travel money at sainsburys

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Do you sell travel money and where can I find more information about this?

Sainsbury's Travel Money offers a great exchange rate on foreign currencies. Click here to visit our website.

Drop into one of our 200+ instore bureaux and choose from cash in over 50 currencies including Euro, United States Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Japanese Yen and United Arab Emirates Dirham or a Sainsbury's Bank Multi-currency Cash Passport MasterCard.

Alternatively you can click here to order online and collect at an instore bureau or choose secure home delivery by online or phone order.

Click here to use our Store Locator to find details of the nearest travel money to you (including opening times).

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The team will review your complaint and aim to be in touch within 3 days, but please bear in mind that over a weekend or bank holiday it may take longer to respond.

Contacting us about a refund? You'll need to give us a call on 0800 328 1700 if you ordered online. If purchased in store, please call 0800 63 62 62 or speak with a colleague next time you're in store.

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Sainsbury's Bank Travel Card

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Car & home insurance, pet insurance, travel insurance, travel money card, life insurance.

Travel Money Card™ Customer Support

When my sainsbury's bank travel money card expires what do i do.

You can either redeem your funds and load a new card or cash out the balance and close your card.

Click here for more information .

What if my Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card is lost stolen or damaged?

If your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card is lost, stolen or damaged, contact Card Services immediately, so they can cancel the card. You can also freeze and unfreeze your card using the Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card app. Your card is chip and PIN protected and if you have an additional card, you can still access your funds with the additional card. If you only have one card, or both your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card are lost or stolen, Card Services can offer further assistance, including a replacement card or emergency cash up to the available balance on your card (subject to availability in the relevant location). 

Card Services  contact details.

What if my Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card is declined in a shop?

This should only happen when you don’t have enough funds on the card to cover the cost of a purchase (although you can always use what money you do have on your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card to make a partial payment and settle the balance with another card or cash, if the merchant supports it).

Please be aware that some merchants such as restaurants and car hire companies may require the card to have an available balance greater than the purchase amount, before they will authorise the payment.

In some countries, there may be daily or weekly withdrawal limits set by ATM operators, which may be lower than the limit on your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card.

Check that the retailer you are purchasing from accepts Mastercard Prepaid. Because of new EU requirements, merchants in the EU/EEA will be able to choose whether or not they wish to accept Mastercard prepaid/debit/credit or commercial cards. Please check with the merchant, as they have to inform you if they decide not to accept all types of Mastercard cards. Merchants will also be expected to display this information prominently at the entrance of the shop and at the till or, in the case of distance sales, this information should be displayed on the merchant’s website or other applicable electronic or mobile medium.

What if I'm having a problem using my Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card?

If you have a problem using your card, here are the things you should check first.

1. If you got your card delivered at home you need to activate your card before it will work. Your card will have a sticker with instructions about how to do this.

2. Check you have enough money on the card for the purchase you wish to make.

3. Check you are using the correct PIN. Phone Card Services to get a reminder or PIN Reveal via My Account or the mobile app.

4. Check that the retailer you are purchasing from accepts Mastercard Prepaid. Because of new EU requirements, merchants in the EU/EEA will be able to choose whether or not they wish to accept Mastercard prepaid/debit/credit or commercial cards. Please check with the merchant, as they have to inform you if they decide not to accept all types of Mastercard cards. Merchants will also be expected to display this information prominently at the entrance of the shop and at the till or, in the case of distance sales, this information should be displayed on the merchant’s website or other applicable electronic or mobile medium.

5. Your Card has maximum limits on how much you can withdraw or spend, for example a maximum daily amount that you can spend in a shop. These limits are shown in the fees and limits table. In addition, some cash machines may have their own limits.

Please note: if a cash machine screen prompts you to choose ‘which account?’ it is recommended that you choose the ‘Credit’ option.

You can only withdraw cash from a cash machine up to the available balance on your Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card (including any applicable fees) and if the amount is within the cash machine’s issuing limit.

How do I close my Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card?

If your card is still valid, but you’re not planning to travel again soon, you can withdraw your remaining balance from an ATM displaying the Mastercard® Acceptance Mark (assuming it is within the ATM's withdrawal limits).

