Posted on November 22, 2016 at 12:30 pm by BeeMyMinder
How to Save Money for Christmas
Tis (nearly) the season to be spending, and many households in the UK feel the financial pinch come the New Year.
Analysing the spending habits of the UK, over the Christmas period in 2015, the total sales rose to £75.96bn, with online shopping equating almost a quarter (24.4%) of sales.
Here at BeeMyMinder, we love the Christmas period, and we love to save money. So we’ve created a list of ways that you can save money this Christmas.
Set a budget
One of the first ways to save money at Christmas is to set a budget and stick to it. This could be a set amount for your overall spend, or it could be a limit on how much you spend per-head.
This works especially well if you start saving a few months before. Make sure that you work out how much you’ll need for all the presents, and start putting the money aside each week. A little soon adds up to a lot, and it saves you from using credit cards if you find you’re short on funds on shopping day.
Agree presents in advance
Everybody enjoys a good surprise, but finding out what your friends and family want ahead of time can save you money too. This works especially well if you know someone who’s hard to buy for, but don’t go overboard.
You can still get stocking filler presents, but knowing what someone wants saves you money, and saves them disappointment if it’s not something they need or want.
DIY decorations
A great idea if you’re decorating on a budget. If you have children, then get them involved with making paper-chain or Christmas tree decorations.
If you enjoy having larger Christmas displays, then why not make your own. Fir cones, foliage and holly can all be harvested outside, and give you a greater sense of satisfaction compared to the shop bought alternatives.
Send your Christmas cards early
You shouldn’t have to spend lots of money on First Class stamps over the Christmas period. Sending them early using Second Class stamps keeps the costs down, and you look even more prepared than normal.
If you live close to friends of family, then save even more by hand delivering the cards yourself. This way you won’t have to spend money on stamps, and you get exercise at the same time.
Use vouchers
In the run up to Christmas, retailers increase the price of most goods to make the most of the shopping rush. Take the time to find vouchers that are valid both online and in-store, and keep them in a folder for later use.
Be careful not to be caught up with voucher hunting, some retailers offer promotional discounts for new customers. Clothing retailer H&M offers a discount on shopping whilst you’re in store. All you have to do is sign up to their newsletter, and show the promotional code at the till.
Freeze now; cook later
If you’re hosting Christmas dinner this year, then start the preparation now. Some dishes can be prepared well in advance, frozen and then cooked on the day. For example, homemade soups can be prepared and frozen ahead of time, and will be cheaper than the shop-bought alternatives.
Sell online, buy online
Before you jump in the car and the Christmas shopping begins, take stock of anything you have around your house that you could sell online.
This has two benefits. The first being that you de-clutter your home, and get rid of any unwanted items you haven’t used for a while. The second, any money that you make can be invested into presents or food for Christmas day.
Most online retailers now do accept Paypal as a form of payment, so if you set yourself a target and exceed it, you might not even have to leave the house to get your shopping done.
What do you think? Do you have your own Christmas saving tips? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so let us know on Facebook or Twitter. If you want to start managing your finances, then BeeMyMinder is here to help.
Take a look here at our free online service that’s been designed to help store your financial documents all in one place. For more information on how it works, get in touch with us here.
