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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was being swallowed by £120k debt but cleared it AND became mortgage free on a low income using the ‘pound job' method
ONCE drowning in £120,000 worth of debt, Harriet has completely transformed her life. Not only has she paid it all off, but she's also become Advertisement 1 Harriet revealed her top tips for getting out of big debts Credit: TIKTOK Now, through her TikTok account, ' 'No one teaches you this when you're broke, but I will,' Harriet says in one of her videos. 'If you're barely making it through the month and your debt feels like it's swallowing you whole, this is for you.' With a relatable and empowering approach, Harriet introduces herself as someone who has been through the same challenges and comes out the other side debt-free, including her home. Advertisement READ MORE ON MONEY Her step-by-step advice is designed for those who feel overwhelmed by their finances, especially when every pound counts. Harriet begins by urging people to prioritise survival: 'Food, shelter, electricity - these come first. " She then emphasises the importance of using a zero-based budget, where every pound is assigned a specific job. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Even for those earning between £800 and £1,000 a month, Harriet insists that budgeting down to the last penny gives greater control over finances. Her tips don't shy away from tough decisions either. 'Cut ruthlessly,' she advises. I'm in £15k worth of debt but STILL have TWO gardeners - people might judge me but they are an essential and a godsend 'No Netflix, no takeaways, no unnecessary subscriptions. You're in survival mode now - luxuries can wait until you're out of debt.' Tracking every penny is another cornerstone of Harriet's strategy. Advertisement Whether it's through a notebook, an app, or her favourite method - the Cash Envelope system - she believes that awareness is key and not to 'bleed money' that you can't see. Harriet also recommends creating a mini emergency fund, even if it's just £100. It's the only way to change your situation. It's really hard but possible TikTok comment She warns that without it 'every emergency' like a flat tire 'can wipe out your entire budget.' While she acknowledges that the journey to financial freedom isn't easy, Harriet reassures her audience that it's possible. Advertisement 'I did it too,' she says with confidence. Her video, which was shared on 9 June, has received 48.1k views and 51 comments. The Zero Based Budget! Never heard of this before TikTok comment One person wrote: 'This is such great advice. 'It's the only way to change your situation. It's really hard but possible.' Advertisement A second commented: 'In £5k of debt and paying off slowly, also paying myself £25 a week with the goal to make £5k whilst paying off my £5k.' And a third said: 'Thank you Queen, How to shift your credit card debt quickly By James Flanders , Consumer Reporter UK Finance reports that we spend a whopping £2 billion a month using our credit cards. While that little strip of plastic makes everyday spending easy peasy, it comes at a huge cost. According to The Money Charity, the average credit card debt sits at £2,485 per household or £1,312 per adult. And if you're stuck on a credit card with a high APR and only making the minimum repayments, you could be forking out hundreds of pounds extra in interest charges. For example, if you owe £1,312 on your credit card and are charged 24.8% APR. If you don't make any more transactions and pay £100 a month in repayments, you will pay off the card by September 2025 but at £207 in interest. However, by hunting around for a better deal elsewhere and switching to a balance transfer credit card with a lengthy interest-free period, you can save yourself £162. If the same person was accepted for a 28-month-long zero-interest credit card with a 3.4% balance transfer fee and made the same £100 repayments each month. They would pay off the debt sooner, in July 2025, and only fork out £45 towards the 3.4% balance transfer fee. Before taking out a new credit card or increasing the amount you borrow, it's vital to consider the consequences. You should only borrow money if you can afford to pay it back. It's always vital to ask yourself if you need to borrow before committing to a new credit card, personal loan or overdraft. If you use a credit card, I'd recommend that you always pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period. Lenders have a responsibility to help customers who are in debt. If you're in a debt crisis, your first point of call should be your lender. They might help you out by offering you a reduced interest rate or a temporary payment holiday - so check in with your lender if you're struggling.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
McDonald's to launch ‘iconic' menu item within days as part of big shake-up
