Latest news with #LizHunter
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Amazon makes major change to its Prime Day as exact dates for huge summer sale confirmed
SALE AWAY Amazon makes major change to its Prime Day as exact dates for huge summer sale confirmed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMAZON is making a major change to Prime Day and confirmed the date the huge summer sale will take place. The shopping giant has extended the length of the sales event to four days, giving customers more time to nab discounts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Amazon is extending the length of its Prime Day shopping event Credit: Getty The retail bonanza, which is exclusive to Prime customers, will kick off at midnight on July 8 and finish on July 11. This is the longest time the sales event has run for, initially launching in 2015 as a 24hour event and later being extended to two days long. The event gives shoppers a chance to save on big-name brands, with previous offers including 24% off Apple Air Pods and 50% off Le Creuset casserole dishes. This year, Amazon said customers will have a chance to save on top brands like Bose, De' Longhi, Dyson, Lego, Shark, CeraVe, Ninja, and Sonos. The eCommerce giant will also launch a new "Today's Big Deals" offer, which will give customers a chance to save on specific products. Additionally a "New Deal Drop" will also launch at midnight every day throughout the shopping event. If you are keen to shop the discounts you need to become an Amazon Prime customer. A membership costs £8.99 per month or £95 per year. Meanwhile, students and individuals aged 18-22 can get a discounted rate of £4.49 per month or £47.49 per year. Alongside getting access to Prime Day deals, members can also get free next day delivery and Deliveroo plus subscription. Amazon issues update on major Alexa changes coming to millions of speakers and warns several key features are missing If you have never signed up before, you can opt to use a 30-day free trial offer. If you haven't been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months you can also get access to the trial. Using this option, essentially gives you access to the sale and the perks associated with the membership for nothing. However, if you choose this route, you will need to remember to cancel before the end of the 30-day trial to avoid being charged. Set a reminder on your phone or put it in your calendar so you don't forget. AMAZON PRIME SHOPPING TIPS Amazon runs two Prime Day events a year, one in July and one in October. The event can be exciting for shoppers, but it is important not to get carried away and make impulse purchases which aren't good value. The Sun previously spoke to Liz Hunter, commercial director at price comparison website Money Expert, said shoppers should be wary of unknown brands. She said: "While searching on Amazon, you're likely to come across products from random, unrecognisable brands. "These products often undercut key players on price, but without brand reputation, you risk sacrificing quality and durability." Meanwhile, Tom Church, founder of previously said shoppers should take advantage of offers on garden tools and tech gadgets.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How to make your money stretch to your next pay day in 10 easy to follow steps
IF If you're already asking what happened to your last pay packet, you're not alone. Millions of Brits are broke before their next pay day. 1 Many splurge when the money hits their account, with spending up a third the day after people traditionally get paid. Others are running out each month due to the high cost of living. According to payroll provider Ciphr, a quarter of workers – 12.5 million people – have been broke before their next pay day at least once in the previous year. Liz Hunter of says: 'It's all too easy to get stuck in a payday cycle when people spend more right after payday, leaving them with less throughout the month. 'However it happens, payday spending can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and lead to financial difficulties and debt.' MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. MAKE A BUDGET Listing your costs will give you a clearer view of how much money you need. Clearly write down all your bills and expenses, as well as any debts to pay, until you're left with your disposable income. Split this amount up so you have a weekly spending allowance. Delve deeper by keeping a spending diary, says Simon Trevethick from debt charity StepChange, to spot spending patterns, then build a buffer for unexpected costs like a boiler breakdown. If you get Universal Credit, you may qualify for the Government's Help to Save scheme, which will top up your savings with a maximum bonus of up to £1,200 over four years. Switch bank accounts for free perks CHECK YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO Do a benefits check at to make sure you are getting all the financial support you're eligible for. Almost £23 billion goes unclaimed. PLAN MEALS It's one of the easiest ways to cut spending. Plan for the week and only buy the ingredients for those meals. It could save you £25 a month on wasted food, cut around £80 on takeaways and impulse food buying and £40 a month on deals you don't need. DO SWAP PURCHASES FOR FREE PERKS Finding low or no-cost ways to get a boost will leave you with more wonga. Root out a second-hand bargains or plunder saved-up loyalty perks to give yourself a lift. Register for birthday bonuses with your favourite stores and restaurants to treat yourself in your birthday month and find out about other freebies. Morrisons is giving out free doughnuts with a hot drink until May 18. HAVE NO SPEND DAYS Tapping your card at the coffee shop or quickly buying something from Amazon all adds up. Set yourself no spend days, or even weeks, resolving only to spend on essentials. Use up the food in your cupboard, wear the clothes you already own and watch, listen or read something that's free. You could even choose to walk or cycle instead of paying for transport or parking. DON'T SPLURGE ON PAY DAY According to Brits spend £3.4 billion on impulse purchases, making many of them on or around payday. Spokesperson Anita Naik says: 'If you find yourself consistently buying things that you regret, try to pause before you purchase. ' She recommends waiting 24 hours to 'reset'. 'You're left with a clearer head to make the decision. 'Do you still want it? Most people find the urge fades - and they're left with their money intact.' DON'T RELY ON BUY NOW PAY LATER According to Money Expert, around one in six [15%] of UK adults are missing important bill payments to ensure they have the money to meet a BNPL deadline. Simon says: 'People often see it as a payment method rather than a form of credit which has terms and conditions attached. Being interest-free doesn't mean it's risk free. 