Latest news with #Farmfoods
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
I make my 3 kids DIY pick & mix bags for 35p every summer as I'm sick of getting guilt tripped at the corner shop
Plus, how to survive six weeks of school summer holidays THAT'S SWEET I make my 3 kids DIY pick & mix bags for 35p every summer as I'm sick of getting guilt tripped at the corner shop THE summer holidays can feel like a marathon of small expenses, and for many parents, the daily trip to the corner shop is a guilty pleasure that quickly drains the wallet. One genius mum has had enough, and she's found a brilliant way to beat the "can I have a sweet?" guilt trip while saving a fortune. Advertisement 3 A mum has discovered a super savvy hack to help make summer holidays more affordable Credit: Getty The savvy mother-of-three, known as 'savvysavingmamaxo' on TikTok, shared a video revealing her simple yet effective trick. Frustrated that a quick visit to the local shop could easily cost over £10, she decided to pre-empt the inevitable pleas for treats. Her solution? A DIY pick-and-mix station. She took a trip to Farmfoods and spent just £8.87 on a mountain of different sweets. Advertisement To make the haul go even further, she shared a clever hack: chopping up strawberry laces into smaller pieces to stretch them across more bags. Using pouches she already had at home, she created 25 individual sweet bags. The result was a miracle for her family budget. From her initial spend, the cost of each bag came to a stunning 35p. Not only does the hack save a small fortune, but it also helps with portion control and ensures she's fully stocked for the entire summer. Advertisement The video, captioned with a shout-out to Farmfoods for helping her save "some serious pennies," quickly gained over 104,000 views. Shoppers rushed to share their thoughts and praise her creativity. I ditched the UK & bought a house for the same price as a summer holiday One commenter wrote: "Great idea mixing it all up," admitting they usually "stand there counting out each sweet equally in case they moan that one has a sweet they didn't get." Another added: "My mum used to put a pillow, colouring book, pens, sweets, drinks in the car when we were going on holiday for each of the three of us. We LOVED it. Advertisement Creativity is key.' The hack even inspired one user to make a bag for themselves: 'I wanna do this for myself let alone my son. Love how cheap it was!' Three ways to save cash this summer Travel Smarter, Not Harder Forget the stress of finding and paying for parking by hopping on a train. For groups of three to nine adults, you can save big with GroupSave, which offers a third off the price of off-peak tickets. For a budget-friendly option, consider FlixBus, which connects various UK cities to popular beach spots like Brighton and Bournemouth, with tickets often starting from just £5. Advertisement 3 She reveals exactly how she makes her own pick and mix bags Credit: Tiktok/@savvysavingmamaxo 3 This saves her children asking for money to go to the corner shop Credit: Tiktok/@savvysavingmamaxo If driving is your only choice, a little planning goes a long way - make sure to look up the most affordable parking spaces in advance. Websites like are a great resource for finding and booking private driveways for a fee. Advertisement Pack Like a Pro To keep the little ones occupied for hours, a bit of preparation is key. Challenge them to a treasure hunt for the most unique shells and stones, a sand-sculpting contest, or a game of tic-tac-toe in the sand. Be sure to bring your own bucket and spade to avoid overpaying at beachfront shops. The same goes for essentials like sun cream, which is often far more expensive near the beach. By packing your own towels and a parasol, you can skip the costly sun lounger rentals. Advertisement You can even find a reusable beach parasol for as little as £4.99 at places like Home Bargains, an investment that will pay off trip after trip. Keep Costs Down with Your Own Food Beachside food and drinks can quickly inflate the cost of your day out. A simple trick is to freeze plastic bottles of squash overnight; they'll act as a refreshing, chilled drink that melts throughout the day. For a cool treat, pack homemade ice lollies in a cooler mug to keep them frozen for a few hours. Advertisement And don't forget to pack plenty of snacks that won't spoil in the heat, such as crisps, nuts, and breadsticks.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I make my 3 kids DIY pick & mix bags for 35p every summer as I'm sick of getting guilt tripped at the corner shop
