Save Money in the run up to Christmas

Has the thought of Christmas got you worried already? How do you fund gifts for the kids, all that food, a few new clothes… the list can seem endless? Well, we’ve got some simple ways to save which will help you, and the sooner the start the easier this Xmas will be on your purse.

Planning ahead
Make a list. Spend some time in the next few days noting down what you will need to buy for Christmas. It may seem strange making a list in advance but this can really help you avoid too many impulse purchases. Divide your list by topics: food, sticking presents, family gifts, decorations etc.

Why not make a few purchases each week to put in your Christmas box? This works well for everything from cards and wrapping paper to non-perishable foods like stuffing mix and even Christmas crackers.

Making your own cake and pudding can help you spread the cost too: buy a few ingredients each week then have a fabulous family ‘stir up Sunday’ at the beginning of December. Preload BaBeeCard and you can make even bigger savings on Christmas food at your favourite supermarkets including Sainsburys and Asda. There are discounts of up to 25% on wine too.

Reuse and decorate
What can you reuse? Resist the temptation to buy new decorations every year and check on last year’s decs first.

Get crafty and set the kids to make some decorations too. This will create happy memories as well as amusing them in the first few days of the school holidays. Think shiny: a little tinfoil, old unwanted CDs and some glitter can make super sparkly tree decorations.

And if you want to get really eco-friendly, don’t buy a tree. Instead, collect a bunch of twigs, decorate with paint and glitter and hang your decorations on those.

Savings on Gifts
Firstly, look at your list of people who you’re thinking of buying Christmas gifts for. Everyone will be having a few financial difficulties this year, so why not suggest that you stick to buying gifts for the kids, or set a price limit. It can be fun trying to find great gifts for under a fiver and may provide much amusement on Christmas day.

Get your bargain hunting head on to make great savings on Christmas gifts. Armed with your list of people you need to buy for, look for discounts, buy one get one free and other offers. Something like 15% off at Crabtree and Evelyn can allow you to treat aunty to a luxury gift at an every day price.

Follow these simple tips and you will find yourself facing January 2010 with a smile, not with a hole in your purse.

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