'We're seeing more people using it for every day essentials when they can't get credit elsewhere to bridge a gap until the end of the month.' DON'T MAKE SPENDING EASY Take saved cards off Apple Pay, Amazon and other online retailers to resist impulse buys. At the same time, try and direct the deluge of emails about special offers away from your main email account, especially in the week leading up to payday when most of us get a slew of 'pay day deal' messages, with retailers urging you to splash your just-earned cash. DON'T LET BILLS AUTO RENEW Set aside time to get the best deal on your bills. Liz says: 'Use comparison sites to see if you could reduce your outgoings. If you do spot cheaper deals, it's always worth haggling with your current provider.' Simon also recommends checking if you are eligible for social tariffs for water or broadband, and hardship funds for other bills, as well as reduced council tax for single person households and in other circumstances. Almost £1.7billion of the broadband support available isn't claimed, with 95% of households – more than 8.4million – who may be eligible missing out on an average of £200 a year. DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND 'RUNNING on empty at the end of every month can be an indicator of financial difficulty. If you can't meet your essential payments, you could benefit from free and impartial debt advice,' says StepChange's Simon. Seek help if you've done at least one of the following in the last three months: Made just the minimum repayments on debts Used your overdraft Used credit, loans or an overdraft to make it to payday Fallen behind on essential bills, or used credit to pay them Used credit to keep up with existing credit payments Received late payment or default charges Missing a regular monthly payment on at least one debt
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How to make your money stretch to your next pay day in 10 easy to follow steps
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF If you're already asking what happened to your last pay packet, you're not alone. Millions of Brits are broke before their next pay day. 1 MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. Many splurge when the money hits their account, with spending up a third the day after people traditionally get paid. Others are running out each month due to the high cost of living. According to payroll provider Ciphr, a quarter of workers – 12.5 million people – have been broke before their next pay day at least once in the previous year. Liz Hunter of says: 'It's all too easy to get stuck in a payday cycle when people spend more right after payday, leaving them with less throughout the month. 'However it happens, payday spending can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and lead to financial difficulties and debt.' MEL HUNTER explains how to change things for good. MAKE A BUDGET Listing your costs will give you a clearer view of how much money you need. Clearly write down all your bills and expenses, as well as any debts to pay, until you're left with your disposable income. Split this amount up so you have a weekly spending allowance. Delve deeper by keeping a spending diary, says Simon Trevethick from debt charity StepChange, to spot spending patterns, then build a buffer for unexpected costs like a boiler breakdown. If you get Universal Credit, you may qualify for the Government's Help to Save scheme, which will top up your savings with a maximum bonus of up to £1,200 over four years. Switch bank accounts for free perks CHECK YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO Do a benefits check at to make sure you are getting all the financial support you're eligible for. Almost £23 billion goes unclaimed. PLAN MEALS It's one of the easiest ways to cut spending. Plan for the week and only buy the ingredients for those meals. It could save you £25 a month on wasted food, cut around £80 on takeaways and impulse food buying and £40 a month on deals you don't need. DO SWAP PURCHASES FOR FREE PERKS Finding low or no-cost ways to get a boost will leave you with more wonga. Root out a second-hand bargains or plunder saved-up loyalty perks to give yourself a lift. Register for birthday bonuses with your favourite stores and restaurants to treat yourself in your birthday month and find out about other freebies. Morrisons is giving out free doughnuts with a hot drink until May 18. HAVE NO SPEND DAYS Tapping your card at the coffee shop or quickly buying something from Amazon all adds up. Set yourself no spend days, or even weeks, resolving only to spend on essentials. Use up the food in your cupboard, wear the clothes you already own and watch, listen or read something that's free. You could even choose to walk or cycle instead of paying for transport or parking. DON'T SPLURGE ON PAY DAY According to Brits spend £3.4 billion on impulse purchases, making many of them on or around payday. Spokesperson Anita Naik says: 'If you find yourself consistently buying things that you regret, try to pause before you purchase. ' She recommends waiting 24 hours to 'reset'. 'You're left with a clearer head to make the decision. 'Do you still want it? Most people find the urge fades - and they're left with their money intact.' DON'T RELY ON BUY NOW PAY LATER According to Money Expert, around one in six [15%] of UK adults are missing important bill payments to ensure they have the money to meet a BNPL deadline. Simon says: 'People often see it as a payment method rather than a form of credit which has terms and conditions attached. Being interest-free doesn't mean it's risk free. 'We're seeing more people using it for every day essentials when they can't get credit elsewhere to bridge a gap until the end of the month.' DON'T MAKE SPENDING EASY Take saved cards off Apple Pay, Amazon and other online retailers to resist impulse buys. At the same time, try and direct the deluge of emails about special offers away from your main email account, especially in the week leading up to payday when most of us get a slew of 'pay day deal' messages, with retailers urging you to splash your just-earned cash. DON'T LET BILLS AUTO RENEW Set aside time to get the best deal on your bills. Liz says: 'Use comparison sites to see if you could reduce your outgoings. If you do spot cheaper deals, it's always worth haggling with your current provider.' Simon also recommends checking if you are eligible for social tariffs for water or broadband, and hardship funds for other bills, as well as reduced council tax for single person households and in other circumstances. Almost £1.7billion of the broadband support available isn't claimed, with 95% of households – more than 8.4million – who may be eligible missing out on an average of £200 a year.
