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We love hearing from you in the comments section of the Money blog and the government's winter fuel payment U-turn caught your attention last week. 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that anyone over state pension age with a yearly income of 拢35,000 or less would get the payment, reversing the unpopular decision last year to make the previously universal support only available to people on pension credit or some other means-tested benefits. 

Here's what some of you had to say on the change...

I want to know why pensioners who earn less than 拢35,000 are entitled to winter fuel payment, yet working people are not? If below 拢35,000 is bad, then give a winter fuel payment to EVERYONE earning that little!
35K

As someone who will now qualify for the winter fuel allowance, having been around 拢5 over the amount to claim it last year, I disagree with the amount you can earn to receive it. Think it should be 拢20,000. Anyone who has 拢35,000 a year doesn't need the money.

Louise Butler

A lot of you asked for clarification on who was now entitled to the payment - particularly whether the 拢35,000 threshold applied to households or individuals. So here's a bit more information: 

If you are a couple both aged under 80, you will receive 拢200 - with each person considered to have received 拢100 each. 

If there is a person aged over 80, the household will receive 拢300 - 拢200 for the person over 80 and 拢100 for the other. 

The person over 80 will repay 拢200 if their income is more than 拢35,000.

A pensioner aged 85 who lives alone will get 拢300, as will a couple of the same age.

MoneySavingExpert says while the payment is per household, the clawback through tax is usually done on an individual basis.

It gave this example: Where there is a 拢200 payment for a two-pensioner household, each is deemed to have received 拢100 each. 

Therefore, if one individual earns 拢40,000 then - as it's above the clawback threshold - their 拢100 will be reclaimed through the tax system.

If the other pensioner earns 拢30,000, as it's below the threshold, they keep their 拢100.

Rachel Reeves has set out the government's departmental budgets this afternoon in her long-awaited spending review. 

While the funding announced today might not bring immediate changes to the money in your pocket, it could have an impact down the line - especially if the chancellor needs to raise cash by increasing taxes. 

Watch her spending pledges below...

We won't know for certain about any tax changes until the autumn budget, which usually takes place in late October or early November (an official date hasn't been set yet). 

But that doesn't mean that experts haven't already been predicting whether taxes will be raised - or benefits cut... 

Tax rises or welfare cuts?

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, said the expansion of the winter fuel allowance, which you can read more about here, would likely be the biggest driver of any speculation on tax rises. 

"Whether the chancellor will now have to raise more money in this year's budget, and how much that will be, won't be clear until nearer the time," he said. 

"There's a lot of economic data to unfold between now and the budget, and better than expected economic growth, or looser monetary policy, could ride to the rescue. 

"But equally, the fiscal position could deteriorate before the budget, leaving an even bigger black hole to be filled by tax rises or welfare cuts. 

"Rachel Reeves will also have to find some money to continue the freeze on fuel duty, unless she wants to be the first chancellor since 2011 to hike the tax." 

Khalaf said there was a "real risk" that pensions tax reform, especially around tax-free cash and tax relief, could return to the headlines. 

'Tax rises all but inevitable'

Alison Ring, one of the directors at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, was almost certain that tax rises are coming due to bolstered defence and health spending. 

"Tax rises are now all but inevitable... no matter what measures are taken between now and the autumn budget," she said. 

"The government's sticking plaster strategy remains an obstacle to addressing the deep-set challenges facing the country. The perilous state of the country's public finances has left Rachel Reeves with little room for manoeuvre." 

There have been strong suggestions that there will be rises in council tax in the future to boost local authorities' spending power to help deliver "renewal" projects in 350 communities.

What has the government said? 

Speaking to Sky News after the spending review, Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said the argument that tax rises would come in the future is "incoherent". 

"This spending review is allocating the money that we have already raised," he said.

The money had been brought in at the budget last year and the spring statement this year, he claimed.

Other ways the spending review will affect you 

The 拢3 bus fare cap

Bus fares outside London will remain capped at 拢3 until at least March 2027. 

Winter fuel payment

After being cut for millions of pensioners this year, the winter fuel payment will return for around nine million people receiving the state pension. 

The payment of up to 拢300 will go to all pensioners in England and Wales who have an annual taxable income of 拢35,000 or less. 

Free school meals

All children who have parents claiming universal credit will be able to claim free school meals from September next year.

Uber has announced it will launch self-driving taxis from spring 2026 in partnership with artificial intelligence start-up Wayve.

It will be taking part in trials of driverless taxis brought forward by the government from 2027 to next year.

The cars, to be available in London, will initially have a human in the driver's seat in case of an emergency, but the trials will transition to being fully driverless.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the move as "the future of transport".

"Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology," she said.

The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add 拢42bn to the economy by 2035, according to the Department for Transport.

But with the UK's first autonomous bus service cancelled in February due to a lack of passengers, customers might need some convincing first.

Uber's existing trials of self-driving taxis are also generally in US locations that have much simpler road layouts than London.

Nintendo has revealed how many Switch 2 consoles have been sold in the first four days since launch.

More than 3.5 million devices have flown off the shelves worldwide since 5 June, making it the most successful debut in the company's history.

The Switch 2 features a larger, more responsive screen than its predecessor and new magnetic controllers, with more powerful processing and graphics performance.

The new system has a GameChat feature, which enables players to voice or video chat as well as share their game screen with friends online while playing a game.

Many bundles of the Switch 2 also come with the long-awaited Mario Kart World game.

But they remain hard to find in the UK, with most retailers selling out within minutes of going live.

Stock Informer, a website that lists availability across retailers, shows that the Switch 2 is sold out across most high street brands, with restocks expected to happen later this week.

