Schools crumbling; terror suspects escaping prison; toxic sewage pouring into our precious rivers and seas. 

Pile these crises on top of a cost-of-living emergency and an ever-worsening climate catastrophe, and you might be forgiven for thinking that Rishi Sunak had plenty of legislation his in-tray to be getting on with. 

There is so much legislation that could be introduced, and actions that could be taken, to at least start tackling the huge problems our country is currently facing.  

Yet it seems like nothing is happening; Rishi Sunak’s Government simply isn’t governing. 

It’s out of ideas, running scared of scrutiny, and stumbling lifelessly towards the next election.  

A figurative tumbleweed has been rolling across the House of Commons for months, with the daily order paper, a list of the day’s business, getting thinner and thinner.

Last week, the Energy Bill – a vitally important piece of legislation offering an opportunity to regulate our energy market and begin to address the climate crisis – came back before the House of Commons. 

Normally, entire sitting days or even weeks would be set aside to discuss complex legislation. Yet how long were MPs given to discuss the remaining stages of this vast Bill, and its 300-plus amendments? 

Barely three hours – showing again Rishi Sunak’s complete lack of interest in, and willingness to tackle, the most pressing issue of our time.

There is a total absence of new proposed legislation – this government doesn’t even properly advance laws like the vital Renters’ Reform Bill, which was first promised three whole prime ministers ago, under Theresa May.

The number of urgent questions – a chance to grill Government Ministers on an important issue of the day – granted by the Speaker in this current Parliamentary session is one of the highest in 25 years. I believe this is due to backbenchers stepping up to fill the vacuum of government action. 

That’s not to say the government hasn’t made announcements – but new policies were announced over the summer Recess period when Parliament isn’t sitting, avoiding scrutiny from MPs.  

Rishi Sunak’s decision to rubber stamp hundreds of new oil and gas licences was announced in late July via press release. 

People desperately need some hope for a better, more liveable future

The Prime Minister didn’t offer MPs even the slightest opportunity to challenge from the green benches the obscenity of new licences in the middle of a climate emergency. 

In August, ministers announced they would scrap critical EU rules on pollution with regard to new house building projects. 

If I hadn’t dragged the Levelling Up Minister to the Despatch Box for an urgent question to explain why on earth these vital rules were being ditched, the Government’s decision wouldn’t have faced even the slightest query in the House of Commons. 

It’s pure cowardice. If the Government has policy announcements to make – which have enormous implications on the future of our country and planet – ministers should come to Parliament and make their case, face scrutiny, and have the guts to put its measures to a vote. 

That’s how the Government, Parliament, and our democracy function and Sunak’s administration isn’t functioning. 

People desperately need some hope for a better, more liveable future. 

But they’re certainly not getting it from Keir Starmer’s Labour Party either, which only seems to be saying what it wouldn’t do in Government, rather than what it would: no free movement of people, a refusal to ditch the two-child benefit cap, no scrapping of tuition fees.

With so many crises facing our country – inaction from either party is not an option. 

If we’re going to fund our NHS and schools properly after 13 years of Tory austerity, we need to reform our country’s deeply regressive tax system.

And in order to give our railways, postal services and water companies a much-needed jolt of life after decades of stagnation, we must bring these public services back into public hands as soon as possible, so they work for people not profit. 

This zombie Parliament we’re currently witnessing doesn’t serve anyone’s best interests: neither MPs, who are unable to scrutinise vital legislation; nor the public, who aren’t seeing the Government even attempting to make their lives better. 

The best way to bury it once and for all? Call a general election – and end this stagnation once and for all.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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We all love a holiday bargain, and now, yet another country is launching a cheap monthly rail pass – and this one costs about the same as just one week of Tube travel.

Following on from Germany relaunching the deutschlandticket and Portugal’s low cost rail pass, France now has joined the party with their own offering.

For only €49 (£42), those travelling on the rail pass in France can get unlimited travel for a month across the country. It includes TER regional services, intercity trains, and potentially local bus, metro and tram travel too.

Even if you don’t travel on it daily, you’ll likely still be making a saving instead of paying for journeys separately.

The pass is valid on TER routes such as Bordeaux to Arcachon, which usually costs €15 (£12.85).

There’s also savings to be had on long-distance routes. For example, if you booked Paris to Toulouse on the day, you could be forking out as much as €94 (£80.50) – almost double the new rail pass.

This pass comes after multiple domestic short-haul flights in France were banned, to get more people using trains.

Research has shown that a small proportion of flyers undertake a huge proportion of flights in Europe – the hope is, more people will pick transport options that are better for the environment.

The new pass is due to be available from summer of next year – so keep it in mind when you plan next year’s holiday.

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The cost of living crisis is continuing to have an effect on millions of households, with high energy bills remaining a concern as the winter months approach.

Although Ofgem’s energy price cap is due to drop to £1,923, people are still set to face higher costs than they did pre-Covid – with bills likely to remain around the same as they did last year when the Government offered everyone a £400 discount over six months.

However, help is at hand from other sources if you’re looking for ways to keep costs down.

One option could be to take part in The Big Community Switch, a scheme aimed at finding you the best energy tariff for your needs – and helping you move to it.

How does the scheme work and how do you sign up for it?

The Big Community Switch explained

According to its website, The Big Community Switch works by allowing people to ‘benefit from the bargaining power of a large group’.

The next auction takes place on October 3, so customers looking to switch tariffs will need to have signed up for it by then.

It will see a variety of pre-vetted energy companies compete to offer the best possible deal for registered customers.

Those who are taking part will then receive a personal offer based on a number of factors, including their current tariff, energy consumption, billing preference and contract type.

This will also include details such as standing charge and unit rate – as well as the estimated cost for the next 12 months.

Customers will have four weeks to decide whether to accept the offer, although there is no obligation for them to do so – but if they do decide to switch iChoosr will take care of everything for them.

Offers must be taken up by November 27.

How to apply for The Big Community Switch

You can apply for the scheme here – if you want to take part in the next auction you’ll have to sign up by October 2.

The scheme is open to anyone who receives an energy bill in their name or their partners – and that includes those who rent their property, or are on a prepayment meter.

When does the energy price cap fall?

The Ofgem energy price cap will fall to £1,923 from October 1.

This also stands at £1,949 for those on prepayment meters, £2,052 for standard credit tariffs, and £1,298 for Economy 7 (electricity-only Direct Debit).

Although bills will be cheaper costs are set to remain high.

When the cap went down to £2,074 (from a £2,500 cap-on-a-cap), the average bill fell by around 17%.

But, speaking about the energy price cap, Which? Energy editor Emily Seymour cautioned: ‘Energy bills will be almost double the amount they were before the energy crisis began, and these prices will still be unaffordable for many households.’

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The hardest job. An impossible task. This is how you’ll often hear parenting described.

But, as if bringing a child into the world, juggling work, health, happiness and raising them to be a functional member of society wasn’t enough, the crippling cost of living is now pushing parents to the brink.

Half of Brits cannot afford to give their children the life they want to, according to new research by UNICEF.

It’s a harsh reality caused by an unforgiving economic climate of rising costs, unaffordable childcare and a lack of financial support.

More than three quarters of parents report that this rising cost of living has negatively impacted their family life (up 12% from last year) – with 71% saying their finances are stretched to the limit.

Kayleigh Crossley, 28, from Preston, Lancashire, began her midwife training when her daughter was just eight months old. She wasn’t being paid but, because she was a student, neither did she qualify for state-funded childcare.

The mum has now even had to delay having a second child because she and her partner can’t afford it.

She says: ‘Nursery was running between £800 to £900 a month and I didn’t get any parental support from Student Finance England.

‘I had to make sure that I was earning more money to pay for nursery, so I was also taking on the equivalent to a second job alongside shift patterns.

‘I was working in excess of 40 to 50 hours every week as well as doing my studies at the same time with a young toddler.’

The young mum claims that Student Finance England never gave her a ‘straightforward answer’ as to why she didn’t qualify for financial aid.

But it is not only the financial impact that Kayleigh struggles with. She feels like she’s ‘failed’ her daughter. Even if she could afford to go on days out, she hasn’t got time because of her punishing work schedule.

‘I am really sad that I have missed out on so much with her in her early years,’ says Kayleigh. ‘It makes me feel very stressed and down.’

‘It’s not like I was even working so much for us to have days out together. I was working so much just to afford childcare,’ she said.

‘I do feel like I’ve failed her in some ways, because I feel like I’ve been so stressed with it all that it’s affected our bond, but the only other choice I would’ve had would’ve been not working at all.

‘Of course that is never going to be an option for us because we simply wouldn’t survive.’

Like most parents interviewed for the UNICEF research, a lack of affordable and accessible childcare has put Kayleigh under immense financial strain.

However, she hoped hoped that after two years of struggling, her daughter, then three, would qualify for 30 hours of funded childcare with the government’s scheme.

