happy: In the eight years of running Skinnydip, I’ve never felt like I’ve worked a day in my life. I never have the Sunday night feeling, I love what I’m doing and I love who I work with. And I think if you could something that makes you happy, you’re normally good at it and if you’re good at it, then hopefully success comes on that, James added
Although, there was one big problem. They didn’t have the money to produce the order so they had to beg their friends and family for cash.
The three North London born lads raided their savings accounts and scraped together the £10,000 they needed and once their first order was completed it was a lot easier to sell into other brands.
At the time they all lived at home with their families rent-free and were only able to pay themselves a salary of £18,000 each two and half years after starting the business.
They used whatever profit they made to re-invest into the business and after two years they were able to hire their first member of staff.
Skinnydip sells phone cases in all colours and patternsSkinnydip
The name of the business takes inspiration from brand titles such as Virgin, which has no relevance to its products, they said.
“We wanted to portray Skinnydip as being young, fun, free with no limits!”
The three founders now employ over 250 people worldwide, with around 70 staff members at its London headquarters.
This is exciting, but also a big pressure, they said.
“We have a lot of people that work for Skinnydip, whose monthly salary is reliant on the performance of the business and that’s a really serious responsibility to take on.
“Therefore, we have to constantly think about the impact our decisions can have on all the people in the company and looking out for their interests.”
A post shared by SKINNYDIP LONDON (@skinnydiplondon) on Mar 1, 2017 at 11:52am PST
Since starting they have moved on from just phone cases and now have around 4,500 unique products each year, including handbags, clutch bags, sunglasses, jewellery and beauty.
Their products are in 200 concessions worldwide, including every single Topshop, as well as in its 15 own Skinnydip stores.
It’s not clear how big of a market share the business has grown to, but the trio claims it’s the largest seller of phone cases on social media with over 500,000 followers only on Instagram.
It has collaborated with celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and others including Bella Thorne, Miley Cyrus and members from Little Mix have also been spotted toting its wares.
The trio currently employs around 350 peopleNick Obank – The Sun
Last year it was also crowned one of the top startups to work for by LinkedIn.
Yet they haven’t let the success get to their heads.
“We’ve always been really ambitious, but we’ve also looked at things in terms of realistic targets.
“We still feel there is so much more Skinnydip can do that we don’t really look at it as such a success, rather a work in progress.”
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Want to start your own business but could do with even more inspiration?
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 78 24516.Don’t forget to join the Sun Money’s Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.
JANUARY is full of offers and bargains to try to keep shoppers spending after the Christmas blow-out.
But besides the usual tech, fashion and beauty deals, there could be a few offers you hadn’t thought about which could make a big impact on your spending.
Alamy
Aisles and aisles of supermarket bargains for January[/caption]
Table treats: Iceland has a sale across its Luxury range, so you can brighten up your January dinners on the cheap and still feel like you are having a treat. Its Luxury Canadian whole cooked lobster is £3, down from £6, and the Luxury Ultimate prawn ring is £7.50, down from £15.
Healthy savings: Aldi is easing the cost of a January health kick, with its Super 6 savings on selected fruit and veg. Fresh kale is 49p and pineapples 69p.
Back to basics: Morrisons has reduced 935 everyday items by an average 20 per cent. Great deals include Napolina chop-ped tomatoes at 50p, down from £1, and Jordans Natural Muesli at £2, was £3.
Go large:From tomorrow, Lidl is hosting an XXL week, featuring jumbo-sized, money-saving products. Shoppers will be able to snap up a 650g bottle of Heinz ketchup for £1.69, the same price as 570g.
Brand bargains: Tesco is the cheapest supermarket for branded items this month. As part of its centenary celebrations, favourite items have been slashed to half price.
You can get a six-pack of Muller Corner fruit yoghurt for £1.75 instead of £3.50. Stock up the freezer with Quorn mince for Veganuary — was £3, now £1.35.
Top swap
At £7, this cleanse mask needs to give you a Hollywood glow
You’ll feel shiny and new with this face mask for just £2
SAVE: £5
READER'S SAVING TIP
Kathleen Bostock from Ramsey, Cambs, says: “Cut your ‘empty’ plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioner in half – you will see a good four to five days’ worth of product still to be used.”
Please send your savvy tips to sunsavers.co.uk/tips and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if one of yours is used. Include your name and town.
