Bear in mind that the Barbie dolls are sold separately
What else will be in the Amazon Prime Day 2018 sale?
Here’s what to expect:
Up to 30 per cent off groceries including Clipper, Illy, Nescafe and Tassimo
Up to 50 per cent off Amazon devices including Echo, Fire Stick and Fire 7 tablet
Up to 40 per cent off robot vacuum cleaners including Neato, iRobot and Eufy
Up to 30 per cent off baby products including Tommee Tippee, Silver Cross and Graco
But the sale is only available to Amazon Prime members, which costs £79 a year.
Non Amazon Prime members can sign up for a 30-day free trial to avoid paying for access to the sale.
You must remember to cancel within the 30 days, otherwise you will be charged.
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How to make sure you get a bargain in the Amazon Prime sale
Firstly, if there’s a product that you’ve got your eye on put it in your basket now, that way you can spot it if it goes in to the sale as the price will be updated.
Then before you buy anything use price history tracking tool CamelCamelCamel to see if the price is really a bargain.
It will show you the average price and whether the price has ever been lower in the past.
What other deals are there in Amazon Prime Day sale?
FOOTBALL may not be coming home just yet but we will still be glued to the box for today’s World Cup final – along with the climax at Wimbledon.
Whether you fancy France or plan to cheer on Croatia — or are glued to the action on Centre Court — here are our top fun and frugal tips for having a sporty summer bash at home.
We have some great deals for the World Cup and Wimbledon finalsGetty – Contributor
Nibbles. If you pick up a punnet of strawberries today at any supermarket, new customers to TopCashback get 100 per cent cashback up to £5. Submit your receipt on the app under the Shop & Save section.
Morrison’s has cheeses, dips and snacks at prices ranging from £1 to £4. Or tuck into Co-op’s great value frozen meal deal which includes a box of boneless chicken, three large sides, and Magnum ice creams for £5.
Bevvies. Head to Lidl and grab a litre bottle of Peyton’s Summer Cup for £6.99, or Aldi’s £5.99 Austin’s Classic Summer Punch. There are cracking beer deals to be had in supermarkets.
Save £2 on a 15-bottle crate of Stella Artois, down from £11, at Sainsburys. It’s three for £21 on mix and match beer and cider at Asda, including a 12-bottle crate of Amstel which is normally £10 — saving you £9 on three.
Entertainment. Keep kids happy with water fun to beat the heat. Aldi’s Summer Waves hexagonal pool is £12.99. This is one of its Specialbuys so check your local store for availability. You can pick up a sound bar for less than £30 at Argos, and at Currys, get three free months of Deezer Premium streaming with selected sound bars.
Sports look. For tennis style, a white T-shirt in the men’s section of Primark is £2. A pair of white shorts is £2.50. A visor from Sports Direct is on sale for £4. Also from Sports Direct, the official FIFA World Cup cap is £4 — an £11.99 saving on the RRP.
Designer double
Don’t spend £25 on this Origins Drink Up Intensive MaskHandoutYou can save £20 if you buy this Nspa’s Pure Hydration Overnight MaskHandout
INSTEAD of hydrating your skin with Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, pick up Nspa’s Pure Hydration Overnight Mask from Asda for much less.
SAVE: £20
Reader’s saving tip
ANGELA HARTNELL, from POOLE, DORSET, says: “I have a small dog but save money buying the dog dental sticks for large breeds and cutting each one into three. I have 42 sticks instead of 14 and they last for six weeks.”
Send tips to sunsavers.co.uk/tips and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Include your name and town.
Deal of day
Save up to £4 on these red-hot chilli chicken thighsHandout
NAIL the perfect barbecue with Iceland’s mix and match four for £10 offer, such as these red-hot chilli chicken thighs. Offer ends today.
SAVE: Up to £4
My Sun Savers fiver
NORMA GARDNER, of Ton Pentre, Mid Glamorgan, says: “I saved £25 and have used it to pay for a night’s caravan site fees in France.”
Send your Savers fiver stories to sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Please include your name and town.
Cheap treat
Save 50p on this box of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuitsHandout
DUNK a Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuit into your brew. Was £1.50, now £1 at Sainsbury’s. The offer ends on July 24.