‘When the time came, we found out that because I was a full-time student, and I didn’t earn enough from my second job that we didn’t qualify for [funded childcare],’ says Kayleigh.

‘It was an extremely difficult time. We were basically relying on one income to support us.’

Nursery also only provides childcare Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm, which doesn’t cover Kayleigh’s shift patterns. She has to pay even more to drop her daughter off before eight in the morning.

‘It is just not doable for us, we already reached our limit with the money we pay now,’ Kayleigh says.

‘Having these extra pressures of feeling like you are basically going to work to pay for your childcare makes it even more stressful. I get very limited time with my daughter as it is with the job that I do.

‘There is just not a great amount of money left aside for us as a family.’

Kayleigh needed a lot of mental health support from her university due to the toll of her financial situation which left her with anxiety.

The young mum isn’t alone with 61% of parents claiming they have struggled with their mental health since becoming a parent. This includes feelings of being overwhelmed (49%), anxious (43%) and unsupported (36%).

Kayleigh was also unable to have another child when she wanted because she wouldn’t have qualified for maternity pay or leave.

‘Due to the cost of living and because of nursery fees, I honestly can’t see us having probably more than two [children], maximum of three,’ Kayleigh adds.

‘As much as I’d love to have more, it would never be possible for us as a family. We wouldn’t be able to afford it. We know how much we’d struggle with childcare if we did.’

Kayleigh is just one of the many parents with a financial situation that paints an ever-worsening picture for those with children in the UK. Her story comes as 70% of parents with children under 5 admit it feels harder each year to be a parent in this country.

The findings are the latest from UNICEF UK’s Early Moments Matter campaign, which is calling on the UK Government to step up support for children under 5 and their families, and improve early childhood services across the country by committing to a national Baby and Toddler Guarantee. Sign the petition here.

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of UNICEF UK, said: ‘These findings provide a stark snapshot into the reality for many families with babies and young children right now – worried for their children’s future, struggling to make ends meet and left feeling anxious, alone, and unsupported.

‘It is vitally important, that families can access basic services like maternity care, health visits, mental health support, affordable and high-quality childcare and support for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

‘These services, while essential for all, can provide a lifeline for families struggling financially and/or with their mental health.

‘The fact that it’s the most disadvantaged families who are struggling more and who are least likely to have accessed support, means we risk cementing inequalities in children’s lives before they’ve even picked up a pencil.

‘The UK Government’s Start for Life initiative seeks to improve support for babies and young children, but its funding does little to address the growing shortfalls in essential services.

‘Urgent Government action is needed to address the gaps to stop families slipping through the net and to safeguard our babies and children’s futures.’

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Too soon to mention Christmas? While the last gasps of the heatwave may make the festive season feel a million miles away, it’ll be here in three months time – and getting your finances in order now can help a lot.

Money has been a real struggle for many this year, with high energy costs, eye-wateringly high inflation and food prices rocketing – let alone coping with rents and mortgages.

So with several major money changes coming between now and Christmas, as the cost of living crisis continues, keeping abreast of them can make a huge difference when managing a budget.

Let’s take a look at the money changes expected between September and December.

Major money changes before Christmas

Second cost of living payment

A raft of new Cost of Living Payments are due over the course of 2023/24, with the first having been rolled out earlier this year.

The second payment, of £300, is expected in ‘the autumn’ – likely to be October or November.

There’s no need to apply – you may qualify if you’re on any of the following benefits on certain dates – and the benefit should be paid directly in to your bank account:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Inflation figures

The Office for National Statistics will release the next inflation rate on September 20 – and shows how much a selection of goods and services that make up a ‘basket’compare to their prices from 12 months ago.

Although the figures are a look back at the prevous month, they have an impact on interest rates – and the September figure also affects next Spring’s benefit uprating.

There will be further announcements on October 18, November 15 and December 20.

Interest rates

Anyone with a mortgage will know how devastating a hike in interest rates can be.

The next announcement on the Bank of England base rate will be on September 21 – and it affects everything from loan interest to mortgage repayments.

At the beginning of August, The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase the base interest rate to 5.25% – its highest level since 2008.

While that’s good news for savers, it’s tough for those with debts.

This will be followed by further announcements on November 2 and December 14.

Energy price cap

The energy price cap – which has a direct effect on how much everyone pays for their energy – dropped from £3,280 to £2,074 on July 1 and will drop again from October 1.

The new price cap will run from October 1 to December 31 and be £1,923 for a direct debit customer.

This also stands at £1,949 for those on prepayment meters, £2,052 for standard credit tariffs, and £1,298 for Economy 7 (electricity-only Direct Debit).

So you’ll pay less for the same amount of energy.

It’s important to take a meter reading around October 1 so you are charged for what you use.

Warm Home Discount

The government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme will reopen in October.

It is a one-off discount on electricity bills – last year it was worth £150.

In England and Wales, you qualify if you either:

• Get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• Gre on a low income and have high energy costs

In Scotland you qualify if you either:

• Get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• Are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme

Cold weather payment

The Cold Weather Payment scheme reopens in England and Wales on November 1 and those eligible will get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

You are likely eligible if you get one of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Scotland offers a Winter Heating Payment of £50 which should be made automatically to those on eligible benefits.

Stamp price rise

If you’re sending Christmas cards, the advice is to stock up on stamps now as the cost is to soar from October 2.

It comes just months after the introduction of a barcode rendered everbody’s old, non-barcoded stamps, unusable.

The price of a first-class stamp will be rising by 14% for a standard letter – the second increase this year following the price hike in April from 95p to £1.10.

This will push the cost up from £1.10 to £1.25.

DWP Christmas Bonus

The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, to people on certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December.

It’s paid automatically.

Disney Plus price hike

Disney Plus has traditionally only had one plan – at £7.99 a month.

From November 1, everyone will be put on the Premium ad-free offering, which costs £10.99 a month (£109.90 for the year) unless you choose something else.

You can choose to stay on the Standard ad-free package still costs £7.99 a month (£79.90) but it will remove options such as 4K streaming and the ability to stream on four devices at once.

There will also be a Standard package with ads – which will cost £4.99 a month (there is no annual payment option). This allows HD streaming over two devices at the same time but no downloads or 4K UHD quality.

Amazon Prime same day deliveries

From September 18, Amazon Prime members will have to pay £1.99 for same day deliveries worth less than £20.

You can avoid it by selecting next day delivery or ordering more than £20 worth of goods at once.

Bus fare cap ends

In May, the £2 cap on bus fares (not including London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside or West Yorkshire, as they are already capped) was extended by the government to help in the cost of living crisis.

From October 31, this will increase to £2.50 and this new cap will last until November 2024.

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Rishi Sunak has hinted that benefits could be cut even further next year as he eyes up ways to free up cash for tax cuts ahead of the next general election.

The Prime minister refused to rule out increasing benefits by less than inflation, defending his decision by pointing to the help he has provided families with paying their energy bills throughout the cost of living crisis.

His remarks come as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reportedly weighing up breaking with custom by not raising welfare payments in line with inflation in his autumn financial statement.

The move would provoke allegations that the Government is targeting some of the most vulnerable during a cost-of-living crisis in order to cut taxes.

And it would be particularly contentious if ministers also maintained the ‘triple lock’” on pensions by raising those payments in line with rising prices or earnings.

Mr Sunak declined to ‘speculate’ about what will be in the Chancellor’s statement on November 22 when asked if he could guarantee benefits will rise with inflation.

Speaking to broadcasters at the G20 summit in New Delhi, the PM said there is a legal process which is worked through ‘every year to do benefits uprating and a whole host of other things’.

‘And those decisions are announced at the autumn statement, that’s entirely normal,’ he added.

Elsewhere in the statement, Mr Sunak sought to ‘reassure’ those struggling with the cost of living by pointing to the extra support already put in place to help with energy payments and other bills.

‘So people should be reassured that that extra support is there for the most vulnerable in our society at a time which I know is difficult and that’s why we have to bring inflation down,’ he said.

‘That’s why my first in my five priorities is to halve inflation. That is the best way to help everyone with the cost of living.’

Benefits are usually raised in line with September’s consumer price index measure for inflation.

But reports suggested that Mr Hunt could point towards forecasts that inflation will be far lower in April, when the payments hike would come into effect.

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With the cost of living crisis continuing to impact us all, supermarkets have been doing their best to help consumers feeling the squeeze – whether it’s through special offers, price cuts or discounts for loyalty card holders.

Tesco has introduced a number of changes in recent times designed to help its customers save the pennies.

These initiatives range from improving their signage through to changing the stock at their smaller stores to cheaper alternatives – as well as cutting the VAT on some important items.

Here’s what they’ve been up to…

Swapping out branded products in Tesco Express

Over the past few months a change has come to Tesco Express which has seen them introduce dozens of cheaper products (many from its own-brand range) to the stores to cater to customers looking for more affordable alternatives.

Around 50 have been rolled out, with Tesco claiming some items will end up ‘less than a third of the price of the products they are replacing’.

