Ever asked yourself - How can I have a great Christmas on a budget? Well, Christmas is notoriously a time when people spend tons of money and rack up tons of debt buying Christmas gifts for their loved ones. Many times, without really having a plan to pay off debt.
If you’re on a tight budget but more determined than ever to make the most of Christmas, here are some tips to help you avoid starting the new year with a financial hangover.
Track Your Spending
So, lots of people spend like crazy throughout December and never check in on their budget. They just think, I’ll worry about it in January. Future you have some advice here: Don’t. Do. That. Track your expenses as you go, so you don’t end up overspending and ruining this month’s and next month’s budget.
Hunt and Take Advantage of Coupons
Make a list of who you need to buy for and whenever you see goods at decent prices, grab, wrap, and stuff 'em in a Christmas cupboard.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts and deals on our Vouchers and Sales pages. We'll also let you know the best via the weekly email.
For cheap yet thoughtful gifts, the Couponreals deals page lists the top photo book, canvas, card and calendar discount codes.
Use Cashback Sites
With sites such as Quidco or TopCashback, you can earn money as you shop. Once you've set up an account, click on the retailer you want to buy from. You'll be taken to the retailer's website to shop as usual but your purchase is tracked and you will earn a percentage of it back. The amount of cashback you earn varies, but it could be anything between 1% and 12%.
Plan Every Meal
Don’t be duped into buying more food than you need. If a ‘buy one, get one half price’ offer is genuinely good value for you, go for it, but if you don’t actually need two of the items, avoid! At Christmas, everyone tends to over-cater on the food front. We love the food portion calculator at WRAP's website - it's ideal for working out quantities. Swapping branded products for own-brand can make a significant difference to your weekly food bill, too.
Give Fewer Gifts
As you’re in the spirit of trimming the tree, trim down that Christmas list while you’re at it. Of course, you do have a bit of holiday-induced obligation to deal with. You can’t pass around gifts at family Christmas and be like, “Uh, sorry, Cousin Scott . . . You’re the only person I couldn’t find anything for.”
And if you want to save even more money, have a kind chat with your family members. Are you all giving just to give? Do you all want to cut back? A clear conversation about skipping presents this year for a shared meal (if you’re able) and stocking stuffers instead could be just the thing both your family and your finances need.
Order Online Early
Ordering online means shopping from the convenience of your very own couch as you roast chestnuts on an open fire. That’s the kind of multitasking we’re all about. Cross-check the price on that walks-and-barks plush puppy across multiple stores without ever putting on real pants.
But make sure you do this early enough to get the cheapest online shipping options—and remember shipping is taking way longer this year. The last thing you need is a budget ruined by all those additional rush order costs.