SAVE: 50p
Shop & Save
Get Mr Organic’s four-pack of chopped organic Italian tomatoes from Ocado for just £3.73Handout
TRY Mr Organic’s four-pack of chopped organic Italian tomatoes from Ocado. Was £4.39, now £3.73. The offer ends on August 8.
SAVE: 66p
Save a fiver
Save £5 on this Paw Patrol Water Blaster BackpackHandout
LET the kids cool off in the sun with the Paw Patrol Water Blaster Backpack from studio.co.uk. Was £12.99, now £7.99.
SAVE: £5
Here’s how to collect your Sun Savers codes to bag your Hols From £15
Just collect TEN Sun Savers codes or printed tokens/codewords, found daily in the paper until July 31.
If you are collecting printed tokens/codewords, then go to thesun.co.uk/holidays or use the online booking form to book.
Collecting Sun Savers codes? Go to the Sun Savers app or website and opt in to the Hols From £9.50 promotion in the “Offers” section.
Then enter your TEN codes on Sun Savers to book.
Price per person based on four sharing. Subject to availability. Code/token collect. T&Cs and date restrictions apply.
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, with the first one at the end of June.
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.
Today’s code is on Page 28. 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.
RENT-TO-OWN customers will save HUNDREDS of pound when a cap on the total cost of credit is imposed, new analysis shared exclusively with The Sun reveals.
Firms like BrightHouse and PerfectHome often charge customers double the cost of an item on the high street and are aimed at those with poor credit scores and low incomes.
Citizens Advice’s new data reveals how much rent-to-own customers could save with a cap on the cost of credit
But under new rules proposed by the City Watchdog earlier this year, after The Sun’s Stop the Credit Rip-Off campaign, customers of these firms would save £276 – 28 per cent – on average for items like washing machines, fridge freezers and TVs, according to data by Citizens Advice.
Citizens Advice has now analysed a range of products sold by rent-to-own firms to find how much customers could save.
For example, a two seater leather sofa would cost £1,754.22 over a three year contract, including delivery and installation, based on the average cost between two major providers.
But under the 100 per cent total cost cap customers would save up to £640 – or 37 per cent.
Here’s how much the cost would benefit rent-to-own customers
While a 32 inch TV would cost £681.71 under current rules, whereas a cap would cut the cost by £156 or 23 per cent.
On a 60cm fridge freezer customers could save £302 – 26 per cent – and on an electric cooker they would save £174 or 30 per cent.
An electric cooker would be £123 less, down 18 per cent from £666.90 to £543.96.
At present, firms are able to charge whatever they like for items as well as adding charges for delivery and installation. They also add interest on to the total cost, and extra charges if customers miss a payment.
'I paid back more than double to rent-to-own'
GEMMA Oaks, was a customer of a rent-to-own firm for 12 years after turning to them when she was desperate after moving house aged 24.
Gemma, now 36, said: “At the time I didn’t think about the interest rates or how long I would be paying for, I just thought about the weekly price and that it seemed affordable.”
Over the following years, Gemma also bought a TV, stereo, sofa, PlayStation 4, another fridge and two more tumble dryers.
At one point she was paying out £56 a week for her products – it was a major chunk of the weekly budget for the stay-at-home mum-of-four.
It was only last year, when her boyfriend moved in and they decided to clear some of their debt, that Gemma looked at all of her old agreements.
She said: “It was the first time I had actually looked at how much I was paying for each item – it was at least double what they would cost if I’d been able to buy the products outright.”
Gemma has now cleared all of her debt with the firm after her mum secured a loan to help her pay it off.
The rules, which are still being drawn up by the Financial Conduct Authority, are set to come into place in April next year.
A cap on payday loans, which was introduced in 2015, has seen the amount of people with unmanageable debts more than halve, according to Citizens Advice.
Citizens Advice claims that the cap would save £62million.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “By 1 April 2019, it will have been 853 days since the FCA launched its high-cost credit review.
“Until a cap is introduced, consumers will continue to pay over the odds for these high-interest products.
“Caps can work, we’ve seen this with payday loans where thousands of consumers have been protected by the FCA and are now better off as a result.
“The FCA has recognised the massive harm caused by the high interest rates on tempting rent-to-own deals.