These include Tesco penne pasta (85p) and Tesco smooth peanut butter (£1.65), being sold at half the price of the previous branded items.

Tesco frozen garden peas (£1.65) will be stocked in Express store freezers instead of the branded equivalent, while Tesco basmati rice pouches (75p) have also been introduced, costing 30% less than the branded version.

Sarah Lawler, Tesco Convenience Managing Director, has said: ‘We know customers are watching every penny at the moment, so we hope these helpful product swaps will bring down food bills for even more families. 

‘Our Express stores offer unbeatable value on everything from essentials to fresh produce, making healthy food more accessible for the 2,000 communities that we serve across the UK.

Yellow stickers

Yellow stickers are a popular way of saving money in supermarkets – who add them to stock they are reducing in price at certain times of the day.

However, Tesco have taken theirs a step further, showing customers exactly where they can find the reduced stock due to improved signage.

Look out for these signs, and the slogan ‘reduced in price, just as nice’ showing you where you can find them.

Changes to milk

Tesco has changed the way it packages its milk, swapping the blue, green and red caps – to indicate whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk – for clear ones, which are easier to recycle.

They’re also phasing out their huge six-pint bottles in a bid to cut down on waste.

No VAT on period pants

In August the supermarket giant became the first retailer in the UK to cover the VAT cost on its range of period pants.

The cut in price affects all eight lines of Tesco’s own-brand F&F period pants – meaning a three-pack now costs £14.40 instead of £18 while a single pack of pants has been reduced from £7.50 to £6.

It follows an industry campaign calling on the government to axe the 20% tax on the product, which is currently classed as underwear.

Tesco group communications director Christine Heffernan said: ‘We know that the cost of buying essential period products can be a real struggle for many people.

‘And we want to do our bit to help by covering the cost of VAT on period pants, helping to make this more sustainable option more affordable for customers.

Other period products have been exempt from VAT since 2021.

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The start of the new school year can be costly- with uniforms, shoes, schoolbags and stationery among the items parents have been snapping up ahead of the term.

All of which can set you back a fair bit at the best of times – but in the current cost of living crisis gives families struggling to make ends meet even more expenses to worry about.

And with price rises impacting everything, the cost of your child’s packed lunch has also soared – with new statistics suggesting that some of the staple items for your average lunchbox, such as bread, cheese, tomatoes and yoghurt – have more than doubled in price since 2021.

A packed lunch has often been seen as a cheaper option than paying for school dinners – but how do the costs compare?

Here’s what you need to know…

How much is the average school packed lunch?

According to new research from Starling Bank, the average cost of a school packed lunch is now £2.73 per day – 95 per cent higher than it was in 2021.

This is down to the spiralling costs of such ingredients as bread – up 121% in price since then from around 47p to £1.04 – cheese, up from 95p to a staggering £2.53, tomatoes, which have risen from 64p to £1.72 and ham, which is up from £1.60 to £2.11.

Even lunchbox treats are proving pricier, with crisps up from 71p to £1.32 and biscuits rising from 39p to 81p.

Healthy snacks such as bananas and yoghurts have also increased in price – the former going up from 73p to £1.06 and the latter soaring from 54p to around £1.27.

However, you can keep costs down depending on where you shop.

Statistics show that Lidl is the cheapest supermarket for packed lunches – with an average cost of £10.65 per week.

At the other end of the scale Morrison’s is the most expensive, with an average of £15.11 for a week’s worth of packed lunches.

How much is the average school dinner?

The average cost of a school dinner varies from one place to the next.

For example, the average cost of a school dinner for a primary school child in London is around £2.30 in London – according to the London Assembly website.

However in some parts of the country, such as Hampshire, school dinners can cost as much as £2.80 a day.

The cost of living crisis has also affected the cost of school dinners, which have also risen in price due to increases in the cost of ingredients such as eggs, cheese and chicken – with schools in East Sussex among those which have put their prices up in the past year by as much as 30%.

It’s estimated that school dinners will cost parents an average of £440 per child per year – but in some parts of the country those with more than one school age child could find themselves paying as much as £1,000 annually.

The Government, meanwhile, gives £2.41 per day for free primary school meals – up just 7p since 2022.

How to get free school meals

Those who are struggling to afford either packed lunches or school meals for their child could claim free school meals depending on their circumstances.

All children attending state primary schools in London should automatically be enrolled to receive free school meals for the 2023/24 academic year, under the emergency measure announced by Sadiq Khan.

However, parents in London whose children already qualified for free school meals under the existing government scheme should continue to apply as before.

Your school should be in touch to ask for the information they need to plan the number of meals they’ll need to make, and to cater for dietary requirements.

There’s no obligation to have the free meals, and children will still be allowed to take a packed lunch – rules on these are set by individual schools.

In the rest of England, free school meals are provided for all children in Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 of state schools – but to take up the offer you need to register your interest with your local council.

Older children may be able to get free school meals if parents receive certain benefits – you can see a list of these on the Government’s website – but if you don’t qualify for these and are struggling financially, you can ask your school or local authority about eligibility.

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that free school meals will be offered to every child at state primary schools in London in the 2023/24 academic year.

With the cost of living crisis continuing, free schools meals are often a lifeline for families, and experts say they can save upwards of £440 per year, per child.

Food costs have rocketed in recent months, and are showing no signs of falling, so the offer of free school meals for London’s state primary pupils will be welcomed by many.

But how do you get them? Do you need to register? And what can you get if you’re outside the capital?

Here is what you need to know.

How to claim free school meals

All children attending state primary schools in London should automatically be enrolled to receive free school meals for the 2023/24 academic year, under the emergency measure announced by Sadiq Khan.

However, parents in London whose children already qualified for free school meals under the existing government scheme should continue to apply as before.

Your school should be in touch to ask for the information they need to plan the number of meals they’ll need to make, and to cater for dietary requirements.

There’s no obligation to have the free meals, and children will still be allowed to take a packed lunch – rules on these are set by individual schools.

In the rest of England, free school meals are provided for all children in Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 of state schools – but to take up the offer you need to register your interest with your local council.

Older children may be able to get free school meals if parents receive any of the benefits listed below, but if you don’t qualify for these and are struggling financially, you can ask your school or local authority about eligibility.

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

In Scotland, free school meals are offered to all children in Primary 1-5 at local council schools, and in other years for those on certain benefits.

In Wales, you can check eligibility for free school meals with your local council.

Those in Northern Ireland can apply if receiving certain benefits.

Sadiq Khan said: ‘We’re deeply concerned by the number of primary school children going hungry in London’s classrooms.

‘Eligibility criteria for the Government’s existing free school meals offer is strict, which means many parents/carers and children who need this helping hand have been missing out.

‘As someone who received free school meals myself, I’m incredibly proud that we’re able to step up and provide this crucial lifeline…I firmly believe that every child deserves the chance to be able to grow up healthy and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

‘But for this to happen, children must be able to access healthy, nutritious meals.’

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Asda will be giving away £15 million to its customers this month in order to celebrate the first birthday of its rewards loyalty app.

The supermarket claims the giveaway is the single biggest prize since the launch of its rewards app back in 2022.

Since its launch, over seven million customers have used the app and earned more than £200 million in Cashpots, which can lower Asda grocery bills.

Senior Director for Loyalty at Asda, Mark Baxter, has said: ‘We launched Asda Rewards last year to reward customers for simply shopping at Asda.

‘Since then, over 7m customers have been earning pounds by buying star products and completing missions.

‘We are always looking at new ways to give back to our customers via Asda Rewards, so we’re excited to be celebrating its first birthday by rewarding our customers with a guaranteed Cashpot bonus throughout September.’

So, how does the game work and who can take part?

Here is what you need to know.

How does the Asda Spin the Wheel game work?

The £15 million giveaway will come via a ‘Spin the Wheel’ game based in the Asda Rewards app.

The game will offer a guaranteed cash bonus for every spin this month.

For every £5 spent in-store or online (and scanned with their rewards app), customers can earn a spin of the wheel and a chance to win 50p, £1, £5 or £100 added to their Cashpots.

How long will the Spin the Wheel game last?

The Spin the Wheel game will be available from Thursday, September 21, to Monday, September 24, 2023.

Who can play the Asda spin the wheel game?

Anyone with an Asda groceries account and the Asda rewards app can participate in the game.

However, new Asda Rewards users will also be able to take advantage of the ‘First Scan Bonus’ until Saturday, September 30 – receiving £5 in their Cashpot.

Asda is also offering a physical version of the game at fifteen stores, such as Watford, Derby, and Pudsey.

If you shop at any of these stores, you can participate in the physical game for a chance to win merchandise and various Asda products.

Full terms and conditions for the game can be found on Asda’s website. 

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The cost of living crisis continues to stretch many people’s finances, despite inflation falling and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confident it’ll only get better.

