48 Christmas MoneySaving tips
Act now to slash costs
This week marks 100 days to go until Christmas, so in order to avoid spending a fortune over the festive period you need to start planning now. This isn't about early celebration, it's about preparation. There are sackfuls of things you can do now to reduce the financial stress and avoid being skint in January.
This guide covers everything from budgeting for the big day to how to get cheap fancy perfume and when to book train tickets in advance. And for those who celebrate Eid, Chanukah or owt else, for the most part the same tips apply.
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Don't plan the perfect Christmas – first work out what you can afford
Before you start planning, consider this: many list every lusted-for item, gifts for all, and a corking meal, then only afterwards consider: "How will I pay for it?" That's a recipe for ending up broke.
Instead, calculate your budget (see our free Budget Planner), and ask: "What can I afford to spend?" Christmas is one day – don't ruin the whole of the next year for it.
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Time to ban unnecessary presents – watch Martin's call to arms
Consider not giving this Christmas. We're not talking about gifts from parents or grandparents, but the ever-widening glut of friends, extended family and colleagues.
Christmas isn't a retail festival – we need to end obliged giving and think about what we're giving, to whom and why.
If you're yelling over your wrapping paper "what about the joy of giving?", remember gift-giving creates an obligation on recipients to give back, whether they can afford it or not. For some, the gift of "not obliging you to buy for me" is actually better.
Watch Martin's three-minute video on why. It went viral with 17 million Facebook views. Also read his original Ban unnecessary Christmas gifts blog that started it all.You could always make a No Unnecessary Present Pact (NUPP) with friends, or at least agree to a Secret Santa or £5 to £10 cap on gifts.
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Check out charity gift catalogues – from mosquito nets to water filters
Want to give, but don't want to waste cash on tat? Yule love our rundown of wonderful and weird Charity Gifts (soon to be updated for 2024), which includes how much goes to good causes.
Be it mosquito nets, a water filter or winter clothes for a child, the guide's packed with ideas, and gifts start from just a few pounds. -
POUNCE on discounts when you see them
Make a list of who you need to buy for and whenever you see goods at decent prices, grab, wrap, and stuff 'em in a Christmas cupboard.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts and deals on our Vouchers, Hot Bargains and Sales pages. We'll also let you know the best via the weekly email.
For cheap yet thoughtful gifts, the Free Photo Prints deals page lists the top photo book, canvas, card and calendar discount codes.
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20 free (or very cheap) ways to sprinkle Christmas magic for kids
Chances are your best childhood Christmas memories aren't about beautifully co-ordinated baubles, finest-range turkeys or even getting that year's must-have toy. For many, it's the build-up that's the most fun – experiences that involve spending more time with parents or carers.
So we've 20 free (or very cheap) traditions to create memories, from driving round after dark to admire twinkly streets to leaving something heavy on the sofa to make a dent "where Santa plonked his big bottom". See MSE Jenny's Free Christmas Magic blog.
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Buy a cheap turkey or turkey alternative – and don't forget to downshift
With an "It's Christmas! We need the best!" battle cry, everyone raids the supermarket shelves. Yet don't assume you'll prefer higher-brand goods.
To test this, on Martin's TV show he held a blind taste-test soiree for nurses at a hospital with champers, turkeys and more. They preferred the lower-brand goods (or couldn't tell the difference) 62% of the time.
So, don't be a retail snob. Taste with your tongue, not by looking at the packaging. And buy what's right for you, not the shop. Our Downshift Challenge guide will help you to see if you can cut everyday costs by £1,000s.
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Festive Fivers... sub-£5 gift ideas
Back in 2012, our Festive Fivers contest challenged Forumites to come up with the best 'make or buy' sub-£5 presents. And while it was a few years ago now, many of the ideas still work just as well today.
See 50 Festive Fivers for the full list (though we've archived the guide, so a few points may not be fully up to date). Here are some of our top picks which definitely still work today:
- The 12 Dates of Christmas. Make a date night package which plans a date for each month of the new year, such as a picnic in the park or a candlelit bubble bath. Once you've planned the dates, write them on cards and decorate. See 12 Dates of Christmas.
- Santa's Sleigh Bell (for kids – SPOILER ALERT). Plant a fallen bell in the garden on Christmas morning, saying it's a fallen bell from "Santa's sleigh". Kids'll love it.
- Balloon box. Fill up a box with loads of blown-up balloons and wrap it – it's sure to provide hours of fun and shouldn't cost more than a fiver. Please supervise very young children, as balloons can choke them.
- Elegant chocolate slabs. You pay £7+ in fancy shops, but homemade chocolate slabs are easy and cheap to make.