“It should now stick to its own deadline to implement a cap.
“No one should have to pay more than double what they borrow.”
In March, the FCA announced that it was considering putting a cap on rent-to-own products.
Complaints about high-cost credit, including rent-to-own firms and doorstep lenders, have soared to their highest-ever level this year – an increase of 40 per cent, according to new figures from the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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A spokesperson from BrightHouse said: BrightHouse provides a unique way for those on low incomes, who are often excluded from mainstream credit, to get the everyday things many take for granted.
“In total, 95 per cent our agreements already fall within the suggested cap of the customer not paying back more than twice the credit taken. We will continue to engage with regulatory and advisory bodies on this matter.”
A spokesperson from PerfectHome said that since May when the FCA announced a possibility of a cap the firm has “engaged in the FCA’s assessment and consultation processes.
“As an FCA authorised rent-to-own business we will work within the FCA’s regulatory framework at all times.”
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.
Struggling mother and baby products retailer Mothercare announced it will shut 60 stores by June 2019[/caption]
The latest store closures mean a total of 60 Mothercare stores will shut by June next year, putting 900 jobs at risk overall.
Mothercare said it was putting its Childrens World division into administration, but that 13 of these 22 stores would be saved.
The changes come after it cleared a so-called Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), an insolvency procedure that required the approval of the retailer’s landlords.
The struggling retailer said it’s now planning to raise £32.5million of emergency funding from investors.
It has identified savings of £19 million through the process, and hopes to realise £10 million in cash.
Clive Whiley, Mothercare’s interim executive chairman, said: “The last three months of hard work and progress have put in place the foundations to get Mothercare back to where it should be as a fit-for-purpose business with a stronger and more efficient structure both for our UK business and our international franchisees.”
House of Fraser to close 31 stores and axe 6,000 jobs
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It follows similar moves taken by New Look and Carpetright, which are expected to close 60 and 92 stores respectively, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
The companyis one of the country’s biggest maternity and children’s retailers with about 140 stores in the UK and more than 5,000 employees worldwide.
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.
MEET Sun Hols’ King of the Hill. Over two decades, Pete Hill has taken his family on 100 of our fabulous Hols From £9.50.
The average British family holidays twice a year, spending more than £6,000, according to the Nationwide Building Society.
Meet Pete, 62, from West Bromwich, who has been saving money with our super-cheap breaks since 1993
But Pete, 62, from West Bromwich, has been saving money with our super-cheap breaks since 1993 — taking his wife Dawn, 58, son Wade, 26, and daughter Jodee, 24, away in his Ford Mondeo.
Over the years, the retired maintenance engineer has criss-crossed the UK and even hopped over to France to visit D-Day beaches in Normandy.
On June 18, the family went on their 100th Sun Holiday to Looe in Cornwall — and Pete doesn’t plan on stopping there.
He said: “I want to book the next one in Europe. We’ve always had such a brilliant time that I’ve just kept on booking Sun Holidays.”
Pedte, here with young Jodee and Wade, has taken his family on 100 happy holidays over two decades
Pete has some tips for readers on making the most of your Sun Hol.
Take your own bedding and towels. “We always take ours so that we don’t have to pay to hire to use them on camp sites,” Pete says. “Some parks don’t provide them.”
Find dog-friendly campsites. “Pick a park that accepts dogs. Two is the most you can take on your stay.
“Charges vary from park to park. I paid £25 for my pooch but it’s still worth it, as it’s cheaper than putting them in a kennel. Plus dogs deserve a well-earned break just as much as you do!”
Stay in accommodation near a train station. “If you need to travel without a car, book a campsite near a station so you can jump on the train to get to the seaside or other tourist places.”
Make the most of any free entertainment on offer. “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 that you see on the telly come down to the campsites.”
Collect Sun Savers codes. These soon add up to get extra cash for your holiday kitty.
PRICES correct at time of press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Designer double
The official Adidas World Cup 2018 ball costs £129.95Have a kickabout with the Adidas World Cup 2018 Telstar Glider from Sports Direct for £12
SUN Holidays are back. Today marks the return of readers’ favourite Hols from £9.50 – where you could follow in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of Sun-lovers on a bargain break.