As we look towards more financial changes in September (and beyond), including Universal Credit changes, eligible households will soon receive their second cost of living payment from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The cost of living payment dates were confirmed to be coming at some point in autumn 2023, but no official date or follow up has been announced.

However, money expert Martin Lewis has weighed in on when he thinks the money could land in people’s bank accounts.

When could the second cost of living payment be made?

Martin Lewis previously predicted the payment will land in bank accounts between October and November.

The final cost of living payment worth £299 will then be paid in spring 2024.

Who is eligible for the cost of living payments?

Millions of households could be owed the payment.

Totalling £900 in total, the first payment was made in Spring and it was sent to anyone who receives any of the following benefits:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit.

The payments are made separately from your benefit payments.

When was the first cost of living payment in 2023?

More than seven million households across the UK received a £301 cost-of-living payment between April and May this year.

The second payment will be worth £300, and the final payment will be £299.

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More children are likely to arrive at school this term with unclean clothes and unbrushed teeth, teachers have suggested.

Nearly three in four (72%) school staff believe there has been an increase in ‘hygiene poverty’ issues in their school in the last year, according to new figures.

The survey, of 500 school staff in the UK who had said they were aware of pupils experiencing hygiene poverty, suggests that 71% expect the levels of hygiene poverty to have increased by the start of the school year this month.

Dirty uniforms and PE kits, unwashed hair and unclean teeth were the most cited indicators of hygiene poverty by the staff questioned in June.

The poll, carried out for charity The Hygiene Bank and cleaning brand smol, defines hygiene poverty as those who are ‘caught between being able to heat their home, pay their bills, buy food or keep clean’.

Some of the school staff reported personally washing uniforms and PE kits for children at home, and handing out laundry detergent for families in need.

The survey, which was conducted by market research platform Attest, suggests that 72% of school staff said they had seen pupils affected by hygiene poverty experience low self-esteem.

Meanwhile, 53% of school staff said these pupils were isolated or ‘left out’ by other pupils in class, and 50% said they had seen a negative impact on mental health for those experiencing hygiene poverty.

More than a quarter (26%) of school staff said they had seen absenteeism as a result of hygiene poverty.

One respondent said: ‘Students are often left with no desk partner in class. Makes it awkward for staff members to deal with the situation. Students are often faced with working alone. Other students make nasty comments in front of the class to single them out.’

Another respondent said they had ‘a feeling of powerlessness’ that they could not do more.

Sarah Smith, executive headteacher of St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, a primary school in Blackpool, said: ‘We have seen an increase in students coming to school with unwashed uniforms and we know that this has an effect on their mental health and overall wellbeing, which in turn will have a negative impact on their education.’

Brand smol, in collaboration with The Hygiene Bank, is hoping to expand its Suds in Schools initiative, which provides mini laundrettes to schools, so more families in need are provided with clean clothes.

Suds in Schools wants to raise £25,000 to establish an additional 25 laundrettes in UK schools.

Lucy Wishart, of smol, said: ‘With hygiene poverty increasing, it’s more important than ever for us to support more schools.’

She added: ‘We believe that everyone should have access to clean clothes, in order to live their life to the fullest and our research shows just how much this can impact young people at a crucial stage in their academic and social lives.’

Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: ‘Hygiene poverty is linked to very high levels of deprivation as families struggle with the cost of things like washing machines, energy bills and clothes.

‘Many schools routinely help out by discreetly washing clothes and providing items of uniform.

‘This has long been the case but has become more of an issue following the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis as more families struggle financially.

‘The level of child poverty in the UK is utterly unacceptable and the Government must do more to tackle the problem.’

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Drivers were hit by one of the biggest monthly fuel price rises in more than two decades in August, new figures have shown.

The RAC said the 7p per litre spike in the average cost of petrol in August was the fifth largest monthly increase in 23 years.

The 8p per litre hike in diesel prices was the sixth largest over the same period.

The RAC said rising pump prices are being caused by an increase in the cost of oil, which has gone up by nearly 12 US dollars a barrel since the start of July to nearly 87 US dollars due to producing group Opec+ reducing supply.

This led to the wholesale cost of fuel – what retailers pay – going up, which has been passed on to drivers at forecourts.

Earlier this week data from the Confused.com fuel index, which organises the country by postcode, the best areas for cheaper petrol include Lancashire, South Wales and Northern Ireland.

In fact, the Belfast postcode – which covers all of Northern Ireland – currently has the cheapest petrol in the country, with an average price of 145.1p per litre.

The fuel across the Irish Sea is considerably cheaper than the average for any area on the island of Great Britain, as the Torquay postcode takes second place with a jump up to 146.7p per litre.

Rounding out the top five lowest petrol prices in the UK are the Sunderland (146.8p), Bradford (147.0p) and Kilmarnock (147.2p) postcodes.

Meanwhile, the most expensive areas in the country for petrol are dominated by Scottish islands and parts of London.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘August was a big shock to drivers as they had grown used to seeing far lower prices than last summer’s record highs.

‘Seeing £4 or more go on to the cost of a tank in the space of just a few weeks from a pump price rise of 6-7p a litre is galling, particularly for those who drive lots of miles or run an older, less fuel-efficient car.

‘While the increase is clearly bad news for drivers, it could have been far worse had the biggest retailers not let their inflated margins from earlier in the year return to more normal levels as wholesale fuel costs went up.’

‘All we can hope is that this move by many big retailers back to fairer forecourt pricing remains when wholesale costs go down again. Only time will tell.’

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While the summer has been a bit of a washout, many cash-strapped Brits have still been thankful they’ve managed to go a few months without needing the heating on.

As the cost of living crisis continues, the impending autumn and winter seasons might already have people worrying what it’ll do to their bills – and their disposable income.

Luckily, it’s been revealed a service which paid households for reducing their energy use during peak hours could be making a return.

What is this service and how can you sign up?

What is the Demand Flexibility Service?

The Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) was launched in January 2023, and ran until March.

The scheme, which initially involved 26 of the UK’s energy providers, was set up as a response to the global energy crisis. They trialled a series of experiments during late 2022 ahead of the scheme’s first national application on January 23, 2023.

During this time, customers were asked to use less energy for an hour. The scheme took place for a second time the following day. Households were paid up to £20 each time they took part.

It was reported that around 1.6 million households and businesses were paid a total of just under £11 million for taking part.

National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO), a subsidiary of the operator, has confirmed that the scheme will be starting again during the colder months, once Ofgem, the government regulator for the electricity and natural gas markets, give their approval.

How much could you be paid by the National Grid service?

The Sun states that National Grid will pay at least £3 for every kilowatt-hour they save during six of the 12 tests.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll get £3 for every kilowatt you save, as your energy supplier might keep a portion of this to cover the tests and administration costs.

Up to £70 is thought to have been paid out to each household over eight test runs in 2022.

How can you sign up for the DFS?

The National Grid’s operator has said it will be looking to run 12 test events, prior to the ‘live’ events.

Details about how to join will be released once Ofgem approve the second deployment of the service. Last year, customers with energy suppliers who are taking part in the scheme could sign up directly via their provider, either online or by contacting service agents.

While you can’t sign up just yet, we do know that, like last year, you will only be able to take part in the service if you have a smart meter.

Jake Rigg, corporate affairs director at ESO, said: ‘The ESO will be reintroducing the Demand Flexibility Service for this winter and is keen for more consumers, both large and small, to get involved.’

‘Across last winter the Demand Flexibility Service successfully demonstrated the interest of consumers and businesses in playing a more active role in balancing our electricity needs and to be rewarded with savings for their action in the process.’

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Families of children with cancer are ‘not able to make any memories’ due to the cost of taking their children to hospital.

Some 82% of families cut back on leisure and entertainment due to the amount they are spending to drive to treatment, Young Lives vs Cancer found.

More than 70% also said they are struggling to meet the rising costs of fuel, with the price of petrol leaping to the highest they have been all year.

Many travel up to 350 miles a month, with some even undertaking 100-mile round trips up to five times a week to get to hospital.

Now, Young Lives vs Cancer and families are asking the government for financial support for transport so families ‘can enjoy the time they have’.

Stacey Buttle, mum to six-year-old Kayla who is receiving treatment for leukaemia, said her family are ‘missing out on memories’ because the cost of driving to treatment is so high.

When Kayla was first diagnosed, the family would travel 60 miles from their home in Norwich to Addenbrooke’s hospital.

Ms Buttle, 37, told Metro.co.uk: ‘We aren’t guaranteed the next few months or years, and we just want to make memories.

‘We are missing out on milestones, and all we want to do is make enough special moments with our kids without making sure there is enough fuel in our car.

‘We don’t get to do things families take for granted, like the last day of school or Christmases.

‘Even going to the beach, that can be a cheap day out if you take a picnic but you’ve got to think “do I have enough money to put extra fuel in or do I have enough in there if something went wrong?” It’s not a pleasant feeling, it’s awful.’

Ms Buttle, who is also mum to Riley, 11, and nine-year-old Kory, says her sons are also forced to miss out.

