Saving for Christmas 2015.

kingfisherblue

I bought a couple of personalised items yesterday, half price in a local garden centre, for my new granddaughter. They're for Christmas next year.


Today I've cleared out my handbag looking for something (that I didn't find!) and found some left over shopping money in a bank bag. I'd forgotten about it, as it was for Christmas presents. There was £15.70p in it, plus 38p in loose change, so that's all going into next year's pot.


My daughter has bought several half price presents in Boots and in Burtons for next year, so she's well on her way too.

kippers

Hi, I save all year for birthdays and Xmas so that I always have the money to buy bargains when I see they e.g by Jan each year I have a years worth of birthday money and also in Jan I start saving towards Xmas each month. I always carry a list in my handbag too so I can see exactly who I still need to buy for......I know this seems very organised but we have a Hugh family and I save loads by doing this.
I also buy cards and wrapping paper in sales after Xmas too and most years I manage to get paper that can double as birthday wrapping paper....I find Xmas wrapping paper is always cheaper than birthday as you can buy bigger rolls.
As regards to food, I bought my Xmas pud last week reduced from £10 to £3 from Tesco and the date is March 2016 and it is a 'finest' one too. I buy bits and bobs as Xmas gets near and I buy a £10 Aldi frozen turkey crown in Nov and it has always been lovely and moist (I actually think it's nicer than nearly all the turkeys I have cooked over the years).
I also do hampers for some of my family and buy things as I go along checking best before dates as I go along. Also I buy a lot of my cake making ingredients for the year in nov at tesco when they have their 3 for 2 so I can make my Xmas cake and I stock up on baking powder, cake cases, fruit etc etc
Anyway, I love being organised as it makes Xmas more enjoyable....while everyone is running around madly I am sitting back enjoying it lol

sturgeon62

Cards and paper from the Sales, Try to get at least one gift a month, but look out for offers and sales, have four already. October onwards I try to add one extra food item to my regular shop, ie a jar of pickles one week, frozen dessert another, again looking out for deals. Save nectar points to purchase turkey and fresh products week before Christmas. Last year I had all gifts by November all wrapped and ready.

System

I have started saving Tesco stamps will use that with any vouchers for most of food and will also be loading Iceland card so that's the freezer sorted.
I was going to do this daily money saving you end up with £600 by the end of the year but its such a faf that I will just put £50 in a tin on payday ,same end result.
I but gifts as I see them and I'm currently looking for items for Advent lucky dips.

WantToBeSE

That's a good idea, I think I'll save the Morrisons stamps towards food for next Christmas.
Although we're planning to go back to my Mums again, it'll help her food bills while we're there.

flea72

If i buy savings stamps at supermarkets can i use them to buy giftcards instore?

System

Having thought about it the £50 I was going to save a month is better spent paying off my sofa it means rather then the last payment being Jan 2016 I could have it paid off by July this year.

WantToBeSE

flea72 wrote: »

If i buy savings stamps at supermarkets can i use them to buy giftcards instore?

CHRISSYG wrote: »

Having thought about it the £50 I was going to save a month is better spent paying off my sofa it means rather then the last payment being Jan 2016 I could have it paid off by July this year.

Flea- I am not sure about the gift cards, but I am sure they'd tell you if you called your local branch, or tweet them, or ask on Facebook.


CHRISSY- That sounds like a good idea. Then once your sofa id paid off, you could start saving it towards Christmas.

bubblegumcola

Have plenty of gift tags and ribbon but if I see any nice reduced gift wrap I will stash that away. I don't tend to buy much for Christmas throughout the year and that worked well as I spent a lot less, plus I didn't forget where anything was stashed which is what normally happens if I do buy very early!

I have a separate savings account with very little in it so I'm going to try and put a little bit away every month from my wages. Will need to go through my outgoings first and see roughly what I can realistically put in but a small amount will be better than nothing going away into it. Anything up to £50 a month would be ideal but I know some months it may only be a tenner depending on other things that crop up during the year.

McKneff

I have loads of wrapping paper and bows etc, still a couple of pressies left from last year so will still put them back in the loft.


Will buy some Christmas cards.


Also I am putting £1 coin each day in a money box that cant be opened without a tin opener. Obviously will have £360 ish by 25th December