Shop & save
These full-of-good-stuff wraps are a must for bargain-hunting health lovers
It’s in a beautiful gift box, and it’s a real gift at just a tenner
Subscribe to beauty products company Glossybox and get January’s box for £10, usually £120.
SAVE: £110
Cheap treat
Little ones love dippers, and you can enjoy a nice little saving
Tuck into Birds Eye 22 chicken dippers from Tesco. Was £3, now £2.50.
SAVE: 50p
How to book Hols from £9.50
All you need to do is collecting TEN Sun Savers codes or TEN tokens or codewords printed in The Sun. The next round starts in 2019 – between Saturday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 29.
If you’re collecting tokens or codewords use the booking form or book online at thesun.co.uk/holidays
Price per person based on four sharing. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions and date restrictions apply. For full T&Cs see thesun.co.uk/holidays.
Play now to win £15,000 on the Sun Savers Raffle
Join thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle.
Every Sun Savers code you enter will earn you a ticket for our £15k monthly Raffle. And for every ten tickets you collect in a calendar month, you get a GOLDEN TICKET for our £80k Raffle, which takes place every three months.
Join thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle
There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect. So the more you enter, the better your chances.
To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.
Every time you scan or enter a code into Sun Savers, you get a Raffle ticket in the £15k Raffle.
Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.
DEBT levels hit record highs last year, with the average household now being £15,400 in the red, new research has revealed.
Unsecured debt – debt other than mortgages – rose by £886 in the third quarter of 2018 compared to a year earlier, meaning UK debt levels are now higher than before the financial crisis in 2008.
The average working family is now worse off than before the financial crisisPA:Press Association
Total unsecured debt rose to £428billion between July and September last year, compared to £286billion before the financial crisis, according to an analysis by The Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Meanwhile, unsecured debt as a share of household income is now 30.4 per cent – the highest it’s ever been.
The average working family is now worse off than before the financial crisis, which means millions of households are reliant on borrowing to get by.
The TUC says government austerity and years of wage stagnation are key reasons behind the increase in unsecured debt.
It blames weak wage growth on a low minimum wage, low UK investment and claims that workers don’t have enough power to bargain for higher wages.
The trade union also said the government has prioritised corporate tax cuts over public sector pay.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of TUC, said: “Household debt is at crisis level.
“Years of austerity and wage stagnation has pushed millions of families deep into the red.”
How to cut the cost of your debt
BEING in large amounts of debts can be really worrying. Here are some tips from Citizens Advice on how you can take action.
Check your bank balance on a regular basis – knowing your spending patterns is the first step to managing your money.
Work out your budget – by writing down your income and taking away your essential bills such as food and transport.
If you have money left over, plan in advance what else you’ll spend or save. If you don’t, look at ways to cut your costs
Pay off more than the minimum – If you’ve got credit card debts aim to pay off more than the minimum amount on your credit card each month to bring down your bill quicker.
Pay your most expensive credit card sooner – If you have more than one credit card and can’t pay them off in full each month, prioritise the most expensive card (the one with the highest interest rate)
Prioritise your debts – If you’ve got several debts and you can’t afford to pay them all it’s important to prioritise them.
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay
Get advice – If you’re struggling to pay your debts month after month it’s important you get advice as soon as possible, before they build up even further.
Groups like Citizens Advice and National Debtline can help you prioritise and negotiate with your creditors to offer you more affordable repayment plans.
“The government is skating on thin ice by relying on household debt to drive growth,” O’Grady added.
“A strong economy needs people spending wages, not credit cards and loans.
“Our economy is not working for workers. They need stronger rights and bargaining powers.
“Trade unions should be allowed the freedom to enter every workplace to negotiate higher wages.”
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We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 78 24516.Don’t forget to join the Sun Money’s Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.
SOUND the holiday alarm! Our amazing Hols from £9.50 are back with a bang.
You can find your perfect break in one of 333 resorts in the UK and abroad.
Pete Hill has been on more than 100 of The Sun holidays
Book with Sun Savers and you can pay with your Sun Savers wallet. And you will also be in with a chance of winning £1,000 worth of Morrisons vouchers.
I went to Birmingham to meet Sun reader Pete Hill, 63, who’s been on more than 100 of our Hols and knows all there is to know about them.
Pete told me: “I’ve never been on anything other than a Sun Holiday. I also go to raise money for charity.
“I’m trying to visit as many pubs as possible and I ask the landlord to donate anything they can spare when I’m there. I’ve raised thousands!”
