12 Saves of Christmas By Jeff Mitchell 9th December 20187th May 2019Jeff Mitchell The High Streets are alive with merry Christmas tunes as they tempt you into spending more than you had planned. So in the face of temptation and hype, let common sense prevail and remember these tips… SET A BUDGET Jot down all you need for Christmas and the cost of each. Add it up. Too much? Go back through and see what you can cut back on. Write it down and maybe buy a bit each week. SAVE The earlier, the better, but it's not too late to start saving. Even if you don't start until late in the year, every pound a week you save will turn into a very handy tenner come Christmas time. KEEP CHRISTMAS SAVINGS APART Save by working to a goal. Divide it by 50 and set money aside each week. Do it for Christmas, holidays and disasters and keep separate running totals. GET ORGANISED Maybe gifts are cheaper online or by mail order, so allow time to receive them. List the food you'll need and in the coming months look out for bargains to stock the cupboard or freezer. CAN'T BUY ME LOVE! Many adults would rather agree not to buy for each other than see loved ones go into debt. And kids don't need the latest must-have toy to make them happy. Think little and many gifts. SHOP AROUND Now you know what you'll need, shop around. This is easiest online but it can be fun in the shops, if you start before the rush. Look out for bargains - but only for what's on your list. GOOD VALUE SCHEMES Save your points on supermarket loyalty cards or buy stamps and use them to take the sting out of the big Christmas shop. Every little helps. AVOID PRICEY SCHEMES Avoid companies flogging Christmas schemes that tie you i to their prices. They're often really expensive. RESIST TEMPTATION In recent years, half of us borrowed a whopping £300 on average to pay for Christmas. The biggest borrowers are often people earning the least. DECK THE HALLS Cheap doesn't mean nasty if you make your own decorations, using cheap but colourful wrapping paper and cotton. And the kids get stuck in too. HOME MADE IS BEST Thrift is a bit of a lost art but can you run up some curtains for someone or sew a draft excluder? What about scrummy buscuits in a fancy tin, or jam, or marzipan fruits? STRETCH THE TURKEY Collect recipes for leftover meat (not just cold meat and curry). Christmas pud can be reused in ice cream sundaes and fudge recipes. Freeze extra goodies for a rainy day. TweetShareWhatsAppEmailShare2 Shares
