Saving Money This Christmas

There’s no doubt the Christmas is an expensive time of the year and even with savings each year I always manage to go over budget no matter how much I try to plan.

So this year I’m looking to save some money over Christmas and I started by making a Christmas gift list and off I went hunting for the lowest prices I can find. This year I have managed to grab a few bargains using price comparison sites with prices being half of that of other retailers.

Don’t feel as though you have to gift everyone, we’ve made that mistake before so this year we’re just buying the children of the family gifts.

Have a clear-out and sell your unwanted items before Christmas, I do this every year and it’s always a relief to have more space (well until your house is full of gifts and toys again)

Don’t go crazy buying everything you see, one thoughtful gift is all it takes.

Hunt out discount codes, for money off and even free delivery codes. I’ve found lots of discount codes on Netvouchercodes.co.uk in the Christmas Category to save me some money this season with some vouchers being up to 80% off.

Get crafty and make your own gifts, this year we’ve been busy making fudge, coffee syrups, chocolate truffles and even marshmallows that we can gift to family members and friends.

Remember you don’t have to buy from the most expensive shops, especially when it comes to children’s gifts. My daughter would be happy with an empty box and a pack of crayons, she doesn’t care about cost.

Stick to your lists, I often find myself adding more to my shopping cart than I need to, especially when it comes to food shopping over Christmas. Do I really need 3 different packs of mince pies and the bottle of plonk that is going to remain in the cupboard for the next 12 months?

Take part in secret Santa’s, they are perfect for larger families, groups of friends and even colleagues. Rather than buying your work mates a present each you can join forces and set a limit on the spend amount.

Remember those January sales which are full of bargains that you can put away for next Christmas. I do it every year and there’s no shame in it, heck I even get my Christmas cards for the following year in the sales.

The Mr has been rather impressed with my frugal Christmas preparations so far, usually around this time of year he can be a grumpy Christmas scrooge but he seems rather excited and even wants to put the tree up now! (I must be doing something right)