<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHaving to work out what you\u2019ve got to spend can seem like a chore, but it\u2019s worth doing. You\u2019ll be glad you did when Christmas is over and you\u2019re not drowning in Christmas related debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way to create a budget is by adding up everything you have coming in and going out<\/strong>. You should make sure your essential costs are covered first. Once your bills are covered you can use what\u2019s left to spend on gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you want more money to spend, find ways of making it. You could:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nConsider a part time job:<\/strong> Shops and bars are always looking for extra staff over summer (especially at festivals and other summer events).<\/li>\n\n\n\nSell stuff you don\u2019t use:<\/strong> We all have clutter we could sell that would be useful for someone else. Have a clear out to make yourself some extra cash to spend at Christmas.<\/li>\n\n\n\nConsider a side gig:<\/strong> Slightly different to a part time job, there are a lot of ways to work from home and earn a little extra cash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>2. Set a limit on how much you’re going to spend on each person<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSo, you\u2019ve worked out your budget and you know how much cash you\u2019ve got to spend. But who are you spending it on? By writing a list of everyone you want to give a gift to, you can divide up your money between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve decided how much you\u2019re going to spend on each person, stick to it<\/strong>. If you see something that costs too much, look for something else. Our tips will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>3. Shop for Christmas gifts when they\u2019re on sale<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nShops want your money, and they\u2019ll use all sorts of tactics to try and get you to buy from them. Offering discounts is one way they do this. But this can be used to your advantage. As long as you only buy something you\u2019d have bought anyway! Doing this can make sure your money goes further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If there\u2019s an item you want to buy, sign up to the marketing emails for the shop that sells it. That way you\u2019ll know when they\u2019ve got offers on so you could buy it for less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>4. Make your own Christmas decorations<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDecorating your home to make it feel Christmassy is normal for this time of year. But spending on decorations isn\u2019t the best use of your money when you\u2019re on a budget. There are some great ideas around for making your own decorations, and they don\u2019t have to look cheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nTry filling old jars with lights and place them along your hallway to brighten it up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Find some twigs and tie them together in a star shape. You can paint it, add some greenery from outside or tie ribbon round it. Then hang it up somewhere with some string for a rustic feel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Use up odd bits of wool to create knitted baubles. They add colour to any tree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>5. Have a potluck dinner<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u2018Potluck dinners\u2019 are a fun way of enjoying good food with friends without breaking the bank. The way they work is that someone has everyone over to their house, but each visitor brings a dish of food. It can be bought or homemade, but it\u2019s a cheaper way of enjoying a meal together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only thing you need to check is what dish each person is bringing. This is just so that you don\u2019t end up with a table full of puddings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6. Use gift cards and coupons to save money on presents and food<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHave you got some money left over on gift cards or have you got coupons you haven\u2019t used? If these haven\u2019t expired, why not use them to put towards some gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lots of shops give you rewards when you shop with them that you can trade for other things. For example, Tesco has a loyalty card called Clubcard. If you scan your Clubcard every time you spend money in Tesco, you earn points. These points turn into pounds that you can spend in store, or you can use them with their reward partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesco isn\u2019t the only store where you can get loyalty points, lots of stores have them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStore with rewards<\/strong><\/td>What you get<\/strong><\/td>What you can do with the rewards<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Tesco Clubcard<\/td> You earn points for every pound you spend.<\/td> Your points are turned into pounds that you can spend in store or online. You also get special discounts on items. The points can also be turned into vouchers to spend with Tesco partners which include Pizza Express and Disney+. When you convert the points into vouchers, they\u2019re usually worth three times as much.<\/td><\/tr> Sainsburys Nectar card<\/td> You get Nectar points on every pound you spend<\/td> You can spend your Nectar points in Sainsburys stores or online, or you can use them to get discounts at Argos or on eBay.<\/td><\/tr> Morrisons Card<\/td> You get special discounts on items they sell<\/td> Morrisons offer discounts that you can only get if you have a Morrisons card.<\/td><\/tr> Boots Advantage card<\/td> You earn points on every pound you spend<\/td> The points you earn convert to pounds which you can use to pay for items in store or online.<\/td><\/tr> Marks and Spencer Sparks card<\/td> You get special discounts<\/td> With the M&S Sparks card you have access to special discounts and sometimes get free items.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>7. Buy gifts just for the kids<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou don\u2019t have to be a kid to enjoy Christmas. But being a grown up means you don\u2019t need to have presents to enjoy it either. It saves time and money if you only have to buy for the kids instead of the whole family. Enjoy sharing their excitement. After all, seeing the joy in their faces is a gift in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>8. Do a \u2018Secret Santa\u2019 gift exchange instead of buying for everyone<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ve probably heard of Secret Santa, but have you ever given it a go? It\u2019s a great way to make sure everyone gets a present without it costing a fortune. In case you don\u2019t know, this is how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nInvite together a group of people who all know each other \u2013 friends or family. Agree that you\u2019ll all take part in the Secret Santa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Decide on an amount you\u2019re going to spend on each other \u2013 say \u00a320.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Put all the names of the people in the group into a hat. Each of you takes a name out of the hat and that\u2019s who you\u2019re going to buy a gift for. But don\u2019t let anyone see who\u2019s name you\u2019ve got – that\u2019s the secret in the Secret Santa!<\/li>\n\n\n\n Everyone buys their gift without spending more than the agreed amount. Don\u2019t let on who bought the gift, just put the name of who it\u2019s for on it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n You all meet up, pile up the gifts and then someone gives them out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nSecret Santa is a fun way of giving gifts while saving money and time. <\/strong>And it\u2019ll leave you guessing who bought your gift!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>9. Give practical gifts that people will use instead of unnecessary stuff<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve all had gifts we don\u2019t need or really want but some people are hard to buy for. If you\u2019re stuck with what to buy for someone, get something useful. Giving something that\u2019s taken some thought is better than socks or smellies. Try one of these ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGive them the gift of your time.<\/strong> People are so busy these days, by offering to help in some way that frees them up can be the best gift. For example, you could offer to take their dog for a walk or babysit for them. Type your gift and print it out so it\u2019s like a voucher they can use in the future.<\/li>\n\n\n\nPut your cooking skills to the test and make something tasty.<\/strong> This not only makes a nice gift, but you can make it personal too. This is extra special if you\u2019ve made something that takes account of any food allergies they might have.<\/li>\n\n\n\nGet a needle and thread and sew a message on a T-shirt or handkerchief. <\/strong>All you have to do is lightly draw on your message, then stitch over it. It turns a practical gift into a personal one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n