‘I want to make sure the boys have fun, but they have missed out on loads because I need to be there for Kayla in case I need to take her to hospital,’ she said.

‘We don’t want the boys to miss out but we have to choose the lesser of two evils.

‘Because Kayla is auto immune suppressed, we can’t take her to any big spaces due to the risk of infection, and that then means more trips to the hospital and time away from my other children.’

Ms Buttle said the creation of a fuel fun would mean she would no longer have to worry ‘whether there is enough petrol in the tank’.

‘This problem isn’t just financial, it’s emotional too,’ she added.

‘You’re sitting there thinking “how am I going to afford this?” you’re running a home with your family in it, your gas, electric, heating, food and everything and then you’re thrown into this world.’

You can sign the petition for the creation of a fund here.

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It’s easy for the cost of period products like tampons, sanitary towels, painkillers and period underwear to quickly build up.

This is especially true if you tend to opt for recognised brands, such as Lil-Lets or Tampax, over supermarket own brands.

The chances are, your mum probably showed you how to use a Lil-Lets sanitary pad, and you’ve been loyal ever since.

But, Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert crunched the numbers and found that if you opted to buy own-brand tampons and towels you could save up to £3,662 over the course of your life.

These numbers are based on figures by the NHS and the Enviromenstrual fact sheet from 2021, which say women have around 480 periods in their lifetime (if they never become pregnant) and use around 25 or more menstrual pads each month.

That’s 10,560 sanitary pads or tampons over your whole lifetime. 

Based on these figures, people who buy a 10-pack of Lil-Lets organic normal sanitary pads every single time they get their period are likely to spend £3,990 over the course of their life, according to MoneySavingExpert.

Meanwhile, if you opt for a 16-pack of Tesco regular Ultra towels, which cost 50p per pack, you’ll only spend £328, period.

The same goes for tampons: while a 16-pack of Tampax organic cotton tampons costs £3.80 at Waitrose (£2,756 over your whole menstruating life), a 20-pack of Asda regular applicator tampons costs no more than £1, or £525 over the course of your life.

You’d be saving £2,231 by making a simple switch.

On their website, MSE, said: ‘Many MoneySavers report finding little difference between branded tampons and towels (eg, Always, Bodyform, Tampax) and supermarket own-brands. 

‘So don’t just go with the flow (sorry) – you can save a fair whack if you shift down a brand.’

You can even use the website Sanitary Saver to compare prices of sanitary products directly – how handy! 

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The cost of living crisis has stretched millions of people’s finances, with many still struggling to make ends meet – in spite of a fall in inflation and the energy price cap.

Inflation dropped to 7.9% in July – the lowest reading since March 2022 – while Ofgem have announced that the energy price cap will drop to £1,923 as of October 1 – but in spite of this bills and the cost of food are set to remain high this autumn and winter.

With that in mind, many are still set to turn to the Government for additional financial help during the colder months, in order to tackle those essential bills.

For those awaiting Cost of Living payments here are the key Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) dates you need to know for the coming months.

What are the key dates for Cost of Living payments?

Here are all the dates you need to know…

Cost of Living payment

A second Cost of Living Payment of £300 is expected to arrive in autumn 2023.

No exact payment date has been announced at the time of writing.

In 2022, the two cost of living payments totalling £650 were sent out four months apart, the first in July and the second in November.

However, the government has said it is expected to arrive in ‘Autumn’ meaning the date could be in September and October.

Following the second payment, a third Cost of Living Payment of £299 is set to arrive sometime in early 2024, although the date has yet to be confirmed.

Who is eligible for the Cost of Living Payment?

You may be entitled to the Cost Of Living payment if you already claim any of the following benefits or receive tax credits on certain dates:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

The payment will be made separately from your benefit payments.

£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

Any pensioners who were entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment will receive an additional amount of £300 per household this winter.

The £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be made during the winter of 2023/4, although no date has yet been confirmed for this.

All these cost of living payments will be tax-free, will not impact any existing benefits, and won’t count towards the government’s benefit cap.

Winter Fuel Payment

This amount will depend on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates.

You could get a Winter Fuel Payment for the winter of 2023 to 2024 if you were born before September 25 1957.

If you’re eligible you’ll be sent a letter between October and November telling you how much you are entitled to.

Cold Weather Payment

The DWP issues the Cold Weather Payment when the average temperature in a certain area is recorded or forecast to be at zero degrees or less across a seven-day period.

Those who are eligible will receive £25 for each period where this criteria is met.

You’re eligible for this if you claim any of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Payments can be issued at any time between November 1 2023 and March 31 2024 and will be paid automatically into the recipient’s bank account.

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Mum Claire Gillies has shared how she’s able to feed her family delicious and nutritious in the cost of living crisis.

Claire, 45, says her favourite dishes include a healthy aubergine and lentil meal that comes in at just 63p a portion, and a butternut squash mac and cheese for less than £1 per portion.

The primary school teacher credits her upbringing with how she’s been able to get creative with her food budget during these tough economic times.

For Claire, from Harpenden, nutrition is vital. She started to take cooking healthy meals from scratch seriously back in 2017 when she was beset by family tragedies.

First, her father passed away from cancer, shortly followed by her brother, who died of the same illness a year later, and then her other brother, who had a heart attack.

Claire said: ‘We didn’t have much money when I was growing up, and my mum had three children to cook for.

‘There wasn’t as much processed food back then. My mum would always be cooking potatoes and vegetables, and when I started thinking of my own healthy, cost-cutting recipes, I knew I wanted them to be simple.

‘I do not want to spend hours in the kitchen. My meals are cheap, healthy, and you can cook an average one in about half an hour.

‘For me, meal planning is the number one way to keep your costs down. If you have a plan, then you know exactly what you need to buy. You aren’t going to be as easily tempted by special offers in the shops.

Claire says she’s able to keep costs down by shopping around.

‘Once a month, I go to Aldi and I stock up on all of my store cupboard essentials because they’re so much cheaper there,’ she says.

One of Claire’s favourite go-to recipes is a pasta bake, which can be made for 50p a portion without protein, which she does admit makes it less nutritionally balanced.

She added: ‘A tin of tuna tinned fish is a brilliant thing to add to it – or some cheese on top. It will only increase the price slightly, and it will still come to less than a £1 portion but be a tastier, more nutritionally balanced meal.’

Some of her other faves are a butternut squash mac and cheese, which she can make four servings of for £3.98 based on current Aldi prices. She uses butternut squash, homemade cheese sauce, pasta, and breadcrumbs. She also makes an aubergine dish for four that costs just £2.50, made with one large aubergine, four garlic cloves, a leek or an onion, tinned tomatoes, lemon juice, seasoning, and red lentils.

She also tries to save energy when she cooks, citing the cost of bills as a factor at play too.

She explained: ‘We’ve all noticed how much not just food’s gone up, but energy costs have gone up.

‘Now if I’m cooking a roast dinner on a Sunday, I will put my jacket potatoes that we were going to have on Wednesday in the oven too. Then all I have to do on the day is warm them up. I try and think clever about things like that.’

If you want to check out more of Claire’s recipes, you can go to her website.

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Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has urged the Department of Work and Pensions to change the current rules around the Cold Weather Payment given out to eligible people in the event of extreme weather during the winter months.

Currently, those who receive the payment get £25 if the average temperature in their area falls below a certain level for seven days.

The £25 payment is given for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31.

However, Ms Lucas posted a challenge to the way the system works earlier this summer, asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to allow payments to be made every time extreme cold is forecast for the following day.

How does the scheme work and who is eligible?

How does the Cold Weather Payment scheme work?

In answer to Ms Lucas’ question, Conservative MP Laura Trott explained how the system works.

‘A £25 payment is made when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0ºC or below over seven days at the weather station linked to the eligible customer’s postcode.

‘The seven consecutive days is a clear and reasonable measure of a sustained period of cold weather. A payment is made automatically within 14 working days of a trigger to ensure claimants receive payments at the time of need.’

However this only applies to eligible people in England and Wales.

In Scotland the scheme was replaced last year by a £50 annual Winter Heating Payment, due to rise to £55 this winter.

Who is eligible to claim the Cold Weather Payment?

People who are receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest may be eligible to receive the Cold Weather Payment.

They include those claiming the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

You can find the specific criteria for eligibility within all of these categories at the Government website.

There is no need to apply for this benefit. If you are eligible it will automatically be paid into your account.

If you think you should be receiving this payment and do not, you should contact the Pension Service or your local Jobcentre Plus – or leave a note on your Universal Credit account online.

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Don’t be fooled by a Cost of Living Payment text scam in the run-up to the next payment.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme has been set up to help millions of people amid the cost of living crisis, with the first £301 payment for the 23/24 period made between April and May.

A second £300 payment is due in autumn 2023 – but the exact date is TBC.

