Consumer

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Explainer What you need in a Government 3-day emergency kit

M&S Sparks customers can earn up to £15 in festive rewards this Christmas by shopping for eligible drinks, flowers and café treats. Photos by Marks and Spencer.

M&S Sparks shoppers can earn £15 in rewards when Christmas shopping

The compact SumUp card reader helps market traders, craft sellers and small businesses accept contactless and card payments without expensive equipment.

7 side hustles to make extra money before Christmas

M&S has introduced its 2026 Christmas sandwich range alongside seasonal snacks and sweet treats.

M&S Christmas sandwiches and there's plenty of festive favourites

The supermarket says it wants to help customers be well prepared for groceries as the festive season approaches

Asda Christmas delivery slots open today – how to book

Fuel is currently particularly expensive.

Latest city fuel prices appear on new app

We've listed the top 10 highest-rated items in the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference range - and there are definitely some surprises

These are the 10 items Sainsbury's poshest shoppers love the most

This code adds three months to qualifying Instant Ink trials, but customers need to meet HP's eligibility rules.

The HP printer code worth knowing before you pay for more ink

Households are being urged to check their broadband bills, as staying on the same deal too long could cost hundreds of pounds a year.

Broadband mistake could cost you £452 a year

Cafe Filto is the first to open at The Crescent

Trio of independent brands bringing something different to Metrocentre

April 11 is a hidden gem in Fowlers Yard

The hidden gem lifestyle store that's championing Northern makers

Açaí bowls from Filto

New independent hub heading to Metrocentre - first name announced

A dedicated club shop is returning to Sunderland city centre

Sunderland AFC store finally returning to Bridges shopping centre

shoezone is relocating to this unit within The Bridges

Relocated shoe shop set to open in Sunderland with bigger selection

A shopper carrying red sale bags marked with a bold percentage sign, symbolising seasonal discounts and bargain hunting

Free Top Buys email finds the best UK deals this February

This simple tweak can make rooms feel warmer almost instantly (Photo: Pexels)

Warm your home fast this winter with this easy radiator tweak
One tiny change can help keep rooms cosy and trim your bills 💡
Alex Nelson

The UK is experiencing a major cold snap, causing school closures, power cuts, and hazardous roads (Photo: Richard Ponter)

Cold Weather Payments may be triggered soon - how fast you’ll get cash

The former Hylton Castle Arms pub.

Popular community pub in Sunderland goes up for rent

Some of the seized fake toys.

Christmas shoppers warned as fake and dangerous toys seized

If you are looking to buy some Christmas gifts for your little ones then check out these toy shops.

The best Wearside toy shops for little and big kids

"No child should wake up on Christmas morning without a gift."

The Bridges joins forces with Love, Amelia for Chirstmas toy appeal

Morrisons at Seaburn has signed up to the Sunderland Gift Card scheme.

Here's the latest retail giant to sign up to the Gift Card scheme

Asian Attire owner Asad Ahmad with the city mayor Councillor Ehthesham Haque at the official opening of the shop.

I'm really excited to open the first Asian clothes shop in Sunderland

Jax's Raw Store in Southwick.

It's much healthier - Dog lover opens raw meat dog food store in city

Winter Fuel Payments don't legally need to be spent on energy or heating bills (Photo: Pexels)

You don’t have to spend Winter Fuel Payments on energy - smarter uses

Millions in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed each year because winners don’t realise they’ve won

Millions in life-changing National Lottery prizes remain unclaimed

Ofgem has confirmed a surprise 0.2% rise to the energy price cap from January 1, 2026 (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Your energy bill is going up unexpectedly in January 2026
Households are bracing for higher winter costs as government schemes and market volatility push up energy spending 🔌
Alex Nelson

A customer looks at some goods at an Asda supermarket. The supermarket is selling 24 stores and a distribution depot in a £568m deal to boost finances (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Major UK supermarket chain selling 24 stores in £568m deal

Nando’s is launching 14 new UK restaurants after a strong year of sales and profit growth (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Iconic chicken chain confirms 14 new restaurants coming soon

Six banks earned a Which? Recommended Provider badge, including Chase, Monzo, and First Direct (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Which? shares the best bank accounts to get the most from your money

The UK faces icy weather this week, with snow possible in northern areas (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

You could be eligible for Cold Weather Payments as UK braces for snow

Popular apps and websites have stopped working amid a technical problem at Cloudflare. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)

Full list of apps and websites affected by Cloudflare outage

Dates for the Coca Cola Christmas truck tour are soon expected to be revealed.