MCDONALD'S is adding a brand new menu item to restaurants within days. The home of the Golden Arches is adding a new burger, called the Big Arch, The Sun can reveal. The burger has two beef patties, topped with white cheddar cheese slices, crispy onions, fresh onions, shredded lettuce, crunchy pickles, and Big Arch sauce. It will be added to menus on Wednesday June 18, giving customers just a few weeks to wait. It costs £7.99 for the burger on its own or £9.99 for a medium meal - but prices vary based on your location. Thomas O'Neill, head of menu at McDonald's UK&I, said: 'A new iconic burger needs an equally iconic sauce, and we've taken it up a notch with the Big Arch. I tried the big arch burger By Sam Walker , Consumer Reporter THE first thing I noticed was how huge the burger is. I struggled from keeping the ingredients inside from spilling out, even with two hands wrapped around the poppy and sesame seed-topped bun. It's full of flavour and the sauce is richer and more peppery than the classic McDonald's burger sauce. I liked the white cheddar cheese square too. It's one of the more expensive options on menus, as it's £3.40 more expensive than a Big Mac - but it is bigger. "This isn't just about size, it's about flavour. "With double layers of beef, crispy onions, and the hero of the build, our signature sauce, every bite is crafted to hit the spot to satisfy serious McDonald's hunger. Big, bold, and packed with serious deliciousness.' Last month, fans were pleased to see the return of the McSpicy x Frank's RedHot burger and the meaty Steakhouse Stack once again. It features chicken breast in a hot and crispy coating, lettuce, jalapenos, onions, cheese and Frank's RedHot Mayo in a toasted sesame seed bun for £5.99 – or £7.99 as a meal. Also staging a comeback was the Steakhouse Stack – two beef patties, cheddar cheese, crispy and red onions, fresh lettuce and black peppercorn sauce in a glazed sesame bun – again priced at £5.99. The fast food chain also revamped the menu, introducing a Frozen Cherry Lemonade. But it's arrival meant the limited edition Minecraft meals and cheesy garlic dippers were no longer sold in stores. MORE CHANGES AT MACCIES The news comes just days after The Sun revealed McDonald's had quietly axed the Chicken Bacon Caesar Wrap as part of a "rotation" of its offering. The wrap, which combined chicken breast strips, crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, was first launched in summer 2023. However, the home of the Big Mac said it was taken off menus earlier this month. A spokesperson added: "As part of our regular wrap rotation, we've taken the Caesar wrap off the menu for now. "We're always evolving our menu with our customers in mind to keep things fresh and exciting." Last October, McDonald's announced it was bringing back its iconic McRib after almost 10 years for a limited time. It came after customers begged for the pork-based sandwich, which first launched in 1981, to make a comeback. However, it was quietly discontinued the following month. A host of other items have come off menus in recent years to make way for new ones including the fan favourite Chicken Legend. The Breakfast Bagel and iconic Sundaes have also fallen off menus since 2018. How to save at McDonald's You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose. Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other. You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald's receipts. The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey. You'll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer. There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald's app, so it's worth signing up to get money off your meals. The MyMcDonald's app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up. You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you're a My McDonald's app user. The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details - otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How to find the cheapest personal loan as we reveal best way to borrow up to £10,000 cash
Emily Mee, Consumer Reporter Published: Invalid Date, TAKING out a personal loan can help you pay for big expenses like a new car, home improvements or a wedding. With households now spending more on essentials like housing, bills and food, they may have less in savings to cover the big things. Taking on debt should usually be a last resort and used only for necessities, but it may be needed if you're unable to pay for things otherwise. That's why we've put together this guide with everything you need to know about taking out a personal loan, what the risks are and the best rates you can get... What is a personal loan? A personal loan is a type of loan that lets you borrow a fixed amount of money as a lump sum. You can usually borrow between £1,000 to £25,000. They're often useful when you want to borrow a relatively large amount and would like more time to pay it back. For example, you might want to buy a new car, pay for a wedding, fund home improvements or consolidate your debts. When you take out a personal loan the money is deposited into your bank account as a lump sum and you'll then pay it back in instalments over a set period. This is usually between three and 10 years. The longer you take to pay back your loan, the more interest you will have to pay. The two types of personal loan There are two types of personal