THE summer holidays can feel like a marathon of small expenses, and for many parents, the daily trip to the corner shop is a guilty pleasure that quickly drains the wallet. One genius mum has had enough, and she's found a brilliant way to beat the " can I have a sweet?" guilt trip while saving a fortune. 3 The savvy mother-of-three, known as ' savvysavingmamaxo ' on TikTok, shared a video revealing her simple yet effective trick. Frustrated that a quick visit to the local shop could easily cost over £10, she decided to pre-empt the inevitable pleas for treats. Her solution? A DIY pick-and-mix station. She took a trip to Farmfoods and spent just £8.87 on a mountain of different sweets. To make the haul go even further, she shared a clever hack: chopping up strawberry laces into smaller pieces to stretch them across more bags. Using pouches she already had at home, she created 25 individual sweet bags. The result was a miracle for her family budget. From her initial spend, the cost of each bag came to a stunning 35p. Not only does the hack save a small fortune, but it also helps with portion control and ensures she's fully stocked for the entire summer. The video, captioned with a shout-out to Farmfoods for helping her save "some serious pennies," quickly gained over 104,000 views. Shoppers rushed to share their thoughts and praise her creativity. I ditched the UK & bought a house for the same price as a summer holiday One commenter wrote: "Great idea mixing it all up," admitting they usually "stand there counting out each sweet equally in case they moan that one has a sweet they didn't get." Another added: "My mum used to put a pillow, colouring book, pens, sweets, drinks in the car when we were going on holiday for each of the three of us. We LOVED it. Creativity is key.' The hack even inspired one user to make a bag for themselves: 'I wanna do this for myself let alone my son. Love how cheap it was!' Three ways to save cash this summer Travel Smarter, Not Harder Forget the stress of finding and paying for parking by hopping on a train. For groups of three to nine adults, you can save big with GroupSave, which offers a third off the price of off-peak tickets. For a budget-friendly option, consider FlixBus, which connects various UK cities to popular beach spots like Brighton and Bournemouth, with tickets often starting from just £5. 3 If driving is your only choice, a little planning goes a long way - make sure to look up the most affordable parking spaces in advance. Websites like are a great resource for finding and booking private driveways for a fee. Pack Like a Pro To keep the little ones occupied for hours, a bit of preparation is key. Challenge them to a treasure hunt for the most unique shells and stones, a sand-sculpting contest, or a game of tic-tac-toe in the sand. Be sure to bring your own bucket and spade to avoid overpaying at beachfront shops. The same goes for essentials like sun cream, which is often far more expensive near the beach. By packing your own towels and a parasol, you can skip the costly sun lounger rentals. You can even find a reusable beach parasol for as little as £4.99 at places like Home Bargains, an investment that will pay off trip after trip. Keep Costs Down with Your Own Food Beachside food and drinks can quickly inflate the cost of your day out. A simple trick is to freeze plastic bottles of squash overnight; they'll act as a refreshing, chilled drink that melts throughout the day. For a cool treat, pack homemade ice lollies in a cooler mug to keep them frozen for a few hours. And don't forget to pack plenty of snacks that won't spoil in the heat, such as crisps, nuts, and breadsticks. IF you are struggling with the six week summer holidays, you've come to the right place... BATTLING BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining there's nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: 'Don't feel you have to organise every second of the holidays. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun. 'Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play but you need to encourage kids to get used to not being told how to spend their time. 'Ride out the pleas of boredom. Counter it with comments such as, 'What do you think you could do?' and maybe have a list of 'I'm bored' activity ideas on the fridge.' SCREEN OVERLOAD: It's tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter but don't let them gawp their whole summer away in front of a screen. Liat says: 'It's unfair to expect older kids to power down but it's important to set some ground rules. 