How to book Hols from £9.50
All you need to do is collecting TEN Sun Savers codes or TEN tokens or codewords printed in The Sun. The next round starts in 2019 – between Saturday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 29.
If you’re collecting tokens or codewords use the booking form or book online at thesun.co.uk/holidays
Price per person based on four sharing. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions and date restrictions apply. For full T&Cs see thesun.co.uk/holidays.
To recognise his efforts, I presented Pete with a cheque for the Midlands Air Ambulance Service, which he supports.
I also got his tips on making the most from your brilliant Sun break.
DIY it. “We always take our own bedding and towels so we don’t have to pay to hire to use them on campsites,” Pete says. “Some parks don’t provide them, so it’s definitely best to bring your own.”
Stay near a station. Pete says: “If you need to travel without a car, book a campsite near a railway station so you can jump on the train to get to the seaside or other places. I do that everywhere we go. You get to explore so much more.”
Off-peak practice. “The best time to go on a Sun holiday is off-peak or midweek, when the parks are quieter,” Pete says.
“There’s fun for the whole family, including kids’ clubs, live cabaret, music entertainers and discos for us oldies in the evening. Some of the local comedians you see on the telly even come down to the campsites.”
OVER the past year, millions of pounds have been spent making the holiday parks better than ever before.
Haven Haggerston Castle, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, is adding a rooftop bar. And kids will go mad for the new multi-level soft-play area. Both open in June.
Or make a splash at Haven Seashore in Great Yarmouth, where the Shore Water Park opens in April.
The state-of-the-art park includes a flume 11m high, an Aqua Play area for little ones and a toddler pool with a slide and interactive games.
Adrenaline junkies can look to Haven’s Craig Tara park, South Ayrshire. In the summer, its new Adrena-Line zip line opens, offering an exhilarating ride over the park at breathtaking speed.
Also coming are The Jump and The Extreme Jump, simulating base-jumping thrills.
And foodies will love what’s on the menu at the new Pub & Kitchen at Butlin’s Skegness and Bognor Regis.
With so much to love at our parks, you will never be bored on your Sun Hol. The only problem is choosing where to go!
‘Great to see kids have so much fun’
TEACHER Beth Waterhouse reckons our sensational Sun Holidays are in a class of their own when it comes to family fun.
She took son Finlay, three, daughter Sophie, one, and mum Yvonne Lever, 63, a retired secondary school teacher, for a bargain break to Parkdean Resorts Bideford Bay in North Devon, where they got to meet cuddly entertainers the Starland Krew.
Reader Benjamin Ellis and his partner Kerry on holiday with their daughter Emeli
It was their first Sun Holiday – and came after friends recommended our bargain breaks for their amazing value for money.
Beth, 39, from Bath, said: “It’s been fantastic. I was really surprised at just how many parks there are to choose from.
“We decided on Bideford Bay because we particularly like this area of North Devon.
“It was really relaxing and we were able to appreciate real quality time with Finlay and Sophie. The coastline there is stunning.
Wayne Perry – The Sun
Beth says she was really surprised at the number of parks for her and her family to choose from[/caption]
“We spent time on the beach building sandcastles, while Finlay loved splashing in the rock pools.
“At the park there was plenty to keep us busy. We went swimming every day and the children enjoyed the soft-play area and adventure playground.”
Beth’s mum Yvonne added: “For us, it was perfect with Finlay and Sophie. It was lovely to see them having so much fun.
“The accommodation was superb and the park was safe and secure. We felt very relaxed and will be collecting our tokens to go again this year.”
Pick midweek for best value
FOR the very best value on your Hols from £9.50, choose a midweek break.
You will get great deals on your holiday, including over 100,000 Hols from £9.50 with NO EXTRAS to pay.
Plus, just to make your Sun Holiday even more special, when you book a MIDWEEK BREAK, we will give you a fourth night’s stay completely free.
The deals don’t stop there. We have teamed up with hundreds of UK attractions in the areas of our holiday parks to give our midweek bookers bargain entry to some great attractions.
Discounts on entry, two-for-one tickets and even FREE entry.
Book a midweek break and we’ll send you a web link that has all the offers available near your chosen holiday park.
During the week, the parks are quieter, meaning you’ll get a lot more relaxation on your hols. These breaks are the perfect holiday for those with pre-school children and all-adult parties.
So when booking opens on Monday, January 14, make sure to choose a midweek break to get the most from your Sun Holiday.