With more than 250 holiday parks across the UK & Europe to pick from, the possibilities for your Sun holiday are awesome. You can choose from some of Europe’s most popular locations, including France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Austria and Croatia.
This i show to book your amazing bargain break with The Sun’s Hols From £15
Plus, there are loads of dates for you to pick from, with Sun Holidays running from September all the way until May 2019.
With Sun Savers you’ll even be able to use the money in your Sun Savers wallets you’ve earned by collecting the daily Sun Savers codes to pay for your Sun Holiday and the booking fee.
It means your Sun holiday will be even more of a bargain.
And this summer’s Sun holidays are jam-packed with fantastic deals.
Book a midweek break under this great offer and you get a fourth night completely free.
We are so confident that our Hols from £9.50 can’t be beaten on price, we will refund you all the difference — PLUS £10 — if you find it cheaper within 28 days of making your booking.
To book your bargain break with Hols from £9.50 simply head to the “Offers” section on the Sun Savers app or sunsavers.co.uk and opt-in to the Hols from £9.50 promotion.
Next, collect TEN of the 25 Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper from today until Tuesday, July 31..
Lastly, scan or enter your TEN Sun Savers codes into the Sun Savers app or website and once this is done you’ll be able to go ahead and book your Sun holiday.
Not already a Sun Savers member?
It only takes a moment to get involved, so sign up today.
Just go to Sun Savers in the app store or visit sunsavers.co.uk.
Enter a few basic detail to get started and you’re on your way.
With Sun Savers you’ll be able to take advantage of tons of huge competitions, bonuses on Superdays, and loads of exclusive offers.
Plus, as a Sun Savers member you will also start bagging free cash each time you pick up the paper. All our members earn £5 for every 28 Sun Savers codes they collect.
Just pick up the paper, find the Sun Savers code, then enter it into the Sun Savers App or at sunsavers.co.uk.
You can then cash out your free fiver or, in no time, you will see your Sun Savers wallet build up — you could use it towards a promotion such as Hols from £9.50.
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.
Why we love our great bargain breaks
FUN-loving Claire Nurrish and partner Gary Benton had a double celebration during their latest Sun Holiday – it was Claire’s 42nd birthday and Father’s Day.
The couple from Solihull, who have two sons – Frankie, six, and six-month-old Albie – enjoyed quality time with their boys during an action packed weekend that saw them make full use of the facilities at Butlins Skegness.
Damien McFadden – The Sun
Claire Nurrish, partner Gary Benton and their two sons tell how Hols From £15 and Sun Savers have worked for their family[/caption]
Claire, a mental health nurse, says: “It was a brilliant three days away from it all.
“Everything was well-organised, from the kids’ shows to the entertainment at the massive Centre Stage club. It helped that we had great weather too.”
The onsite funfair proved a firm favourite for Frankie, who enjoyed racing his friends on the electric go-karts. Meanwhile the sprawling Splash at Skegness water park was a hit with the family.
After a busy day enjoying the attractions, the Butlins premium dining option meant there was something to suit even the pickiest eaters.
It’s the great thing about Sun hols – you want them to go on and on
Claire says: “It was worth splashing out a bit because the food was fantastic.”
Thanks to Sun Holidays, Claire has also been to Butlins Minehead and Pontins Prestatyn Sands.
And using Sun Savers makes it even better. Claire says: “Sun Savers works out brilliantly because we always get the newspaper. Sun Holidays are fantastic value, but with Sun Savers they become even more worthwhile.
Factory worker Gary, 35, says: “We’re planning to go back to Butlins Skegness, but we’ll aim to go midweek next time, which would give us slightly longer.
“That’s the great thing about Sun Holidays – you just want them to go on and on and on.”
Why busy families love Hols From £15
CHEERING away at Haven Reighton Sands are Julie Walsham, partner Mark Robinson, their four-year-old son Sam – and cuddly Rory the Tiger.
Sam won the soft toy at the North Yorkshire park’s family bingo and it is now his bedtime buddy back home in Thornaby-on-Tees, 60 miles away.
SWNS:South West News Service
Mark Robinson and Julie Walsham, with their son Sam, 4, at Reignton Sands holiday park, near Filey, North Yorks[/caption]
Teaching assistant Julie, 38, says: “The onsite entertainment each evening was fantastic because it got the kids involved as well as the adults.”
