Christmas is a costly and stressful time of year if you celebrate it and take part in all the gift giving. But how can you save money? Here are a few tips to help save the pennies during the festive period.
Try Not To Use The Credit Card
It’s pretty difficult not to use the credit card, and sometimes it can be a lifesaver in emergencies. But if it’s possible, try to avoid spending on your credit card. If you do, pay as much as it off as possible immediately. The last thing you want is to be googling in the new year is how to remove discharged debt from my credit report. Christmas is certainly not important enough to be going bankrupt over so avoid using the credit card.
Book Travel In Advance
If you’re in the position where you have to travel over Christmas, book at your travel eight weeks before. You can save hundreds of pounds by securing your train or plane tickets early and if you can, avoid traveling at peak times. That way, you can travel back in a seat and relax instead of standing up, crammed in with everyone else who took this one train.
Don’t Overbuy
Look we know it can be important to show someone we care about them, but we can spend a lot less and still show our appreciation for others. Try and streamline your food shop for Christmas buffets and dinners as you’ll often have leftover food and unopened bottles of wine in your fridge and cupboards. The same goes for presents, try and set a budget for each person or a budget overall. If money is tight, get those creative juices flowing and DIY something. It’ll probably be more special anyway than those branded trainers they asked for.
Take Advantage Of Loyalty Cards And Coupons
Christmas is the time where businesses make a lot of money, but it’s also where you can take advantage of any loyalty cards you hold with certain brands. Many high street brands have them now so if you haven’t already got them, you might want to consider getting one if you shop there regularly. Those points mean prizes, and it can end up saving you a bit of money when you reach the till.
Coupons are also widely available, and if you’re shopping online, it’s worth giving the app Honey a go. You can attach to this to your internet browser, and it will try using coupons or cash back rewards on it.
Buy Online
It comes as no surprise to many that shopping online is becoming more and more popular each year. You’ll often get more exclusive discounts online, and a lot of independent stores only sell their goods on the internet. It’s also a lot less hassle than moving your way through crowds of people trying to find what you’re after when you can just click a button on your screen and add it to your basket.
Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive, and you can find ways of saving money over this time of year.
About Jammie Morey
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