Deal of the day
These shirts from Tokyo Laundry are stylish and perfect for the winter months
MIX and match two jumpers and shirts at Tokyo Laundry for £20. Usually £14.99 each. While stocks last.
SAVE: £9.98
Cheat treat
Keep your mornings healthy with this wholesome granola
TUCK into Quaker Oat Wholesome Granola Goji Berry & Blueberry. RRP £3.90, £1.89 at starbargains.co.uk.
SAVE: £2.01
My Sun Savers fiver
GRAHAM MELLERS, from Waterlooville, Hants, says: “I’ve been saving for my Sun Hols from £9.50, which I also did last year.”
Send your Savers fiver stories to sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and you’ll get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used.
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MCDONALD’S has launched a vegetarian children’s happy meal for the first time.
But if you think it will be healthier, think again, as it actually contains more calories than one with chicken nuggets.
The new McDonald’s vegetarian Happy Meal has a veggie wrap as the main dish
Kids can now choose a Veggie Wrap as the main in their £2.49 Happy Meal, which also comes with their choice of drink and side.
It is the first ever vegetarian option for children.
Before now, kids had to pick between fish fingers, chicken wraps, chicken nuggets, or a beef cheeseburger.
But the new wrap isn’t quite as healthy as it sounds.
It contains 209 calories compared to 173 calories in four Chicken Nuggets, 181 calories in a Grilled Chicken Wrap or 194 calories in three Fish Fingers.
McDonald’s is also launching a Spicy Veggie Wrap on the main menuMcDonald's
The new wrap contains a red pesto-flavour breaded goujon, ketchup and shredded lettuce in a soft, toasted tortilla.
The Veggie Wrap was chosen by kids and their parents after McDonald’s worked with the Britmums online blogger network and the Vegetarian Society to find a new vegetarian option for its Happy Meals.
It also said that a third of its customers had told the chain they want to feed their families more meat-free meals in a recent survey.
The new Happy Meal is being launched alongside a new £2.99 Spicy Veggie Wrap which will be on the main menu and contains 374 calories.
It contains one more red pesto goujon than the kids version and also comes with spicy relish, tomato and red onion.
How to save money on your McDonald's meal
FROM creating a budget version of a Big Mac to dodging the sugar tax on drinks, these are the cleverest ways to knock a few pounds off your meal:
Make a Big Mac for £1.49 by ordering a double cheeseburger but ask to substitute ketchup and mustard for the special sauce and add shredded lettuce. It might look a bit sub-par and it crucially won’t have the third slice of burger bun but it tastes like the real deal. It will cost just £1.49 compared to a £3.49 Big Mac – a £2 saving.
Save 30p off ice cream by opting for a 59p Mini McFlurry instead of an 89p Ice Cream Cone at the fast food giant.
Get £2.20 off a McChicken Sandwich which normally costs £3.19 by ordering the very similar 99p Mayo Chicken.
Triple the size of a McMuffin for £2.80 by using a customise feature on the self-service till to beef up his burger for £6.99. Normally, an egg McMuffin meal costs £4.19.
It’s replacing the Spicy Vegetable Deluxe burger, which was 50p pricier at £3.49 and more calorific at 412 calories.
Fans will still be able to order the non-spicy Vegetable Deluxe burger, but some may be upset at losing the more fiery version.
To keep customers happy, McDonald’s said it will make its Spicy Veggie Wrap the Wrap of the Day every Monday in January, when it will only cost £1.99.
The new wraps are not just vegetarian but vegan too as they don’t contain any dairy.
But McDonald’s warns plant-based customers that the wraps go into the same toaster as its burger buns, which contain milk.
Lynne Elliot, chief executive of the Vegetarian Society said: “We’re really proud to have worked closely with McDonald’s for over 10 years and it’s great to see their veggie menu developing, especially as McDonald’s tell us a third of their customers think it’s important to eat more veggie meals.
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“There’s a growing demand for veggie food everywhere and it’s fantastic to see McDonald’s meeting the needs of their customers.
“It is especially important for young veggies to be able to choose something to eat when they are out with their friends.”
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THE time off over Christmas and New Year’s is a good time to get that much-need DIY done.
So, here is our guide to store opening times for B&Q this festive season to ensure you aren’t caught short.
B&Q stores will have special opening hours over the festive season for those last minute home improvementsAlamy
What are B&Q’s opening hours over New Year?
