How Do I Save Money Leading Up To Christmas?

MarkyDooToo

As we all know, Christmas is on the way. And with an increase in the cost of living, I'm becoming a bit worried. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated 

RobM99

Only spend on absolute essentials!

joedenise

Agree with friends and family that there will be no gifts/cards or if that is unacceptable then a maximum cost per gift much lower than usual.

Also remember you don't need to spend a fortune on Christmas food - at the end of the day it's a glorified roast dinner!

Katiehound

Have an agreement with friends / family that present buying is limited either in value or number.
Children might get a large present with adults pooling the money. Adults get a token present- I don't mean a shop token I mean small value.
£5 challenge is a good one
Don't waste money on tat!
Home made rather than bought?
Items bought from charity shops can be as good as new

For meals different folk can be the hosts and each family / person takes one dish/ course with them. Cuts the overall cost.
Thinking Christmas day, Boxing Day, NY Eve- it doesn't have to be the same person / family doing all the work or shelling out all the money.

MarkyDooToo

Katiehound said:

Have an agreement with friends / family that present buying is limited either in value or number.
Children might get a large present with adults pooling the money. Adults get a token present- I don't mean a shop token I mean small value.
£5 challenge is a good one
Don't waste money on tat!
Home made rather than bought?
Items bought from charity shops can be as good as new

For meals different folk can be the hosts and each family / person takes one dish/ course with them. Cuts the overall cost.
Thinking Christmas day, Boxing Day, NY Eve- it doesn't have to be the same person / family doing all the work or shelling out all the money.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. It's very much appreciated

Brambling

Do you have skills you can use as a gift providing home made vouchers for something like a couple of hours gardening, DIY cooking a meal for someone who hasn’t the time, skills or ability. The last few years of my mum’s life she was housebound so time was more appreciated than a gift

If you buy for young children they don’t need or understand expensive gifts and can get overwhelmed with a lot of presents and then play with the boxes

Katiehound

there are very many more ideas- I'm sure folk will be along with their suggestions.

One thing- are children involved in this? 
If there are children I would suggest you start now to control their 'wants.'
There's masses of advertising starting already which is directly aimed at children. Some of my friends used to suggest to their little ones that they concentrated on what they could give/ do rather than what they could get!

People seem to forget that it is 'just one day' Already I have seen a house locally decked out with sleigh etc!

There is a Christmas thread in the 'Life & Family' link. If you ask your question there I am sure there will be lots of low cost ideas.

EssexHebridean

Start thinking now about the sorts of things you want to do, eat etc. For example if you plan to make a christmas cake, establish what ingredients you'll need and start buying them from now. Do you need a cake as large as you "usually" make, or can you scale back the recipe/can your usual recipe make two smaller cakes with one of them then becoming a gift for someone? Meal plan now for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day and note quantities of foods to be bought in your pre-christmas shop, and then try not to be tempted away from those quantities. 

If you decorate the house then use what you already have rather than buying new things. 

For presents, as already said broach the subject with those outside the direct family about a present amnesty. For groups of friends a Secret Santa arrangement with a small budget can be brilliant. For family presents we have for a good while worked on the basis that everyone writes a short list - it can have "wants" or "needs" on it but the idea is to make sure that people get what they will use rather than "filler" presents getting bought that end up heading straight to the charity shop. We often include things like toiletries - I've bought and wrapped up a years supply of toothpaste or shower gel for MrEH in the past for example - and that in turn means that he then doesn't have to spend his own money on those things during the year. 

And for regular spending in the run-up - just stop and think. The thing you're about to buy - do you actually need it? If yes, do you have anything else you could use instead? Would you do better doing without for a while and using that money for Christmas stuff? It's definitely not too late to soften the impact - and for next year, you will then have a full year to plan ahead, set budgets, and most importantly, save up! 

littlegreenparrot

The thing that often seems to get forgotten is that we get to choose what we do about Christmas.
It can cost as much as you decide you want it to. 

I have been doing Secret Santa with my siblings for years, it works really well. Vinted/ebay/charity shops - or just an agreement with someone to meet for tea and cake one afternoon. 
I make a box full of gingerbread biscuits and put it in the staff tea room at work with a happy christmas post it on top. 
My mum often makes fudge and jam to use as gifts. 

I remember having a great time as a child making decorations and a gingerbread house. 

I would also ignore some of it, christmas eve boxes seem totally unnecessary to me. 

Tink_04

Check what vouchers you have! Club card - boots etc. Sometimes people forget about these and they make a great dent in shopping.

I usually get my turkey with vouchers saved up, the veg is usually super cheap too.

jennystarpepper

Try not to waste anything.  Meat, gravy and veg can go in a dish with a pie crust over the top and put in the freezer.

Don't go in shops you know you will overspend in, (not saying you do this) as @Katiehound has said 'don't spend money on tat'.  If you find it hard to resist, send another person, partner / older child with a list. 

Re-cycle gift bags. 

Don't always buy branded, if people are coming for a couple of drinks they will not know if those are Doritos or Aldi equivalent if they are in a bowl. 

Ask if people want things, I've bought posh puddings only for the men in the house to want a turkey sandwich or pork pie later on.  

Meal plan.