£25 cold weather payments, money off holidays with Maccies, make-up dupe and more
We’ve rounded up the best money-saving tips from the past seven days or so…
Cold weather payments
The government’s cold weather payments scheme is back and will be active until 31 March 2026.
It’s available across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland.
Eligible households are paid £25 for each seven-day period where average temperatures in the local area are below 0C or forecast to be.
You can check if temperatures in your postcode are going to fall below freezing through this official link.
Only people on certain types of income-related benefits receive it.
Ring doorbell dupe doesn’t impress
At £16.99 and with no subscription, Aldi’s middle aisle video doorbell is pitched as a more affordable alternative to Ring, Nest, Arlo etc – but our testers weren’t impressed…
Make-up dupes – and what not to spend money on
Our What it’s really like to be a… guest this week was make-up artist Joyce Connor, who had some tips on what you should and shouldn’t be spending your money on. She said…
- You don’t need to spend much on pencils. I’ve had some great results with lip liners that only cost £1.
- If you’re trying to look glam on a budget, cheap products that do the job are liquid highlighters. You can add them to foundation to give a natural glow and apply them to the cheekbone and brow bone to add definition. Avoid the ones with glitter and buy a glowy one instead.
- My favourite dupe is the MCo Beauty Miracle Flawless pressed powder. It’s the best dupe of the Charlotte Tilbury flawless filter powder.
- A hack for saving money on make-up is to go shopping in your make-up cupboards and drawers. Do swaps of unused make-up with friends. It’s surprising how much make-up people have bought but never used.
Xbox discount tips
Tens of millions of gamers woke up last month to changes to their Xbox Game Pass subscription, including price hikes for some.
This majorly revamped Game Pass model is a muddle of new nouns and costs, so, as your monthly renewal date approaches, we’ve broken down what it means for you – and how to bag more than 50% off.
Buy McDonald’s to get money off your next holiday
Holiday company Expedia has teamed up with the fast food giant to offer customers up to 9% off the cost of their trip.
From now until 20 January 2026, My McDonald’s Rewards members get one point for every penny spent.
Once you’ve earned 2,500 points, you can get 5% off your next Expedia hotel booking.
Once you’ve earned 4,000 points, you can get 9% off your booking.
You can read the full terms and conditions here.
How to get free food from Pret, Costa and local bakeries
Rather than waste food, a free app is helping vendors offer it to their local community.
Olio lets you grab leftovers at the end of the day from retailers like Pret a Manger, Costa, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
Waitrose freebies
A new rewards scheme is being extended to all of Waitrose’s supermarkets nationwide after an initial two-month pilot across 74 stores.
The initiative rewards shoppers who sign up for the MyWaitrose loyalty programme with up to three “Little Treats” a month – either free items or money off their shopping.
Free flu jabs
The NHS offers a free jab every year to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
If you’re eligible, you may be able to get a flu vaccine from a pharmacy, your GP surgery, your care home, your maternity service or your employer (if you’re a frontline health or social care worker).
You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:
- Are 65 or over in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Are 50 or over in Scotland
- Are pregnant
- Live in a care home
- Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive carer’s allowance
- Live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- Are a frontline health and social care worker
- Are of school age (reception to year 11)
- Have certain medical conditions (the NHS has a full list)
If you don’t qualify for a free flu jab on the NHS or at work, you’ll have to pay, with prices from around £18-£22 if bought from major supermarkets and pharmacies.
And finally… a free Christmas lunch
Greene King will serve 30,000 free main meals to people working on Christmas Day this year, with the offer available in more than 700 of the chain’s pubs.
To claim the offer, shift workers will have to sign up on Greene King’s website by 17 November.
The meals are only available for free on one day, though – with Greene King suggesting Monday 1 December as an alternative Christmas Day for shift workers.