Magnificent seven ways to save during Christmas prep

Big Christmas savings

Don't go overboard on presents (Photo: Shutterstock)

We all look forward to Christmas, but it can be a time of anxiety if you are on a tight budget.

For many, Christmas is an annual highlight looked forward to every year; a chance to indulge in delicious food, spend quality family time, drink what you like and, of course, enjoy an abundance of presents and surprises. However, Christmas can also be a time when people are overwhelmed and stressed.

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Christmas is an expensive time of the year for anybody, especially for people who may have lost their jobs or have been left financially struggling over the last few months. The money saving experts at www.Alertr.co.uk have put together a list of tips to help you save money and prep for Christmas, in order to avoid a lasting effect on our savings.

1 Start buying/prepping early in the year

Start buying and prepping early in the year for Christmas spending (Photo: Shutterstock)

One of the worst things you can do when it comes to trying to save money is to forget about Christmas.

In other words, don’t bury your head in the sand and then be shocked when you have to dip into those beloved savings two weeks before the big day. Starting to prepare early in the year allows you to gradually get all the things you need for Christmas without having such an impact on your monthly income.

2 Don’t go overboard on presents

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Christmas can still be the most fantastic time of the year without having to spend thousands of pounds on the latest game console or smartphone. Create a gift giving culture that allows you to spend less on each other, yet still appreciate the thought and effort put into getting the gifts.

3 Make a budget

Make a budget for Christmas spending (Photo: Shutterstock)

This one ties in with the previous two and might seem obvious to some; but it’s surprising how few people budget their Christmas spending. Set out a certain amount to spend on each of your friends and family members and try not to exceed that limit.

4 And you can drop some of those silly traditions

Drop the silly tradition of sending Christmas cards to people you hardly know is a good way to save cash (Photo: Shutterstock)

Everyone’s guilty of holding onto silly things because of the sentiment or tradition, but if we’re honest, some things could be scrapped. Christmas cards are a good example, is there really any need to send hundreds of cards to people you aren’t that close with, or do you do it because your parents always did it.

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This isn’t suggesting scrapping all the things you love about Christmas, just cutting down on the nonessential things.

5 Another tip is to sell your old things

A really easy way to keep you saving and still buy all the necessary things for Christmas.

Think about all those presents you’ve been given over the years that you’ve never used or that garden equipment in the garage you don’t use. If you can manage to sell some of these unwanted items in the lead up to Christmas, it will allow you to buy the things you want without making a dent in the savings.

6 Remember, look for deals and offers

There are many sites that have year-long offers and discounts on a huge variety of products. If you use them to their fullest potential you can get yourself some fantastic deals, particularly on Christmas decorations and treats. Even tracking your products on sites like Alertr will help ensure you never have to buy an item at full price again.

7 And last but not least, take advantage of post-Christmas sales

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This is possibly the best way to save yourself money around the festive period, but it does require some efficient planning.

The Christmas sales in January are without a doubt the best time to buy anything festive, prices drop to a fraction of the original price because shops need to get rid of everything before they bring in the new seasons stock.