TOP TIPS
1. Shop on eBay. It’s not just somewhere to flog your secondhand stuff. Over half the items on eBay are brand new. Just remember to factor in any postage charges.
2. Send Christmas cards early to save on first class stamps. Better still, create your own personalised card to email –this is a particularly big saving if you have friends and family living abroad.
3. Make the most of any ‘3 for 2’ deals and use offers such as Tesco Clubcard points whenever there’s an opportunity. And stock up with ‘3 for 2’ offers. Boots and M&S often do these in the run up to Christmas and most places do ‘3 for 2’ on cards and wrapping.
4. Buying online, check for free delivery deals or order on a ‘Click & Collect’ basis.
5. Stock your freezer with buffet style-nibbles from Iceland or
Tesco. It may save an impromptu and expensive dash to the corner shop
if unexpected guests arrive.
6. Make your own tags. Personalise them by adding fun pictures of the
gift recipients! Make them an interesting shape and maybe add some
glitter. This will keep the kids busy too!
7. Be wary about piling Christmas expenditure on plastic! If you know
you can clear the bill in January, or you have an interest-free credit
card, that helps. Just make sure you can pay it off before interest
starts piling up.
8. If you have a large extended family, why not agree to buy just for
the children? It may be a tricky conversation to start, but you’ll
probably find everyone was thinking the same thing!
9. Make a gift list and jot down what you’ve bought, who it’s for and
where you’ve hidden it! Not only will you avoid forking out twice;
you’ll also have a running tally of what you’ve spent to help you
budget.
10. Poundland can be great for stocking fillers as you’ll find all sorts of fun quirky gifts plus great value wrapping too.
11. When buying online, load up your basket but don’t check out
straight away. If you can wait 48 hours, you may get a discount as some
online stores will spot you haven’t checked out and mail you an
incentivising voucher code which can be up to 20 per cent.
12. Buy batteries, sticky tape, headache tablets and foil in bulk.
All those extras that you can easily run out of may turn out to be very
expensive at the cornershop.