'Set family tech rules together. If you're often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Maybe tell the kids they aren't allowed any screen time until they've done set chores, some exercise, or a board game. 'Are there times when you'd like to ban screens completely? Perhaps during dinner or when they have friends over to visit. 'Tech is a battleground for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Stand firm and be prepared to be unpopular.' TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Do not feel guilty if you need a bit of downtime. Liat says: 'If you're juggling work and household tasks as well as occupying the kids, it's normal to start feeling overwhelmed or jaded and in need of some peace. 'If you can't afford or don't want to send your kids to all-day camps, look for free kids' workshops so you can get on with jobs or have a break for a couple of hours. 'Seeking a spell of quiet every now and then doesn't make you a bad parent — in fact it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.' SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules can go out the window during holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy children. Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of says: 'Children get grumpy, test boundaries and become challenging when routines are broken. 'Sticking to some kind of routine during the holidays is a good idea. 'We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal times and bed times are broken, it causes dips and peaks in mood. 'Holidays are about having fun but an early night once or twice a week will make everyone happier.' EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get out in the fresh air to tire them out — and make them healthier and happier. Dr Bugembe says: 'Sunshine also tops up vital vitamin D levels which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels run low in winter so let the kids stock up in warmer weather. 'Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to top up. Make sure they're wearing sun cream, get outside and have fun. 'Encourage them to try healthy habits such as cycling and walking. They'll hopefully get hooked and want to carry them on when the weather gets colder.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The best tips for finding supermarket bargains: readers share their Lidl and Aldi secrets
As Aldi lost its crown as the UK's cheapest supermarket, many Independent readers were quick to praise its closest rival, with Lidl hailed as the new budget champion. Several commenters highlighted how deep discounting, especially on fresh food close to expiry, allowed savvy shoppers to stock their freezers for a fraction of the price. 'That's where the real savings are,' one noted. Others praised Lidl's straightforward offering – from 'superior' fruit and veg to reliable low prices on staples. Still, there were gripes. While checkout speed was seen as a bonus by many, others found the self-checkout machines and customer service lacking. Some shoppers, however, took a more selective approach. 'I get the best from each,' one wrote, explaining how they combined Lidl, Aldi and Farmfoods in a single trip. Overall, the sentiment was clear: Lidl is doing something right. Here's what you had to say: Lidl discounts make the difference Skint geezer here... what isn't being factored in is that Lidl will knock 20 per cent, then 50 per cent, off their fresh food prices, enabling one to stock up the freezer for a fraction of the prices charged at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's. My local Sainsbury's also reduces items to 50 per cent but it's so hit and miss as to what time they'll do it, and it's manager-dependent (a couple of them exceedingly tight). Tel-X I can't be bothered with huge supermarkets We do all our shopping at the Co-op. They have excellent own brands and member discounts. The petrol station gives you 10p off a litre if you spend over a certain amount in-store. I can't be bothered with huge supermarkets – there is more to life than wasting an afternoon choosing between thirty different types of baked beans or lavatory paper. WorriedWelsh My town has both Lidl and Sainsbury's almost side by side, so comparison is easy – and with both discount cards, I get the best of both worlds. Lidl's veg seems far more plasticised and packaged. Each weighed stalk of broccoli is vacuum-packed, while Sainsbury's is fresh from the crate, and you pick your size. Most telling, though, is that Lidl always appears to be understaffed, and their high staff turnover must indicate something negative. Branded products are usually on a par with Sainsbury's and sometimes more expensive. I'm lucky to have time to pick and mix, but I always have