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Put a FREE £175 in your account in time for Christmas
Top customer service bank First Direct* is dishing out free cash to newbies switching to its account. Within 28 days of the switch, First Direct pays newbies £175.
You do have to make five debit card payments and pay in £1,000+, though you can withdraw that straightaway. Do it today and you should have the money in your account with plenty of time to put it towards your Christmas coffers.The account's other perks include a 7% regular saver you can put up to £300 a month in, many get an ongoing £250 0% overdraft, and its debit card gives perfect rates abroad. Full info, including who counts as a new customer, in Best bank accounts.
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Swap your chequebook for our free Christmas gift cheques
Presents don't have to equate to big bucks. Whether it's breakfast in bed, sorting some life admin or cleaning someone's car, your time could be the best present. So pledge to do something nice, not spend, by printing our free Christmas gift cheques.
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Be wary when buying gift cards
If you're considering giving gift cards or vouchers there are four key things you should be aware of:
- Sometimes retailers go bust. A host of big name retailers have gone into administration in recent years. When this happens, they usually stop accepting cards altogether and there's very little you can do to get your money back. See our Administration Help guide for what you can try if you have a gift card for a company that has gone bust.
- Gift cards have expiry dates. Most gift cards must be redeemed within a certain period of time, so the recipient needs to spend them before time runs out.
- Beware of admin fees. Some companies will begin reducing your balance if you don't use the card within a certain timeframe, such as the the multi-shop gift card provider One4all, which deducts 90p a month from your balance once you've had the card 18 months.
- They could forget or lose them. Often people forget to use them, lose them, delete the email, or accidentally run them through the wash.
Taking into account all of the above, we think giving cash is a much better alternative to gift cards.
If however you still want to buy one, there are some multi-shop gift cards, such as Love2Shop, which you would be able to use at other retailers in the scheme if one shop went bust.
- Sometimes retailers go bust. A host of big name retailers have gone into administration in recent years. When this happens, they usually stop accepting cards altogether and there's very little you can do to get your money back. See our Administration Help guide for what you can try if you have a gift card for a company that has gone bust.
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Bag 5% cashback on every gift you buy
Cashback credit cards pay you every time you spend on 'em, so you can grab cashback on every gift you buy. You grab the card, set up a direct debit to repay in full every month so it's interest-free and, to boost the gain, use it for all spending.
The Amex Platinum Everyday (check eligibility / apply*) credit card offers 5% cashback, usually only for purchases in the first three months (max £100), but right now it's boosted this to five months (max £125). After this you get up to 1% cashback, though you need to spend £3,000+ each year to get any cashback.
You can therefore get the boost on any Christmas spending (though cashback's paid after a year, so you'll get it for next Christmas).Always repay IN FULL each month or you'll pay 31% APR interest, which wipes out the gains from the cashback. Full help and more options in Top Credit Card Rewards.
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Don't give your online return rights away when you give Christmas presents
Order goods online, and in the majority of cases you've 14 days after they arrive to cancel the order, and a further 14 days to send back any items.
This is great if you change your mind, need a different size or want the item in a different colour. But if you've ordered a Christmas present online, there's a chance that by the time someone's unwrapped it, that window will have closed. So make sure you're happy with what you've ordered BEFORE you wrap it, so you don't lose your legal return rights.
Of course, many stores go above and beyond your statutory rights and offer extended returns policies over the Christmas period, but they don't have to, so remember to check.
For more information, see our Consumer Rights guide.
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Book train tickets in advance
Rail operators generally launch tickets 10-12 weeks before the date of travel and cheap tickets vanish quickly, but you can sign up to get a free alert when your tickets go on sale.
While the cheapest advance fares will likely have already gone, big savings are still possible. Don't assume you've missed the boat (or rather, train). Always check if cheap advance tickets are still available before travelling – many firms now let you buy them on the day. See how to book early, late. Our Cheap Train Tickets guide includes full help. -
Can't afford Christmas? Then go cold turkey
If you've little stashed away for Christmas, it may be possible to relieve pressure, increase happiness and avoid the nightmare before (and after) Christmas.
As Martin said in his Christmas Cold Turkey blog: "If you're really struggling and have nothing, then do truly go cold turkey – see family [if possible this year], spend time, think about life, watch the telly, but don't spend money on it. Christmas is just one day. Far more important is a happier, financially less-stressed New Year."
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Get fancy perfumes for a basic price
Forget department stores. A whole bunch of specialist online sellers offer fragrances for a fraction of the high street price.
Better still, buy the even cheaper unboxed bottles, then get a pretty box and wrapping for a couple of quid. Read the Cheap Perfumes guide for full help.
