With more of us than ever wanting save money, just how can you enjoy the merriment of the festive season without splashing the cash too much? Here are some financial tips for Christmas.
Make It Personal
You don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds in order to have a good Christmas. Instead of getting the latest and greatest trend in exchange for a a wadge of cash you could spend on better things, consider making a personal gift. It’s amazing the smile on the face of people when you’ve put in the effort to bake, make and create things especially for them.
Enjoy Freebies
Christmas is about giving and receiving and it’s nice to enjoy the season without spending cash. Look for offers from retailers. Download their apps and receive free stuff, sign up to their newsletters and get discount codes. They want to tempt you in, but if you have the willpower, the freebie is enough.
Free Festive Activities
You don’t need to pay for lots of festive activities. It’s nice to make memories though, so splurge on one, maybe a Santa train experience or a breakfast at a festive garden centre. The rest of your memories can be easily made by going to see lights being switched on, decorating your tree and garden at home and of course, making Christmas cookies!
It’s The Little Things That Matter
It sounds cliche but it really is the little things that matter. This is perhaps one of the most important financial tips for Christmas. It’s not the size of the gift, just like making personal stuff, it’s the thought and effort put into it that counts.
Brands Don’t Matter
When shopping for your Christmas dinner you so often think about ‘treating yourself’. Why is buying a more expensive brand treating yourself? So often, the cheaper own brand stuff is better! Prawns are prawns, they’re going in a cocktail for starter. Spuds are spuds, they’re getting boiled, mashed, roasted, thrown in the pan the next day for bubble & squeak! Cheese is just cheese, it doesn’t need fancy packaging. Think about switching to a cheaper supermarket too! Oh, and don’t forget, the shops will be open again on Boxing Day, don’t panic buy stuff you don’t actually need!
Ask Yourself
One of the key things to do is always ask yourself two questions. Do you need it, or maybe in the case of buying Christmas presents, do you need to buy it, or do they want it? And the second question is always, can you afford it? If you can’t afford it, don’t put it on a credit card, put it back on the shelf. Buying for buying sake is not what Christmas is about. Debt is certainly not what Christmas is about. Christmas holidays are best spent with family and friends, not fretting about bills landing on the doormat come January.
Putting on your sensible head instead of the Prosecco fuelled festive one means you’re more likely to see the sense. I’m not saying to no enjoy Christmas, I’m simply saying it’s one day. One to enjoy and make memories of, but not one to add pressure to your wallet. Use these financial tips for Christmas and you’ll be able to enjoy the season without worry!