the feeling that Sainsbury's fresh meat and own label are more likely to be British than Lidl's. Fallingapart Selective Co-op shopper It depends an awful lot on what you buy. While Co-op can be expensive, its member prices and offers are generally pretty competitive. I do shop there for some things, but I'm pretty selective about what I buy. Yorkshireman The free market at work The free market is working well, except where supermarkets have grabbed more sites than they need. But overall, if you live in a suburb, you will have a great range of food stores. Locally, I've got an Aldi, and for a wider range of items, I get Tesco deliveries – I live in a second-floor flat with no lift, so getting it delivered to the door is a nice bonus. Ender's Shadow Nice to have variety Lidl and Aldi are much of a muchness so far as cost is concerned. With most goods, however, Aldi's quality is superior. However, some Lidl items are of better quality. So, I mostly shop at Aldi; sometimes shop at Lidl, but also – since they're nearby – drop into Tesco and Sainsbury's, too. If I'm feeling posh and flush, I go to Waitrose. Nice to have all the variety, frankly. MoodyJack The deciding factor is the car parking The price difference between Lidl and Aldi is so small – and their difference to Waitrose is so big – that it doesn't matter whether you shop in Lidl or Aldi. I shop in both. For me, the deciding factor is the car parking. In Milton Keynes, the Aldi car park is an enormous retail centre car park. The Lidl car park is next to the store and even has extra space between cars so that you can access and open your car door conveniently. PeterLoud1 Lidl dropped me When Lidl dropped their filled croissant and took out their bread slicing machine, they also dropped me. I used to drive the extra 15 minutes for both (and the rest of my groceries). But, no longer. Glenn Processed I live in a small town in France with five independent organic food shops, a twice-weekly market where many stalls are local farmers and producers selling local produce. I've realised that UK residents often don't realise how processed and unhealthy their food is – and how much they are 'marketed' into being consumers of tat. SRKfan Huge Lidl fan Checkout is easy at Lidl; I just swipe everything into the trolley and pack it at the car. Don't hold up those behind you – it's unfair. I'm a huge Lidl fan. I find Aldi to be a bit too pretentious, as if it ever could be. Plus, we've got a new Lidl only 15 minutes from our rural location. The fruit and veg are of a far superior quality to that offered by the big supermarkets, and cost less. I rarely buy anything from the middle, though. I do look to see what is on offer, but apart from the occasional cuddly toy, I never see anything I truly want. Yes, I am a Lidl fan. Also Food Warehouse (have you seen their crisp selection?). Drone1970 I'm not a fan of any Fruit and veg quality varies a lot from place to place, as well as in different stores. I find that the best fruit and veg (near me) tends to be in Aldi, Morrisons and Sainsbury's... but that doesn't mean that it is that way everywhere. A lot also depends on the time of day and what is left on the shelves... I'm not a fan of any supermarket, but that's not to say that I don't make use of them. MarchesMood2 I pick the best from each I have both Lidl and Aldi in my nearest town and I like both of them. Lidl for coffee, ice creams, high fruit ratio conserves, chocolate, cat food, olive oils. Aldi's fruit and veg are better and keep longer. I like the sourdough flatbreads (frozen pizza), bread (Lidl seeded loaf is mashy), meat, flavoured mayo, and dog treats. Farmfoods is across the road from my Lidl, so I get all my frozen fruit and veg from there, plus a super range of yummy sauces like the sweet chilli one for in my stir fries, kebab shop style chilli and mint, creamy garlic sauce – all for around £1. And their frozen curries are lovely with huge chunks of real meat. When I shop every three weeks, it takes ages as I visit all three shops for different things. I pick the best from each. fenwoman Lidl staples are always in stock I go to Lidl a lot as it's near me. What I do like is that they keep the same range of staples all year round. So if you tend to buy some of the same things every week, then this is a bonus. Not like some supermarkets that drop certain lines after just a couple of weeks. 'They were here last week' comes to mind. Amidthecrusaids Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the day's top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click 'log in' or 'register' in the top right corner to sign in or sign up.
