Sign up to the Money Saving Club for tips to stretch your summer holidays budget
The school summer holidays are nearly upon us, and while that means plenty of quality time with the kids, it also means having to come up with plenty of ways to enjoy that quality time with the kids.
Any parent will know the pressure of trying to navigate hiked up prices during the holidays, trying to find days out, alternatives for rainy days and generally trying to keep the kids entertained for six to seven weeks.
As well as having to get creative, that all comes with plenty of costs and it can feel like your summer budget quickly disappears even if you're minding the pennies and trying to limit how often you end up eating out or dashing to the cinema when the British weather doesn't play nicely.
That's where the Money Saving Club can step in to help. The dedicated team seek out all of the best deals, money-saving tricks and latest news that they hand pick and send in a weekly newsletter, to help you stretch that holiday budget.
It's free and easy to sign up - simply click here, enter your email address and then select the topics that are most relevant for you. Each week you'll receive an email direct in your inbox with a round-up of the latest news and tips that have caught the team's eye, whether it's a warning from an expert over changes to government schemes, or an easy trick a fellow mum or dad has discovered that has been a game-changer for their household bills.
Although you can choose from a wide array of topics, this summer you may want to closely follow their round-up of all the latest travel and shopping news, especially if you're trying to stick to a tighter budget due to the cost of living.
The Money Saving Club team round-up the latest news and tips they think you'll love, with something for everyone whether you're opting for a staycation or taking the kids abroad.
We're talking discounted days out, free activities for the families, and simple money-saving hacks shared by fellow parents. If you're heading abroad, they offer plenty of tips including how to cut costs on holidays and swerve fines or hidden costs, how to save before you head abroad and even how to get the best value for your money while you're away.
Of course alongside that there are plenty of day-to-day tips and tricks including cheap and cheerful ways to stay cool in those pesky heatwaves, or the latest money news and deadlines you'll want to be aware of whether it's to cut your bills or sign up to a government scheme that can help you with your finances.
You can sign up to the Money Saving Club here to receive your weekly dose of money tips direct in your inbox, with topics including travel, shopping and discounts, utilities and plenty more.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
where Tom added the pair took part in "prayers and pints at the idyllic Church-owned inn in the Highlands".
A video shows Ben and Tom on their 1,000-mile tandem bike challenge during which they ate, drank and slept in pubs. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Two comedians have completed a 1,000 mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats on a tandem bike to save British pubs - stopping at nearly 100. Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers', finished their 'Great British Pub Ride' on July 3. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair began their journey on a two-wheeled, two-man tandem bike on Friday June 20 - and for two weeks only ate, drank, slept and stopped in British boozers. They decided to embark on the adventure after learning from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) that around six pubs are closing every week in the UK. Tom said: "We've always loved pubs but the overwhelming warmth, generosity and goodwill that we've received on this journey has blown us away. 'It's been an incredible experience and we've met so many wonderful people on both sides of the bar'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During the two-week pub pilgrimage, Tom and Ben cycled over 1,000 miles in total - and they visited at least four pubs every day. The pair said they had a wild experience, as they bumped into 'The Stig' in his local, enjoyed their first ever 'Wigan Kebab', stumbled into a thrash metal music festival in the highest pub in Scotland, and had some cake at the remotest pub in mainland Britain. Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers' at John O'Groats on their Great British Pub Ride. | Deft Productions / SWNS Ben and Tom rode on a tandem bike which they borrowed, yet had 'hardly ridden', from a man they met down the pub. Ben said: 'It's been a brutal bike ride, full of ups and downs, but it's nothing compared to the very real challenges facing the people running pubs up and down the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'People think pubs are just a place for a pint but, from Cornwall to the Cairngorms, we've seen that they are so much more than that - one in three visits to a pub doesn't involve an alcoholic drink. "At a time of increasing isolation and a growing mental health epidemic, pubs are proven antidotes to loneliness where people can forge genuine social networks - not online ones.' On their journey, Ben and Tom encountered publicans who provide yoga classes for the local community, warm spaces in winter for the elderly, barbershops and package delivery services - to name but a few. The pair said some of their favourite pubs they visited were the Salutation Inn, in Ham, Berkeley, as Tom described the boozer as a "wonderful wet led pub with great drinks and a lovely guy running it". Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers' at Havener's Bar and Grill in Fowley, Cornwall. | Deft Productions / SWNS The most remote pub in Britain His other favourite was the Crask Inn, in Lairg, the most remote boozer in Britain - where Tom added the pair took part in "prayers and pints at the idyllic Church-owned inn in the Highlands". Ben said he loved the Barkley Tavern, in Springfield, Wigan, because "the owner Debbie and her family breathed life back into a derelict boozer and provide so much help to their local community". He said: "I also enjoyed the Old Success Inn, in Penzance, as it was a cracking Cornish pub overlooking Sennen Cove - where our adventures began with some morning yoga on the terrace. "An instant hit was also the Kings Arms in South Zeal: a classic traditional village pub filled with welcoming locals and a lovely atmosphere." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben and Tom said their ride helped them to understand the day-to-day difficulties publicans and landlords face; ranging from ever-increasing energy bills, business rates, impractical environmental levies and industry taxation levels far in excess of other European countries. Tom said: 'The costs for pubs to simply do business are far too high - based on turnover and profit, no other business sector in the economy is taxed so heavily and unjustly.'
