6 Tips on How to Budget For Christmas

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I think the majority can hold their hands up and say they spend way too much at Christmas time. Whether that’s stocking up on food like it’s going out of fashion, or buying the Nik Naks to fill the family stockings, to ultimately bulk the present selection! As families grow so does the gift list too and it’s really easy for a Christmas budget to get out of hand but there are ways to save and cut back on things without looking like a scrooge!!!

It’s difficult to tell your 5 year old that she should be celebrating the real meaning of Christmas instead of going through the Argos book circling anything and everything she sees – but it’s a hard sell. Although we do talk about the real meaning of Christmas, I personally want them to embrace the festivities and excitement of Santa coming for as long as possible, because it doesn’t last forever. So here are some of my money saving tips for Christmas that will allow you to save money on gifts and plan for the most expensive time of the year!

Saving For Christmas

Use Price Comparision Sites For Online Shopping

The internet can be a minefield when it comes to finding the best deal for that new Barbie that your youngest always screams at the television and says that she wants every time it pops up on an advert. I sometimes feel like I’ve been scrolling for ever but idealo is one of Europe’s leading price comparison portals that houses over 180 million offers from 30,000 shops that we can compare with the click of a button!

It will save you so much time trying to find the best deal because you have the majority of sellers in one place. Not only can you see historic prices too so you know what the average price is and has been for the past 3, 6 or 12 months too!

Set a Price Alert

I love that idealo lets you set up a price alert too so if you find something that is perhaps currently out of your budget or you don’t have the funds just yet, you can always set up to receive an email keeping you informed of any price changes and if it drops within what you can afford then you can grab it immediately!

Their app even allows you to receive push notification straight to your phone of any price changes and you can even scan a barcode to compare prices whilst you’re out and about if needs be!

Now is the time to grab that Argos book , type into idealo every single thing your child has circled and get those price alerts set up!

Regifting

Is there anything that you were gifted last year that you just haven’t used? Not intentionally just perhaps you received a candle that doesn’t really go with your decor or a photobook that you know you won’t use. There’s nothing wrong with regifting if it’s something that you just haven’t used or you have no use for. There’s no need to leave that gift you received years ago in the cupboard gathering dust… get rid!

Charity Shop Shopping

A lot of people have clear outs before Christmas and it’s the perfect time to go charity shop shopping for Christmas gifts. You are also donating to charity too so win win!

Christmas Savings Plan

Although I’m not a massive fan of Christmas saving plans where you buy all of your toys from one place, meaning you are likely NOT getting the best deal and effectively overspending. However, I am all for saving plans, in particular supermarkets that set this up for you. We always spend way too much on food but if I can start saving now and adding a couple of £’s onto a card between now and Christmas, every time I’m shopping anyway, will prevent me from overspending or putting it on the credit card!

Car boot sale

As I’ve already touched on, clear outs are popular between September and the end of November, so why not have a car boot sale? It allows you to get rid of things you no longer use/need and you get the money in your back pocket to spend on other things! If you aren’t a fan of regifting, selling on is another way of getting rid of unwanted gifts too.

Only Buy for the Children & Do secret Santa!

Many large families nowadays draw names to keep Christmas expenses in line. Some only gift to their children others choose to not gift at all! Why not make the suggestion to family and friends that you all do the same this year? And if there is still a lot of children in the family why not consider doing secret Santa where everyone pulls a name out of a hat to see who they will be buying for this year? It will save everyone in the family a ton of money too!

I hope these tips have helped you plan for Christmas and prepare your Christmas budget. If you need help with money for Christmas be sure to check out some of my other posts including how to make money from your hobbies.

Remember enjoy the festive season but stay within your budget… it will be a happier new year if it starts debt free! Feel free to PIN to read again later!