Latest news with #freebies


The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
All the bank accounts you can sign up to and get perks like free cash and save £100s on insurance
BANK HELP Scroll to find out how you can get freebies worth up to £310 from some banks THINKING of setting up a new bank account or switching to a new bank? You might be able to bag freebies worth hundreds of pounds, including free gifts and up to £185 in cash. 1 Many high street and online banks offer incentives to encourage people to switch, so it's worth doing your research to see where you could find the best value. There are also some catches you should look out for when signing up for a new bank account. You must meet each bank's criteria when signing up or switching in order to get the rewards. You should check whether you'll need to pay in a minimum amount each month or have a minimum number of direct debits. Some accounts come with a monthly fee, which could leave you out of pocket. Your credit score could also be impacted by switching or opening a new bank account, so you should keep this in mind if you're planning on applying for any big loans or a mortgage. If you're looking to switch bank accounts to avail of any switching offers, you'll likely need to use to Current Account Switch Service (CASS) to do this. We've rounded up all the bank account perks and freebies you can get right now. Lloyds Lloyds Bank is currently offering a free cash payment of £185 to new and existing customers who switch to a Club Lloyds account. If you meet the switching criteria, you'll be paid the cash into your account within 10 working days of opening the account. Daily Money News However, you'll need to act fast, as the offer ends today, July 28. You'll also get freebies including a 12-month subscription to Disney+ worth £60, six cinema tickets a year, or a magazine subscription. You'll also have access to a Club Lloyds 6.25% regular saver account, which is one of the highest interest savings accounts available, with interest paid after 12 months. However, Club Lloyds comes with a £5 monthly fee, which is waived if you pay £2,000 into your account. Santander Santander offers £180 to new and existing customers who move to some of its current accounts. This includes its Everyday Current Account, as well as the Santander Edge and Edge Up accounts. With a Santander Edge and Edge Up account, you can also get up to £20 a month in cashback, including on household bills and at supermarkets. The Santander Edge account costs £3 a month, while the Edge Up account costs £5. The Everyday Current Account comes with no added fees. Co-operative Bank You could save hundreds on your insurance costs by switching to Co-op Bank. If you open an Everyday Extra account, which normally costs £18 a month, you can get three months of account perks for free. This includes free worldwide family travel insurance, mobile phone insurance, and UK and European breakdown cover, worth hundreds of pounds. When you sign up or switch, you'll pay the £18 month fee but it will be refunded into your account by the bank for the first three months. Barclays You can get £175 by opening a Barclays Bank Account, which comes with no monthly fee. However, you'll need to join the bank's Blue Rewards to be eligible for the £175, which costs £5 a month. This rewards scheme offers monthly cashback of up to 15% at selected retailers and exclusive savings rates. You'll also be able to get a free AppleTV+ subscription worth £8.99 a month. NatWest You can get a £125 bonus by switching to a range of NatWest current accounts, including its Select and Reward accounts. You could also earn another £50 by opening a linked savings account with the bank. You'll get extra freebies by signing up to a Reward account, which costs £2 a month. NatWest will give you £1 in rewards by simply logging into your mobile banking app once a month, and £4 by paying two or more direct debits from your account. You can also earn cashback from a range of retailers including Greggs, Morrisons and Ikea. TSB You can get £100 if you switch to one of TSB's Spend and Save current accounts. The bank is also offering up to £90 cashback for the first six months as part of the switching offer. You can get extra rewards if you sign up to a Spend and Save Plus account, which TSB says are worth up to £310. If you switch and make 20 or more payments on your debit card in February 2026, you can choose a £120 hotel voucher or access to access to 12-months' activity tickets in March 2026. The Spend and Save Plus Account has a monthly fee of £3. First Direct First Direct offers £175 in cash for switching to its 1st Account, which comes with no monthly fee. This account also offers fee-free spending abroad, making it a good option if you've got summer trips coming up. How to switch successfully FOLLOW these steps to make a successful switch and bag a perk STEP 1: Choose a new account with a switching perk. Check