Or, if applicable, you may take your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card (and valid photo ID) back to the bureau where you bought it and they will refund your remaining balance, less any fees. Payment will be in GBP and the exchange rate (if applicable) will be applied by the bureau. Please note: not all bureaux may offer this service.

Alternatively, you can contact  Card Services , and have your balance (less any fees and subject to exchange rates, if applicable) refunded to a UK bank or building society account in the name of the primary cardholder only. Please see your terms and conditions for more information. You may be given the option to donate (some or all) left-over funds to charity.

How do I get an additional card?

For peace of mind on your holiday, you can get an additional card at the time of purchase of your initial card and use it as a backup.

Please see the  Terms and Conditions  for more information.

Please note that additional cards must not be given to anyone else to use.

How can I contact Card Services?

Full details on how to  contact the 24/7 Card Services team .

Sainsbury’s Bank are committed to providing you with the best possible customer experience. Telling the Card Services team when you are unhappy with any aspect of your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card is important, as it means things may be put right there and then the service offered can be improved in the future.

The next section tells you how and where to make a complaint and what will be done to resolve it promptly and fairly.

Raise a complaint?

In the first instance please call   Card Services . This team will try to resolve your complaint over the phone in a timely manner. Alternatively, you can e-mail your complaint to  [email protected]  or put it in writing to the following address:

Service Quality Access House Cygnet Road Peterborough PE7 8FJ United Kingdom

The Service Quality team is happy to receive and respond to complaints in other languages and will arrange for a translation service to assist where available. Where possible, information on the complaints process will be made available in other languages.

What information do I need to provide?

To help Card Services resolve your complaint as quickly as possible, please provide them with as much relevant information as possible, including:

• Your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card number (please note, do not include your full 16-digit Card number in emails and/or letters, for security reasons. In written correspondence, the card number should always be supplied by providing the first six and last four digits only, as follows 123456******7890.)
• Your address
• Your contact telephone number
• Clear details of your complaint
• What you would like to be done to resolve your complaint.

What happens next?

When we receive a complaint we aim to resolve your issues as fairly and as quickly as we can. Where possible we will endeavour to resolve your complaint as soon as reasonably possible. If we need more time to investigate your complaint, we will send you an acknowledgement letter and we will keep you updated on our progress throughout our investigation.

If you are not satisfied with our final response, you can refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service which provides an independent review service for unresolved complaints that is free to customers.

They can be contacted in the following ways:

• Write: Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London, E14 9SR
• Telephone: 0800 023 4 567 / 0300 123 9 123 or +442079640500 (from outside the UK)
• E-mail:  [email protected]
• Website:  http://financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card is issued by PrePay Technologies Limited pursuant to license by Mastercard International. PrePay Technologies Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900010) for the issuing of electronic money and payment instruments. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Quick Links

• Topping up your Card
• Replace or cash out your Card
• Transactions
• Contacting Card Services

Travel Money

• Buying dollars
• Buying euros
• Collect Nectar points
• Currency converter
• Money transfer

Sainsbury's Bank Travel Card 4+

Sainsbury's bank.

• 4.6 • 1.9K Ratings

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Description.

The official app for Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card. Travel Money Card is free to use in millions of locations. Use the app to fully manage your travel card account and stay in control of your holiday finances. Travel Money Card is not linked to your bank account and is a safer option than carrying cash. Take your Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card with you on every holiday, simply top up and go. - Use anywhere Mastercard is accepted - Easy to use, contactless transactions and chip & pin - Worldwide cash withdrawals - Phone support available worldwide 24/7 FEATURES OF THE APP - 16 different currencies available to instantly top up and reload multiple currencies – from anywhere in the world. - Real time balance check - Lock-in exchange rates so you’ll know exactly how much money you have to spend - Transfer between currencies - Keep a track of your spending, view your transactions - Report your card lost or stolen and check your card pin - Manage your personal details

Version 3.0.0

We've addressed various defects and improvements to ensure a smoother and more reliable app experience.

