Latest news with #TaraEvans
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Tesco slashes the price of summer garden essential from £80 to £24 – it's the cheapest on the market
We reveal below what other retailers are selling the pizza oven FIRE DEAL Tesco slashes the price of summer garden essential from £80 to £24 – it's the cheapest on the market Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TESCO has slashed the price of a summer garden essential to £24 - and it's the cheapest on the market. The UK's biggest supermarket is flogging Haven multi-purpose mini BBQ pizza ovens online. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Tesco is selling a mini pizza BBQ oven for £24 down from £80 Credit: Tesco Shoppers will have to be quick though as the offer is only running until June 8. The oven, which comes with an in-built thermometer, can be placed on top of gas or charcoal BBQs to heat up any food. Tesco says it can also be used to cook meat, fish and more. Shoppers buying the Haven pizza oven will have to pay a standard delivery charge of £3. Express delivery costs £4.99. Anyone unhappy with the product can request a return or refund online up to 30 days after delivery date. Tesco is selling the summer essential cheaper than some other major retailers too. BBQ is selling the same model for £51.49, Debenhams for £55.49 and Amazon for £79.99. You can scour the internet to find out whether a retailer has the best price for a particular item using price comparison websites like Trolley, Price Spy and Price Runner. The Google Shopping/Product tab is also a quicker way of checking prices across retailers online. OTHER SUMMER BARGAINS Retailers left right and centre are offering some bargain buys that could come in useful this summer. Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains Lidl is selling a £6 foldable backpack in stores that's ideal for flights abroad. The travel essential is available to buy from today. Sports Direct shoppers have been rushing to buy IT Luggage Soft Shell suitcase for £45 too. Retailer The Range has slashed the price of a four-litre glass dispenser from £15 to £10 as well. Other stores are also rolling out garden-ready deals, including Home Bargains. Poundland has also launched novelty garden décor from £6. How to save money at Tesco EVERY little helps when it comes to saving money at Tesco. The Sun's Head of Consumer Tara Evans explains how you can save money at the UK's biggest supermarket. Clubcard points Tesco first launched it's loyalty scheme back in 1995. You get one point for every £1 you spend in store. If you spend points in store then 100 points is worth £1. You can spend your points via its reward partners and get triple and even sometimes quadruple the value. Extend Clubcard points You can find lost Clubvcard points and find the last two years of unused vouchers by logging into the Tesco Clubcard site. Clubcard prices If you don't have a Clubcard then you will miss out on its cheaper Clubcard prices. However, don't forget to check prices before you shop because it might not be cheaper than elsewhere, especially on big value items like washing powder and loo roll. Yellow stickers Shops do vary the time they reduce groceries with yellow stickers but Tesco tends to be between 7pm and 9pm. Save money if you shop online If you get your Tesco food shop delivered then it might be worth buying a delivery saver pass to help cut the cost of delivery fees. If you live near a Tesco then you can get click and collect slots of as little as 25p, so it might be cheaper than getting your food delivered. MORE TESCO NEWS Tesco re-launched the F&F clothing brand online last month. The month before, it confirmed it would be adding The Entertainer concessions to more than 2,000 Express stores. Shoppers are able to pick up a host of value toys with prices ranging from £1.50 to £7. It comes after Tesco previously launched The Entertainer concessions at 850 Tesco supermarkets, creating 1,200 jobs. In February, Tesco also confirmed it was trialling "Your Clubcard Prices" - tailored discounts on products based on shoppers' habits. The update has been rolled out to selected shoppers but not UK-wide. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Shoppers spot new Cadbury chocolate that's just like beloved discontinued snack