it is suitable in other ways, including the overdraft charge, any monthly fees and any fees for spending abroad. STEP 2: Check you are eligible for the perk. Ensure that you can meet the requirements to get the reward, which may include not having had a bonus from that bank before. You may need to ensure you have sufficient direct debits on your account before switching. If you do not, you could set some up for household bills or some small ones to charity. STEP 3: Open the new account in-app or online. This may require ID such as a passport or driving licence. STEP 4: Choose a switch date. When you apply for an account, you should be asked whether you want to switch an existing bank account. You should say yes and pick a day seven days in the future for the switch to complete. STEP 5: Wait. The whole process should take seven days, after which your account and direct debits should be switched. Each bank has different timelines on when any cash reward will be received. Other rewards, such as linked accounts, should also be available in your app. STEP 6: Switch again. If you have received the reward you wanted and would like to receive more, start the process again with another bank that offers a cash sweetener. IF IT GOES WRONG CONTACT your new bank and quote the Current Account Switching Rules, which you can find on its website (currentaccount If you are out of pocket because of missed payments due to the switch, your bank needs to refund you under the terms of the guarantee.


The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sky customers rush to claim FREE snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats up for grabs
SKY customers are racing to claim free snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats currently up for grabs. The TV giant recently announced a range of new treats coming to Sky VIP and has pledged to make freebies available every week. This month, Sky teamed up with Sainsbury's for the first time ever to bring delicious rewards to Sky VIP members. There are almost 2 million treats to give away that have so far included Taste the Difference pizzas and ice lollies. And this week, you can claim a sharing bag of LOVE CORN, perfect for a night in with a movie this weekend. There are several flavours up for grabs, including: Sea Salt Smoked BBQ Salt & Vinegar Sour Cream & Chive Sweet & Salty How to claim In the Sky VIP app, simply claim an instant voucher which can be exchanged for a bag of LOVE CORN at Sainsbury's. The offer is only valid at Sainsbury's superstores - not Sainsbury's Local, petrol stations or online shopping. Coupons will only work for 30 minutes once redeemed so don't activate it until you're at a Sainsbury's checkout. But customers are urged to be quick as coupons are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The promotion will remain live until 11.59pm next Monday or until all the coupons have been claimed for this week - whichever comes firsts. How to Unlock New Free Sky Sports Channels on Your TV Today Customers then have until Sainsbury's Superstores close next Tuesday to redeem their complimentary freebie. More freebies The broadcasting giant is also offering free movies every week on Sky Showcase as well as opportunities to bag free trials to some of the biggest streaming apps. But there's not just something for foodies and movie lover - sports fans get extra treats too. If you subscribe to Sky Sports, you can claim a number of perks such as almost 100,000 free tickets to sporting events. And what's more, Sky VIP is also offering experiences such as tickets to top UK attractions, exclusive cinema screenings and more. Helen Kloepfer, Director of Sky VIP said: "The new Sky VIP reward programme is our way of saying thank you to our customers by giving them more of what they love. "Whether you're new to Sky or a long-standing customer, there's always something exciting waiting in the My Sky app that makes every day a little better." The rewards can be found in the VIP tab on the MySky app. Sky relaunched its hugely popular VIP loyalty programme earlier this month with over 3 million rewards and experiences for customers across the UK this year. MORE SKY PERKS If you're paying for Sky Cinema, you'll get loads of top movies on your telly. But you may not have realised that you also get free tickets to an actual cinema too. Every single month, you can claim a pair of tickets to see a movie at Vue cinemas without paying a penny extra. You just need to go into the MySky app, head into Sky VIP, and then tap on Your Vue Tickets. You'll be able to claim two codes, which you can then redeem at Vue cinemas. The catch is that you can only use these tickets once a month, and only between Sunday and Thursday. You're also only able to use them for Regular, Saver, and Super Saver seat types – so no posh recliner chairs here. A ticket at Vue normally costs somewhere in the region of £6 to £8, so this is a great freebie.


The Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
From loo roll to toys – all the free treats you can claim from firms like Cadbury, LEGO and M&S now
SHOPPERS can get their hands on a host of freebies to help with the cost of living, and now. From LEGO toys to Cadbury gift sets, loo rolls and pizza-themed Martinis, there's something for everyone. 1 You can also bag a host of treats for your birthday if you're signed up to loyalty schemes. We've rounded up some of the best out there that could save you on the pounds and pennies. If you want to find freebies like this, you can find them on websites like and Andrex toilet paper Via shoppers can get a 45-pack of Andrew loo paper worth £24 - you just have to submit a review of the product. The offer is live until January 31, 2026, and the review needs to be roughly 300 words mentioning the quality and feel of the toilet paper. You also have to say whether you would or would not use the product yourself. LEGO The Entertainer is re-launching its popular Make and Take LEGO event tomorrow (July 19). Shoppers can head to their local The Entertainer store, make their own creation with a kit provided and take it home for free. You can find your nearest The Entertainer store using its branch locator via - Cadbury Hamper Also via shoppers can get a whole hamper of Cadbury chocolate worth £70. The hamper contains a giant 850g bar of classic Dairy Milk with a double-layer box of Milk Tray and selection of truffles. There's also a carton of Roses, box of Heroes, Eclairs, Bourneville and more inside. You'll need to submit a review of the hamper and sign up to do so before November 30. Harvester meal By simply signing up to the Harvester newsletter, you can claim a free adult meal alongside any other paying adult. You will be sent a QR code via email around two weeks before your birthday. By signing up, you'll currently also get a 25% off food voucher to use any time. Krispy Kreme doughnut Krispy Kreme, the iconic doughnut shop, gives customers who join its free loyalty scheme a free doughnut in their birthday month. You need to download the app for Apple or Android and register. You'll then find a voucher in your app. But, this one comes with a bonus - if you're not already a member of the loyalty scheme, you'll get an extra free doughnut just for signing up. Lidl doughnut Discount supermarket Lidl will give customers who sign up to the Lidl Plus app a free doughnut from its bakery on their birthday. These are usually around 30-40p, so while the savings aren't huge, it's still a nice treat. You'll get the coupon in your Lidl Plus app and will have seven days to use it. Muffin break If you sign up to Muffin Break's rewards card, you not only get every 6th coffee free - you also get a free birthday muffin every year. You can register for an account for free by downloading its app. M&S vouchers Via shoppers can win £1,000 worth of M&S vouchers by signing up to the website. You also have to order any number of catalogues and brochures from a list which will be sent to your home address. You must make sure you reach the confirmation page on the website to be entered into the competition for the vouchers. It takes just a few minutes to complete the whole process. Prezzo free prosecco or desserts Those celebrating their birthday can get either a free bottle of Prosecco or two free desserts when they spend more than £25. Alternatively, you can get a bottle of house white or red wine if Prosecco isn't your thing. Customers will be sent a code around two weeks before their birthday and will have 60 days to redeem the offer. Subway cookie By registering with the new Subway Rewards app, you can claim a free cookie worth 99p on your birthday. You don't need to buy anything else to claim your cookie, just show the code in your Subway app at the till. We recently revealed how one savvy shopper saved £64 by claiming all the birthday freebies she could find, so the savings do stack up if you make the most of the offers. Beer52 case of wine Beer52 is offering shoppers a £36 case of wines, snacks and a magazine via its website by setting up a subscription. You simply have to choose your selection of wines, whether that be solely white wines, red wines or a mixed case. You will have to pay for home delivery which costs £9.95 though, and make sure you cancel your subscription so you're not charged on the second case that's sent out. The second month costs £36. Free summer holiday activites You don't need to spend a penny to keep your kids entertained this summer... Museums - Some museums offer free entry to some exhibits, and also host events for kids. Parks - Head to your local park to enjoy the playgrounds, games areas, courts and splash pads. Some even have trails for kids to enjoy. Beach - It doesn't have to be sunny to enjoy the beach, you can go rock pooling, crabbing, make sandcastles, or enjoy a walk along the headland. Library - If the weather is awful, head indoors and borrow books, audiobooks, dvds. Cooking - Have your own mini bake-off, or Come Dine With Me challenge. Playdates - Invite friends over for an afternoon of socialising. Boardgames - Enjoy a little sibling rivalry with rounds of Monopoly or stretch your brain with Scrabble.