Ratings and Reviews

1.9K Ratings

Getting Better

Have been using card for a few years now. Would be good to be able to add card to wallet so could use on iPhone. Payments to cards were a bit hit and miss - when asked to approve thro banking app - it used to freeze when you leave app but this seems to have improved. Also got caught out one year when card expired and didn’t receive any reminders. Also realised charges are rather excessive when withdrawing money. In summary, handy to use on holiday for electronic transactions without incurring charges and overall usability improving.

Thanks to this absolutely SHOCKING app I was left abroad with no money. It let me initially top up £100 after multiple failed attempts. For the rest of the holiday I was no longer able to add any money. I tried with my card, my partners card and it kept saying ‘top up error’. I rang the helpline and they were useless. They kept lying to me about what the problem was and each person I spoke to had a different version of events as to the issues they were having. They told me to visit a branch but failed to understand that I was abroad and couldn’t do that?!. They then told me to try a different card but none were working. Absolutely useless. I now have about £20 left on the card but now I can’t even log in to the app anymore!! It says ‘request timed out, log in error’. This app is honestly the worst thing I have ever done. I will probably never get the remaining money back but I don’t care. I will be closing the account, deleting the app and snapping my card up ASAP. PLEASE LEARN FROM ME AND AVOID.

Rubbish customer service

I was recently in France and tried topping up my card. The payment was refused after confirming it was me in the banking app. I tried another 3 times the same thing happened. So I rang Sainsburys Bank where I was told that I could not use that card for top up for 24 hours as it had been blocked. Somewhat confused as I’d confirmed all three attempts and previously topped the card up without any problems using the same card I used my other card. Low and behold the same thing happened again. So I rang them back to explain (from France) and was kept on hold for 37 minutes while they tried to understand why my card wouldn’t load. Eventually, I got the answer to ring my bank and when and if it was the banks fault I still couldn’t use either card to top up for 24 hours. So I was stuck in France with a couple of euros on my card and absolutely no help from Sainsburys bank. Needless to say I won’t be using them again!

App Privacy

The developer, Sainsbury's Bank , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Financial Info
• Contact Info
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

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Sainsbury’s reopens travel money service.

Sainsbury’s has announced it is reopening its online travel money service.

As a result, holidaymakers and travellers can now order foreign currency online which can be delivered to their home on the next working day. An automatic currency converter is available on the Sainsbury’s website, allowing you to see exactly how much your sterling is worth before ordering.

Travel bureaux are also starting to reopen within Sainsbury’s stores ahead of the summer. Shoppers can check on the Sainsbury’s Bank website whether the bureau at their local store is one of those reopening now.

Nectar cardholders enjoy better conversion rates on foreign currency, while no commission is charged when cash is changed. What’s more, Sainsbury’s said that if holidays have to be cancelled due to the pandemic, travellers can return the travel money at the exchange rate purchased.

Jason King, customer director at Sainsbury’s bank, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back travel money customers online and to our stores. Whether it’s buying currency for a holiday abroad, selling back any extra from your trip or sending money to friends and family overseas with Western Union, we’re open and ready to support however you like to get your currency.”

Holiday hopes

Millions of us will be dreaming wistfully of the prospect of a proper summer holiday abroad, though there are currently just 12 nations on the government’s ‘green’ list of countries, meaning that no quarantine period is required upon your return.

What’s more, the government has been accused of delivering “mixed messages” over how people should view travelling to countries on the ‘amber’ list, Ministers initially suggested that travel was allowed to these destinations to see family and friends, though the Prime Minister later emphasised that these journeys should be avoided unless they were “essential”.

There have also been reports of holidaymakers ‘hoarding’ bookings, by snapping up spots in British hotels which they can then cancel later on should international travel be possible.

Even if travel overseas is possible, it’s open to question how many Brits will actually want to do it. A study by GoCompare found that only 13% of us are comfortable with the idea of foreign holidays this year.