loan - unsecured and secured. Unsecured This is the most common option, and it means the loan isn't secured against an asset such as your home. A provider will lend you the money and you pay it back at the agreed rate of interest until it's repaid in full. Your credit score is at risk if you fail to keep up with the repayments. A poor credit score can make it harder to get other forms of credit such as a mortgage or credit cards in the future. A lender could also take a county court judgement against you or you may be forced to declare yourself bankrupt. There may also be late fees to pay. Secured This is when the loan is secured against an asset, which is usually your home but could be another item such as your car. Borrowers can usually be loaned more - typically up to £100,000 - as there is a secured asset involved which gives lenders more comfort. However there is a big risk here as the asset you have secured could be repossessed of you fail to repay. Your credit score and the value of the asset will be considered when you make a secured loan application. How can you apply for one? You'll need to apply for one from a provider, which you can usually do either directly online or through a comparison website. Martin Lewis explains why credit score 'isn't real' and shares 'the holy trinity' of measures lenders use to assess you Some lenders might let you apply on the phone or in a bank or building society branch. The lender will want to know your income and how much you spend each month so they can work out whether you can afford a loan. You'll need to provide your name, address and bank details. The lender will do a credit check to assess your track record of repaying debts and they'll look at your salary, income and how much you spend to see if you match their affordability criteria. Although you can usually choose how much you want to borrow and how long for, the lender may impose limits on this if they're unsure about your credit rating. If your loan is approved the lender will tell you how much you can get, the amount of interest they will charge and how much you will have to pay each month. It will also say when the money will reach your account and what date you will need to make your repayments each month. There is a 14-day cooling off period either from when the loan agreement is signed or when you receive a copy of it, whichever is later. This gives you time to change your mind and any money received has to be paid back within 30 days. There may be early repayment fees if you want to repay your loan before it is due so check the terms and conditions if you want to settle the debt sooner. How can you get the best rate? The best way to get a good rate on your personal loan is to have a good credit rating. The cheapest deals will be reserved for those whose credit score is good or excellent. If you have bad credit, such as a history of arrears or defaults, you may struggle to get a good rate. In this case you might be offered a lower amount or asked to pay a higher rate. You can read our tips on how to improve your credit score here. In the short term, there are still steps you can take to get the best deal for yourself. It's best to shop around for the lowest rates and you can do this by using price comparison websites like Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket. Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown says: "The comparison sites break the loans down by size, so you can stick to the best rate for the amount you're borrowing. "However, they will rank rates by the APR, and that will depend on your credit record. "In some cases, you won't qualify for the loan, in other cases you will – but they will bump up the APR to reflect the fact they don't think you're an ideal borrower – just under half will be offered a higher rate than the APR." Rachel Springall, finance expert at said many lenders offer their lowest advertised rates to those who borrow around £7,500. Rates can "vary considerably" for lower amounts, she said. What else do you need to know? You should think carefully about how much you need to borrow and how long you want to make the repayments for. If you over-estimate how much you need to borrow, you'll end up paying interest on money you don't need. But if you underestimate you could end up borrowing the rest far more expensively. When it comes to the repayment term, Sarah Coles says you should consider that "the longer you borrow for, the lower your monthly repayments". "However, the more interest you'll end up repaying overall, and the bigger the risk that your life will change while you owe the money, which could make it harder to repay," she says. You should make sure you have enough disposable income to cover the monthly repayments as missing a payment could damage your credit score. If you might want to repay early you should check the early repayment penalties so there aren't any surprises later down the line. Another thing you should note is that it will show on your credit record when you apply for a loan. That means the more loans you apply for, the more it will affect your record. "You should look for a search engine that lets you check your eligibility first so you don't end up applying for loans you don't get – or you get but at a far higher rate than you expected," Coles says. "You need to put a fair amount of detail in, so it's worth assuming this process will take a little while, but it's time well spent." Rachel Springall says you should also consider whether you have other options rather than taking out a personal loan. "It may be cheaper to use a credit card rather than a loan for small amounts, but borrowers will need to set themselves a strict repayment plan to pay off the debt, as they can be flexible with minimum repayments," she says.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