Khaleej Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: 3,000 free ice creams at Festival City Mall on July 20
Heading out with family in the scorching summer heat this weekend? You're in for a treat. On Sunday, July 20, The Market Island will be giving out free ice cream as part of an event celebrating International Ice Cream Day amid the Dubai Summer Surprises campaign. The Market Island, located in Festival City Mall, will be giving out 3,000 scoops between 10am and midnight. You can choose between vanilla, chocolate and pistachio-flavoured ice cream. This offer will only continue till stocks last, so if you're heading over make sure you make it in time. This edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) runs for 66 days, from June 27 to August 31, with pocket-friendly prices and great value for everyone. This campaign packs in exciting bargains, free activities, live entertainment and world-class gastronomy offers to make the summer more enjoyable for everyone.


The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Here's where kids can eat for free over the summer holidays
With the summer holidays just around the corner, you might be on the lookout for activities to keep the family busy. There are few things as special as a delicious meal with your family, but costs can quickly add up. That's why we've compiled a list of the restaurants, cafes and supermarkets where your kids can eat for free or for a reduced price during the school summer holidays. However, view the term 'free' with some suspicion. Most locations require you to purchase an adult meal in order to get your child's meal for free. With this in mind, we've also done some digging to find out how much an adult meal costs so you can estimate your total bill. Whether it's a coffee break in the middle of your weekly shop or a lunchtime pizza treat, there is a range of cuisines and options that suit different budgets. As you plan a day out, don't forget to check our list below to see where your kids can eat free or for £1 this summer. Where can kids eat for free or £1 this summer: Free kids buffet at Pizza Hut Pizza Hut's lunchtime deal includes one free kids' buffet when you spend more than £10 at the restaurant. Using the code KEF1 when you book will secure you the freebie, which you can redeem from Monday 21 July to Thursday 4 September, up until 3pm each day. Kids can choose from a variety of pizza, pasta and salad options, so there's plenty for even the pickiest eaters. If your kids love pizza and pasta, you can get a free piccolo meal (aka the restaurant's kids' menu) when you order any main course from the standard menu. The offer runs from Monday 28 July to Sunday 10 August, so it isn't around for as long as others. Kids receive dough balls to start, a pizza, pasta or salad as a main, plus a dessert and bambinoccino. Keep in mind that if you're going as a group, you'll only get one free kids' meal per adult at the table. A classic margherita at a Pizza Express in London costs £12.25, so you won't need to spend too much to make the most of the offer. Free kids' meal at Prezzo Children up to 12 years old can get three courses from Prezzo's kids menu for free, with the purchase of one adult main meal from Monday 14 July to Friday 5 September. Kids can tuck into a starter, main and dessert with fried mozzarella, bolognese, pepperoni pizza, and lots mor e. A kids' meal at the Italian restaurant chain usually costs around £8.50, so you can make a decent saving with this offer. An adult meal will cost you £15 upwards, depending on the location. Free kids' meal at Bill's Whether it's a stack of buttermilk pancakes for breakfast or a bowl of meatball pasta for lunch, children can tuck into a free meal at Bill's this summer. Up to two kids can eat for free if one adult orders any main, so this beats most restaurants, which offer one free kids' meal per adult. The offer is valid all day from Monday 21 July to Friday 29 August, excluding weekends. Adults can get avocado on sourdough for around £11.25 or a Greek salad for £13.95, so