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Don't be broke this Christmas
This year, avoid the New Year financial headache with our top tips.
This year, avoid the New Year financial headache with our top tips.
In association with John Lewis
Gift ideas and inspiration
You'll find plenty of gifts perfect for your loved ones whatever their age or tastes.
You'll find plenty of gifts perfect for your loved ones whatever their age or tastes.
Christmas hardly comes as a surprise to us, but every year we find ourselves broke with our credit cards maxxed to the limit. But some of the pain could be avoided with a bit of planning ahead. So with the summer holidays out the way it's time to focus on the next big expenditure. Take some tips from Tiscali to help keep your finances on the straight and narrow.
Top tips
- Work out a budget - Decide just how much you can afford to spend without putting yourself in difficulties. Sit down and do it now before you begin to start to feel the pressure of Christmas upon you. Work out how much this means you can afford to spend on each person and then stick to it. Don't be tempted by the little extras.
- Save up - Earmark some money just for Christmas even if you can only save a few pounds a month it can make a big difference. Putting by £20 a month from August to December means that you already have £100 to spend, £50 a month would mean you could have £250. Even better if you can start in January so think about making that one of your New Year Resolutions.If you have only small amounts to save it is even more important that you earn good interest on your savings - especially with rates so low at the moment. It may be a good idea to set up a separate savings account so you are not tempted to spend it on something else. Check out our savings finder tool to ensure that you get the best deal - but make sure it is an account that allows you access to your money when you want it without any kind of penalty.
- Start making lists - One of the most difficult things about Christmas is deciding what to buy. Start taking note of when friends or relatives mention that they like something - this gives you the chance to shop around to get things at the best price - without having to do a last-minute rush.
- Start buying now - If you aren't disciplined enough to start saving then start buying presents now. You may be able to buy one or two items in the sales - but remember sleeveless tops won't necessarily go down well in the middle of December! See the current hot offers in Tiscali shopping which may give you a few ideas. If you buy a few presents each month from now until Christmas it spreads the load on your monthly pay cheque. It also means that you are more likely to find any special toys or games before the shops run out. Have a look at our Top 10 Toys, Top 10 Toys for Boys and Top 10 Toys for Girls. Books are a brilliant thing to buy online - you often get very hefty discounts compared with High Street prices and if you do a bulk order you pay just once for the postage so that does not eat away at the amazing savings you find. CDs, DVDs and videos are another thing that it is easy to buy on the internet - especially as you can pre-order some of the new big releases and here again if you pre-order CDs, DVDs and games you can very often save money.
- Stock up your cupboards - There are plenty of things that you can start buying non-perishable items in advance of Christmas to cut down on the food bills. It is easy to just add the extra item to your supermarket trolley such as crackers, candles or the bottle of sherry that your granny has a tipple for and the brandy you use to set the pud alight. Just put the items away so you don't get tempted - just remember where you have hidden them when the time comes.
- Make your own - In planning ahead you can make your own Christmas cake and Christmas pud - Christmas cake improves with being fed the odd drop of brandy. If you need a recipe for either the Christmas Cake or Christmas Pudding you can use the Tiscali recipe which is one that our Lifestyle editor's Granny has used for years and has been passed on almost as a family heirloom! If you are skilled and talented you could make some of your own presents. Instead of giving the usual smellies to the woman next door why not give a jar of your own home-made jam or herb vinegar or handmade chocolate truffles.. If you don't have such skills you could think about doing an evening class starting in September in pottery or basketmaking and have fun and produce some gifts as well. Or you could get your children geared up to making your Christmas cards. If this is not your kind of thing then don't worry.
- Plan to get away - If you can't face another Christmas with the in-laws then book your holiday now. Many of the cut price airlines are cheaper the further you book in advance. Booking early also gives you a few months to save up and pay for your flights and accommodation. Check out the Tiscali travel section now.
- Pay off your debts - If you have come back from holiday and are overdrawn or owe too much on your credit card make sure you pay it off before you start adding to the debts with Christmas presents. Make sure you minimise your debts by ensuring that you are paying the lowest rate of interest possible. Check out the current offers on 0% interest cards - so while you are paying back you are paying no interest. Or consider taking out a cheap loan which charges a much lower rate than you bank does on overdrafts.
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