This time of year can never quite make up its mind. One minute you’re lighting the barbecue to squeeze a little bit more out of summer; the next, you’re thinking about darker evenings, getting the house ready for autumn and – whisper it – Christmas. Which makes a £250 voucher for Waitrose or John Lewis particularly well timed. One lucky winner will receive £250 to spend at either retailer, with plenty of ways to put it to good use.

At Waitrose, you could start by making the most of any barbecue weather that comes our way. Waitrose is currently running a 3 for £12 barbecue offer, making it easier to stock up if you’re feeding a crowd or refusing to put the barbecue away until absolutely necessary. Then again, £250 off the weekly shop is not to be sniffed at. As summer gives way to autumn, you could use it to stock the cupboards, plan a few proper Sunday lunches or fill the fridge for a weekend of having people over.

Or you could take your voucher to John Lewis. As the evenings get darker. it could go towards a few additions to make your home feel more autumn-ready, like new bedding, cookware, or cosy lighting. And while we’re reluctant to be the ones to mention it this early, there is also Christmas to consider. If you’d quite like to get some shopping done before December, £250 could cover several gifts at John Lewis, with everything from beauty and fragrance to homeware, fashion, toys and tech. Alternatively, you could spend the lot on one particularly good present. We’ll leave the budgeting strategy to you.

However you’d spend it, entering is straightforward. Add your details to the form at the bottom of the page and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a £250 voucher to use at Waitrose or John Lewis – whether that means one last barbecue, an autumn update or a sizeable head start on Christmas.