The four-night trip was the family’s first Sun Holiday, but it won’t be their last.
Julie says: “The best thing about it was the break from the norm. We lead very busy lives so it was lovely to be able to leave everything behind and spend some quality time by the sea.
Besides swimming every day in one of the park’s two heated pools, there were plenty of other activities to keep both Sam and his fun-loving parents occupied.
We lead busy lives. It was lovely to spend quality time by the sea
Julie says: “One day we went pond dipping, where you take a giant net and submerge it to see what species you get.
“We found lots of tadpoles, some with just tails and others with legs, and at least one frog. There were also newts . . . it was really educational.
“Another day we built a shelter out of leaves and twigs, which was a lot of fun, but made us appreciate the caravan more when we fell into bed that evening.”
The family are already planning their next Sun Holiday, which they hope to pay for using Sun Savers.
Chemical engineer Mark, 42, says: “Sun Holidays is a brilliant scheme that allows families like ours to get away for a few days without breaking the bank.
“Using Sun Savers to keep the cost down even more leaves a bit more in your pocket to spend while you’re away.”
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.
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But employers are legally obligated to conduct risk assessments on workplaces to ensure that temperatures are “reasonable”.
In 2013, Army reservists Lance Corporal Roberts, Lance Corporal Maher and Corporal Dunsby all died as a result of heat exhaustion after a training session in the Brecon Beacons.
The HSE launched an investigation of the Ministry of Defence, and found that there had been a failure to plan, assess and manage risks associated with climatic illness during the training.
The exercise should have been called off hours before when temperatures reached record highs, they said.
The HSE were unable to prosecute the MoD because it’s a government body, but the case highlights the duty of care on the employer.
What rights do I have if it’s too hot?
Employers should ensure their workers have access to water and monitor the health of their employees in hot conditions, according to HSE guidelines.
The TUC wants to make it illegal to keep people at work indoors if the temperature is above 30C, and put protection in place for people working outside or driving for a living.
They also want to ensure outdoor workers have sunscreen and water and are given advice on the need to protect themselves from the heat and sun.
Brits should avoid excessive daytime drinking and wear light clothing to avoid heat strokeGetty Images
What do I do if it is too hot working outside?
The Health and Safety Executive recommends employers:
reschedule work to cooler times of the day
provide more frequent rest breaks and introduce shading to rest areas
provide free access to cool drinking water
introduce shading in areas where individuals are working
encourage the removal of personal protective equipment when resting to help encourage heat loss
educate workers about recognising the early symptoms of heat stress
And it says employees should:
Take particular care in the sun if you have: fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans, red or fair hair and light coloured eyes, a large number of moles
Manage your exposure to the sun by wearing high factor sunscreen, drinking lots of water and taking regular breaks in shaded areas.
The TUC says: “When the workplace gets too hot it is more than just an issue about comfort.
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“If the temperature goes too high then it can become a health and safety issue. If people get too hot, they risk dizziness, fainting, or even heat cramps.
“In very hot conditions the body’s blood temperature rises. If the blood temperature rises above 39C, there is a risk of heat stroke or collapse. Delirium or confusion can occur above 41C.
“Blood temperatures at this level can prove fatal and even if a worker does recover, they may suffer irreparable organ damage.”
Here are some top tips for keeping cool, from making an ‘ice fan’ to avoiding big meals and choosing cotton.
A SHORTAGE of Carbon Dioxide has brought Britain’s crumpet production to a grinding halt.
But why do you need Carbon Dioxide to make crumpets, and will crumpets ever be made in Britain again? Here’s our lowdown…
Warburtons is already feeling the brunt of the C02 shortageWarburton's
CO2 – or carbon dioxide – is used to package baked goods and extend the shelf life.
But a serious European shortage has mean that Warburtons are producing “nowhere near” the 1.5million crumpets it normally makes every week.
The bakery has had to stop making crumpets at two out of four its factories, and limited production at a third site, because of short supply.
A spokesperson said: “This [shortage] will remain the case until the CO2 supply returns to normal.
“But, rest assured we are working really hard to keep our products on Britain’s shelves.”
