The festive season is known for being a time of joy and cheerfulness. Unfortunately though, many households in the UK are feeling quite the opposite about Christmas this year. Why? Because of the effect that it has on their bank balance.
There is no doubt that Christmas is the most expensive time of the year and with budgets already stretched, many feel that their wallet simply won’t be able to cope with the onslaught they are about to be subjected to. With this in mind we’re sure you’re keen to save money wherever possible this Christmas which is why we’ve put together this article. Here are 12 easy ways to save money this Christmas period:
1. Make a Family Agreement
One way of saving significant amounts of money is by sitting down with your family and discussing the subject of buying each other presents. The chances are you’re all in a similar position regarding your finances, so you’ll all be keen to reduce costs wherever possible. One way of doing this is to put a limit on the amount you spend on each other; however with the cost of goods these days, sticking to this limit rarely happens. A better idea may be to do something like a ‘secret Santa’; they’re a lot more fun and involve you only spending around £10 on a gift.
Alternatively you could agree to only buy for children; they’re much easier to buy for and they’ll appreciate it too!
2. Don’t Get Tied to One Supermarket
While getting all of your festive food, drinks and decorations from one supermarket is convenient, it may not be the most cost effective. It’s easy to get carried away with decorations, tableware and crackers, but realistically they’re only going to get thrown away, stores like Poundland are a great place to pick up these types of items at a fraction of the supermarket price.
3. Get Guests to Bring a Bottle
A few decent bottles of wine and an assortment of alternatives can soon add up to £50. By getting guests to bring their own bottle you could find your festive food and drink bill shrinking significantly. You could also apply this to things like deserts, crackers and evening snacks; the chances are if you’ve been kind enough to host this year, guests will be kind enough to contribute.
4. Use eBay
EBay is not only a great tool for finding discounted goods but it can also be a great way to make money to fund the festivities. Remember, a lot of people are in the same position as you and are looking to reduce the cost of Christmas and eBay is often their first port of call. This means you should get a good price for your old goods.
5. Take Advantage of Cashback Sites
If you’re someone who does the majority of their shopping online then cashback sites are a great way to save a bit of money. You simply sign up and then search for retailers, buy products and then earn a percentage cashback (sometimes up to 10%) on purchases. All cashback you earn is held in your account and can be withdrawn as and when you like.