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Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card is issued by PrePay Technologies Limited pursuant to license by Mastercard International. PrePay Technologies Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900010) for the issuing of electronic money and payment instruments. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

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Sainsbury's May bank holiday opening times 2024 - see when supermarkets will open

The first May bank holiday arrives next week on Monday, May 6 and if you need to make a last-minute supermarket run to Sainsbury's before the bank holiday here's what you need to know

• 11:41, 1 May 2024

Sainsbury’s stores will remain open over the May bank holiday weekend - but most will have adjusted hours.

The first May bank holiday is Monday, May 6. If you need to make a last-minute supermarket run to Sainsbury's before the bank holiday is here, we've rounded up everything you need to know. Sainsbury's has over 600 supermarkets and 800 convenience stores across the UK - and thankfully all of them will be open across the long weekend.

Opening hours will remain the same on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, Sainsbury's superstores will open between 6am and 7am and close between 10pm and 11pm. On Sunday, the supermarket's larger stores only open for six hours and will be open from either 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm. Sainsbury's convenience stores usually open from 6am or 7am to 10pm and 11pm - even on Sundays - and this will remain the same in the lead-up to Monday, May 6.

On the bank holiday Monday, Sainsbury's larger stores will open from 8am until 8pm while its convenience stores will be open from 7am until either 10pm or 11pm this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Scottish stores will be open as normal over the entire weekend.

In regards to Sainsbury's petrol stations, some are open 24 hours, while most pull up their shutters between 5am and 7am and stay open until 10pm or 11pm, and others don't close until midnight. Others have 24/7 pay at pump facilities. These opening times will largely stay the same over the bank holiday weekend.

Before you head down to your local Sainsbury's store, you should first check and see the exact opening hours for your local store. This is because opening times will vary from store to store across the UK. You can check your local store by entering your postcode into Sainsbury's store finder tool on its website here or sharing your location with your device.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Sainsbury’s worker of 20 years sacked for taking bags for life without paying

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A Sainsbury’s worker was sacked after almost 20 years at the supermarket for taking ‘bags for life’ without paying after a night shift.

Niamke Doffou selected the zero bags used option on the self-service checkout as he packed up his £30 shop, an employment tribunal heard.

He was later hauled in front of bosses and dismissed after they watched CCTV of the incident and concluded he could no longer be trusted.

Mr Doffou, a native French speaker who has lived and worked in the UK for nearly two decades, claimed he was ‘tired and unaware of what he was doing’.

But his claim of unfair dismissal was thrown out by a judge who said it was ‘very hard to argue’ with the decision to dismiss after the theft of the bags which are sold to customers for either 30p or 65p.

The tribunal was told Mr Doffou worked as a night shift assistant at the Romford Sainsbury’s Superstore in East London from June 2003 until he was fired in October 2022 for gross misconduct.

During the August bank holiday in 2022, he did some personal shopping in the early morning after working a night shift.

He bought £30 worth of food, pillows and bedding but CCTV footage showed he didn’t pay for the ‘multiple reusable bags for life’ that he took to put his shopping in at the self-service checkout.

The tribunal was told he made more than one trip to get bags, despite selecting ‘zero bags used’ option on the screen and checking his receipt at the end of his shopping.

Giving evidence, Mr Doffou accepted Sainsbury’s had a zero tolerance approach to theft – but insisted he was tired and unaware of what he was doing when he took them without paying for them.

In September 2022, he was invited to attend a disciplinary investigation meeting, where the CCTV was played to him.

At a disciplinary hearing the following month, he was dismissed for gross misconduct.

Bosses found he had not acted in error and although perhaps ‘absent-mindedly’, had been dishonest and deliberately not paid for the bags.

The East London hearing was told: ‘[The disciplinary chair] formed the view that he had deliberately selected the zero bags option on the self-checkout knowing full well he would need some to put his bulky shopping in.

‘This in turn she concluded meant that [Sainsbury’s] could no longer have trust in [Mr Doffou] as an employee even if the bags did not cost as much as his shopping had.’

He appealed this decision, but this was dismissed.

Employment Judge Eleena Misra KC said: ‘Having considered all of the evidence before me I concluded that the claim for unfair dismissal is not well founded and is therefore dismissed.

‘The CCTV footage and receipt clearly proved to [Sainsbury’s] that [Mr Doffou] took bags for life without paying for them.