Also, see the Great 'smell-a-like perfumes' hunt, where Forumites sniff out dirt-cheap dead ringers for posh scents.
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Find the cheapest place to buy gifts in seconds
The web usually beats the high street on price. To help, comparison sites search the net to find the cheapest books, games or anything else.
We found Google Shopping is the most consistent at finding the cheapest price – the MSE Deals team even use it as a starting point when checking out deals.
Google Shopping searches a wide range of retailers, including biggies such as Amazon, Currys, John Lewis and Tesco.
For a full how-to guide and other price comparison sites to try, see 40+ Online Shopping Tricks.
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Find hidden local eBay bargains
Whether a PS4 console or children's books, eBay sellers often specify items must be collected in person. As this means fewer bids, there are bargains to be had.
We've built a mapping tool to make it easier to search for 'collection only' items, so you don't have to wade through items which also offer postage. Tell our Local eBay Deals Mapper your postcode and how far you're prepared to schlepp, and it maps nearby gems.
For more help detecting hidden bargains, our eBay Buying Secrets guide lists tools which find underpriced goods, exploit spelling mistakes and auto-bid to seal deals.
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Find and share Christmas tips on the MSE Forum
To help with festive preparation, the Special Occasions forum board is full of top tips to cut the festive season's cost. MoneySavers post bargain prezzies and decorations, and share suggestions on having a more affordable Christmas.
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Boost funds by up to 6% with supermarket stamps
Supermarket saving stamp schemes encourage year-long saving for Christmas, yet a loophole allows you to get a year's bonus in one day.
Most shops pay it depending on how much you've saved by a specific day or month. So dunk the cash in the day before, and the store will add up to 6% on top, but the cash must be spent at its shops.
For example, with Tesco's Christmas Saver account, if you top it up with £200 by 17 October 2024, you'd get a £12 bonus added on top. Full info in Christmas Spending Boost. -
Grab cashback on prezzies
With cashback sites, you sign up for free, then click through them to buy something. They get paid for sending traffic and give some of this to you, netting some £100s a year.
Never let the cashback dictate where you spend though. Focus on the cheapest deal, then see if cashback's available. Full explanation in Top Cashback Sites.
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Slash the cost of sending Christmas cash abroad
Whether for a stateside nephew or a grandchild in Australia, transferring money overseas doubles the currencies, complication and cost. See our Sending Money Abroad guide for best buys, including your protection if it goes wrong.
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Double-check Christmas delivery's specified
If Christmas goods are late, you can only complain if you or the retailer specified can prove it was for pre-Christmas delivery. Then it's a breach of contract, and you've a right to a refund.
Even if Christmas delivery isn't specified, things should be delivered within a 'reasonable time'. See our Consumer Rights guide for more details on your rights.
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Track Santa as he delivers prezzies
There's a nifty free site for your little ones to watch Santa's progress on Christmas Eve. Log on to NoradSanta.org (this year it launches on 1 December).
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Find big discounts at online outlet stores
Forget driving miles to outlet villages to snap up end-of-line bargains. Did you know that lots of high street and high-end shops have online outlet stores? You can usually find them on eBay or via special websites.
Our Discount Outlets guide lists the best – big names include Molton Brown, Ted Baker, Superdry and many more.
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How to do good at Christmas
It's become an MSE tradition to remind MoneySavers of those in need at Christmas. You may still be counting the pennies, yet there are many ways to do some good for free.
For example, click through to The Hunger Site and amid a pile of banners you'll see a yellow button at the top of the page with the message 'Click to give – it's free!'. Do so and some foodstuff is bought for someone, somewhere, who is hungry.
Is there a catch? No. It's a win-win-win situation for those in need, the user and the sponsors, as they create good public relations for themselves.
There's a full list of ways to volunteer and donate for free, including being there for isolated older people and more volunteering, in How to do good at Christmas.
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Get organised to take advantage of 'free or cheap' online orders
If you need to order online, do it well in advance. Each year, we compile a full list of major retailers' last order dates, including the last free order dates, plus how much you'll pay if you leave it later. This will be updated for 2023 shortly.
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Corking wine and bubbly deals
Use our Wine Deals page to find the biggest discount or cheapest crate at Tesco Wine, M&S, Majestic and others.
For bargain Christmas bubbly, see Champagne Deals. Though we hope you pay less, not drink more – be Drinkaware.
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Buy in Boxing Day sales in time for Christmas
Each year a few stores start their main sales early. To get it in time for Christmas, delivery may cost a bit more, but it works.
