Start getting ahead now to spread the costs and avoid any last-minute panics
Miss Thrifty is a label maven with a beady eye for bargains and a popular blog dedicated to money saving ideas. Here she shares her top tips for getting organised early for Christmas.
1. Fix your budget in advance
It’s easy to get swept away on a sea of gifts, parties and good food. By now, you should have a good idea of what you can afford for this coming Christmas, so work out your budget and stick to it. The best way to do this is by breaking your budget down into individual budgets for gifts for friends, family members and so on, and to keep all receipts and a running tally of what you have spent to date. Even if you are beginning the New Year in debt, at least you can keep it to a minimum.
2. Plan your Christmas menu down to the last parsnip.
This might sound like the sort of thing Monica from Friends would do, but if you are cooking Christmas dinner this year, there are good reasons to indulge your inner Monica. List your dishes and the ingredients that you need to buy now, check the prices online and begin picking up non-perishable items such as tins, jars and frozen goods in your weekly shop. This way, you can plan the meal to fit your budget, rather than the other way round – and spread the cost, instead of piling your trolley high while in last-minute panic mode. If your planned meal comes in over-budget, I recommend that you outsource a couple of those lovely dishes to your Christmas guests.
3. Make your own decorations.
I must admit, our Tesco decorations bought some years ago are still going strong. If your decorations have given up the Christmas ghost, now is the time to begin thinking about homemade replacements. These are quick, easy and cheap to make and are a great rainy day activity to try with children. Get outdoors and collect pine cones and conkers, which will look stunning when spray-painted and hung on the tree. I also like these festive tissue paper window stars which are easy to make with a festive effect.
4. Begin snapping up the bargains.
After you have budgeted Christmas down to the last penny, don’t forget to make time for the actual shopping and Christmas preparations! It’s a busy season and with parties, plays and other events taking place, it’s all too easy to fall behind. Make space in your diary – and, if you do your shopping online, book your delivery slots with plenty of time of spare before everybody else beats you to it.
Do you want to be prowling the toy aisles in the days before Christmas, lamenting the unavailability or playing tug-of-war with other parents over your desired gifts? I doubt it. So don’t delay: begin crossing those items off your list today. Sales and special offers are available throughout the year, but if you are really canny, why not split the bulk offers with frugal friends?
Read more budget-busting tips at Miss Thrifty.
How do you get ahead for Christmas? Share your tips and ideas in the comments box below.