While some consoles appear to be available on online marketplaces such as eBay, gaming fans have been warned to be aware of scams.

People are urged to check profiles for negative feedback and selling history, as well as whether the online marketplace offers buyer protection.

Nintendo has also warned customers not to fall for phishing emails after scammers took advantage of millions of fans entering the Nintendo Japan lottery for a chance to buy a Switch 2 by sending out emails asking for personal data.

By James Sillars, business and economics reporter

The government's spending review is not a budget. There is no independent scrutiny by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

As such, there's limited knowledge for financial market investors to take from such an event.

But it was clear before Rachel Reeves got to her feet in the Commons that rises in spending would intensify the risk of a repeat of her spring statement intervention, at the autumn budget to come, to maintain the 拢10bn of so-called fiscal headroom she has given herself.

So perhaps, in the absence of spending cut or tax rise announcements, it will not come as a surprise that the spending review - which will deliver a 2.3% real terms lift to government departments annually up to 2028/9 - was followed by a small spike in government borrowing costs.

Yields - the effective interest rate - on UK benchmark 10-year bonds, known as gilts, rose by 7 basis points to 4.57%.

The pound also held on to a gain of 0.3% versus the dollar and was hovering just below three-year highs above $1.35 as the US currency weakened after domestic inflation data.

It showed a weaker-than-expected increase in the headline rate during May, despite Donald Trump's trade war risking a surge in the pace of consumer price growth.

If the FTSE 100 were to hang on to its current level at the close, it would amount to a record high by the skin of its teeth.

The index is trading at 8,871.96 - that's less than a point above its March record level of 8,871.31.

It's been another big day for the minister in charge of the country's finances.

Rachel Reeves has just set out her spending review, outlining how funding will be divided across government.

This covers all areas and will affect a host of everyday services, from the NHS to education and defence to artificial intelligence.

The last spending review took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and before that, in 2015.

Catch up on all the main announcements in one place here...

You've heard of the Consumer Price Index, but how about the Hotel Price Index?

This yearly report, put together by Hotels.com, analyses domestic and global hotel pricing trends, giving you an overview of where you can find the best value stays.

Two key takeaways from the report are worth noting for anyone planning on joining the growing staycation trend: it's often cheaper to stay at a five-star hotel at home than abroad - but four-star hotels offer the best value for money.

Here's a deeper look at the findings...

Cheapest UK places for a 5-star stay

Anyone looking for luxe options might find a 5-star stay in the UK is their cheapest option. 

Hotel rates are an average of 拢177 a night, 拢45 or 21% less than the average 拢222 for a night abroad. 

You can stay in a 5-star hotel for less than 拢200 a night in these UK destinations:  

• Swindon: 拢56 a night  

• York: 拢170 a night 

• Manchester: 拢171 a night 

• Bath: 拢193 a night 

• Newcastle: 拢195 a night 

Cheapest UK places for a 4-star stay

Based on the analysis, 4-star hotels offer the best value for money for anyone wanting to upgrade where they're staying. 

They cost 41% more than 3-star properties on average, while 5-star hotels cost 63% than 4-star hotels on average.

The booking website found the best value for domestic 4-star stays were in Aberdeen, Derby and Milton Keynes - all of which have rates under the 4-star average of 拢110 a night.  

Going international

For Britons wanting to go abroad, note that international rates have risen by 5% in the past year to an average of 拢140 a night - compared to 拢97 a night for the average UK hotel.

Nightly prices increased in Tokyo (up 15%), Seville (13%) and Madrid (13%). 

But prices were found to have fallen by up to 7% in three popular places - Dublin, Orlando and Las Vegas.

And the following cities, which have all risen in popularity in the past year, have 5-star hotels for under 拢200 a night on average: 

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 拢108

• Bangkok, Thailand: 拢123

• Prague, Czech Republic: 拢136

• Istanbul, Turkey: 拢137

• Doha, Qatar: 拢173

"For price-conscious travellers in today's economy, the Hotel Price Index offers a rare, data-driven lens into where your money goes furthest. It鈥檚 like a travel cheat sheet - revealing where to splurge, where to save, and where luxury quietly costs less," said Melanie Fish, vice-president of global PR and Hotels.com's travel expert. 

"Cities like Bangkok, Budapest and Bristol stand out for offering top-rated stays across all star levels, proving that great travel doesn't have to come with a high price tag." 

Rachel Reeves is delivering her spending review - setting each government department's budget for the coming years.

That likely means significant cash for Labour's priorities like the NHS, defence and transport - but no doubt some will be squeezed due to the ailing public finances.

Follow full coverage - including reaction and analysis from our correspondents and experts - in the Politics Hub...

New customers at Chase Bank can earn 5% interest if they open an easy access saver account - one of the highest paying accounts on the market. 

To get the rate, customers must open the account within 31 days of joining the bank. 

The rate is made up of a 2.75% variable rate and a 2.75% bonus fixed for 12 months - it's important to note that while the bonus is fixed, the variable rate may change if interest rates fall. 

Money blog regular and personal finance expert from  Anna Bowes said: "The underline rate, which is currently 2.75% AER, is variable and tracks at 1.5% below the Bank of England base rate.

"So, if there are any further base rate cuts, the overall rate will fall."

While the deal is offering a competitive rate, Bowes pointed out that Santander's Edge Saver Account (Issue 3), which is linked to the Santander Edge Current Account, pays more at 6%, but only on balances of up to 拢4,000.

"There's no maximum with this new Chase account, which is unusual as it is offering such a competitive rate - but good news," she added. 

The boost comes after Chase made the unpopular decision to cut some of its cashback deals from its debit card.