Top 10 thrifty tips for Christmas
Everyone knows that money can be tight at Christmas time, so we've put together a list of 10 tips to help you manage your money over the festive period. Here's how to have a fantastic Christmas without the money worries!
Be prepared
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Now is the time to be planning for the holidays. That's not to say you should have all your gifts bought and wrapped before the end of November, but there are things you can do to prepare.
1. Have a clear out: You may not want to buy on eBay and at car boot sales, but you can certainly sell there. What about that foot spa you got last year and never used? Or that dress you've only worn once? Have a clear out to get a cash injection before Christmas and make space for this year's presents!
2. Cut back on non-essentials: Take a look at your monthly costs and see if there's anything you can cut back on. Try taking homemade sandwiches into work, reducing the number of takeaways you eat, and not buying a newspaper every day. These little things can have a big impact in the lead up to Christmas.
3. Set a budget: It's easy to go overboard at Christmas time, so try to set a budget. Decide on costs for each aspect of the holiday, such as food, decorations, gifts for the kids and gifts for friends. Knowing what you can afford and having an amount to stick to will help you stay in control of your money.
Food
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Food can be one of the biggest expenditures at Christmas, but there are ways you can reduce the cost, or spread it around so that you don't end up with one massive food bill.
4. Start buying now: Starting now, add one or two festive items to your weekly food shop so you aren't left paying for everything at once. Go for tinned items and foods that you can freeze (such as vegetables) and snacks with a long shelf life (like the trusty, long-lasting Christmas pudding).
5. Get help from family: If you're having people to stay this year, why not spread the cost between you? Put each person in charge of bringing something for the table, so the burden of feeding everyone doesn't fall entirely on you. Let your guests know that a Christmas cake, some roasting potatoes and a stalk of brussels sprouts will be much more useful than enough bottles of wine to last you into next year!
6. Make the most of your turkey: It's the centrepiece of your Christmas table and it can be a big cost, so make sure you squeeze out every ounce of value. You can turn the leftovers into turkey sandwiches, casseroles and soups, and boil up the carcass to make some tasty stock!
Gifts
Image source: Ruslan Kokarev
Presents can really set you back, so establish who you're buying for and make sure that you send them out on time.
7. Know who you're buying for: It's a good idea to talk to the people you are considering buying gifts for: is there anything they really want or will you just be spending money just for the sake of it? If neither of you mind, you could cross each other off your lists and both save some cash. If you have a big family or group of friends, you could suggest doing a Secret Santa or only buying gifts for the children.
8. Check postage dates: Postage is one of the hidden costs of Christmas and you don't want to pay over the odds. If you're planning to order presents online, check the delivery estimates so you don't end up buying last minute and paying extra for your presents to arrive on time. You can also look on the Royal Mail website to find out the last recommended posting dates for each class of post.
9. Handmake Christmas cards: You can make really pretty Christmas cards with just a few supplies, so why not have a go at handmaking your cards this year?
10. Use the January sales: The January sales are a great place to stock up on smaller gifts and stocking fillers for next year. Buy small presents in the sales and squirrel them away until next year - you'll thank yourself by the time next Christmas rolls around.
We wish you a merry, thrifty Christmas!