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The MoneySaving guide to doing good this Christmas

We've alternative gift ideas that won't break the bank, eg, feed the hungry, help the homeless & free gift cheques

While many still love to give Christmas presents, we've felt a recent sentiment shift. Now it seems more want it to be about giving their time, donating to charity or other thoughtful ways to spread festive cheer. To highlight people's current attitudes, Martin's ban unnecessary Christmas presents video from 2018 has had 16m+ Facebook views and 300,000+ shares. Here's how you can do good without spending a fortune...

1. New. Got an Amazon account? Check if you can trigger a free donation of 25 school meals in Mali and get £5 Amazon credit for yourself. If you're eligible, it'll donate on your behalf and give you the credit - if you switch your default Amazon payment to a Mastercard. Amazon tells us there's no need to spend anything. How to check if you can donate 25 meals for free.
   
   

2. Fund lifesaving jabs for kids, buy a goat to help a family and more - all via charity gift catalogues.  If you don't know what to buy family and friends, why not agree to give to good causes in each other's name? Our Charity Gift guide is packed with ideas, plus info on how to increase your donation by 25% or more using Gift Aid.

3. Help feed the hungry for free with just one click. It's via a special site where sponsors donate on your behalf. See how to give with a click.

4. Pledge to do something nice with our free Christmas gift cheques.  This is a way to promise to give time to a loved one, eg, breakfast in bed or to baby-sit. Though you could also use one to promise to get them something post-Christmas, when discounts in the sales tend to get even deeper. Use our Christmas gift cheques.

5. Help out at a homeless centre.  Many charities look for volunteers year-round, and while a few are full this Christmas, some places are still available for the coming weeks. You don't always need specific skills to be accepted, though chefs, beauty therapists, tutors and counsellors are especially wanted. See  how to help the homeless.

6. Donate to your local foodbank.  December is the month when foodbank demand is highest. We've lots of ways to help - with links to find your nearest, and ways to give even if you're not flush with cash. See foodbank help.

7. Be there for elderly neighbours. Many  small acts of kindness can help neighbours who may feel lonely or need a hand with quick tasks. It's simple stuff, from having a chat to offering to pick up shopping.

PS: If the pressure to spend adds to debt worries you may have and is causing you sleepless nights, a non-profit debt counselling agency can help. They're rammed in Jan, so book an appointment now. There's free, one-on-one help from Citizens Advice, National Debtline and StepChange. See full debt crisis help.

Big 4.5% savings interest for littl'uns

If you're giving kids cash for Christmas (or they have it already), make it really count by helping them max it

While interest rates for grown-ups continue to drop, children's accounts are holding steady, with some paying close to double that of standard rates. That's good news for the many parents and grandparents who give Christmas cash to kids. Such presents can be doubly useful - both the cash itself and also as a means to show them how to save. So whether they have the money already or they are about to get a festive windfall, here's how to max kids' savings.

• Top for small amounts or for putting money aside each month - up to 4.5%. The Halifax Kids' Monthly Saver pays 4.5%, while the Saffron BS Children's Reg Saver pays 4%. Both are AER, fixed for a year and let kids save up to £100/mth. Saffron allows unlimited withdrawals, but with Halifax the account must be closed to access the money (full interest is paid up to that point). Full info in kids' regular savings accounts.

• Top for lump sums with easy access - up to 3%. If your child's seven or over, HSBC's MySavings pays 3% AER variable on up to £3,000. Alternatively, Virgin Money's Young Saver pays 2.25% AER variable on up to £25,000 - compared to HSBC, it's good for younger children (as there's no min age) or if your child's a big saver. Both allow unlimited withdrawals.

• Top children's bank account with interest (but not everyone can get it). The Santander 123 Mini* pays 3% AER variable on £300-£2,000. Plus if your child is 11+, they can get a debit or cash card - an added tool to teach them about real-world products. If your child is under 13, you must have a Santander current account and open it for them in branch. Any child aged 13 or over must open it themselves, and it doesn't matter what account their parent has. 

• Are junior ISAs (JISAs) worth it? The benefit of a JISA has always been that the interest is tax-free. But as most people don't pay tax on savings interest now, the gain's diluted. The big problems with JISAs are that the money is locked away till 18, and that it automatically goes to your child then, to spend as they like. But if a JISA is right for your kid(s), the top payer is Coventry BS's 3.6% AER variable (max £4,368/yr). Full info to help you decide in Top JISAs.

• What if they have a child trust fund? It's best to convert it to a JISA. For why, see Child Trust Fund help.

• Who can open a kids' savings account? You need to check each bank's rules - it usually must be opened by a parent or guardian (sometimes other grown-ups can do it). A few accounts let teenagers do it on their own.