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No need to break the bank
Read our top tips on having a cheap Christmas - but one that is still enjoyable and doesn't make you feel like Scrooge.
Read our top tips on having a cheap Christmas - but one that is still enjoyable and doesn't make you feel like Scrooge.
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Christmas can be a very expensive time. Have a look at our tips on saving money without appearing to be Scrooge or feeling as if you are deprived and miserable.
- Make a list of everything else you will need to spend your cash on at Christmas with rough costings - don't forget the parties and evenings out. Set a budget for presents and stick to it - decide on the total budget and then divide it up between recipients so you know how much you will spend on each person and don't overspend. Keep a track on your spending.
- Set a limit - you can easily do this within your own family and perhaps in your wider family - you could find that they are very grateful because they are feeling broke too. For example agree that no one's gift will cost more than £20. You won't lose the spirit of Christmas - it can be more fun and less of a worry about spending a huge amount of money on someone and not being sure if they like their present or not.
- Consider doing Secret Santa among your wider family - so everyone only has to buy one gift.
- For families why not think about buying a present for the whole family rather than each of the individuals - for example a board game.
- Think about giving promises instead of presents – this might work especially well with your partner – with ideas such as a massage, a DIY job done without complaint, a candlelight dinner, washing the car – but can work equally well with friends - for example an evening's babysitting.
- Try to spread your spending over a few months before Christmas. The shops seem to stock up earlier and earlier so you can buy both presents and things like Crackers, cards, wrapping paper, and even Christmas puddings, biscuits and booze - check all use-by dates carefully on any food products.
- Shopping ahead also helps keep a control on your spending – if you do everything at the last minute you are likely to panic and spend more than you intended. Some people even start doing their Christmas shopping in the January sales to make sure they nab a bargain – if this is far too much planning for you start when you get back from your summer holiday and the bills from that are paid off. Just buying the odd thing here or there when you spot something which will make a perfect gift can save you time and money.
- Try not to spend on your credit card - the bill will only come back to haunt you, but make sure you don't go overdrawn either. If you are likely to go overdrawn tell your bank in advance and get them to agree otherwise you will be charged a horrendous rate of interest and for rude letters from the bank as well.
- Compare prices - compare between shops and also online.
- Hand deliver cards where possible - stamps can be expensive - and if you are the creative sort or your children are why not make them and save some money (Tiscali has some print off and colour in cards for the kids).
- Use an artificial tree - you can keep reusing the same tree for many years. If you can't do without a real tree hold on to the last minute you can usually find a bargain. Or buy a small rooted tree that you can use for a few years by putting it outside in its pot after Christmas and bringing it in again the following year.
- If you are hosting Christmas your guests a likely to want to contribute so why not suggest something they could bring - for example someone could bring nibbles or the cheese, or some booze or soft drinks.
- Depending on your talents why not make something – for example chocolates, lemon curd, flavoured oils and vinegars or if you are not a foodie a calendar or something arty and creative or if you are green fingered why not give seeds or cuttings – and if it is the wrong time of year give an IOU for the plants.
- If you are really broke can you find some part time work for a few weeks before Christmas? Many shops and restaurants take on extra staff as does the post office.
- If you are going away or going home for Christmas and using public transport try to make sure you book your tickets as far as possible in advance as they will generally be cheaper.
- Clear out the cupboards and see whether you have anything you don't want but someone else might and then sell it on eBay and raise some cash for your Christmas spending – and likewise if you have unwanted presents after Christmas that you can't return sell those and use the cash to pay off any outstanding credit card bills.
If you do get into financial difficulties go to see a debt counsellor as soon as possible. The longer you leave the problem, the worse it will become. The CCCS advice line offers free debt advice on 0800 138 1111.
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