CHOCOHOLICS have been sent into a frenzy after spotting a new Cadbury's chocolate that's bringing back memories of a lost favourite. The sweet treat was posted on Facebook's Food Finds UK group, where shoppers quickly clocked the striking resemblance to a nostalgic Cadbury classic. 1 Shoppers have spotted a new chocolate find that resembles Cadbury's Tasters The new chocolate is called Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls and supposedly resembles the discontinued Cadbury Tasters. Tasters first hit stores in 1996 as small, round Dairy Milk chocolates, it resembled a Malteser but without the crunchy centre. Despite their rich flavour, they were quietly axed in the mid-2000s due to slow sales. But clearly, fans never forgot. One user wrote: 'Used to always buy these out the vending machine at school'. READ MORE ON CHOCOLATE Another added: 'They used to be called Cadbury Tasters, I've missed these so much". While a third chimed in: "I can't believe it, I love these so much." One fan pointed out clues on the packaging that suggest they could be Australian imports from the layout of the Dairy Milk logo to the 'milk chocolate' tagline and weight label in the top corner. If that's true, it would make them an even rarer find, especially for Brits who've missed the much-loved Tasters since they vanished from shelves. Most read in Money Shoppers were already sharing their plans to bag these goodies, writing: "I'm heading there straight away, I need these." One shopper said: 'I absolutely loved them. Will have to pop into my local Iceland and see if they have them.' You asked, we delivered' says Irish supermarket as viral chocolate lands in stores but 'they won't last' The new milk chocolate balls are not listed on Iceland's website, meaning they're currently only available in-store. Shoppers can check their The Sun has contacted Iceland to confirm the chocolate's price. Top discontinued products Here are our top discontinued snacks - including picks from our team... Fabulous Bakin' Boys Cupcakes Consumer reporter Emily Mee says: "It was always a good day when I spotted these in my lunch box at school. Putting a layer of chocolate on top of a vanilla cupcake is a simple idea but a genius one. I would pay good money to try these again..." Ready Salted Chipsticks Head of Consumer Tara Evans says: "Ready Salted Chipsticks. Why did they get rid of this classic flavour? Some people think ready salted is boring - but why mess with a classic? I often feel taunted when I see the salt and vinegar version in shops." Coco Pops Rocks Consumer news editor Ellie Smitherman says: "No idea whose bright idea it was to get rid of these, but it was possibly one of the worst moves in cereal history. " Tooti Frooties Senior consumer reporter James Flanders says: "Tooty Frooties were a chewy blast of childhood joy. Scrapped after 50 years, they were Britain's alternative to Skittles - and in an age obsessed with nostalgia, bringing them back just makes sense. Lots of dupes can be picked up at budget supermarkets but they just don't taste the same." White Maltesers While the milk chocolate version is still going strong, White Chocolate Maltesers were pulled from shelves in 2014. Mars said it was a "difficult decision" at the time, and fans still post comments on its social media pages calling for it to come back. Heinz Toast Toppers Out of all the discontinued products, this is one of the ones we see the most calls for to come back. The creamy cans came in a variety of flavours like chicken and mushroom or cheese and ham. They were binned in 2015 after delighting shoppers for decades. Cadbury Spira Another of the regular calls we see is for the Cadbury Spira to return. The chocolate featured twin bars in each pack which were formed into a spiral shape, with six hollow tubes running through each one. Making a comeback The surprise comeback follows a growing trend of supermarkets and snack giants reviving nostalgic favourites. Earlier this year, B&M sent choc-lovers wild after stocking rare Cadbury Cola Fizz Marvellous Creations bars, another Aussie import not sold elsewhere in the UK. And it's not just Cadbury jumping on the nostalgia train. B&M shoppers recently spotted one of the most iconic breakfast treats of the 2000s after 15 long years. The Kellogs Cocoa Krispies Straws made a surprise return to the bargain retailer's shelves, and nostalgic Brits were rushing to snap them up. Mars made headlines after Crispy Rolls returned for a limited time then quietly snuck into Morrisons meal deals, following a wave of public demand and over 8,000 signatures on a petition. 'That's the most demand for a product I've seen in a while,' said Mars chocolate scientist Lizzy. Walkers also Turns out, brands are listening. Both Mars and Walkers confirmed they have teams trawling through social media, keeping tabs on what treats people are craving. Walkers alone say they've had over 60 different flavour requests in just two years. So, while Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls might be new, or newly returned, they could be the latest win for snack nostalgia. And if they really are a Taster by another name, fans will be hoping this time, they're here to stay. 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
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers spot new Cadbury chocolate that's just like beloved discontinued snack