Here are the key dates as we get set to welcome 2019.
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey and IOM
New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) –Normal opening hours until 4pm
New Year’s Day (Jan 1) – 10am – 4pm
Wednesday Jan 2 – Normal opening hours
Stores will then return to their normal opening hours.
Scotland
New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) –Normal opening hours until 4pm
New Year’s Day (Jan 1) – Closed
Wednesday, Jan 2 – 9am – 5pm
Stores will then return to their normal opening hours.
Republic of Ireland
New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) –Normal opening hours until 4pm
New Year’s Day (Jan 1) – 10am – 4pm
Wednesday, Jan 2 – Normal opening hours
Jersey
New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) –Normal opening hours until 4pm
New Year’s Day (Jan 1) – Closed
Wednesday, Jan 2 – Normal opening hours
To double check your local store, head to B&Q’s store locator.
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Festive facts for Christmas and New Year 2018/19
It’s commonly believed that eating mince pies is illegal on Christmas Day. It really was in the 1600s thanks to Oliver Cromwell, but King Charles II rewound this crazy law.
Mistletoe’s mystical properties stem back to the Celts and Norse people who believed there was something mystical about the plant as the sprigs stayed green in winter even when the tree has lost its leaves. The concept of kissing under mistletoe, however, comes from an ancient Norse tale.
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year and has become synonymous with New Year celebrations. It is usually celebrated from New Year’s Eve all the way into January 2.
BURN off the Christmas calories without burning through cash.
On Tuesday, millions of us will vow to shape up, get fit or simply feel better in the year ahead.
Run off the extra Christmas pounds to start the new year fit and healthyGetty – Contributor
It does not have to cost a packet either, as there are cheaper ways to get in shape than joining a gym.
If you already pay for a monthly membership, make sure you get your money’s worth from it.
And if you are not making use of your membership, cancel it and try some of these instead.
FREE APPS
There are lots of free apps to help you shift the poundsGetty – Contributor
THERE are hundreds of free apps you can download that will act as your personal trainer, tracking your fitness and encouraging you to push yourself.
Workout Trainer is good for beginners who want to get fit but do not have a lot of free time. You can search for workouts based on how much time you have, ranging from five to 60 minutes.
If you want to get into running, try the Weight Loss Running By Verv app.
You can do an eight-week weight-loss programme with runs three times a week, and train for a 5k, 10k or even a marathon.
Another popular option is the Nike Training Club (NTC) which offers a huge variety of workouts and challenges, some led by professional athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams.
Many fitness apps offer extra features if you pay for them but NTC is completely free.
YOUTUBE VIDS
Why not try a fitness video on youtube or a yoga session?Getty – Contributor
YOUTUBE fitness videos are the perfect solution for those who want to exercise without venturing into the cold.
If you’re up for a challenge, search for “30-Minute Tabata session to burn some serious calories”
uploaded by Popsugar Fitness, one of the most popular workout channels.
Tabata training is all about short bursts of intense activity followed by short breaks, known as HIIT (high-intensity interval training), so this video will get your heart pumping, and give you a few laughs to keep you going.
The Cafe Moms Studios channel offers boot camp training aimed at mums. Its 30-minute cardio video will also have you in a sweat with its sequence of high-intensity movements, including mountain climbs and burpees, followed by lower intensity recovery actions.
Yoga expert Sadie Nardini has a great video for beginners, just search for “20 Minute Weight Loss and Fatburning Yoga Workout”. It is perfect for a quick morning workout.
LOW-COST GYMS
There are some low-cost gyms at council centres and pay as you gym optionsGetty – Contributor
THERE has been an explosion in low-cost brands such as PureGym and Fit4less which charge as little as £8.99 a month for membership — although they don’t offer luxuries such as fluffy towels or saunas.
Fancier chains such as Fitness First can charge as much as £40 a month or more. Many gyms offer the option of a 12-month contract or a monthly rolling contract, which allows you to cancel sooner.
It is a bit more expensive but may prove to be better value if you aren’t getting your money’s worth and decide to quit.
If you want to try out new facilities in your area, don’t disregard budget chains and council centres as they can offer decent equipment at a much better price compared with the more upmarket brands.
It is also worth trying payasugym.com, a gym broker which offers pay-as-you-go passes to a range of facilities across the UK.
You can opt to buy a day pass or a bundle of five or ten visits, with discounts of up to 15 per cent compared with the usual gym prices.