What else is CO2 used for?
THE clear odourless gass is a byproduct of ammonia and has plenty of uses.
Food and drink
CO2 is used to change the atmosphere that food is packaged in to extend the shelf life of fresh meat and salads.
About 60 per cent of slaughter houses rely on it to stun and kill pig and poultry too.
It’s also used to carbonate liquid and make them fizzy, like pop including Coke and Pepsi, as well as beers like largar.
The drinks industry use it to bottle and keg the beer too.
The gas is also used to treat water and make it safe to drink.
Hospitals
Thanks to its steralising capabilities, it’s used to clean and steralise equiptment at hospitals.
It’s also used on patients in some invasive surgery, like in an endoscopy.
The gas is also sometimes given to patients during and after they have had general anasthetic if they have difficulty breathing.
Fire extinguishers and oil industry
Fires feed on oxygen and when there’s CO2 in the air there is less of it to burn. Thanks to this property, it’s used in fire extinguishers to put them out.
It’s used to extract oil too from reserves by pushing the oil through pipes when it’s put under high pressure.
How are we running out of gas?
The current shortage of gas is because too many factories have shut at the same time across Europe.
It’s also because the high price of natural gas means production has been limited in the UK.
In addition to this a fall in global ammonia prices means it has been cheaper for British fertiliser producers to buy in ammonia from abroad instead of producing it in the UK.
Amid all of these factors, only one of the plants in the UK is operational.
Food and drink suppliers rely on the British based plants as the gas is expensive to import.
This is because carbon dioxide is used to slaughter farm animals, package food and make drinks fizzy.
Nine of the UK’s largest poultry plants are now facing a critical shortage of the gas.
It means that up to 60 per cent of the UK’s poultry processing plants could be knocked-out within days.
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Wetherspoons, which has over 1,000 pubs across the UK, warned that supply of draught lager and fizzy drinks could be cut off within days.
The shortage of gas has been heightened due to warm weather across Europe and World Cup when demand for fizzy drinks and beer is higher than normal.
HOW to manage their pension is not the only challenge facing folk in retirement.
Other problems include care bills, rising inflation and insurance premiums, and property maintenance costs.
Getty – Contributor
OAPs face many financial struggles other than managing their pension – here’s how to address them[/caption]
The consumer champion Which? talked to its retired members. asking them to name their key financial struggles.
Today Mr Money looks at their concerns and how to beat them.
PAYING FOR CARE
Many Which? members said the biggest challenge they’d faced was finding a care home for a relative and working out how to pay for it.
Those with capital of less than £23,250, or £27,250 in Scotland and £40,000 in Wales, are entitled to local council care funding. Those with complex needs can qualify for continuing healthcare, where the NHS pays nursing home fees.
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A big financial struggle is finding a care home for a relative and working out how to pay for it[/caption]
Self-funders face care home fees of between £32,000 and £72,000 a year. Which? member Martin Ross told of the emotional and financial stress of having to organise care for his 101-year-old mother over the past decade.
Rather than sell her flat, he agreed with Plymouth City Council that it would fund her care then recoup the cost from the sale of her home after she dies.
The debt reached £48,000 before she was deemed ill enough to receive continuing healthcare.
Martin said: “There’s no doubt that without continuing NHS healthcare funding, the majority of her assets would have been absorbed by care costs.”
Other Which? members have taken steps to make sure they can stay in their own homes for as long as possible. One couple extended their property to accommodate a potential live-in carer and added a ground-floor shower room in case of mobility issues.
Emma Callery, Which?’s elderly care editor, said: “Scrutinise care home contracts to understand exactly what you’ll pay. Also check that your relative is claiming all the benefits they are eligible for.”
HIGH INFLATION
Retirees are particularly vulnerable to inflation as they are on a fixed income. One Which? member from Swindon said: “The current inflation rate [2.4 per cent] far outstrips any increase in my pension, so money is becoming really tight.”
Others highlighted that savings rates are still extremely low. Allan Bates from Aberdeen said: “All readily available savings rates are below the level of inflation. You can tie your money up for five years and get 2.6 per cent, but pensioners can’t tie up money for that long.”