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHOCOHOLICS have been sent into a frenzy after spotting a new Cadbury's chocolate that's bringing back memories of a lost favourite. The sweet treat was posted on Facebook's Food Finds UK group, where shoppers quickly clocked the striking resemblance to a nostalgic Cadbury classic. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Shoppers have spotted a new chocolate find that resembles Cadbury's Tasters The new chocolate is called Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls and supposedly resembles the discontinued Cadbury Tasters. Tasters first hit stores in 1996 as small, round Dairy Milk chocolates, it resembled a Malteser but without the crunchy centre. Despite their rich flavour, they were quietly axed in the mid-2000s due to slow sales. But clearly, fans never forgot. One user wrote: 'Used to always buy these out the vending machine at school'. Another added: 'They used to be called Cadbury Tasters, I've missed these so much". While a third chimed in: "I can't believe it, I love these so much." One fan pointed out clues on the packaging that suggest they could be Australian imports from the layout of the Dairy Milk logo to the 'milk chocolate' tagline and weight label in the top corner. If that's true, it would make them an even rarer find, especially for Brits who've missed the much-loved Tasters since they vanished from shelves. Shoppers were already sharing their plans to bag these goodies, writing: "I'm heading there straight away, I need these." One shopper said: 'I absolutely loved them. Will have to pop into my local Iceland and see if they have them.' You asked, we delivered' says Irish supermarket as viral chocolate lands in stores but 'they won't last' The new milk chocolate balls are not listed on Iceland's website, meaning they're currently only available in-store. Shoppers can check their local branch or even call ahead to see if stock is available, as demand is likely to be high. The Sun has contacted Iceland to confirm the chocolate's price. Top discontinued products Here are our top discontinued snacks - including picks from our team... Fabulous Bakin' Boys Cupcakes Consumer reporter Emily Mee says: "It was always a good day when I spotted these in my lunch box at school. Putting a layer of chocolate on top of a vanilla cupcake is a simple idea but a genius one. I would pay good money to try these again..." Ready Salted Chipsticks Head of Consumer Tara Evans says: "Ready Salted Chipsticks. Why did they get rid of this classic flavour? Some people think ready salted is boring - but why mess with a classic? I often feel taunted when I see the salt and vinegar version in shops." Coco Pops Rocks Consumer news editor Ellie Smitherman says: "No idea whose bright idea it was to get rid of these, but it was possibly one of the worst moves in cereal history. " Tooti Frooties Senior consumer reporter James Flanders says: "Tooty Frooties were a chewy blast of childhood joy. Scrapped after 50 years, they were Britain's alternative to Skittles - and in an age obsessed with nostalgia, bringing them back just makes sense. Lots of dupes can be picked up at budget supermarkets but they just don't taste the same." White Maltesers While the milk chocolate version is still going strong, White Chocolate Maltesers were pulled from shelves in 2014. Mars said it was a "difficult decision" at the time, and fans still post comments on its social media pages calling for it to come back. Heinz Toast Toppers Out of all the discontinued products, this is one of the ones we see the most calls for to come back. The creamy cans came in a variety of flavours like chicken and mushroom or cheese and ham. They were binned in 2015 after delighting shoppers for decades. Cadbury Spira Another of the regular calls we see is for the Cadbury Spira to return. The chocolate featured twin bars in each pack which were formed into a spiral shape, with six hollow tubes running through each one. Making a comeback The surprise comeback follows a growing trend of supermarkets and snack giants reviving nostalgic favourites. Earlier this year, B&M sent choc-lovers wild after stocking rare Cadbury Cola Fizz Marvellous Creations bars, another Aussie import not sold elsewhere in the UK. And it's not just Cadbury jumping on the nostalgia train. B&M shoppers recently spotted one of the most iconic breakfast treats of the 2000s after 15 long years. The Kellogs Cocoa Krispies Straws made a surprise return to the bargain retailer's shelves, and nostalgic Brits were rushing to snap them up. Mars made headlines after Crispy Rolls returned for a limited time then quietly snuck into Morrisons meal deals, following a wave of public demand and over 8,000 signatures on a petition. 'That's the most demand for a product I've seen in a while,' said Mars chocolate scientist Lizzy. Walkers also brought back Worcester Sauce crisps in a spicy comeback with Lea & Perrins after furious fans made their feelings known online. Turns out, brands are listening. Both Mars and Walkers confirmed they have teams trawling through social media, keeping tabs on what treats people are craving. Walkers alone say they've had over 60 different flavour requests in just two years. So, while Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls might be new, or newly returned, they could be the latest win for snack nostalgia. And if they really are a Taster by another name, fans will be hoping this time, they're here to stay.