you're looking at spending around £20 as a group of three, once you add on a service charge. Free kids' meal at Ask Italian When you sign up for Ask Italian's rewards app, you'll get a code that entitles you to two free kids' meals with the purchase of an adult meal. Kids can pick from carbonara, pizza, chicken goujons, and more, so there's plenty to cater to different tastes. The offer is valid from Friday 18 July to Sunday 31 August, so it can be used throughout most of the summer holidays. Free kids' meal at Las Iguanas You can save all year round at Las Iguanas, not just during the summer holidays. Kids eat free when you download the Las Iguanas app and can choose from quesadillas, coconut curry, guacamole and more. The cheapest main at the restaurant is the rainbow salad for £14, so even with a drink, your bill could come to less than £20. French-inspired cuisine might not be top of your child's list, but Côte Brasserie has options for little gourmands, such as steak frites or French onion soup, as well as classic comforts like tomato pasta bake and burgers. Parents have from Friday 18 July to Monday 1 September to redeem the offer and need to order a main to get the free two-course kids' meal. The cheapest main at a Côte Brasserie restaurant in London is a chicken salad, for £14.95. Free kids' meal at Subway For lunch on the go, head to Subway, where kids can enjoy a free meal when you buy a footlong sandwich. These can start from around £8.49, depending on the branch. The kids' meal includes a 4in mini sandwich, snack and drink. The offer is available in participating Subway restaurants from Monday 28 July to Sunday 17 August. £1 kids' meal at Asda cafes Asda's £1 cafe meal deal runs all year round, and you won't need to buy an adult meal or spend a certain amount to use the offer. Kids can choose from pasta with meatballs, chicken nuggets, fish fingers or pizza, and they'll receive a free piece of fruit with their hot meal. Babies don't have to miss out either, with the supermarket offering a free Ella's baby food pouch for children up to 18 months with any cafe purchase. Free kids' meal at Morrisons cafes When you spend £5 or more on an adult's meal at a Morrisons cafe at any point in the year, not just the summer holidays, you'll also get a free kids' meal for those under 16 years. If your child is picky, they can build their own breakfast or main meal, and they'll get a drink included too. Two adult meals with a drink each cost £15 in total, so if you're a family of four, you can all eat at Morrison's cafe for just £15. Free kids' meal at Tesco cafes and coffee shops You can spend as little as 65p on a piece of fresh fruit at a Tesco cafe or coffee shop this summer, and you'll be able to claim one free kids' meal worth up to £4 when you use your Clubcard. Breakfast options for little ones include pancakes and beans on toast, while the lunch menu has fish fingers, chicken goujons and tomato pasta shells with garlic bread. The offer is valid in England and Wales from Monday 21 July to Friday 29 August; in Scotland from Thursday 7 July to Friday 22 August; and in Northern Ireland from Monday 30 June to Friday 29 August. £1 kids' meal at Dobbies garden centre Take a break from garden centre shopping this summer with Dobbies's offer. Kids can get a meal for just £1 when you buy a traditional adult breakfast or main course lunch option, both of which start from around £9. Kids can choose from cooked breakfasts, jacket potatoes, fish fingers, pasta and more. Some Dobbies restaurants also have soft play areas, so you can relax while they play. Free kids' meal at Heathrow airport If you're flying from Heathrow airport this summer, there are restaurants across the airport's terminals where kids eat for free. When you spend £14.95 or more on an adult meal at a participating restaurant, such as Leon or Giraffe, you'll get one free meal from the restaurant's children's menu. You can claim a maximum of four free kids' meals per table, and the offer can be used all through summer from Friday 18 July to Tuesday 2 September.