Rubberball – Getty
Retirees are particularly vulnerable to inflation as they are on a fixed income[/caption]
Annuities, where you buy a monthly income for the rest of your life rather than taking a chunk of cash are less popular now but Paul Davies, Which? pensions expert, said: “One of the compelling things is the option to index-link your income. This will ensure that your guaranteed income keeps pace each year with inflation.”
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Some of those surveyed are struggling with maintaining their homes and fear they’d be overcharged by unscrupulous traders.
Some have moved to smaller properties to free up cash or to make things more manageable, but downsizing can go wrong.
Getty – Contributor
Some OAPs have moved to smaller properties to free up cash[/caption]
Problems include living costs being higher in the new area, and dealing with leasehold issues.
Do your homework before moving, ensuring you’ve had a good chat with the people who live in the area you want to move to.
Sarah Ingrams, Which? home expert, recommends using their Trusted Traders to find decent tradesman. Or try checkatrade.com.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Car, travel and health insurance premiums can increase disproportionately as you get older.
Which? said you could face a 200 per cent increase in car cover or a £2,000 quote for travel insurance, or be denied cover altogether.
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Car, travel and health insurance premiums can increase disproportionately as you get older[/caption]
Hundreds of people said how unhappy they were with the way they’d been treated. Getting quotes can take hours, with each firm asking a different set of questions.
Dean Sobers, Which? insurance expert, said: “Comparison sites can be useful, but won’t include all companies that might cover you.”
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IMPROVE PENSION SUPPORT
PEOPLE need more support when choosing how to use their pension savings – as they are “now required to make more complicated decisions than ever before,” a watchdog has said.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been looking at how the sector has been working since the pension freedoms were introduced in 2015.
It wants to see improvements in the clarity and timing of communications from companies before people make decisions about what to do with their pension pot.
The FCA is proposing that “wake up” packs should be sent to people from the age of 50 and then every five years until the customer has fully accessed their pension pot.
These would have to include a single-page summary in clear language, sometimes called a pensions passport, and firms would also include specific retirement-risk warnings at the same time as the new packs.
The pension freedoms give over-55s a wider range of choices over how they use their pension pot, rather than being required to buy an annuity retirement income.
The FCA said the proposed new communications would help consumers understand the risks and choices they face and prompt them to access support and guidance.
Christopher Woolard, executive director of strategy and competition at the FCA, said: “We know that the choices introduced by the pension freedoms have been popular with many consumers.
“However, they’re now required to make more complicated decisions than ever before.
“Many people need more support when making choices.
“The measures we have outlined will help them think about that earlier, create investment pathways to help them with their choices and make costs and charges easier to understand.”
BRITS are bracing themselves for a sizzling two-week heatwave that will send temperatures soaring to 30C.
But while sunseekers might be looking forward to basking in the scorching conditions, children sitting in stuffy classrooms could suffer in the heat and may even be sent home. Here’s what you need to know.
There is no maximum temperature in classrooms but special measures need to be undertakenGetty – Contributor
How hot does it have to be to cancel school in the UK?
The Health and Safety Executive says: “During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.”
This means employers and schools have to provide “clean, fresh air” – as well as keep temperatures at a comfortable level.
The National Union of Teachers said special measures should be put in place to reduce temperatures as soon as staff complain about feeling uncomfortable.
A report states: “If in doubt, 26C should be used as the trigger for these measures.
“Other steps may also need to considered such as closing classrooms which are unacceptably hot and teaching classes elsewhere, or even sending pupils home, provided reasonable notice has been given to parents.”
Special measures can include electric fans and relaxing uniform restrictions.
Teachers have called for a maximum temperature rule in classroomsGetty – Contributor
What can you do if your child is sent home if it’s too hot?
Employees do not have a statutory right to be paid in the event that they have an emergency day off with their children.
But if their school is shut down, the employee would be entitled to unpaid time off for dependants to look after the children.
During a heatwave in 2013, school teachers called for maximum legal temperatures to be set in classrooms over fears that it was too hot for the kids.
At the time, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union Chris Keates said heatwave temperatures make pupils lethargic, affect concentration and can lead to fainting.
The union called for a maximum classroom temperature of 30C – which would see kids sent home if thermometers rose above this level.
