Bargain Hunter: EE customers feel the power with the company's free charging scheme

EE has an answer to the problem of flat batteries (AFP/Getty Images)

It's so annoying when your phone or tablet runs out of power and you're nowhere near a charger. But that problem could largely become a thing of the past for EE customers. The mobile phone company is to hand out free, portable smartphone chargers.

Even better, if your EE Power Bar has been used to charge a device and has no power left when you need it, you can swap it for a fully charged replacement at any EE store nationwide, for free, and on an unlimited basis.

In theory, at least, it means that as long as you're close to a store during opening hours, you never need be without power for your phone or tablet again.

The free-to-hire Power Bar is being offered to all active customers on mobile and broadband plans in the next few weeks.

To get it, mobile customers must text POWER to 365. Broadband customers must text JOIN plus your EE landline number to 60005 and follow the instructions provided. Texts cost 35p. Non-customers can also join up but will have to pay a £20 fee.

Does shopping duty free mean better value?

If you're flying out of the country, is it still worth checking out duty-free for a bargain? To find out, Cheapflights.co.uk compared the prices from nine of the UK's biggest airports against 12 of the biggest retailers.

When it comes to fragrances, the traditional gift purchase in airport shops, it seems buying online or in the high street is better value. For instance, while a 200ml CK One by Calvin Klein was £36.30 in duty-free, it's currently on sale in Boots for just £24.99.

The same could be true of booze. A one-litre bottle of Gordon's gin costs £17.99 at duty-free; yet you can buy it for just £17 at Morrison's at the moment. Chocolate too, was found to be cheaper at home, with a 400g Toblerone bar costing just £4 at supermarkets, but £6 at duty-free.

But there are bargains to be had, according to the research, with both cigarettes and sunglasses proving cheaper in duty-free. Cigarettes are often more than half the price you'd be charged in supermarkets, while a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer's was £104.15 in duty-free compared to between £125 and £170 in UK stores.

The drinks can be on you this Easter weekend

If you're looking for cheap drink, Bargain Booze, which has more than 600 stores across the country, has a range of Easter offers until Monday 6 April.

If you feel like celebrating, for instance, bottles of Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne are down from £33.49 to £19.99.

Get away from it all with a big discount on city breaks

Novotel is offering 30 per cent off city breaks at its 33 hotels with one-night stays starting at £61, including breakfast. It's available on trips from now until 6 September as long as you book by 22 June.

Got any deals or discounts to share with readers? Send details and deadlines to your money@independent.co.uk