All the Father's Day bargains landing in Lidl's middle aisle this week including Bosch dupe that's £20 cheaper
Emily Mee, Consumer Reporter Published: Invalid Date, LIDL has launched a range of Father's Day bargains that will make perfect presents for those on a budget. The discount supermarket is famous for offering great deals in its Middle Aisle. The Father's Day offers are no different as they start from just £1.99. This latest drop of Middle Aisle buys will be available in stores from June 1 - but you'll have to be quick as once they're gone, they're gone. This year Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 15. Here are all the deals you can get... Parkside Cordless Screwdriver Set - £14.99 At just £14.99, this is a great alternative to the Bosch version. It's 4V and it comes with four BBQ attachments: a BBQ blower, corkscrew, and salt and pepper mill. For reference, the similar Bosch 3.6V 1 x 2 Li-ion Cordless Screwdriver IXO 7 costs £35 and doesn't come with the accessories. Lidl says the screwdriver set can be used around the house, in the kitchen and with your BBQ. It has a USB-C charging port and a USB-C charging cable, although it doesn't come with a mains adaptor. It has a 15-piece bit set with standard screwhead profiles, plus a bit extension. Parents race to Lidl for middle aisle bargains including 2 in 1 sandpit for £29 The screwdriver also comes with a three-year warranty. Braun All-In-One Style Kit - £34.99 For the dad who likes to keep well-groomed, you could pick up this trimmer kit. The 9-in-1 kit can be used to style your hair, beard, ears, nose and more. Lidl describes the trimmer as having "ultra-sharp blades for precise and effortless grooming". Its RRP is £67.49 on the Braun website but it's selling on there currently for £44.99. That means you can make a £10 saving by heading to Lidl and also save on delivery fees. Auriol Watch - £14.99 Keep your dad looking sharp with this trendy-looking watch which comes in a range of colours. It has a silver strap but you can get the face in either green, black, yellow or blue. The link strap is adjustable and it's also water resistant. Plus, it comes with a three-year warranty. T-shirts - £4.99 Nerdier dads might like these T-shirts featuring Captain America, Spider-Man or The Mandalorian. Of course, they're all dad-themed as well. The Mandalorian T-shirt says "The Dadalorian, this is the way" with a black-and-white cartoon of The Mandalorian holding Baby Yoda. The Spider-Man one says "Dad, you're my super hero" while the Captain America one reads "Honorable Dad". All are made with cotton and come in the sizes medium to extra-large. Socks - £3.99 If your dad has ever told you just to buy him socks for Father's Day, you're in luck. Lidl has a range of three bargain-friendly pairs of socks. You can get a pair of comic-book-style "Super Dad" ones, a pair with taches and glasses, or a black chequered pair for the more serious man. Father's Day picture books Dads of younger children may like these picture books all themed around Father's Day. They include Just One Hug, My Daddy and Me, and I Love You Daddy. Lidl's description says each book has "a gentle, rhyming story and beautiful illustrations" and is "perfect for sharing with your little one". Puzzle books - £1.99 Get his mind working with these bargain puzzle books. All are priced at £1.99 and they include a Wordsearch Puzzle Book, Sudoku Puzzle Book and three Crime Puzzle Books. Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts IF you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tried supermarket washing up liquid – a 69p own-brand bottle is better than Fairy and would save you £16 a year
Lynsey Hope, Consumer reporter Published: Invalid Date, DOING the washing up often seems like a never-ending chore - no sooner has one lot dried, then another pile of dirty dishes is stacked up on the side. But it can be made quicker and easier with a good washing up liquid. 