A date for your diary

Farmer_Johnson

Christmas will be on December 25th in 2019. That’s 52 weeks away, and 52 weeks to save up for it.

Now’s the time to reflect on what you spent this year, and start planning where it will come from next year. If it’s going to be a struggle, or even if it might be, then start thinking about where it will be easiest to cut back now so that you don’t need to take out any loans, or sit having to make hard decisions when everyone around you is enjoying the season.

If you want to spend £400 on next Christmas, that’s £8 a week, every week. If your budget will be £100, that’s £2 a week, and the sooner you start the easier it will be to manage.

Merry Christmas.

Choccygirl123

I've joined the sealed pot challenge (12) and think the little bit often approach the best! Budget and planning always great advice farmer.

datlex

I put aside money each week to cover Christmas and birthdays. Whilst it is not nice seeing all the money used and bank accounts reducing in balance, I know it has all been budgeted for and I am starting again tomorrow when I get my weekly pay.

Chandelier.

I think this post is a good reminder, ready for next year.

I personally save £50 per month into a separate bank account/pot that I name the Christmas fund, ready for next year. It really helped me focus and put things into aspect regards budgeting. I took 10 minutes to write down who I intend to buy for and set a budget for each of them. I was able to stick to this and It just kind of acted as a little reminder not to over indulge on pointless gifts. I really put thought into the presents and bought what I thought they would like rather then something they would not use. I also had a separate pot of spare money incase there were other things I wanted to buy. Admittedly I dipped into this slightly as I bought myself some presents for the boy to give and wrap up for me but it was things I know I would use.

I also do this and save a separate amount into a birthday pot fund. I work out who I intend to buy for over the course of the year and make sure I have enough to cover the costs including presents, cards etc.

Hey ho, it works for me and may be a good idea for a few others to lessen the blow when it comes around again.The amount may differ for each person but you are planning ahead and less likely to use credit.

Karonher

I do a weekly payment as well £12 down to £1 for 12 weeks then start again. By the time the 4th round is finished its the end of November and time to start spending. That raises £312 so along with vouchers, paypal payments and supermarkets stamps and points saved through the year there is not too much needed from November and Decembers wages.

It works out well as I am an agency TA so don't get full pay through the summer holidays and they are the times when the lower payments come out.

Onebrokelady

I saved £50 a month for Christmas this year for the first time ever and I will definitely be doing it for next year,this Xmas has been totally stress free from a financial point of view for the first time in years,I set a budget and I stuck to it and next year will be the same

Fireflyaway

I've never saved for Christmas before but this new year I'm going to start. I was shopping for a Christmas tree a few weeks back and seriously worried I'd get to the till and find I wouldn't have enough money. I felt so cross with myself so I went home and made a plan so it would happen again.

Takeaway_Addict

Karonher wrote: »

I do a weekly payment as well £12 down to £1 for 12 weeks then start again. By the time the 4th round is finished its the end of November and time to start spending. That raises £312 so along with vouchers, paypal payments and supermarkets stamps and points saved through the year there is not too much needed from November and Decembers wages.

It works out well as I am an agency TA so don't get full pay through the summer holidays and they are the times when the lower payments come out.

interesting way of doing it....any reason why £12,£11, £10 etc?

Aaleigha

I will save all 50p pieces (I already do£2 coins) throughout the year and also put £20 a month into a gifts and christmas fund
looking forward to reading other peoples Ideas and see if I can add them to the way I will save

Karonher

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

interesting way of doing it....any reason why £12,£11, £10 etc?

I read somewhere about someone doing it over 48 weeks and doing £48 then £47 etc down to £1 and some who did them in a random way and just ticked off each amount as they did it. I just thought that putting £40 plus a week away 8 times was going to be too difficult as well as doing £30 or more 10 times. I think they got over £3000 put away doing it that way though.

Doing it my way you can still do it from the first week in January and finish in time to do the Christmas shopping.

[Deleted User]

We always start buying gifts in the xmas sale for the coming year, and then bits and pieces through the year, surprising how much it all adds up to when we really get into it come October.