The 2008 Xmas Savings Thread

jak

I've seen a foot spa and bath spa which might be good for my msister for Christmas. They are 4.99 each in superdrug- reduced from 25£! Great. But she can only have 1... I must decide!

buxtonrabbitgreen

Hi me again. I decided to go through all the survey sites that I take surveys for and here is the haul I have ordered. (I didn't know I had so much )
£8 boots vouchers from IPSOS
Calven kline perfume from I points
£4 paypal from Juicy brains
£15 sainsburys vouchers from Toluna
I also have enough points to order 3 Odeon vouchers from shop and scan
So I won't be taken by suprise by any birthdays. And have a good haul towards christmas.
My nectar points are now up to £17.50 so with that and the sainsburys vouchers I have a good amount towards the christmas food.
I had to provide a gift for the school May fair and found a free makeup set I got last year and forgot about. So no cost for a change.

quick-smart

Last year was my first 'credit free' Christmas, managed to keep some of my salary back in Oct/Nov/Dec, but it was a bit hit and miss a still tight.

Although it's late, I'm starting to save now,

Been saving spare change for the last couple of months but occasionally raid it for bus fare! So I've now got two separate pots, one for coppers, (currently £3) and one new one for 20ps (currently only 20p in that one!)
When I hit £10 going to put it in an account.
Also got £6 in Advantage points, and will be saving my Nectar points to go towards the food.

I'm already using my savings account as my Emergency Fund, so does anyone have any suggestions for an account I can use to save Xmas money in? Preferably one that pays interest monthly so I can benefit from it before Christmas!

quick-smart

Also, our Christmas's are extra expensive; my family do 'Father Christmas Presents' which consist of small gifts for a few £, given and opened when the family all get together on Boxing day.
However, since my Nan re-married and all the children in the family now bring their partners, that's 14 people, at, say £3 each is £40 odd extra. Plus OH's family do stockings, so he and I have them as well, can end up as expensive as one main gift! Getting quite good at finding novel little things now, what I tend to do is istarting in October, if I see something suitable I make a note on my phone of what and where, so when it comes time to buy, I know where to go.

Simple, but made life so much easier last year, particularly if you're saving and don't start buying til December.

jak

You could keep a bits and bobs box and buy small items as you see them. For example- scarf sets reduced/purses/photo frames etc. that way you don't have to buy all the stocking type gifts at once.
If you get them every few weeks/weekly you don't notice the cost as much.
Good luck
X

quick-smart

I'm always worried that I'll put things somewhere safe and then forget!

I could do what my Mum does, she makes a list of what she's bought and for who, otherwise she comes to Christmas and either can't remember where she's put it, or who it's for, or else has bought more than one gift for some people.

I guess that anything you do that spreads the cost of Christmas makes it a little easier come December :-)

I remember my first Christmas with my OH, I was so shocked at the cost of things like the Christmas tree, decorations, turkey, never mind presents and cards!

shed35

I started buying my pressie for 2008 in the Sales at the end of last Christmas and the beginning of January. You get some fantastics bargains and my presents always look expensive when they not.

Children Clothes, gift sets and toys are usually good as the stores are trying to get rid of stock. Just make sure the gift sets have good life span. Wrap you pressie as you go along and use Christmas labels and NOT TAGS(it awful trying to work out who the present is for) and make a list of who you have brought for and who there is to buy. Make sure you have storage space that's important.

I always look for my pressies at sales throughout the year. It is a good habit to get into and save all stress of Christmas Shopping.

Will be reading through everyone's tips!!!

ilovebooks_2

Hi all
I would like to join as I am usually not organised and then put it on the credit card and this year I am not doing it!
I was taking a look at my finances yesterday and realised I have 7 months to plan and save for christmas, (not including December) seems a lot but this year is flying by.
I have three children, hubby and then quite a large extended family. I usually spend over £1000. at christmas. So time to get organised.
So far I have ...
£25 in tesco stamps
about £8.00 on boots card.
and that is it.
I will be reading this thread regular for tips and posting how I am doing to keep myself motivated.
Every year I dread christmas - this year I am going to plan it better and look forward to it. Thanks all and keep up the good work.

hilstep2000

I've saved £120 so far, with £60 of that being two pound coins.
I've also got a £10 Argos voucher from Pigsback, and £50 of M & vouchers, for introducing my Dad to Sky!

jak

I've got £55 in various cashback sites, a £10 Argos voucher from consumer pulse and am keeping my 1p, 2ps and 20ps for Christmas this year. We are having all the family over but going out for christmas dinner so is going to cost loads...
I figured out I need to make £348.50. Out of that £226.50 needs to be cash and the rest in vouchers for pressies. I've seen hubbys present for £8.99 instead of £30! So that'll be the next thing I buy...When I get my Argos voucher of course! Bless hubby, his b-day is at the beg. Jan so he always seems to get joint presents. Not this year tho! THis year, I am being organised and I'm really excited about Christmas.
Doing daily clicks etc. to (hopefully) celebrate christmas for free!
x