‘[Sainsbury’s] carried out a reasonable and proportionate investigation into the alleged conduct and he was given a full opportunity to respond.

‘[Mr Doffou]’s explanations were not deemed to be credible explanations and [Sainsbury’s] was entitled on the evidence to conclude that he had committed misconduct notwithstanding the low value of the bags taken.

‘Once the decision-maker had concluded that he had acted dishonestly and committed theft, it is very hard to argue that the decision to dismiss fell outside a reasonable band of responses.

‘I find that it was within such a band.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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• Employment tribunal decisions

Mr G Gidman v Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd: 1808529/2023

Employment Tribunal decision.

Read the full decision in Mr G Gidman v Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd: 1808529/2023 - Dismissal .

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Sainsbury’s says sales revival in big-ticket items depends on base rate cut

Chain is winning market share from rivals but discretionary spend remains cautious, CEO Simon Roberts says

Shoppers are beginning to spend more freely but it will take a cut in interest rates before sales of more expensive items such as TVs and sofas start to take off again, the boss of Sainsbury’s has said.

Simon Roberts, the chief executive of the group, which owns Argos and Habitat as well as its supermarkets, said he was cautious about the outlook for general merchandise, with sales of furniture and homeware remaining weak as households faced high mortgage and loan costs.

“There is more evidence that customers are starting to trade up a bit and that’s really going to build,” he said as inflation on food had eased. “They are not always trading down [to cheaper food products].”

However, there had not been a marked shift on “big ticket” non-food items, Roberts said. “On general merchandise customers are more cautious. It is going to take a change in interest rates later in the year, let’s hope, for the environment on discretionary spend begin to change.”

Roberts said Sainsbury’s was “happy with momentum” and selling more goods and winning share from Aldi and Lidl as well as Waitrose.

He said as shoppers returned to working in the office they were shopping less online. “More and more want to go to a supermarket where they have full choice,” he added.

Roberts said the Sainsbury’s group hoped for a revival in sales of barbecues and clothes if there was a “more normal summer” after last year’s wet and cold weather.

However, sales of clothing, toys and homeware are under pressure as shoppers continue to battle high household costs. Sainsbury’s said it had also had delivery hold-ups caused by disruption to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and had got some fashion choices wrong. This led to an 11.4% fall in sales of clothing in the last three months of its financial year. Sales at Argos fell 6.6%, while grocery sales rose 7.3%, partly helped by inflation.

Roberts said he expected food price inflation to continue at less than 5% into next year as wage rises slowed, the cost of many commodities fell and energy and transport costs became more stable. He said supplies of UK-grown crops such as potatoes and onions were also under pressure from the “extreme amount of rain” over the winter and spring.

Sainsbury’s spent £220m in keeping prices down over the past year and in February it said it would use technology including automated tills, warehouse robots and AI-forecasting tools to ensure it has the right stock in stores to help cut £1bn of costs over the next three years.

As part of up to £850m in annual investment for the next three years, Sainsbury’s is also rejigging 180 of its supermarkets to make more space for food, especially fresh produce, while shifting out products also sold in its Argos outlets such as electrical gadgets.

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Concerns about the outlook and the weak non-food performance overshadowed a better-than-expected 1.6% rise in underlying pre-tax profits to £701m in the year to 2 March, as sales rose 3.6% to £36.3bn. One-off costs from restructuring of the Sainsbury’s banking business meant statutory pre-tax profits fell 15.3% to £277m.

Sainsbury’s share price fell about 4% to 257p after the update. Russ Mould at AJ Bell said it didn’t hit the right note with investors.

“Underlying profit growth of 1.6% is pedestrian and a lack of dividend growth hardly signals a business going places. While [Sainsbury’s has] done well by focusing on food and broadening its appeal with more value-led products, clothing sales remain miserable and Argos’s performance is nothing to write home about,” he said.

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Are you struggling because of high interest rates? Sky News is keen to hear from people who are due to refix their mortgages this year or are on a variable rate or tracker mortgage or trying to get on the housing ladder. 

Email us your stories at  [email protected]  - or WhatsApp us  here .