Every year our Deals Hunters gaze into their crystal balls and predict deals to come this year. There is a full list in our Christmas Deals Predictor, to be updated for 2023 soon. -
Try our DemoHoHotivator tool to see what you can save
Small sacrifices add up, eg, if next year you stop buying a 80p Mars Bar every day from now until Christmas, you'll have £80 extra in the festive kitty. See our DemoHoHotivator.
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Don't save Tesco vouchers for festive food
First, quickly check if you can Reclaim Tesco Vouchers online. So many find big cash, often £100, we can't stop banging on about this.
Yet don't save them for Christmas food treats. First check Tesco's Clubcard Boost partners to get 2x your points' value (£10 becomes £20) on items such as restaurants, hotels and cinema.
For more details, see Boost Tesco Vouchers.
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Debt worries over Christmas? Get help
If you're struggling with debts, and it's giving you sleepless nights, then free one-on-one debt help is available. They're there to help, not judge, so don't worry. Except they get rammed in January, so don't leave it – get your appointment now.
Read our Debt Help guide for a full list of free one-on-one help options. Many say, after help, "I finally got a decent night's sleep".
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Why not share a moment with an elderly neighbour who may be struggling this year?
Many may be feeling isolated, particularly over the festive season. Yet small acts of kindness can help neighbours who may feel lonely or need a hand with quick tasks.
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Make a list – and check it twice
Christmas shopping on impulse is dangerous. So make an old-fashioned shopping list and stick to it. Remember, shops spend a fortune on targeting your spending impulses – a list helps you beat them.
Even if you're shopping on the high street, remember to benchmark the prices using shopbots first.
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Sort Christmas post early
If using Royal Mail, ensure you send parcels and letters before the last posting dates. The cut-off depends on where and how you send your post.
For example, the the cut-off for second class UK mail is 18 December and for first class it is 20 December. See Royal Mail for all 2024 dates.
For a full list of ways to cut costs, including discount web couriers, see our Cheap Parcel Delivery guide. Also see MSE Jenny's How to slash the cost of sending gifts overseas blog, eg, Australia £6 instead of £65.
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Haven't used it since last Christmas? Flog it
If a few quid more in the Christmas fund would really help, flogging via eBay's a good way to start – our 40+ eBay Selling Tricks guide is a crash course.
Selling on Vinted is a brilliant way to make extra cash by flogging your own wardrobe – especially as there are NO fees for sellers. For collection only items, Facebook Selling is another great option.
If you prefer speed and ease rather than max price, several sites let you enter details, they offer a price, and you post goods, for example books, for free. Full info in our Boost your income guide.Got a top tip we haven't listed? Tell us in the Christmas tips discussion.
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Use the web to cut delivery costs
Sending a package to friends? If it's more than 1kg, you can often save a packet (sorry) using a discount web courier instead of Royal Mail – and even have goods collected from your home. Do note though that a lot of couriers are currently taking longer to deliver than normal. See Cheap Parcel Delivery.
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Comping for Crimbo prezzies
Try comping – systematically sourcing and entering 100s of the right competitions using web gadgets. From cars to five-star USA holidays, MoneySavers have won it all. Smaller prizes such as toys, handbags and gift vouchers make cracking gifts, though possibly for next year. No guarantees, but why not give it a try? See the 40+ Comping Tips guide.
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Do a 'robo' secret Santa
Secret Santa's usually associated with offices, but there's no reason not to extend this to loved ones. For those who don't know, everyone's name goes into a hat, then you draw out who you're buying for. So you only buy and receive one gift, usually within a spending limit.
These days you don't even need the hat – an online tool can organise it all for you with a few clicks.
One of the slickest is free site Elfster. Just sign up and enter a few details, such maximum budget and the date you'll do the exchange. You can either enter the other people's emails or cut and paste a sign-up link. You can even set up wishlists. Another free option worth a look is Drawnames, which works in a similar way.
Former MSE Steve is a secret Santa fan:
My wife's family have done this for years, and it works well. In fact, it's a huge help when you don't know what to buy the in-laws. A limit's agreed – this year it's £50 – and we use a free tool to organise it all and allow people to send a wish-list.
It saves everyone cash, cuts down on gifts people feel obligated to give but no one really wants – and it's adults-only, so the kids still get spoilt.
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Pay by credit card if it's over £100
Sadly, firms go bust. If that happens and ordered goods haven't arrived, or have but are faulty, it's a nightmare. However, Section 75 laws mean if you use a credit card (not debit card, cheque or cash) to pay even partly for something costing between £100 and £30,000, the card company's jointly liable for the whole amount.
If the firm goes bust, you can get redress from the card firm instead – valuable extra protection. Though only do this if you can clear the card in full each month to avoid interest.