But as the payment period nears, a Daily Record reader warned that they’d been sent a text message telling them to ‘apply’ for an ‘£800 Cost of Living Payment’, allegedly from the government.

There was a link in the message, which they were urged to click in order to ‘apply’ for the support.

However, the reader knew the text was likely not legitimate and formed part of a scam attempt, instead warning others – as you do not need to apply for Cost of Living Payments.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get them automatically.

They’ll be paid in the same way as other benefits you receive from the DWP, or tax credits from HMRC.

The official UK government website, gov.uk, confirms this on its page about the Cost of Living Payments, stating: ‘You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.

‘This includes if you’re found to be eligible at a later date.

‘If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.’

Of course, this isn’t the first instance of a text scam doing the rounds relating to the Cost of Living Payment.

Last month, the DWP issued a warning over a ‘£750 Cost of Living Payment’ text message plot.

To steer clear of scams, the simple advice to ignore any messages telling you to ‘apply’ for Cost of Living Payments, do not click on suspicious links, and do not reveal your personal information.

‘If you’re phoned, emailed or texted by someone asking you to apply, it’s best to hang up or ignore the message,’ says Metro.co.uk’s advice for dealing with such scams.

‘Scammers will try and persuade you to hand over your personal information – this can be anything from your date of birth to home address and bank details.

‘They may be very persuasive, even promising a payout once you’ve parted with the info or ‘registered your details’.

‘But if you don’t pass it on, they can’t win.’

Suspicious texts can be forwarded, free of charge, to 7726 – while any potential scam emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, so the National Cyber Security Centre can look into it.

Anyone concerned they have already been scammed can contact Action Fraud here.

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Energy regulator Ofgem has announced that its price cap will drop from £2,074- £1,923 from October 1, meaning that the annual bill of a typical household should drop by around £151 a year.

This will come as welcome news for many, as energy prices have reached astronomical levels over the past year, in part due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Your energy supplier needs regular readings from your gas or electricity meter to work out the cost of your bills.

If you don’t send them readings, they’ll estimate your usage, meaning you could be paying for more, or less, energy than what you use – but that’s typically if you don’t have a smart meter, which normally sends automatic readings to your supplier.

But how do you take a meter reading? Here’s what you need to know including the exact date you should do it before the price cap drops.

When should you take your meter reading?

According to USwitch its important to take a meter reading on or around October 1, as this is the date that energy tariffs will change.

Energy expert Natalie Mathie told Metro.co.uk: ‘A slight drop in energy rates from October doesn’t change the fact that bills remain high, so it is important that consumers who don’t have a smart meter send regular readings to their supplier.

‘Meter readings help to ensure your payments are accurate, as it shows if you are paying the right amount for the energy you are using.

‘Consumers should ideally submit a meter reading every month to improve the accuracy of your bills, but there are also specific times during the year when it can be particularly beneficial to update your supplier.

‘It is recommended that consumers submit their latest meter readings on or around October 1st. This is when the next energy price cap comes into effect, changing the amount that households on standard variable tariffs pay for their energy over the following three months.

‘Submitting a reading on or near October 1 will ensure you’re charged the right amount for the gas and electricity you’ve used this summer, and won’t be overcharged for energy used from the start of October.

‘If you have a smart meter, your readings will be sent to your supplier automatically, and if you are already on a fixed deal the price you pay for energy will not change on October 1

“It is always worth remembering that the price you pay is determined by how much energy you use. The more you use, the more you’ll pay.’

How do I take an electricity meter reading?

If you have a single-rate digital meter, you need to first look at your digital or electronic display.

It will have five numbers on it followed by red numbers. You need to take note of the first five numbers shown from left to right for your meter reading.

If you have a two-rate digital meter, that means you will have two lines of numbers.

The top row shows how many units of cheaper electricity you’ve used, and the bottom row shows how many units of standard-price electricity you’ve used.

To take a reading, you need to take note of the numbers from left to right on both rows, ignoring any in red.

If you have a dial meter it may look more daunting to take a reading.

When taking a reading, look at the first 5 dials from left to right while ignoring any red dials or dials marked 1/10.

If the dial’s pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number, and if the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.

Any numbers that you’ve underlined, check the next dial to the right.

If you’ve underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, you need to reduce the number you’ve underlined by 1.

How do I take a gas meter reading?

Reading a gas meter is similar to reading an electric meter.

If you have a digital metric meter, write down the first 5 numbers shown from left to right, ignoring any after the decimal point.

If you have a digital imperial meter, you need to write down the first 4 numbers from left to right, ignoring the rest shown in red.

To read a gas dial meter, you need to read the first four dials from left to right, ignoring any large or red dials.

Like an electric dial meter, if the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number and if the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number.

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With the cost of living crisis continuing to impact all aspects of life from fuel to food bills, we’re all looking at ways we can save the pennies in order to make ends meet.

While the energy price cap may have dropped in recent months, coming down to £1,923 as of October 1, bills are set to remain stubbornly high on that front – meaning that energy costs will continue to be a concern for millions as the colder months approach.

One way you can keep costs down on that front is by turning appliances off when they’re not in use – if, for example, you go away on holiday.

Energy saving app Loop found that boilers are the biggest culprits when it comes to draining energy when you’re not at home – racking up pounds on your household bills over a two-week period if you leave them on when you’re away.

Dr. Steve Buckley, the Energy Doctor at Loop, said: ‘With so many of us feeling the pinch financially this year, it’s more important than ever to take control of our energy usage. You certainly don’t want to be fretting about your home energy use while you’re relaxing on a long holiday.

‘By making a few small changes to your pre-holiday routine, you can keep your home energy usage as low as possible while you’re away. It takes a matter of minutes to follow our six simple steps to not only save you money, but also avoid a bill shock later down the line.’

With that in mind, how can you save money on your energy bills while you’re away – and how much can you save?

How to save money on energy bills when you’re away

Here’s how you can save pounds on your energy bills in your absence:

Turn off the hot water

Your heating may already be off when you go away – but don’t forget about the hot water

‘And don’t forget any heated towel rails or underfloor heating in bathrooms, which might still be on even in summer, as these could increase your holiday “energy tax” even more,’ Dr Buckley says.

Save: £34.66

Don’t leave appliances on standby

Appliances can still drain energy when left on standby but this can rack up charges – around 30% of your average energy bill in fact. Switching them off when you’re not there or not using them can pay dividends.

Dr Buckley explains: ‘There are the things you know are on but don’t know what they’re costing and the things you switch on and forget about, such as television, microwave, any devices left on charge, heated towel rails, smart speakers, etc.’

Save: £325

Keep your freezer full

‘You may be surprised to know that to keep your fridge and freezer running as efficiently as possible – and better retain the cold – it’s best to keep them full, even if that means adding bags of ice to your freezer or a jug of water in your fridge,’ suggests Dr Buckley.

‘Also, before you go, check that your fridge is set at five degrees celsius or less.”

The average energy efficient fridge freezer costs around £138.72 to run per year, so making sure it’s full whilst you’re away for a fortnight could be cost effective.

Save: £5.32

Turn off your lights or use energy saving bulbs

‘Don’t forget to turn those lights off before you head out the door, as leaving four 60w light bulbs on over two weeks amounts to £19 of wasted energy,’ Dr Buckley says.

‘If you opt to leave some lights on for security, use an automatic timer to save some cash. Better still, investing in smart lighting means you’ll be able to control your lights remotely using an app on your phone.

‘If you’re going to use automatic lights while away, consider switching to LED which are more energy-efficient and can save you money in the long term. After the initial investment, replacing your light bulbs with an LED version will save £31 per year.

Save: £19/£31 (if you use LED bulbs instead)

MORE : Over 700,000 households missed out on ‘flawed’ energy support scheme

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Film fans, rejoice… Saturday, September 2 is officially the UK’s National Cinema Day!

To celebrate the day, hundreds of cinemas across the country – including plenty of movie theatres in London – will be offering cut-price tickets from just £3 to see the latest flicks.

A showing of 2023 blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer could in theory set you back just £6 – or, if you’ve already enjoyed Barbenheimer, then you could catch a new release instead.

Among the latest are Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx dog comedy Strays, DC action flick Blue Beetle, creepy horrors The Nun II and Cobweb, and The Equalizer 3, with Denzel Washington.

So, if you’re in London, and fancy taking advantage of £3 cinema tickets, which venues are taking part in the offer?

There are plenty to choose from, including some Cineworld, Curzon, Odeon, Picturehouse and Vue cinemas, and some independent gems such as the Rio in Dalston. Here’s the full list…

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled a series of checks you can do before making a Universal Credit (UC) claim, the Mirror reports.

The guidance comes as a number of people have been moved over to Universal Credit from several other ‘legacy benefits’, such as Income Support and Housing Benefit, which are slowly being phased out.

Four other benefits are being phased out, too: Child Tax Credit, Income-related Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) and Working Tax Credit.

The ‘managed migration’ away from these benefits has already begun, as some claimants have already switched to UC in 2022 and 2023 – but the full change isn’t expected to be complete until 2028.

