How to beat the stress and save money this Christmas as there's 100 days to go
Despite the lovely late summer sun, it’s wise to start thinking, just a little, about Christmas.
Next week the 100-day countdown will begin and there’s no better time to start planning for the festive season. But how to avoid spending a fortune again?
Don’t worry. Today we’ve teamed up with Money Saving Expert’s Oli Townsend, who gives us his top cost-of-living busting tips so you and the whole family can get through the countdown without breaking the bank.
There’s no better time to start planning for the festive season than early September, experts say (Getty Images)Plan, plan, plan - September 16
Deals expert Oli says: “It’s time to plan. Confirm all your festive dates with family and friends. Set a budget for days or meals out.”
Consider a 'pre-nupp' - September 19
Start thinking ahead about gifts. Oli says: "Talk to friends and family about considering a ‘pre-nupp’ - aka, a pre-Christmas No Unnecessary Presents Pact. It will end the obligatory gift-giving... Or you could always agree to a Secret Santa or a £5 to £10 price cap on gifts."
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But Oli warns that you should stay away from giving gift vouchers. “Yes, it’s an easy present for when you’re not sure what to get someone,” he says. “But people forget to use them and they all too often expire, or if the company goes bust then they usually become worthless.”
Skip that latte - September 23
Oli says now is the time to start thinking of little savings. "Making small cutbacks over the next few months is another good way to give yourself some extra cash for Christmas,” he recommends. “Think about any non- essentials you could do without for a while, such as a daily latte.” Ditching a £2-a-day takeaway coffee from September would give you an extra £200 by Christmas.
Have a clear-out - September 27
As the nights draw in, take the opportunity to go through your unwanted stuff. Apps such as Vinted are free to use and buyers are protected. If that’s not your thing, try a car boot sale.
Borrow safely - October 3
“Borrowing money for Christmas shouldn’t be the answer, but if you’ll do it anyway, ensure it’s at 0% interest,” says Oli. He recommends the longest 0% spending credit cards which give up to 23 months of interest-free spending. “Aim to pay it back before next Christmas, or you’ll just compound the problem.”
Book any travel early - October 8
Oli recommends booking train tickets at their cheapest, 12 weeks in advance. Trainline.com has a useful ‘Ticket Alert’. But to avoid booking fees, Oli advises using Red Spotted Hanky or the train operators’ own sites instead.
Keep an eye on toys - October 13
Oli says: “Retailers are creatures of habit and they tend to do similar deals at the same time each year.” Sainsbury’s and
Tesco offer ‘up to 50% off all toys’ sales around mid-October and retailers like Smyths often have discount codes, offering up to £6 off a £50 spend. Money Saving Expert is able to predict the big offers you should wait for in its Christmas Deals Predictor which goes live around mid-November, says Oli.
Supermarket saving stamps - October 18
It’s not too late to invest in a savings stamp from your favourite shop to save money. They normally pay out in November or December so it’s really worth looking into it right now.
Check your Premium Bonds - October 21
If you have them, the prize rate went up to 4% in August and you may find you were in luck.
Student discount deals - October 31
If you have a student in the family, their discount could save you money on gifts. Apps like UNiDAYS and Student Beans will list you all the deals.
Corking savings - November 6
“The third week of November is often when we see these deals, around £10 off in previous years,” says Oli. “If Baileys is your preferred drink then the past two years have seen one-litre bottles reduced from £20 to £9.50 at one or two of the big supermarkets at the end of November, but only for a few days.”
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Too Good To Go Magic Bags - November 15
The Too Good To Go app lets you buy ‘Magic Bags’ of grub at a low price so it gets eaten instead of wasted. Rescue unsold food from your favourite restaurants and food shops.
Black Friday - November 24
Oli reckons this is a perfect time to snap up pricier gifts – but always check price comparison websites. “PriceSpy and CamelCamelCamel can help you get a good deal,” he says. Money Saving Expert’s weekly email includes all the big bargains, vouchers and one-day sales.
Proof is in the pudding - November 26
Start on your homemade Christmas pud this Sunday. It gets better with age and is a great way to get the kids involved. “You may be tempted to buy the ‘finest’ for Christmas dinner, but in many cases that’s just fancy packaging.” Oli recommends “downshifting” some festive favourites by going from branded to supermarket’s own. It can cut grocery bills by 30%.
Cyber Monday - November 27
Colossal deals are available, but look for things you would have bought anyway. Oli warns to tread carefully with ‘buy now pay later’ schemes. “There’s a risk that paying in instalments may tempt you to overspend and, just because you’re spreading the cost,
it doesn’t mean you can afford what you’re buying. It’s important to know what you’re getting into.”
Supermarket savings - November 30
The countdown is on and the shops all know it. Keep an eye out for savings on Christmas snacks. Oli advises setting up a “Christmas cupboard” to store your biggest discounts.
The Christmas tree - December 5
Now is the perfect time to get a real tree. If it’s looking a bit bare, look out for cheap decorations, says Oli. “In the last few years we’ve seen the likes of Argos, John Lewis and M&S slash prices – usually by up to 50%.”
Christmas cards - December 12
Send early to save money on stamps with a 1st class costing 35p more than 2nd. Consider sending free cards this year with eCards.com, especially to people abroad. “And if buying a gift from an online store, it’s almost always cheaper to get it sent directly to the recipient, especially as it’s free over a certain amount,” Oli says.
The big food shop - December 20
“For mega-cheap Christmas veg, it’s usually worth waiting until a few days before Christmas,” says Oli. Online tools such as Trolley enable you to compare prices before you leave home, so you know you’re getting the best deal at the best price.
“Over the last few years, supermarkets have battled it out in a vegetable price war, with Aldi going as low as 14p for bags of carrots, parsnips and brussels sprouts,” Oli says.
Christmas bingo - December 22
Now the kids are off school, save money on activities by making your own Christmas movie bingo cards. It’s a great way to get everyone to sit down together.
Look out for Santa - Christmas Eve
With one day to go until the big one, get into the festive spirit by spending some time to unwind or wrap presents. For some festive fun without the price tag, there’s also a free site for your little ones to watch Santa’s progress at noradSanta.org.
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