Christmas Savings 2014

newthrift

I have been popping money in to a saving pot I have, I checked a couple of weeks back and there was £45.00 in already. So each week I keep putting some change in or any little lottery wins ect we get I have started popping it in too. Wasn't sure what to save it for, but think I am going to keep it for Christmas. Although if I see bits and bobs I have started buying them ready and popping them in a present box. Need to keep my eyes peeled for PJ's for SIL, Gloves for my brother & his gf.

Started making lists of hamper ideas ect. I must admit I have found doing hampers last year - although I just wrapped everything and popped them in a pretty bag - worked out cheaper than the year before and people got lots they could use and nice stuff too.

sarahj1986

Christmas for me -


Buying items on sale during the year. I already have a selection of Yankee Candle sets, Philosophy sets, Topman sets, hair accessories etx which I get as and when available


Survey sites, reviews etc etc done online through the year I save these vouchers if I can and use for xmas gifts. Last year I think I managed around £150ish in Boots/Amazon vouchers for presents. Every little helps


Excel sheet and list. I type everybody I need to buy for, budget, ideas, if Ive got anything and also a separate food tab for the food/drink shopping and any other items I might need. I cost it all up and work out how much Xmas will cost me.


Grabbit deals/sales etc all taken advantage off throughout the year


Points events, Boots for example is £50 spend in store and get £12 worth of points. I buy a lot from Boots anyway so I plan my shopping around this day to get the points. I do tend to build up points during the year anyway and can be used for other gifts if you like.

DigForVictory

I'm not completely sure about Park - whereas I have absolute faith in the local Credit Union.

Currently it's birthday season so any Christmas moves made by me would be met with a certain amount of scowling. Summer is holidays (although we have found & bought odd items on holiday that we have not been absolutely certain we could get elsewhere near Christmas at the same price!)

I'm thinking of nominating one son (who is given to squirrelling things too) as my accomplice, so I can't buy & loose things as much...

hilstep2000

I've opened a savings account, and am putting £25 a month in it,
Also saving £2 coins, got £30 last time I looked. Just taken out a funeral plan:rotfl:and got £40 worth os M & S vouchers, so they'll help. Regarding hampers, I always do one for each of my goddaughters. I use Magic Frrebies and Facebook all year, and by the end of the year I've got loads of stuff to put in a baxket that cost me nothing!:T

redbooties

I'm potting all of my change in a sealed tin and as soon as its full I put it in a savings account so far I've saved £133.
I keep my tesco clubcard vouchers to use when they have the double up scheme.
I also save up my nectar points to use, my RBS rewards, swagbucks, quidco and daily mail rewards.
Im determined not to use my credit card this christmas as it takes me most of the year to pay it off.
I'm hoping with all of the above savings that should be enough to buy all of the gifts

sammy_kaye18

I am using my local credit union to save for Christmas
I pay my main bills - Im currently trying to sort out my debts so as long as my main bills are paid Im happy at the minute.
Also my fianc! just got made redundant so I need to be able to save little and often.
The credit union works best for me and I will be putting whatever I have left at the end of the month away for when its needed.
Also Im hoping to put £5 a month aside in food stamps for Tesco so that's £45 by December at least.

Spendless

I've never found making hampers more expensive. For me it's been the opposite, costing a fraction of what they look like I've paid and less than I would have spent on a 'main' present . What sort of things were being put in them? Mine are made by collecting throughout the year on sale items, offers, freebies, etc.

I do find that they are more time consuming, in shopping for and wrapping in as well as taking up more storage space.

I do understand why people buy through hamper clubs, so the money can't be dipped into for other things, even if an emergency happens, I used to do it myself when I was single for this reason, but ever since what happened with Farepak I don't trust them. We now have built up savings but if I hadn't, I like the suggestion of a credit union instead.:)

sammy_kaye18

Spendless wrote: »

I've never found making hampers more expensive. For me it's been the opposite, costing a fraction of what they look like I've paid and less than I would have spent on a 'main' present . What sort of things were being put in them? Mine are made by collecting throughout the year on sale items, offers, freebies, etc.

I do find that they are more time consuming, in shopping for and wrapping in as well as taking up more storage space.

This is my only problem - the storage involved so I had a rethink last night about hampers and think buying gifts for each is probably a better idea


Although Im hoping to make a few as well for the less fussy family members.

sammy_kaye18

Update
Well my first £30 is now in the credit union :-) and I will be putting my first £5 food stamps on today......at least its some progress towards Christmas

jemtom

I tend to have a set amount for each person and get things in sales or with tesco boost I also use my consumer pulse vouchers and Nielsen points for presents. So what looks like £20 worth is usually just £5 or £10. I also do the £2 pot which goes on holidays.