Some may want to pre-empt the switch-up by applying for Universal Credit in advance.

You don’t need to, as you’ll be contacted with a ‘migration notice’ letter and given a date by which you need to make your application.

However, if you’re keen to jump the gun, there are a few essential things to keep in mind before making your UC application – as it could affect how much money you receive.

Here are the checks the DWP advises…

Check you are eligible for Universal Credit

If you’ve been told to migrate over to Universal Credit from a legacy benefit, the eligibility rules for UC are different.

But if you’re applying without having received a notice, you’ll need to check you are eligible, using the gov.uk website’s criteria.

Universal Credit is a benefit for those on a low income, and you may be working or not working (out of work, or unable to work).

However, to be eligible, you do need to:

• Be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions for those aged 16/17)
• Be under State Pension age
• Be living in the UK
• Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.

Note that if you’re living with a partner, you both need to claim for UC even if they are not eligible – and their income and savings will be included in your calculation.

See if any savings you have go above the Universal Credit limit

How much you get in Universal Credit – which is paid monthly – will vary depending on your circumstances.

As mentioned above, the amount of money you have in the bank affects a Universal Credit claim.

If you’ve got £16,000 or more in savings or investments, you won’t be eligible.

Anyone with £6,000 or more in savings or investments will likely see money taken off their payment. If you earn money through a paid job, you may also receive less.

However, if you claim tax credits, have £16,000 in savings, are given a migration notice and only transition to UC from your existing benefit within the specified time frame, then you will be protected from this savings rule for 12 months, the DWP says.

Find out how Universal Credit payments are affected by debts

Similarly, if you’re in arrears with certain bills such as your council tax, water or energy bills, child maintenance payments or court fines, you could get money taken off your Universal Credit payment.

It’s worth being aware of and checking to see if your benefits will be affected before applying.

Check if Universal Credit payments are higher or lower than any support you’re currently getting

Finally, it’s wise to know if you will be getting more or less money by claiming UC.

Many people can do this by using benefits calculators, such as EntitledTo or Turn2Us.

If you’re due to get less – but you’ve applied to Universal Credit as a result of receiving a migration notice – then you’ll be topped up to ensure you’re getting the same amount.

The DWP website states: ‘On Universal Credit, most people will be entitled to the same amount they received from their previous benefits or more.

‘If the amount you are entitled to on your existing benefits is more than you’ll get on Universal Credit, a top up is available. This is called ‘transitional protection’.’

Note that you WON’T get a top-up if you are on a benefit that is being phased out but decide to apply for Universal Credit before you’re sent a letter notifying you to do so.

The DWP adds: ‘You can only get this top up if you have received a Migration Notice letter from DWP and claim by the deadline date on your letter.’

You’ll have three months from the date the notice letter is sent to make your new application and to ensure that you keep getting financial support from your benefits.

To find out more about Universal Credit, the benefits it is replacing, eligibility and how/when to apply, visit the gov.uk website here.

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We’re all trying to save money right now, whether that’s by tightening up on unnecessary spending or making the most of coupons and offers.

More than half of people in the UK have been buying less food over the past two weeks to combat rising costs, which are estimated to have jumped almost 15% in the last year alone.

Before you start cutting items from your shopping list, though, it may be worth looking at what ends up in the bin.

An estimated half a million Brits throw food away every single day, with the average family wasting over £800 a year on groceries they forget to eat or which go bad before they get a chance.

Shopping smarter is the first step, and it’s important to ensure what you buy is as fresh (and long-lasting) as possible.

Since many supermarkets have done away with sell-by dates, it’s not always easy to do this, but Gemma Baird – aka Money Mum – has shared her top tips to help.

Fruit and veg

Gemma tells The Sun that Tesco now uses three-figure codes to show the shelf life of fruit and veg, taking the guesswork out of getting the most for your money.

Rather than squishing and sniffing fresh produce, check the front of the packet fora letter followed by two numbers, such as H24.

The letter corresponds to the month – so January is A, February is B, March is C and so on – while the number is the day. Today, August 25, for example would be H25.

Now you’ll know just how long you have left to use up your buys.

Budget buys

It makes sense to move to generic brands when you’re trying to save cash. You often don’t need to compromise on quality either, as branded and budget foodstuffs are often made in the same factories with the same ingredients.

An eight-digit product license code (usually printed beside the sell-by date) shows where a product was made, and you can spot the same ones on differently-priced items from painkillers to pasta.

If an expensive product has the same PL code as its cheaper counterpart, it’s likely a purse-friendly switch you’ll barely notice.

Eggs

British Lion eggs all have a logo stamped onto the shell to show the hens that laid them have been vaccinated against salmonella.

There’s also a best before date and a code printed underneath – a number between zero and three – revealing the way each egg is farmed.

A zero means is organic, a one means free range, a two refers to barn hens and three is caged.

Double check the eggs you’re buying are the quality you’d expect for the price you pay, as well as ensuring you know the use-by date so none go to waste.

Clubcard savings

Those who love snagging savings by using their Tesco Clubcard can make sure they don’t miss out on deals with a handy tip.

When scouring the aisles, if you come across a Clubcard price card, you should see a six-digit number underneath the original price.

This shows the date the deal will end (for example, 250823) so you never miss out on a bargain and know if it’s worth stocking up pronto.

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Millions of households are expected to pay more for their energy this winter than they did a year earlier, even though Ofgem reduced the price cap on bills.

Experts said the reduction of Government support and a small increase in the standing charge would hike bills for some.

Energy regulator Ofgem said the new cap on a unit of gas and electricity would reduce the average bill to £1,923 from October 1, from £2,074 per year.

The average customer with a prepayment meter will see their bills fall to £1,949 per year.

This average is based on an estimate that the typical household uses 2,900 units of electricity and 12,000 units of gas.

The energy regulator said it was cutting the price of gas from 8p per kilowatt hour (kWh) today to 6.89p from October 1. The price of electricity will fall from 30.1p per kWh to 27.35p.

The standing charge on energy bills also rose from 82p to 83p per day for gas and electricity. Households pay this amount – around £303 per year – no matter how much gas or electricity they use.

The price cap applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

While this looks, on the face of it, like good news for millions of struggling households, the lack of Government support this winter will actually mean higher bills for many.

Last winter the typical household would have paid £2,500 per year due to the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee, which in practice superseded the then much higher price cap.

On top of that, each household’s bill was reduced by between £66 and £67 per month between October and March due to a separate Government grant.

Meanwhile, the standing charge has risen from 74p last winter to 83p this year, adding a little under £3 per month to bills.

Jonny Marshall, an expert at the Resolution Foundation, estimated about one in three households in England, or 7.2 million in total, will face higher bills between October and March.

These households will be those who consume less gas and electricity than a typical household.

The Resolution Foundation’s analysis suggested that among the poorest tenth of English households, nearly half (47%) would face higher bills this winter.

‘The end of the £400 universal payments and rising standing charges mean that over one-in-three families across England will face higher bills this winter than last,’ Mr Marshall said.

‘With almost three million households set to see their bills rise by over £100 – at a time when inflation is still sky high – the Government must up its game in providing longer-term support for hard-pressed families with a new social tariff for energy bills.’

Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said: ‘It is welcome news that the price cap continues to fall, however we know people are struggling with the wider cost-of-living challenges and I can’t offer any certainty that things will ease this winter.’

While households are unlikely to feel much difference this winter when comparing it to last, it will mean a much smaller bill for the taxpayer, which was paying out billions to subsidise bills last year.

Asked on Sky News whether it would be helpful if the Government reintroduced subsidies, Mr Brearley said: ‘Well, of course it would be helpful, but what I don’t have to do that they have to do is think about the fiscal position, think about the tax position and all the other trade-offs they’ve got to make.’

Citizens Advice head of energy policy Gillian Cooper said targeted support for households would be desperately needed.

A record number of people who are behind on their energy bills are already turning to the charity for help, she said.

‘The next few months will push households like these over the edge. Our data suggests it will be as bad, if not worse, than last winter,’ she said.

‘The Government must step in quickly with more targeted support for the households who need it most.’

With gas prices expected to keep energy bills at elevated levels until at least the end of this decade, some said the only way to reliably bring down bills was to invest in insulation and other things that can help reduce how much energy people need to use.

Mike Thornton, chief executive at the Energy Saving Trust, said: ‘A key priority must be to support individuals to use less energy in their homes and buildings to start with.

‘A wrap-around national retrofit programme for households, underpinned by financial incentives and personalised advice, would reduce our demand for gas and bring bills down in both the short and long term.’

Connor Schwartz, warm homes campaigner at Friends of the Earth said: ‘With winter fast approaching, the best time to start rapidly rolling out street-by-street insulation was yesterday, the next best time is now.’

Friday’s announcement also raised the issue of whether the price cap is suited to the job it is now doing.

