Christmas Money Saving Tips
When people say the word Christmas it can mean a time of joy and celebration or dread and anxiety. If you fall into the latter category it might be because the cost of Christmas is simply too much.
Here are a few ways you can save money and alleviate the stress:
No. 1 – Cut down on who you buy for
We now have an agreement with friends that we no longer buy presents for their children; there are simply too many of them and they all get plenty anyway.
If we meet up we do a simple Secret Santa and everyone is happy with a small £5 gift.
Need a little help making your decision? Click here.
No. 2 – Have a clear out first
If you’ve got good quality toys lying forgotten why not sell them on eBay to people looking for some stocking filler bargains and make yourself some money in the process?
Great for jigsaws, dressing up outfits, Lego and much more.
No. 3 – The next one is obvious; buy on eBay!
Young children won’t know the difference between brand new and nearly new so look out for used bargains.
Lots of toys come around in circles and you might find that their current obsession isn’t stocked in shops anymore, eBay is a great place to find those hidden treasures.
The Money Saving Expert has devised 41 eBay and Second-Hand Buying Tips. Tricks & tools to hunt hidden bargains. Perfect to help at Christmas!
No. 4 – Look out for and share tips with others
The Money Saving Expert forum is a great place to find ideas and is packed with advice and links.
The mutual sharing of these ideas can prove to offer a great way of saving money and tapping into the winning ideas of others.
No. 5 – Use WhatsApp to save the phone bill
It’s great to talk to family and friends in distant places at Christmas but to save you spending the whole time checking your watch make sure you use a service like WhatsApp to talk free of charge.
Beware of these hidden dangers though.
No. 6 – Build excitement with NoradSanta
We warn you though, it’s addictive! From the 1st of December you can track Father Christmas as he makes his progress.
Great fun from Christmas Eve when you can watch him travel the world. Also, a great way for children to learn about the geography of the World.
No. 7 – Use points to pay for presents
Whether it’s Clubcard, Nectar or Advantage the chances are you’ve built up a small fund on your loyalty cards and if you shop carefully you can save a fortune. At Christmas, for example, most Boots gifts qualify for their 3 for 2 offer and by paying with Advantage Points you can have a basket full of gifts free.
Get even more value by following how to boost your Tesco Clubcard points, how do rewards, vouchers and deals work and what changes have been made to the rewards system?
No. 8 – Don’t be tempted by last-minute gifts
We all do it, we finish our shopping, wrap it all up and then keep buying because we think someone hasn’t got enough or one child has more than another.
Stop! No one is going to judge you if their present is a couple of pounds cheaper than someone else’s.
Click here for some great tips to help plan ahead.
No. 9 – Don’t spend a fortune on a turkey
Quite frankly there is nothing wrong with a frozen turkey and if you wait until very close to Christmas you will almost certainly be able to buy one at a discount.
Are you prepared to risk waiting until the last minute? Some of the best deals can be available then. Find out more on the Guardian article ‘Should I take a chance on a last-minute turkey bargain?‘
No. 10 – If you can wait until the sales
If your children or partner need a new coat or clothes or even a TV why not give them an IOU and pick something up in the sales. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing something you have just bought at a discounted rate so wait a couple of weeks and go bargain hunting together; you’ll get more for your money.
The after Christmas sales are now often in full swing before the big day with Black Friday and Cyber Monday offering great value on the run-up to Christmas. Find out more by clicking here.
If you need some quick cash to see you over the Christmas, our short term loans are provided by trustworthy and reliable companies who specialise in lending to those with a poor credit history and offer loans with a low APR compared to other bad credit loans.
To find out more complete our simple online form and you’ll be able to see offers within minutes.
Clare McDonald
As a mother of two, Clare knows the importance of being careful with money, so writes posts from personal experience. Clare also loves to find great deals, so shares her finding here.
