Posted on December 17, 2015 at 7:16 am by BeeMyMinder
10 money saving tips for Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the yeaaar… and the most expensive too! People tend to go a bit wild at Christmas and spending can become out of hand. As you know BeeMyMinder are all about saving money where we can, so we’ve put together some top tips for you to include in your household budget planner this Christmas.
Make a list and check it twice
Impulse shopping can be very dangerous. We advise working out what you’re buying for who and making a list. This way you can go through, ticking off as you buy and keep track of who you’ve bought for. Without making a list you may forget what you’ve purchased and find yourself overbuying for people.
Decide who you’re buying for
It’s very easy to get carried away with Christmas presents and we all like to treat our loved ones, but how much is too much? There’s not a written rule that you have to buy for everyone, you can decide.
Chat with your friends and family about whether you’re exchanging gifts at all or set a price limit. You could also discuss a ‘children only’ buying rule or alternatively do a Secret Santa between adults. This can really help reduce the costs over the festive period.
Work out a budget and stick to it
We find setting a budget for your Christmas extremely useful and will help you avoid overspending. Incorporate it into your household budget planner and cut it down into sections, setting a limit for food/drink and gifts for family and friends. If you want to go into further detail, set a budget for each individual you’re buying for.
However, it’s all well and good setting a budget on paper, but the other half of the battle is to stick to it. By doing so you’ll see significant savings, which you’ll thank us for later!
Shop online and compare prices
Before you rush into buy something, take a look online to see if you can get gifts and decorations for a cheaper price elsewhere. They may have an online exclusive offer or sale, so it’s worth double-checking before you buy.
Also if you buy online you can avoid the manic crowds when you’re shopping and get your gifts delivered to your door or work!
Check out the sales
Just because the prices have been discounted, it doesn’t mean that the gift is any less thoughtful or quality. Many retailers tend to put on sales before Christmas as well as after, so it’s worth braving them to bag yourself some deals!
We’ve tried and tested this too, so you can take our word for it.
Make the most of vouchers and discount codes
Many retailers give you a voucher along with your receipt after you’ve bought from them. Before you chuck your receipts away or stuff it in a bag, double check if you’ve been handed a voucher and store it in a safe place.
Whether it’s a £2.50, £5.00 or £10 voucher, every little discount will help you make significant savings over Christmas.
Switch supermarkets
You may have your favourite go-to supermarket, but they might not give the goods when it comes to pricing. Before you do all of your shopping in one place, spend an hour out of your evening to research which supermarket offers the cheapest, good quality goods. Don’t forget to check out any petrol savings when you shop at certain supermarkets too!
And remember, when it comes to food, it doesn’t have to be the most expensive to be the tastiest.
Get crafty
Regardless of whether the purse strings are tight this Christmas, making a gift is such a great idea. Not only is it thoughtful and personal, but it can also be a cheaper option. Channel your creativity, get crafty and save the pennies.
Try own brands
You can still enjoy the luxuries of Christmas food with supermarket own brands, you just need to find the right one. All supermarkets nowadays have their own brand food with some winning over branded products. Again, like we said, it’s not about how expensive the product is, it’s about the taste.
Don’t overbuy on food
It’s very easy to overestimate the amount of food you’ll need over Christmas. If this relates to you most Christmases, try and limit how much you’re going to buy by creating a list and working it out logically.
If you physically can’t help yourself from overbuying food and drink, be sure to keep the leftovers and make it last.
We hope you’ve found these tips useful and we’d love to know if they’ve helped you save money over Christmas. January is the time for organisation, so if you feel like you need reminding when it comes to policies, please get in touch.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