Even Ofgem itself questioned the policy’s effectiveness on Friday, saying: ‘While the price cap has protected households from the full extent of volatility and surges in wholesale prices over the last two years, it was originally introduced by the Government to protect the minority of consumers who did not switch rather than to cover the vast majority of consumers, as it does now.

‘It is a blunt tool and in the current market it has costs as well as benefits. It’s important to look at alternative models to examine whether they could work better with the current volatile market and the move to net zero.’

Some have called for a so-called social tariff, which would offer cheaper gas and electricity to those most in need.

Labour’s shadow energy and net zero secretary Ed Miliband said: ‘Higher energy bills are unfortunately here to stay under the Conservatives – even with this fall, bills are significantly higher than they were only three years ago.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC: ‘Actually, today is really good news for families up and down the country with a reduction in the energy price cap that’s going to reduce, on average, a typical family’s energy bill by about £150, easing the burden on the cost of living.’

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Rainy and partly cloudy – that’s the sad state of affairs in the weather forecast for this August bank holiday.

And at the time of writing, the three-day weekend isn’t set to get any hotter than 21 degrees with a breeze in London.

Sure, it’s not awful, but for a summer bank holiday, it’s definitely not all that exciting either.

If you’re seeing the weather reports and longing to escape the dreariness, there are some expert-recommended, budget-friendly, last-minute options to choose from.

Chris Webber​, head of holidays and deals at Ice Travel Group, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘If you’re looking for a last-minute getaway for the bank holiday, there are two things that come into play – budget and time.

‘With that in mind, it’s going to be some of those closer-to-home mainland Europe destinations that are going to check those boxes.’

So what are some of your options?

Costa Brava

Sure it’ll be raining around Girona too on Saturday and Sunday, but at least it’ll be warm, and the sun will come out on Monday.

‘Somewhere like Costa Brava is good value and close (a flight takes around two hours),’ Chris says.

‘We found a three-night break departing on Saturday 26 from £389pp [per person], staying at the Gran Flamingo Hotel in Lloret de Mar. Flights out are at 6.20am from Gatwick.’

Munich

If you want something even more budget-friendly, Chris says, ‘a city destination could be the way to go.

‘There’s a two-night break in Munich from £316pp.

‘That’s staying room only at the four-star INNSIDE Munchen Neue Messe, departing Heathrow at 4.25pm.’

Amsterdam

At the time of writing, you can get two tickets to Amsterdam and a three-night stay at OZO Hotels Arena Amsterdam for £362pp.

You’d just have to get up pretty early because the flight leaves from Luton at 6am on Saturday morning, and you’ll land back at Luton at 8:55am on Monday morning.

Paris

At the time of writing, you can get flights and a two-night stay (Saturday and Sunday) in Paris for £267pp.

You’d be staying at the Libertel Montmartre Opéra hotel and flying to and from Luton airport.

Sheffield

If however, you’d like to stay on home turf, Alice Jong, research and insights senior analyst at Tripadvisor, recommends Sheffield as the cheapest UK city destination based on the average nightly rate for hotels during this bank holiday.

If you’re looking for a bit of inspo, these five Sheff hotels earned Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards, which are given to businesses in the top 10% of hotels listed on the site based on traveller reviews:

• Leopold Hotel, Sheffield – two can stay from Saturday-Monday for £98.
• Premier Inn Sheffield City Centre (Angel Street), Sheffield – two can stay from Saturday-Monday.
• Premier Inn Sheffield City Centre (St. Mary’s Gate), Sheffield – two can stay from Saturday-Monday for £89.
• Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria Sheffield, Sheffield – two can stay from Saturday-Monday for £129.
• easyHotel Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield – two can stay from Saturday-Monday for £56.

But bear in mind the weather there this bank holiday will be even worse than it is in London, and beware of the planned train strikes!

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Looking for a house to buy or rent can be stressful at the best of times, but with the cost of living crisis causing interest rates to soar, there is more pressure on those trying to get onto the property ladder than ever.

Many young people living in the UK fear that they will never be able to afford to get onto the property ladder, with some choosing to remain living with their parents to save some extra cash.

If you are hoping to buy your first home, or relocate to a different location, its a good idea to get a sense of what property prices are like in different areas.

To find out the most expensive cities in the UK to buy a house in, L&C mortgages looked at average house prices, average utility costs and council tax costs across the UK.

Their research found that the City of Westminster, in central London is the most expensive place in the UK to buy a home.

The average property price in Westminster, according to the Office for National Statistics, is an eyewatering £921,609, while utilities, council tax and mortgages come to an average of £4,916 a month.

In second place, comes St Albans, with average property prices of £577,642 and bills, council tax and mortgages coming to an average of £3,214.

Third on the list is Chichester, with an average home cost of £577,642 and bills, council tax and mortgages costing a monthly average of £2,716.

On the other end of the scale, the research found that the cheapest place in the UK to buy a house is Aberdeen, with the average property costing just £139,551 and average bills, council tax and mortgages coming to £988.

Another Scottish city, Dundee, is the next cheapest place on the list, with the average home coming to £142,777 and the average cost of bills, council tax and mortages coming to £1,049 per month.

A spokesperson for L&C mortgages said: ‘This research, which has considered monthly mortgage rates alongside utilities and council tax, shows that the least expensive cities are predominantly located in the nation’s northern regions. 

‘Scotland, for example, is highlighted three times in the top five cheapest cities to own a home. Aberdeen ranks first with homeowners paying 37% of their monthly salaries towards mortgage, utilities and council tax costs.’

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The cheapest cities to buy a home in has become an increasingly hot topic of conversation during the cost of living crisis, as rising interest rates drive the price of mortgages to record highs.

While there have always been regional differences in the prices of property, massive explosions in the price of property in large city centre areas like London and Manchester have seen many have to make tough decisions that balance the economic opportunity that large urban centres can provide with the prospect of owning your own home.

Saving for a deposit is one of the highest barriers to entry, with deposits of around 10% often required for a mortgage – a struggle for younger people at the start of their careers.

Now, new research has been undertaken to establish which areas of the country offer the most realistic opportunity of owning a property – factoring in things like the average price of utilities, council tax, average earnings and, of course, house prices.

So, just where is the cheapest place to buy a home in the UK?

A study by L&C Mortgages analysed house price data from the Office for National Statistics.

The calculations were based on a 4.5% interest rate, a 25-year repayment term, and the average utilities and council tax expenses in each location.

The total cost was then compared to the median salary in each city to determine the most affordable cities in the UK to own a home.

Scotland features heavily in the cheapest places to buy a home, with the ‘Granite City’ of Aberdeen taking first place on the list, followed by Dundee in second, and Glasgow in fourth place, with the north of England taking up the rest of the spots on the list.

A spokesperson for L&C Mortgages said: ‘The research, which has considered monthly mortgage rates alongside utilities and council tax, shows that the least expensive cities are predominantly located in the nation’s northern regions.’

‘Scotland, for example, is highlighted three times in the top five cheapest cities to own a home. Aberdeen ranks first with homeowners paying 37% of their monthly salaries towards mortgage, utilities and council tax costs.’

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Parents are being warned that they have just one day left to act before the free childcare offer deadline.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted the warning on his Twitter (now X) feed.He said: ‘Being a parent shouldn’t impact your career. But I know for so many parents, this has sadly become a reality.

‘We’re rolling the biggest investment in childcare in England ever, which is set to save a working parent using 30 hours up to an average of £6,500 per year.

The scheme is being rolled out in stages, and by September 2025 is intended to cover most children aged from nine months until they start school.

So who can claim for free childcare, how do you do it and when is the deadline?

Let’s take a look.

Who is eligible for free childcare?

All parents of children aged 3 or 4 are entitled to 15 hours free childcare (570 hours per year), regardless of circumstances, at providers such as nurseries and childminders, from January 1, April 1 or September 1 following the child’s 3rd birthday.

Some 2 year olds may be eligible. You can check what’s available in your area on gov.uk.

Some parents of children who live in England and whose child is aged 3 or 4 may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week.

This is usually for 38 weeks of the year (term times) but some providers may offer the full 52.

The care must be with an ‘approved childcare provider’ and your eligibility depends on:

• If you’re working (employed, self-employed, or both)
• Your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• Your child’s age and circumstances
• Your immigration status

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• In work and expected to earn the national Minimum Wage for at least 16 hours a week (different rules apply for the newly self-employed) and less than £100,000 a year net income.
• On sick leave or annual leave
• On shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

When is the deadline to apply?

According to gov.uk, if your child turns three between April 1 and August 31, the best time to apply for 30 hours of childcare is between June 15 and July 31 – but given Rishi Sunak’s latest tweet, it appears there is still time to get your application in the end of today – August 31.

The website adds: ‘You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.’

For children who turn three between September 1 and December 31, the recommended time to apply is October 15- 30 November 30.

Those turning three between January 1 and March 31 should apply between June 15 and July 31.

You can apply online at gov.uk.

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