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The best and worst jobs for women revealed in gender pay gap table – and how you could earn £8k more than men
Plus, find out how to fight the gender pay gap with tips from a top finance expert MIND THE GAP The best and worst jobs for women revealed in gender pay gap table – and how you could earn £8k more than men EVEN in 2025 millions of women around the world are still earning less than men - but there are some jobs where you can get paid MORE. The Sun has analysed ONS data to reveal the top jobs for women as well as the worst. Use our tool below to search. Advertisement 4 Women around the world are still being paid less than their male counterparts Credit: Getty The tool compares typical hourly rates across more than 400 occupations. Women earn more than men in over 80 categories but the majority of roles still see men taking home higher pay. According to the ONS, full-time female employees earned 7% less than men in 2024, whereas part-time female workers earned 3% more than their male counterparts. Today, the average female employee, whether working full-time or part-time, earns £17.33 an hour, compared to £18.54 for the average male employee. Advertisement Since 2018, large employers have been legally required to publish data on their gender pay gaps, shining a spotlight on inequalities in the workplace. The data looks at the average hourly earnings across jobs in the UK, however, it doesn't reflect the pay gap between men and women doing the same job with similar skills and experience. Best industries for female workers But it's not all doom and gloom for women - there are jobs where you can get paid more and it's not just in roles which are stereotypically performed by females. Female power plant workers earn a whopping 25% more, with hourly pay averaging £23.68 compared to £18.93. According to the ONS, the average Brit works around 36.5 hours per week. Advertisement When factoring in bank holidays and the statutory 5.6 weeks of annual leave, this amounts to roughly 1,757 working hours per year. PAY RISE FOR MILLIONS Based on this, a female plant worker could expect to earn £41,607 per year. In contrast, a man in the same role would earn just £33,260 annually — leaving him up to £8,346 worse off over the course of a year. Meanwhile, female social and human scientists earn 21.5% more, earning £3.81 more per hour than men. Unsurprisingly, some jobs which are often female-friendly are included in the list, such as PAs and secretaries - where women earn £15.55 per hour, compared to £13.24 for men. Advertisement But roles such as counsellors, veterinary nurses, English teachers to foreign language students and train drivers are also on the list. 4 PA and secretary roles pay better for women than men Credit: Getty 4 IS THERE A MOTHERHOOD PENALTY? FOR 47 years, it's been illegal to pay men and women different rates for the same job - so why is there still a gender pay gap? The Sun's Head of Consumer Tara Evans writes: Put it simply - it's being a mum, isn't it? Women are usually the primary caregivers to children and, therefore more likely to take a career break to have children. Taking that career break often means not going for a new job, promotion or a pay rise. Many women who would love to go back to work cannot afford to due to childcare costs. While having kids is a deeply personal choice, it's also one I think should be rewarded by society too, instead of being penalised by it. By raising children, you are taking on an unpaid job that helps build a better future, not just for yourself but for everyone. Jobs where men get paid more Floorers and wall tilers have the largest recorded gender pay gap, with men earning an average of £14.33 per hour compared to £8.81 for women - a disparity of 38.5%. Based on previous assumptions, a male floorer or wall tiler could expect to earn £25,178 per year, including bank holidays and the statutory 5.6 weeks of leave. Advertisement In contrast, a woman in the same role would earn just £15,479 annually — leaving her up to £9,669 worse off over the course of a year. Financial managers and directors, along with electrical and electronics technicians, also get paid more. Men earn more in these roles, with hourly rates of £42.53 and £19.09 respectively, compared to £30.72 and £13.79 for women. Meanwhile, cybersecurity professionals also see a significant gap (27.2%), with men earning £27.07 per hour and women £19.70. 4 Advertisement How to fight the gender pay gap THERE are ways to fight the gender pay gap, explains money expert Kara Gammell: Keep tabs on your credit score A good credit score remains essential whatever your age, as it can help women to secure competitive interest rates for loans, mortgages, credit cards and even your monthly insurance premiums. For women who are divorced and had a bank account or taken out a loan or mortgage with their ex-spouse, your ex's credit history will still show up on – and could damage – your credit report. To prevent this financial association leading to higher interest rates or even stopping you from taking out loans, credit cards or mortgages, you must manually request to be financially disassociated from your former partner. You'll need to provide proof that you're no longer financially linked, for example a letter from your bank showing that your account is now held in your sole name rather than jointly. You don't have to wait until you're officially separated or divorced to financially disassociate yourself from your ex – you can do it as soon as all joint accounts are closed, and any mortgage or other credit arrangements are no longer held in joint names. Don't turn down free money for retirement Research shows that women live longer, but most have smaller pension pots to our male counterparts. Women can plump up their