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Rare Galaxy chocolate bar spotted for just 99p in corner shop with 4,000 locations
SHOPPERS have spotted a rare Galaxy chocolate bar at a popular corner shop chain. The Galaxy Strawberry bar has appeared in a Premier store and it's just 99p. Premier is a corner shop chain with more than 4,000 locations across the UK. Galaxy Strawberry is an import from Dubai and it usually costs £2.99 plus postage if you buy it online from sweet importer A shopper shared their spot on the Facebook group Food Finds UK, saying: "99p galaxy strawberry spotted at our local premier 👀." Other members of the group seemed excited to try the rare sweet treat. One wrote: "I defo need this !" Another said "ooh this looks good !" while a third simply said "I neeeeed". The bar comes in a 36g pack. It's described by CandyMail as "a smooth, velvety milk chocolate bar with a sweet strawberry twist, straight from Dubai!". Other rare Galaxy chocolates Shoppers are often on the look-out for rare versions of their favourite chocolates. Recently they've spotted a new Galaxy bar in Sainsbury's stores. The vegan honeycomb chocolate bar is part of the brand's new vegan range. Galaxy describes it as a "delicious blend of velvety cocoa, rich hazelnut paste and crunchy golden honeycomb pieces". Meanwhile another Galaxy favourite made a surprise comeback after more than a decade off UK shelves. Galaxy Flutes were seen on sale at Farmfoods. The 22.5g crispy wafer roll, packed with smooth vanilla cream and coated in Galaxy's signature silky milk chocolate, is selling for 39p each or 3 for £1. The treats are similar to the Milky Way Crispy Rolls. Plus, Home Bargains shoppers spotted a rare new Galaxy hot chocolate flavour. The Galaxy Pink White Hot White Chocolate is the latest incarnation of the classic Galaxy Ultimate Frothy Hot Chocolate, which is beloved for its silky smooth texture. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Rare 90s Cadbury chocolate bar is spotted at The Range after vanishing from shelves two decades ago
Back after 20 years — but this isn't the first time it's popped up CHOC SHOCK Rare 90s Cadbury chocolate bar is spotted at The Range after vanishing from shelves two decades ago Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHOCOLATE lovers are buzzing after a rare Cadbury bar from the 90s has been spotted back on shelves — this time at The Range. Shoppers were stunned to see the nostalgic Top Deck bar on sale, years after it vanished from UK shops in the early 2000s. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Fans spent years calling for its return — and last year, Cadbury finally brought it back as a limited-edition release to mark the brand's 200th anniversary 5 The bar's return was met with huge excitement, especially after it was spotted on sale for just 75p at Farmfoods earlier this year 5 Now, with sightings of the Top Deck at The Range, shoppers are hoping for another chance to relive their favourite chocolate memories without breaking the bank One excited fan took to Facebook, posting: 'Loads of different Cadbury bars spotted at The Range,' sparking a wave of sweet-toothed excitement in the comments. 'Had them all. Amazing,' wrote one user, while another added: 'I was just saying about a big mint crisp being needed!' Others tagged their friends, eager to share the choc discovery. The 95g Top Deck bar, which features two generous layers of creamy white and classic Dairy Milk chocolate, was a childhood favourite for many growing up in the 90s. It originally launched in 1993 and quickly gained a cult following before quietly disappearing from UK shelves in the early 2000s. Fans spent years calling for its return — and last year, Cadbury finally brought it back as a limited-edition release to mark the brand's 200th anniversary. Mara Popa, brand manager at Mondelēz International, said at the time: 'We're delighted to be answering Cadbury fans' requests and relaunching Cadbury Top Deck in the UK for a limited time, as part of our 200-year anniversary celebrations. How to compare prices to get the best deal JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of. "With two delicious layers of milk and creamy white chocolate, every bite of Cadbury Top Deck will reward you with pure indulgence!' The bar's return was met with huge excitement, especially after it was spotted on sale for just 75p at Farmfoods earlier this year. Cadbury Ireland drop TWO new bars Compared to other retailers, the discount was massive — Morrisons was selling it for £2, Iceland for £1.25, and Amazon had it listed for nearly £5. News of the bargain quickly spread on deal-hunting websites like HotUKDeals and across social media, where fans rushed to snap up the limited stock. Now, with sightings of the Top Deck at The Range, shoppers are hoping for another chance to relive their favourite chocolate memories without breaking the bank. The Range has become known for stocking quirky and limited-edition treats, but availability often varies by location. Fans hoping to grab one are being urged to head to their nearest branch quickly, as there's no guarantee of how long stocks will last. It's worth noting that Farmfoods, which doesn't sell online, had limited in-store availability as well — so checking with your local store before making the trip might save disappointment. Using price comparison tools like or Google Shopping can help ensure you're getting the best value. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger. 5 The Range has become known for stocking quirky and limited-edition treats, but availability often varies by location