The Fed has issued its latest policy statement, announcing it will keep interest rates at the same level. 

It did note inflation has eased over the past year, and it is still leaning towards eventual reductions in borrowing costs. 

However it pointed out recent disappointing inflation readings, suggesting moves towards more balance in the economy had stalled. 

If you're wondering why we're telling you this, it's because there is a link between the Fed's interest rate and the Bank of England's base rate. 

The interplay between the two can affect the value of the pound and currency alternatives such a gold.

Market expectations for the UK base rate are often heavily influenced by what's going on in the US. 

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The hours of sewage dumping were spread across 23,000 separate incidents.

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Shares in luxury carmaker Aston Martin have plummeted as much as 14% today after it announced bigger than expected losses. 

Aston Martin revealed adjusted pre-tax losses of £111m for the first three months of the year, compared with £57m a year earlier. 

Analysts had expected a loss of £93m. 

The losses were due to higher finance costs and the timings of its car launches.

B&Q is introducing plastic plant pot recycling stations at more than 100 of its stores across the UK. 

Customers will be able to drop off their unwanted pots in store so they can be recycled and turned into new planters. 

B&Q's 100% recycled plastic Blacksmith Planters will be available in stores for £4. 

UK supermarkets could soon see a "healthier" version of white bread, according to scientists.

A team of researchers at Aberystwyth University will be studying the milling and blending process for white flour.

Peas, beans and oats could be added to wheat flour to boost its nutritional value.

The research project has been funded by Innovate UK, the UK's national innovation agency.

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But what if we told you you could be a mastermind?

That's the promise of a new college course ahead of the biggest pop star in the world hitting the UK in June.

The 7 May course, which is run by the  Glasgow Cylde College and is free, will give members of the public a jam-packed session that will leave them ready for the singer's upcoming  Eras Tour.

Those who enrol in a one-off college masterclass will learn about the pop star's music, set lists, crowd chants and even her "evolving wardrobe and hairstyles".

A statement on the college website reads: "Ahead of her hugely anticipated arrival, Glasgow Clyde College is offering a one time-only masterclass aimed at preparing parents and plus ones of Taylor superfans, providing the full Love Story on all things Eras Tour to help them have the best night of their lives.

"From set lists and crowd chants to need-to-know information on each Era, the masterclass, which is being delivered by a Taylor Swift expert, will give people a whistle-stop lesson that'll leave them ready for the gig."

You can book your Swiftie masterclass here .

The cocoa market is in a particularly turbulent period, with the price of the ingredient falling to its lowest level in a month. 

It comes after prices reached their highest peaks in more than four decades earlier in the year, making it reportedly more expensive than copper. 

Traders had been betting on an acute supply shortage driven by poor harvests in West Africa. 

However, the rally made it more expensive to maintain positions and prompted traders to pull out of the market - leaving the product vulnerable to big price swings. 

The price has now fallen by 16% since the end of last week, offering some relief to chocolate makers/eaters.

The fast food giant has revealed its chefs have created a "larger, satiating burger" in a bid to boost sales, according to Bloomberg. 

The mega-sized burger is reportedly designed to attract customers who want more filling patties. 

It will be introduced in certain markets first to test its appeal. 

McDonald's unveiled plans in December that bosses hope will boost growth by focusing on core menu items. 

The chain has seen sluggish sales, partly due to its perceived support of Israel in Middle East and Muslim-majority markets. 

McDonald's has denied taking any position in the ongoing conflict and said it is not responsible for the actions of its franchisees.

So far, it has launched an ad campaign highlighting what it says are improvements to its Big Mac, quarter pounder with cheese and double cheeseburger.

This is apparently the first time in the company's 84-year history that it has made changes to its classic burgers.

By Emily Mee , Money team

Discovering a hole in your favourite pair of jeans or a rip in your well-worn cosy jumper is certainly irritating - but it doesn't mean those items are destined for the bin. 

In fact, ethical fashion campaigners say that's the last place your items should be going. There is usually plenty you can do to repair them - or even to avoid damage in the first place. That way, you can keep your best-loved pieces in your wardrobe for years to come. 