retirement savings with a little help from your employer. Increase your workplace pension contributions or you could miss out on what is essentially free money from your employer, as they will add to your pension fund on your behalf. Afterall, you wouldn't turn down a Christmas bonus, so don't pass up free pension cash from work. Under auto enrolment, employers are required to put a minimum of 3% of your earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 into your pension. Tax relief from the Government provides another 1%. You must put in at least 4% on your own behalf, and if you opt out all the above is lost. Extra top-ups are frequently available, particularly from large employers. For example, an employer might automatically match 3% of your earnings as its minimum contribution to your pension. But it might be willing to make 4%, 5% or 6% in matching contributions if you opt to save a higher proportion of your income. Get into a savings habit Instead of getting to the end of each month before thinking about putting some cash into your savings, women should aim to put some money (however small an amount) into your savings when you get paid. That way, you're building up that rainy day fund for emergencies and you're investing for your future at the same time. If you're working towards several financial goals at the same time, you might want to consider more than one savings account. When your money is lumped into a single account, it's tough to know how much more you need to reach a particular goal. Round ups are a handy feature offered by many banks to help users save money effortlessly. When you make a purchase with your debit card, the transaction amount is rounded up to the nearest pound and the difference is automatically transferred to a savings account. For example, if you spend £2.75, the round-up feature will add £0.25 to your savings. This small, incremental saving can accumulate over time, making it easier to build a financial cushion without much effort. Look to the long-term for savings returns Women tend to be more cautious with their savings and are missing out on higher returns as a result. According to the Barclays 2024 Equity Gilt Study, over the last 130 years, the probability of shares providing better returns than on cash on any two-year basis was 70%, and this figure rose to 91% over 10 years. Yet just one in ten women have a Stocks and Shares ISA according to government figures – less than half of the number of men (21% vs 11%). Women may feel they can't afford to commit to the regular expense, but it's worth knowing you can put aside as little as £25 a month, so it doesn't need to be a major outlay. In building finishing trades, men earn £15.50 per hour, 25.5% more than women's £11.55. Public relations and communications directors have a 24.5% gap (£46.15 for men, £34.85 for women). Rail construction and maintenance operatives show a 24.2% gap (£18.64 for men, £14.12 for women). Other educational professionals have a 24% gap (£32.32 for men versus £24.56 for women). Finally, in vehicle body building and repair, men earn £15.83 per hour, which is 23.8% higher than women's £12.06 rate.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The best and worst jobs for women revealed in gender pay gap table – and how you could earn £8k more than men
EVEN in 2025 millions of women around the world are still earning less than men - but there are some jobs where you can get paid MORE. The Sun has analysed ONS data to reveal the top jobs for women as well as the worst. Use our tool below to search. 4 The tool compares typical hourly rates across more than 400 occupations. Women earn more than men in over 80 categories but the majority of roles still see men taking home higher pay. According to the ONS, full-time female employees earned 7% less than men in 2024, whereas part-time female workers earned 3% more than their male counterparts. Today, the average female employee, whether working full-time or part-time, earns £17.33 an hour, compared to £18.54 for the average male employee. Since 2018, large employers have been legally required to publish data on their gender pay gaps, shining a spotlight on inequalities in the workplace. The data looks at the average hourly earnings across jobs in the UK, however, it doesn't reflect the pay gap between men and women doing the same job with similar skills and experience. Best industries for female workers But it's not all doom and gloom for women - there are jobs where you can get paid more and it's not just in roles which are stereotypically performed by females. Female power plant workers earn a whopping 25% more, with hourly pay averaging £23.68 compared to £18.93. According to the ONS, the average Brit works around 36.5 hours per week. When factoring in bank holidays and the statutory 5.6 weeks of annual leave, this amounts to roughly 1,757 working hours per year. Based on this, a female plant worker could expect to earn £41,607 per year. In contrast, a man in the same role would earn just £33,260 annually — leaving him up to £8,346 worse off over the course of a year. Meanwhile, female social and human scientists earn 21.5% more, earning £3.81 more per hour than men. Unsurprisingly, some jobs which are often female-friendly are included in the list, such as PAs and secretaries - where women earn £15.55 per hour, compared to £13.24 for men. But roles such as counsellors, veterinary nurses, English teachers to foreign language students and train drivers are also on the list. 4 IS THERE A MOTHERHOOD PENALTY? FOR 47 years, it's been illegal to pay men and women different rates for the same job - so why is there still a gender pay gap? The Sun's Head of Consumer Tara Evans writes: Put it simply - it's being a mum, isn't it? Women are usually the primary caregivers to children and, therefore more