Andrew Nuttall

B&M is selling a three-tier metal and plastic shoe rack for £3 in stores across the UK. Measuring 40cm wide and 44cm tall, the rack can hold around six pairs of shoes while taking up limited floor space, although it is available only while stocks last and cannot be purchased online. The article also highlights B&M’s £3 bathroom organiser and Home Bargains’ £2.49 vacuum storage bags as alternative low-cost home-organisation products.

Home Bargains is selling an Extra Large Wooden Citronella Candle for £14.99 in its UK stores and online. The multi-wick candle is marketed as a decorative outdoor item that can help repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats and biting midges by masking human scents, although citronella is considered less effective against bees and wasps. Online orders cost £3.95 to deliver unless shoppers spend more than £100 on eligible items.

Royal Mail is urging dog-owning households to display a free sign reading, “I HAVE A DOG. Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door.” The notice is intended to alert postal workers and reduce attacks, which can result in suspended deliveries. Owners are also advised to secure dogs, shut garden gates and protect letterboxes. If an incident occurs, mail may be held at a local delivery office until safety measures are implemented, and owners may need to collect it with identification. Dog owners can also face prosecution if their dog injures a postal worker.

Consumers are advised to compare the PL licence codes on pain-relief packaging because products marketed for different conditions may contain the same medicine at substantially different prices. Feminax Express and Boots’ own-brand migraine tablets are cited as having the same PL code and identical doses of ibuprofen lysine, while differing mainly in branding, packaging and price. The article also warns that grapefruit juice can increase the potency of some statins, potentially causing toxic effects.

Eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard has expanded across the UK from March 1, 2026, to include people with a blue badge, disabled persons’ bus or Freedom Passes, medical restrictions on driving, certain Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and Industrial Injuries Disablement benefits, and people without speech. Further changes planned for September may cover some long-term conditions and neurodivergence requiring professional health evidence. The railcard costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years, gives the holder and an adult companion one-third off most National Rail fares, and is claimed to save users an average of £126 a year. Applications can be made online or by post with evidence of the qualifying disability.

Home Bargains is preparing to restock its £12.99 Giant Surprise Filled Egg ahead of Easter after the Kinder-filled plastic eggs sold out quickly in 2025. The product contains Kinder Bueno, Happy Hippos, Kinder Surprise Eggs and other treats, though it was unavailable online at the time of reporting and may return both online and in stores. Shoppers are monitoring stock closely and expect another sell-out. Home Bargains is also promoting heavily discounted Schwarzkopf haircare products, including items reduced to £4.99.

B&M has relaunched its three-for-£20 toy promotion across UK stores, covering more than 300 own-brand and branded toys and games, including Barbie, Bluey, Crayola, Disney, Hot Wheels, Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig. The limited-time offer began on December 5, 2025, and stock levels cannot be checked online. Customers must shop in store, with standard 30-day refund and exchange rules applying.

HMRC has confirmed that Child Benefit payment dates will generally remain unchanged over Christmas and New Year 2025, except in Scotland, where payments due on January 5 will arrive on January 6. The DWP had not yet confirmed its arrangements, but was expected to move payments due on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to December 23, and payments due on New Year’s Day to December 31. The £10 Christmas Bonus for eligible benefit recipients will be paid automatically before January 1, 2026.

B&M sells a three-roll pack of water-resistant draught-excluder tape for £4, which could help households seal gaps around doors, windows, floors, chimneys and loft hatches. Draught proofing may make homes feel warmer and could save an average household about £60 a year, although the Energy Saving Trust warns that sealing draughts should not compromise necessary ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms. The article notes that millions of UK homes are poorly insulated and that the product may be difficult to locate because it is not listed online and can be displayed in unusual parts of stores.

B&M shoppers are advised to visit stores on Wednesday mornings around 10 a.m., when managers are expected to have received discount information and newly reduced items may first appear. Shoppers are also encouraged to use the B&M app to scan products and verify discounts at checkout, while other budgeting tips include making a list, using cash and avoiding impulsive purchases. The article also notes that B&M’s £5 Aussie Treat Box has drawn criticism for leaving out popular chocolates such as Cherry Ripes, Tim Tams and Violet Crumble.

Aldi is running a daily prize draw from December 1 to Christmas Eve, with 24 shoppers able to win vouchers covering the value of their grocery receipt up to £100. Entrants must email their name, county and receipt to Aldi, and winners have one week to respond. The giveaway forms part of Aldi’s wider Christmas affordability campaign, which includes price commitments on festive staples and a selection of seasonal food, drinks, toys and games.

Lidl will launch its Big Toy Event across its 980 UK stores on November 27, offering more than 140 toys from £3.99, with a further 120 products arriving on November 30. The range includes Lidl's Lupilu wooden toys and licensed products featuring Bluey, Peppa Pig, Barbie, Lego, Pokémon, Disney and other franchises. Lidl Plus members receive an additional 10% discount, reducing some prices to as little as £3.59. A Luke Littler Dartboard Set will also be available for £29.99, or £24.99 with Lidl Plus, while stocks last.