Katrina Caspelich, from fair fashion campaign Remake, takes the Money blog through what you can do...

Store your clothes better

Clean them before storing them: Always ensure that clothes are clean before storing them. Launder or dry clean them according to the care instructions on the label. Stains and dirt can attract insects and cause fabric deterioration over time.

Use breathable storage containers: Opt for breathable storage containers such as cotton canvas bags or boxes instead of plastic bins. This allows air circulation and prevents moisture build up, which can lead to mould and mildew.

Avoid direct sunlight: Store clothes in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause colours to fade and weaken fabric fibres over time.

Hang clothes properly: Invest in quality hangers that provide adequate support to garments. Use padded or wooden hangers for delicate items like suits, dresses and knits. Avoid using wire hangers, as they can cause garments to lose their shape. Don't hang wet clothes on hangers - they can stretch.

Use garment bags: For long-term storage of formal wear or seasonal clothing, consider using garment bags to protect items from dust, insects, and moisture.

Rotate clothing: Rotate your wardrobe seasonally to prevent garments from being stored for too long without use. This helps to prevent fabric deterioration and ensures that all pieces are worn regularly.

Avoid overcrowding: Avoid cramming clothes into storage containers or closets. Overcrowding can cause wrinkles, stretching and distortion of fabric fibres. Leave some space between garments to allow for air circulation.

Store leather items properly: Leather garments should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use padded hangers to maintain their shape and avoid folding, as creases can become permanent.

Does how you wash clothes make a difference?

What exactly makes a gentle wash gentle? For delicate fabrics, you should always use cool to lukewarm water. (Hot water isn't needed unless you are concerned about bacteria and diseases like COVID-19). 

Pro tip: Be wary of wringing out your wet clothes. It can seriously alter the shape of your garments.

Other options

Wash your stuff less. The only clothes that should always be washed after one wear are underwear and sweaty clothes. Most garments worn regularly should be okay to wear two to three times before washing. Unless your denim has a bad habit of stretching out, experts say you should wash them after three or four wears so they age better. You can also throw them in the freezer to kill bacteria.

Spot clean your clothes. To clean a spot, start by removing any excess spillage and blot away as much moisture as possible with a paper towel or hand towel. NO RUBBING. Use some stain remover or gentle detergent on just the stained spot. Let it air dry or use cool air to speed up the process.

Air dry. Hang your clothes outside, Italian style. For heavier items that could stretch when hanging, lay them out flat on a surface to dry.

When should you dry clean?

Read the care tags! Don't be so quick to adhere to every garment's dry clean only tag - there's lots of chemicals involved that lurk on dry-cleaned wool, cotton and polyester. Plus, lots of brands put those tags on when they lack confidence in our ability to properly and gently wash our clothes.

If it is made of wool, linen, silk, cotton or cashmere - which is likely a majority of your closet - these fabrications can handle gentle hand washes so long as you pre-treat and single wash anything with stains, as well as wash items in groups determined by fabrication and colour.

If you aren't 100% sure what exactly a garment is made of, you can always test a little spot under the sink water to see if you get a ton of colour bleeding, warping or shrinkage before going all in.

If your garment has any fancy embellishments, flocking or beads attached by glue then you should probably take it to the cleaners if it's not just in need of a little spot clean.

Pro tip: When you find yourself at the dry cleaners, you can try asking for alternatives like a liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, which uses pressurized CO2 mixed with other gentle cleaning liquids as opposed to perc.  Another option is requesting a wet cleaning method , a wash that resembles a normal washing machine but utilises special soaps and conditioners for an extra gentle wash.

How do you know when a broken item is repairable, or when it's no longer usable?

It's important to always assess the extent of the damage. Small tears, missing buttons, loose hems or minor stains are usually repairable with basic sewing skills or by taking them to a tailor. 

Considering the condition of the fabric is also important. For example, if the fabric is in good shape apart from the damaged area, it may be worth repairing. 

However, if the fabric is severely worn out or faded in multiple places, it may not be worth repairing. Also, some types of damage such as large holes, extensive fraying or irreparable stains may render the garment unusable or not cost-effective to repair. 