Section 75 doesn't apply to purchases under £100, but there's still an option which can help if you use a Visa, Mastercard or Amex credit card, or any debit or charge card.
If the goods don't appear or are faulty, you can ask your bank/card provider to reclaim the cash from the seller's bank, so long as you start the chargeback process within 120 days of realising there's a problem. See the Chargeback guide.
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DON'T borrow for Christmas... but if you must, get a 0% card
Far better to budget, but no matter what we say, some will borrow. See the 0% Spending guide for full options. If you can't get 0% in time and it was your only option, frankly, cancel Christmas spending.
Just enjoy a meal, raise a glass and focus on a financially good New Year.
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Get a gift receipt or ask the shop to write 'it's a gift'
Legally, only the person who bought the gift has rights, so the recipient can't exchange. Many shops ignore this and will help, but for safety, ask for a gift receipt.
If a store offers gift receipts, it suggests it's willing to deal with the recipient rather than the buyer. You should be able to exchange an item, though if you want a refund the retailer may insist that the payment be refunded to the same card.
Alternatively, get the shop assistant to write on its copy of the receipt, and yours, that it's a gift and who it's for, eg, "bought as a gift for Bob Smith", and this again should help to at least exchange the item.
See Returning Unwanted Gifts for a full guide.
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DON'T think 'no receipt' means 'no return'
With faulty goods, you just need to prove you purchased them. This could be the receipt, but other legit records, such as bank statements, should be fine.
If you've no legal right but are just utilising a store's returns policy, and the policy requires a receipt, you do need one. See Consumer Rights for more.
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Grab end-of-sale bargains
Grab giftwrap, Christmas cards, baubles, decorations or even a new plastic tree as heavy discounts hit in January.
Don't think we're a nutty lone voice saying this. By the second week of February 2017, in a poll of over 8,000 MoneySavers, 48% had already bought Christmas 2018's cards, wrapping paper and gift tags, 21% crackers and 17% decorations and lights.
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Give snowman soup and more
MoneySaving's about cutting bills, not cutting back – thrift's about spending time, not cash. Its doyens live in our Old Style Forum Board. There are hundreds of tips in there – here are a few for inspiration.
- Give kids snowman soup. Little'uns don't care what it costs. A perennial favourite's snowman soup – hot chocolate, marshmallows and some choc chips, all wrapped up in a cellophane cone. Or naughtier, there's reindeer poo. Kids go ape for easy-to-make sock monkeys too.
- Thrifty cards, decorations and more. Get crafty, and rustle up some decorations, cards and wrapping paper that would put Kirstie Allsopp to shame. Get kids involved too, with hand prints or potato stamps on cards/brown paper.
- The complete Old Style Christmas dinner compendium. Enjoy tastier, not pricier, festive food with this Christmas dinner compendium (scroll to the middle of the first post). From sprucing up sprouts to the best mince pies ever, it's full of ideas.
- Give kids snowman soup. Little'uns don't care what it costs. A perennial favourite's snowman soup – hot chocolate, marshmallows and some choc chips, all wrapped up in a cellophane cone. Or naughtier, there's reindeer poo. Kids go ape for easy-to-make sock monkeys too.
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Start saving early to spread the cost
The average household was predicted to spend £550 on Christmas presents and celebrations in 2023, according to research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). Yet many struggle to foot it from December's pay packet alone and end up borrowing.
So next year, why not put money aside from January? Better than borrowing and paying back later with interest. Work out your budget, then use our Top Savings Accounts guide to find the most profitable home for your cash.
If you can't afford to save, cut your cloth accordingly.
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Free or charity letters from Santa
The big fella has his elves stationed everywhere to help him reply to all the little people who write to him.
For a suggested donation of £8, the NSPCC elves will send a personalised letter, and the money will help less fortunate children - a nice bit of karma.(The scheme will reopen for 2024 soon.)
There are hordes of elves stationed at Royal Mail, so post a letter and Santa will reply at no cost. We'll have full details soon. -
Uncover the Amazon discount warehouse's big bargains
If you were planning to get a few Christmas presents from Amazon anyway, you can hunt down big discounts from the firm's little-known discount outlet using our new Amazon Warehouse Discount Finder tool.
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Wrap presents sustainably to save
If you already shop for wrapping paper in the sales, why not try something different this year? MSE Rhiannon goes one further and saves wrapping paper up to use year after year, until it can no longer be reused. Do you know, some types of wrapping paper can't be recycled? Learn more in her blog Wrapping presents sustainably – she even shows you how to wrap gifts in cloth using the Japanese art of furoshiki.
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