Google's free “Results About You” tool allows people to monitor search results for personal information such as their name, address and phone number and request its removal. Users can receive email alerts when matching results are found, although initial monitoring may take several hours. Google may reject requests involving information considered to be in the public interest or part of a news report, and removing a search result does not delete the information from the original website. Users may need to contact the third-party site owner or submit an additional removal request to Google.

NHS doctor Dr Suraj Kukadia warns against removing earwax with cotton buds, ear candles, Q-tips or metal tools because the eardrum is extremely thin and mistakes can cause pain, infection, hearing loss or permanent damage. For suspected excess wax, olive oil or sodium bicarbonate drops may soften it, while persistent blockage should be treated by a medical professional through irrigation or microsuction. Hearing loss, earache, tinnitus and vertigo can indicate buildup, which is more likely with age, narrow or hairy ear canals, and frequent headphone or earbud use.

Veterinarian Dr Dave Tweedle warns that small dogs, puppies and thin-coated dogs are particularly vulnerable in cold weather, while elderly dogs and any dogs that become wet are also at risk. Most dogs can generally walk safely between 7°C and 4°C, but protective coats may be needed for vulnerable animals; below 0°C, owners should take extra precautions. Temperatures around -9°C can create potentially life-threatening hypothermia risks, and at -12°C outdoor time should be limited to toilet breaks. Warning signs include shivering, lethargy, weakness, pale or bluish gums, cold extremities, confusion and collapse, with owners advised to dry and gradually warm affected dogs and contact a vet immediately.

Lidl is launching its 2025 Christmas party food range in the UK, with prices starting at £1.19 and products including spring rolls, pigs in blankets, prawns, bao buns, festive parcels and mini ice cream desserts. Most items arrive in stores from November 16, while additional Deluxe products launch in December, subject to stock availability.

Home Bargains has brought back four can-shaped Christmas candles—Holly Jolly Juice, Frosted Berry Fizz, Cinnamon Spice Spritzer and Candy Cane Cocktail—priced at £2.99 each. Shoppers praised their scents, appearance and durability, although some initially mistook them for real drinks. The candles are available in stores but not online. The report also notes Home Bargains' 15p reusable carrier-bag charge in Great Britain, rising to 40p in Northern Ireland.

Home Bargains has launched a £14.99 Portable Cosmetic Case with an integrated mirror, adjustable compartments, three dimmable LED settings and USB-C charging. The product is available in stores and online, with shoppers praising its sleek design and value while the retailer warns that stock is selling quickly. The article also compares it with more expensive alternatives from Next and Amazon and highlights discounted Fenty Hair products available through Home Bargains.

Home Bargains is promoting its 2025 Christmas decoration range, including a £49.99 LED Starburst Door Arch, a £12.99 wreath, a £29.99 illuminated reindeer and various lower-cost lights and festive figures. The door arch was out of stock online on October 20, so shoppers were advised to check local stores; some alternatives can be ordered online or collected in-store.

Aldi’s October 16 Specialbuys event includes a wide range of Bluey-themed toys and home items ahead of Christmas. Products include vehicles, playsets, soft toys, games, lights and a ride-on electric car, with prices ranging from £6.99 to £59.99. The article also highlights autumnal homeware such as bedding, candles, rugs, throws and lamps, and notes that further Disney, big-brand and November toy events are planned.

A mother named Ciara created an elaborate Halloween display outside her home using inexpensive Home Bargains decorations, including a £1.49 web-and-spiders set and a Giant Outdoor Web costing £4.99. She supplemented the display with jumbo spiders bought from Amazon, transforming the front of her house into a striking spider-themed scene that received enthusiastic reactions online. The piece also highlights affordable alternatives such as painted or artificial pumpkins and notes that Home Bargains’ Halloween products are available through delivery or in-store collection.

Aldi shoppers can identify products likely to be discontinued by looking for a capital “D” in the top-right corner of the price label. The code means the item will not be restocked once existing supplies are sold, and stores may discount products to clear them. The article also highlights Aldi’s Birthday Cake Sandwich and previews its Christmas food and drink range, including several new Specially Selected products.

People in England and Wales can face an unlimited fine and, in severe cases, up to two years in prison under Section 111 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for putting substances into drains or sewers that obstruct or interfere with free flow. Scotland has similar legislation. Cooking oil, grease, pancake batter and thick drinks can contribute to blockages, which typically cost £85–£275 to clear, excluding callout charges. The recommended prevention measures include solidifying and binning grease, using a sink strainer, and wiping greasy dishes before washing them.

Asda is selling a giant pink doughnut covered in sprinkles for £1.38 from selected store bakery sections. Shoppers reacted to its forearm-sized dimensions with amusement and enthusiasm, while others said it would be better filled with jam, custard or caramel. The doughnut is not currently available through Asda’s online delivery service, so customers must check local stores.