Finally, it's important to consider the sentimental value of the item. If the piece holds sentimental value or is a high-quality piece, you may just want to hold on to it and invest in repairs.

If the item is no longer usable, you could upcycle or repurpose it. Get creative and turn the item into something new. Some ideas include turning old jeans into shorts, using fabric scraps for quilting or crafts, or transforming a worn-out tee into a cleaning rag. 

Donation is another option. If the clothing item is still in decent condition despite the damage, consider donating it to a local charity or thrift store as some organisations accept damaged clothing for recycling or repurposing.

Finally, look for textile recycling programmes in your area. Many communities have textile recycling centres or programmes that accept old clothing, even if it's damaged, to be recycled into new textiles or other products.

How about shoes?

Like clothing, extending the wear of your shoes requires proper care and maintenance. Some ideas include rotating your shoes between different pairs of shoes every day to allow each pair to air out and recover their shape between wears. 

Clean your shoes regularly to remove dust, dirt and stains. 

It's also a good idea to apply waterproofing spray to protect your shoes from water, stains, snow and other environmental damage. Like clothing, it's important to attend to any signs of damage or wear as soon as possible, replacing worn-out soles, repairing loose stitching, and fixing damaged heels to prevent further deterioration. Definitely consider taking your shoes to a professional cobbler for these regular repairs! 

By Connor Sephton , news reporter

Bitcoin has suffered its biggest monthly loss since June 2022 - amid signs that market euphoria is starting to cool.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency saw its price plunge by almost 15% in April.

Even though we're just 12 hours into a brand-new month, Bitcoin is continuing to fall further.

This digital asset is often valued in dollars rather than pounds - and certain price points tend to have psychological significance for traders.

Over the past few weeks, Bitcoin had successfully managed to avoid a big fall under $60,000 (about £48,000).

But all of that changed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

After the $60,000 threshold crumbled, a sharp drop to $57,000 soon followed.

So... with Bitcoin down 7% over the past 24 hours, what happens next?

Well - traders are now engaged in what can best be described as an arm wrestle.

If Bitcoin manages to hold stable around $57,000, its value may start to recover.

But if selling pressure grows as American investors start to wake up and see what's happened, further declines are to be expected.

Bitcoin has now fallen by 22% since hitting an all-time high of $73,750 in March - which technically puts this cryptocurrency in a bear market.

However, avid enthusiasts will insist this is nothing more than a healthy correction, and Bitcoin's longer-term prospects are good.

One thing is clear: this is a volatile asset, and investors should only put in whatever they can afford to lose.

In what seems to be becoming a daily occurrence, four more lenders have announced mortgage rate rises.

Halifax, BM Solutions and Virgin are all doing so for the second time in around a week. They're joined by Nottingham Building Society.

Halifax are increasing rates on purchase products by up to 0.2%; BM Solutions by up to 0.24%. These begin tomorrow.

Virgin increased rates on products between 0.08% and 0.2% yesterday evening, while Nottingham has lifted rates this morning by up to 0.25%.

Mortgage rates have spiked in the last two weeks as financial markets have moved from pricing in a base rate cut in June to thinking it will come in August. Expectations of three cuts this year are now two.

The backdrop is sticky inflation in the US - and concern the global and domestic battle against rising prices isn't over yet.

Skipton had actually announced some decreases - but any optimism from this proved momentary.

Dariusz Karpowicz, director at Albion Financial Advice, told Newspage: "The atmosphere in the mortgage market is rather grim, with major players like Halifax, BM Solutions, Virgin and Nottingham Building Society repeatedly raising their fixed rates.

"This pattern of frequent rate hikes, sometimes occurring multiple times within a week, is casting a shadow over market sentiment. 

"The anticipated 'spring bounce' is nowhere in sight; instead, we're witnessing a continuation of mortgage woes. 

"Higher rates are expected to dampen buyer enthusiasm and potentially delay any positive momentum. 

"As for when borrowers can expect relief, it hinges on broader economic stabilisation. For now, the outlook remains cautious and subdued."

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