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Amazon shoppers say £6 buy is 'great cost-effective addition to any house'
Amazon has slashed the price of an essential product that's a staple in every British home. Shoppers have been praising its ability to bring a touch of hotel-style luxury to their homes without breaking the bank. During the summer Amazon Prime Day event, running from July 8 to 11, the online retailer announced reductions on a wide range of goods, including top-tier electronic devices, stylish clothes, beauty products and children's toys. Amongst these bargains was the Amazon 2-Ply Embossed Toilet Roll. In an impressive pack of 18 rolls, the Amazon own brand batch packs in 200 sheets per roll. Available exclusively to Prime members, families can now bulk buy this bathroom necessity for the bargain price of £5.84. This means thrifty shoppers with enough storage can pick up rolls that work out at approximately 34p each, making bathroom visits a little less expensive over time. Competing bulk deals are also on offer at wholesalers like Costco with their Kirkland Signature Triple Satin 3-Ply Toilet Tissue (40 rolls, £22.99), and at B&Q with the Nicky Soft Touch White Toilet Roll (32 rolls, £10). But, many Amazon users have been persuaded to abandon the convenience of high-street stores in favour of the digital deal, reports the Mirror. A satisfied customer said: "I didn't realise what I was missing until I tried the Amazon Toilet Roll, 2-Ply Embossed, Soft. It's soft, strong, and makes me feel like I'm living in a five-star hotel bathroom. Seriously, it's like they took the concept of comfort and turned it into paper." (Image: Amazon) One more shared: "I have used many different types of toilet paper in my life, from that scratchy stuff we had as kids in the 80s to a posh hotel where they gave you a live white dove to wipe your bottom with. But this Amazon stuff is the best: soft but strong, and it doesn't try to fly off when you use it." A third added: "I usually buy toilet paper from the supermarket, when I do my weekly shopping, but I ran out, so I thought I'd look an Amazon for a quick option. They are soft, thick enough and clean well. Plus, they're budget-friendly!" However, not all reviews were glowing, with one user claiming: "It's ok but very thin and fragments and leaves bits where you don't want bits - if you know what I mean." Another cautioned: "Probably the most fragile toilet paper I've ever experienced outside of a public loo; you have to use at least three sheets for any sort of integrity!" (Image: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Despite these criticisms, the product has gained thousands of positive reviews online. One such review read: "I've been using the Amazon toilet rolls for quite some time now, and I can confidently say they are a fantastic addition to any bathroom. This pack is an absolute lifesaver, especially for busy households like mine. With 200 sheets per roll, you get great value, and they last ages, so you won't find yourself running out unexpectedly." A fifth customer praised the product in their review saying: "Fantastic quality, I now use these on a rolling delivery instead of a previous brand. The paper is very soft and has a very neutral scent. The rolls are large and last really long." Shoppers can benefit from never having to think about buying toilet roll again with Amazon's Subscribe and Save model. This offers a small discount for committing to buy the same products again and again after a certain period of time.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Gunning for economic growth: Is defence spending the answer?