A quick search for local gyms near to Tonbridge in Kent, for example, brings up the offer of a day pass to a private gym for just £4.50, with a bundle of five visits to be used over 30 days price at £20.25, or £4.05 a visit.
The Tonbridge branch of PureGym is more expensive at a cost of £8.99 for a day pass, or £24.99 a month, plus a £15 joining fee. But it may be more suitable for someone planning several trips a week as they will get anytime access.
The key factor in deciding what kind of pass you want is how much you will use it, and what kind of facilities you want.
LOCAL FACILITIES
Take part in your local Parkrun, free weekly 5km timed runs across the UKGetty – Contributor
IF YOU don’t mind the cold, try one of the hundreds of free facilities in parks and outdoor spaces.
Often funded by councils and housing associations, outdoor gyms have much of the same equipment found in private gyms — cross-trainers, weights and bikes and rowing machines. Try your local council’s website to find your nearest.
Some councils provide free fitness classes, using organisations such as Our Parks, who provide qualified instructors to run varied sessions.
For those who are already able to run reasonable distances and fancy taking part in competitions, try a Parkrun. These offer free weekly 5km timed runs across the UK. You just need to register online.
ParkLives is another initiative offering completely free exercise classes for adults and children.
Classes are held in more than 130 outdoor locations including in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, and include yoga, pilates, Zumba and bootcamp.
Joining a gym
FIND a local gym and ask for a free taster day.
If you do not use a gym very often, see if you can buy day passes rather than monthly membership fees as it could be better value.
Check out your local council gym as it may offer decent equipment at much better rates compared with private gyms.
Do not pay a joining fee. Argue and haggle if they try to charge.
Try to save some money by using Tesco Clubcard points to sign up, or use a cashback website such as TopCashback or Quidco to get some money back on the deal.
Make sure you know what the gym’s rules are on cancellations. If you decide you want out, do it in writing and send it recorded delivery so you know the gym has received it.
Fitness tech
IF you’re looking for tech to help you in your quest for fitness here are some of your best options.
Of course they can’t actually DO the steps, swims, press-ups or yoga sessions for you.
But they can certainly help by tracking how many steps you’ve taken, how many calories you’ve burnt, and how those exercises are going . . . so you know what you, and your heart, are capable of.
Trackers and smartwatches are also good at gently reminding you when you’ve been sitting for too long, congratulating you when you hit your exercise target or encouraging you to set up friendly competitions.
The Apple Watch automatically records outdoor walks in case you forget
THE perfect balance of advanced health capabilities and a simple, intuitive interface. It automatically recognises some activities, such as outdoor walks, so it records them if you forget.
Share your achievements with friends or challenge them.
There are dedicated settings for different workouts such as rowing, stepping, high-intensity interval training, hiking and yoga. Or swimming — this watch is waterproof. It has GPS and heart-rate sensors built in.
RUNNING outdoors is tough in winter — but this could be the ideal answer for you.
It’s not for serious runners (the max speed is 10mph) but is fine for casual joggers and great for walking. Sensors give you heart-rate updates and preset programmes address your aims.
THIS new tracker is highly capable and looks good, with a monochrome OLED screen.
Battery life is a handy 20 days, it has great multisport tracking and includes smart alarms to wake you at the optimum moment in your sleep cycle so you rise feeling nice and refreshed.
An extra dial on the Steel HR Sport tracks your steps
THE most elegant of the smart watches, with minute- and hour-hands, an extra dial to track your steps and a small OLED screen to reveal heart rate and other metrics.
The battery lasts 25 days between charges. Built-in fitness apps from Speedo and MyFitnessPal can help you train and track your progress.
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is waterproof and you can download music on to it
IF you fancy something with a bright, colourful display, the rugged, waterproof tracker from Samsung is fun. Like several gadgets here, you can download music on to the tracker to listen to through wireless headphones.
Although it’s made by Samsung, it’s compatible with an iPhone or other Android phones. Battery lasts around three days.
Sleek tacking is a strong feature on the Fitbit Charge 3
THIS is a slick tracker with excellent accuracy. The black-and-white screen is easy to read, even in bright sunlight. Like the Apple Watch Series 4, this is waterproof, though the Fitbit lacks GPS.
Sleep tracking is another strong feature and it is light enough to wear at night.
The heart rate monitor will measure resting heart rate as well as during exercise. The battery lasts up to a week.
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