Seven discount schemes that could save your family money

The Household Support Fund was launched by the government in October 2021. It was initially due to last for six months but has been extended several times so that it's now due to last until 31 March 2024.

The money is distributed by local councils and each council is spending the money in different ways (for example, some are offering one-off payments to people with children or allocating money for half-terms and holidays), so it’s worth contacting yours to see whether you’re eligible for help.

The government has announced plans to provide more than 400,000 households with energy efficiency improvements – such as loft or wall insulation – under an extension to its Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. The provision will start in spring 2023. All firms with more than 150,000 customers have to take part. For more information contact your supplier direct.

Most of the major supermarkets run various freebies and competitions throughout the year. But some of them take a bit of hunting down.

For example, Sainsbury’s has a Freebies and Competitions page on its website, where you can add specific items to your basket for free or gain automatic entry into competitions with the purchase of specific items.

Watch out for kids-go-free/cheap deals, such as Morrisons’ ongoing offer that promises a free kids’ meal for every adult meal over £4.99 purchased in its cafés. Iceland is offering people aged 60 or over 10% off their total shop every Tuesday.

You might be able to get a Healthy Start card to help you buy certain types of milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. To get the card, you need to be at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and be claiming certain benefits. The Healthy Start card entitles holders to:

• £4.25 each week from week 10 of your pregnancy.
• £8.50 each week for children from birth to one year old.
• £4.25 each week for children between one and four years old, plus free vitamins.

Sainsbury’s has also recently reintroduced a £2 top-up on its Healthy Start card. Up until 11 April 2023, every time you use your card, you’ll receive a £2 printed coupon which is valid for fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables.

Every year, UK households miss out on a collective £16 billion worth of benefits, mostly because some people don’t realise what they’re entitled to. Benefit calculators like Inbest can help you make sure you’re claiming everything you can – simply enter a few details about your living situation and income and it’ll tell you how much your household could claim.