And following a commitment last month by the UK as one of the 32 members of NATO, defence spending is set to reach 5% of GDP by 2035. This target - which falls after the next UK general election - is as much about keeping US president Donald Trump in the European defence fold as it is a response to the menace of Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping. That's not to dismiss the threats posed by Russia, China and others, which are authentic and should not be ignored. Realpolitik demands mustering the most muscular and united front as possible. Read more: In that vein of practicality, the Prime Minister and Chancellor (for the time being, at least) Rachel Reeves have been championing the benefits set to be unleashed by higher military spending as the latest rescue remedy for the UK economy. "We must now seize a defence dividend for the British people," the Prime Minister declared last month during a visit to the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow. "Creating new jobs, skills and community pride across the country." Not all agree that defence spending is a tonic. Writing for The Herald, professor Karen Bell of the University of Glasgow said the assumption that military investment will deliver economic dividends demands "urgent scrutiny". "Analysis for the Scottish Government showed military spending has one of the lowest employment multipliers of any public investment," she said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to BAE Systems in June in Glasgow (Image: Andy Buchanan/PA) "For every pound spent, sectors like care, education and renewable energy produce far more and better-quality employment. At the same time, excess government defence spending comes at the cost of these other socially necessary jobs." Khem Rogaly, senior research fellow at the thinktank Common Wealth, is among others who support this view. He points out that London and the south of England accounted 56% of Ministry of Defence spending with UK businesses last year, while nearly 40% of the £37.6 billion military equipment budget went to just 10 multinational companies. BAE is the largest of these suppliers, accounting for roughly 15% of the annual equipment budget. Its main operations in Scotland include the aforementioned site in Govan along with the Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow. Its next largest site is at Prestwick airport, where 240 employees provide engineering support for the commercial aircraft built by BAE, a further 160 staff at Hillend near Edinburgh specialising in electronics development, and 100 employees working at RAF Lossiemouth. Read more: In a study commissioned by BAE that was published last week, researchers at Oxford Economics determined that the UK Government's aim of delivering a "defence dividend" is already taking effect with BAE spending £550 million with 300 suppliers in Scotland. Throughout the UK, the company was said to have contributed £13.7bn to GDP in 2024, accounting for one in every £200 of economic output. 'With 4,500 employees in Scotland and spending £550m with 300 suppliers, we're proud to support both national security and economic growth," BAE naval ship supply chain director Sean Scott said. 'As one of the UK's largest employers we recognise the impact we have - creating jobs, developing skills and strengthening communities in Scotland and across the country.' Whatever your view on the merits of a higher defence budget versus those of other public services, the reality is that this additional money is going to be spent if the government holds to its commitments. With that in mind, the engineering industry in Scotland needs to secure as much of this as possible. Read more: This point was raised earlier this year by Gerry Hughes, managing director of family-owned KRG Specialist Engineering in Coatbridge. He maintains that more needs to be done to ensure large contractors source locally, ensuring small and medium-sized firms in Scotland benefit from the financial rewards. 'While major defence firms such as BAE Systems, Babcock, and Leonardo have operations in Scotland, much of their supply chain spending still goes elsewhere," Mr Hughes told The Herald. "The UK Government has committed to directing 25% of defence spending to SMEs, but how much of that truly benefits Scottish businesses? Without stronger links between local firms and defence procurement, Scotland risks missing out on a vital economic opportunity." The solution? Better support for advanced manufacturing in Scotland with backing from the Scottish and UK Government in skills, innovation and infrastructure to keep firms competitive in defence supply chains. Mr Hughes also argues that Scottish firms should have greater access to Ministry of Defence contracts, declaring that they must be embedded in procurement to prevent local expertise from being overlooked in favour of larger, more established suppliers. Read more: 'Scotland's engineering excellence is not just history - it is the foundation of a resilient and secure defence industry," he said. "While shipbuilding remains critical, the future of UK defence cannot be confined to the Clyde alone. "A genuine commitment to local procurement will not only bolster national security but also ensure Scotland's world-class precision engineering and manufacturing capabilities are fully utilised." So will defence spending turbocharge economic growth? The verdict from analysts at Capital Economics is a conditional "no". The rise in defence spending that looks likely in many countries across Europe will boost demand and output, but not by as much as some would hope due to several factors such as capacity restraints and the reliance on imports referred to by Mr Hughes. There could be "significant" improvement to productive potential in some economies in the long run, according to Capital Economics, but this will happen over decades and is not guaranteed. The UK is particularly constrained by a lack of spare capacity, which is all the more reason to ensure no viable firm is overlooked in the distribution of any "defence dividends".