Coca-Cola's iconic Christmas Truck tour returns for a 15th year

A woman walks past a Black Friday sale sign on Oxford Street. Black Friday has stretched into 'Black November', making real bargains harder to spot (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Many shoppers are skipping Black Friday 2025 for better bargains

DownDetector has recently seen a huge spike in problems with major apps including Twitter and Facebook. (Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)

Major social media app goes down for users

Energy bills are expected to fall by just 1% in January — around £22 a year (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Your energy bill may fall by £22 in January - but rises loom in April

A worker installs a heat pump in a private home in western France. The Government has expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps that heat in winter and cool in summer (Photo: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)

Government widens £2,500 grants to heat pumps that both heat and cool

Freddie Mercury's sister, Kashmira Bulsara, holding the new Royal Mint commemorative coin. The design features Mercury mid-performance, his signature, and details like his Live Aid outfit (Photo: Royal Mint)

Freddie Mercury fans rush for Royal Mint coin tipped to soar in value

A new Collectables store is set to open in the Galleries in Washington.

New Collectables store to open in Washington this week

A new proposal could cut council tax bills for the majority of households, with some homeowners with bigger or more expensive properties paying more (Photo: Pexels)

Some households could pay double council tax to cut bills for most

Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks at the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham. The Government is expected to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds until 2030 (Photo: Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Reeves drops tax hike - millions will pay more even without increase

Popeyes is opening its 100th UK restaurant next week at London Bridge station (Photo: Pexels)

Chicken chain opens 100 UK stores - we're nowhere near ‘peak chicken’

Fraudsters are sending fake texts and emails posing as the Government to steal bank details (Photo: Pexels)

Pensioners targeted with Winter Fuel help scam texts - what to do

Millions in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed each year because winners don’t realise they’ve won (Photo: Getty Images)

Forgotten Lottery tickets could be worth £1m or more – check yours now

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes journalists' questions after delivering a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street. Reeves has reportedly ditched plans to raise income tax rates ahead of the November 26 Budget (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rachel Reeves U-turns on tax rises - but your bill could still go up

Gift Aid is a UK government scheme that lets charities claim back 20% tax on donations

How Gift Aid can make your Children in Need 2025 donation worth more

Morrisons has partnered with SpotlessWater to install 24/7 self-service ultra-pure water stations across the UK (Photos: Getty Images/SpotlessWater)

Major UK supermarket rolls out convenient new 24/7 service - locations

Council tax is a local charge collected by councils to fund essential community services (Photo: Pexels)

How your council tax payments are used by authorities across the UK

Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has proposed a five-year minimum State Pension guarantee, even if a retiree dies early (Photo: Pexels)

New plan could guarantee 5 years of pension payments - even if you die

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes journalists' questions after delivering a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street on November 4, 2025. Reeves has hinted that Labour may break its manifesto pledge not to raise taxes (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2025: Reeves hints at tax rises - what it means for your money

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street on November 4, 2025. She has hinted that the two-child benefit cap could be scrapped in the 2025 Budget (Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Budget 2025: Chancellor Reeves hints at extra support for families

A Royal Mail employee empties a post box in London. Royal Mail has delayed its plans to scrap Saturday second-class letter deliveries until early 2026 (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Royal Mail gives update on controversial change: what it means for you

Members of the public walk past the Nationwide Building Society in London. Nationwide has pledged to keep all 696 of its branches, including Virgin Money locations, open until at least 2030 (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

High street bank pledges to keep all 696 UK branches open until 2030

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes like Klarna and Clearpay are becoming popular for spreading the cost of Christmas (Photo: Pexels)

7 essential BNPL tips to keep your Christmas spending under control

A fire stick

Full list of 9 areas targeted in latest ‘dodgy firestick’ crackdown

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