Many people may be hoping to earn a bit more cash over the Xmas period. You might be getting triple pay for working on Christmas Day, getting cash for covering shifts of those who want time off or – if you're lucky – simply receiving a nice bonus from your employer. Bizarrely though, if you're a student loan borrower, a festive spike in your income could actually leave you with less money in your pocket...

Many are feeling the pressure to spend in the run-up to Christmas - and this is especially true for those with kids. So we wanted to come up with some ways to sprinkle a little Christmas magic for free (or very cheaply).

If you want to help a worthy cause but are strapped for cash, there are still ways you can donate. A few loyalty schemes allow you to donate your rewards points to selected charities, which is a great way to give without feeling the pinch.