likely to take a career break to have children. Taking that career break often means not going for a new job, promotion or a pay rise. Many women who would love to go back to work cannot afford to due to childcare costs. While having kids is a deeply personal choice, it's also one I think should be rewarded by society too, instead of being penalised by it. By raising children, you are taking on an unpaid job that helps build a better future, not just for yourself but for everyone. Jobs where men get paid more Floorers and wall tilers have the largest recorded gender pay gap, with men earning an average of £14.33 per hour compared to £8.81 for women - a disparity of 38.5%. Based on previous assumptions, a male floorer or wall tiler could expect to earn £25,178 per year, including bank holidays and the statutory 5.6 weeks of leave. In contrast, a woman in the same role would earn just £15,479 annually — leaving her up to £9,669 worse off over the course of a year. Financial managers and directors, along with electrical and electronics technicians, also get paid more. Men earn more in these roles, with hourly rates of £42.53 and £19.09 respectively, compared to £30.72 and £13.79 for women. Meanwhile, cybersecurity professionals also see a significant gap (27.2%), with men earning £27.07 per hour and women £19.70. How to fight the gender pay gap THERE are ways to fight the gender pay gap, explains money expert Kara Gammell: Keep tabs on your credit score A good credit score remains essential whatever your age, as it can help women to secure competitive interest rates for loans, mortgages, credit cards and even your monthly insurance premiums. For women who are divorced and had a bank account or taken out a loan or mortgage with their ex-spouse, your ex's credit history will still show up on – and could damage – your credit report. To prevent this financial association leading to higher interest rates or even stopping you from taking out loans, credit cards or mortgages, you must manually request to be financially disassociated from your former partner. You'll need to provide proof that you're no longer financially linked, for example a letter from your bank showing that your account is now held in your sole name rather than jointly. You don't have to wait until you're officially separated or divorced to financially disassociate yourself from your ex – you can do it as soon as all joint accounts are closed, and any mortgage or other credit arrangements are no longer held in joint names. Don't turn down free money for retirement Research shows that women live longer, but most have smaller pension pots to our male counterparts. Women can plump up their retirement savings with a little help from your employer. Increase your workplace pension contributions or you could miss out on what is essentially free money from your employer, as they will add to your pension fund on your behalf. Afterall, you wouldn't turn down a Christmas bonus, so don't pass up free pension cash from work. Under auto enrolment, employers are required to put a minimum of 3% of your earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 into your pension. Tax relief from the Government provides another 1%. You must put in at least 4% on your own behalf, and if you opt out all the above is lost. Extra top-ups are frequently available, particularly from large employers. For example, an employer might automatically match 3% of your earnings as its minimum contribution to your pension. But it might be willing to make 4%, 5% or 6% in matching contributions if you opt to save a higher proportion of your income. Get into a savings habit Instead of getting to the end of each month before thinking about putting some cash into your savings, women should aim to put some money (however small an amount) into your savings when you get paid. That way, you're building up that rainy day fund for emergencies and you're investing for your future at the same time. If you're working towards several financial goals at the same time, you might want to consider more than one savings account. When your money is lumped into a single account, it's tough to know how much more you need to reach a particular goal. Round ups are a handy feature offered by many banks to help users save money effortlessly. When you make a purchase with your debit card, the transaction amount is rounded up to the nearest pound and the difference is automatically transferred to a savings account. For example, if you spend £2.75, the round-up feature will add £0.25 to your savings. This small, incremental saving can accumulate over time, making it easier to build a financial cushion without much effort. Look to the long-term for savings returns Women tend to be more cautious with their savings and are missing out on higher returns as a result. According to the Barclays 2024 Equity Gilt Study, over the last 130 years, the probability of shares providing better returns than on cash on any two-year basis was 70%, and this figure rose to 91% over 10 years. Yet just one in ten women have a Stocks and Shares ISA according to government figures – less than half of the number of men (21% vs 11%). Women may feel they can't afford to commit to the regular expense, but it's worth knowing you can put aside as little as £25 a month, so it doesn't need to be a major outlay. In building finishing trades, men earn £15.50 per hour, 25.5% more than women's £11.55. Public relations and communications directors have a 24.5% gap (£46.15 for men, £34.85 for women). Rail construction and maintenance operatives show a 24.2% gap (£18.64 for men, £14.12 for women). Other educational professionals have a 24% gap (£32.32 for men versus £24.56 for women). Finally, in vehicle body building and repair, men earn £15.83 per hour, which is 23.8% higher than women's £12.06 rate.