9 The best formulas will leave your pots, pans, plates, cutlery and glassware gleaming, now matter how greasy your leftovers. Fairy has long been the most popular in many households. But as the cost of living crisis continues, is there a cheaper alternative that will do as good a job? LYNSEY HOPE investigates: Lynsey says: "The bottle claims it washes up to two times more dirty dishes than other brands, even in cold water. It's a small bottle so time to check whether it is good value. "It smelt zingy and fresh when I opened the bottle and even a tiny amount, produced masses of bubbles which lasted a long time and got the dishes sparkly clean in no time. "Cutlery came out clean, glasses were streak free and it did a good job of cutting through tough food left overs and burnt on grease. "You didn't have to use as much as other brands but I was sceptical about the claim it would clean twice as much. The bottle seemed to run out faster than others, so I knocked a mark off when it came to value for money." Performance: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 9/10 Tesco Anti Bac Washing Up Liquid Eucalyptus (500ml) 85p, £1.70 per litre Lynsey says: "I was surprised by how thick this liquid is. It worked well, cutting through grease with ease. "To boot, it had a lovely smell and produced lots of sudsy bubbles, which didn't clog up the sink when I drained the bowl. It cleaned very effectively. "Not the cheapest own brand but still a huge saving on Fairy - around £1.42 per litre of liquid, so a saving not to be sniffed at. I was impressed." Performance: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 9/10 Aldi Magnum Washing Up Liquid (500ml) 69p, £1.38 per litre Lynsey says: "Very bubbly but I didn't find this as effective as some of the other liquids. I had to use a lot more elbow grease to get dirty dishes sparkly and clean. "There were lots of bubbles but they dissipated quickly and there was still residue left on some of the grubbier pots and pans. "It is amazing value so if you want a cheap alternative to Fairy, this is ok, but be prepared to use a bit more elbow grease and take a bit more time over the job in hand." Performance: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 6/10 Mum buys eight potted basils from different supermarkets to see which lasted the longest - the winner leaves her stunned Morrisons Original Washing Up Liquid (450ml) 62p, £1.38 per litre Lynsey says: "I found the Morrisons liquid to have quite a strong smell and it produced lots of foam. "The biggest issue here was the cap on the bottle, which seemed to leak, so I lost some of the liquid before I even started washing up. "It also had quite a strong smell and whilst it produced lots of foam, the bubbles disappeared quickly and the plates weren't left as sparkling as when I used other brands. Some cutlery and glasses were left a bit streaky, too." Performance: 2/5 Value: 2/5 Overall score: 4/10 Sainsbury's Original Washing Up Liquid (500ml) 69p, £1.38 per litre Lynsey says: " Sainsbury's Original did a great job at tackling tough grease and I managed to clean more dirty dishes than other own brands before having to change and use fresh water and an extra squirt of liquid. "It didn't produce tons of bubbles but it still did a good job of cutting through grease and tough, burnt-on leftovers. "It's a brilliant price, matching Aldi and Lidl in terms of value. The bottle is recyclable for added eco points." Performance: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 8/10 Essential Waitrose Washing Up Liquid Citrus (500ml) 75p, £1.50 per litre Lynsey says: "Loved the fresh smell of this Waitrose washing up liquid. It didn't dry out my hands but was powerful, cutting through grease easily with only a small squirt every time. "The bottle seemed to last for ages so whilst it's not the cheapest own brand, it's half the price of Fairy per litre and I thought it was excellent value. "It didn't produce tons of bubbles, but it performed well on dirty plates and everything was sparkly and clean afterwards. Something about it seemed high quality." Performance: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 9/10 Lidl W5 Washing Up Liquid Pomegranate (500ml) 69p, £1.38 per litre Lynsey says: "This pomegranate liquid smells like a bag of sweets when you open it. But the liquid was thick and it cleaned dirty dishes in just a couple of easy wipes. "It created a good amount of bubbles in the bowl and the lasted well. After an hour, only this Lidl cleaner and Fairy still had a significant amount of bubbles left. "It didn't dry out the skin on my hands the bottle is recyclable. Buy a bottle of this instead of Fairy every week for a year and you'd save yourself over £16 in a year. Small savings add up." Performance: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 10/10 Asda Original Washing Up Liquid (1 litre) £1.30 per litre Lynsey says: "A brilliant wallet-friendly option that promises it 'cuts through grease instantly'. And it did actually, doing a good job of removing severe grease and dried on food. "A small squirt was enough to clean a sink full of dirty dishes with minimal scrubbing required. The solution didn't disperse too well in the water and whilst the bubbles were plentiful, they did clog up the sink a little. "Glasses looked restaurant worthy after drying. Just be wary if you have sensitive skin, as it left my hands feeling quite dry." Performance: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 7/10 Its not the first time a cheaper product has beaten big brand names. This was also the case when Lynsey test Magnum supermarket dupes. It follows her jam doughnut test which revealed a much cheaper competitor to Krispy Kreme. 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.
