CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET

10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AT CHRISTMAS

LET’S GET SAVINGIF, LIKE ME, YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDING DAY TO DAY LIVING THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY WORRYING ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO AFFORD CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST YEAR ON A BUDGET AND THEREFORE, I HAVE LEARNT TO GET BY. HERE ARE MY TOP TEN WAYS TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET…

1. VINTAGE CRAZE = CHARITY SHOPS!THE BEST THING ABOUT THE NEW CRAZE FOR ANYTHING VINTAGE IS THAT YOU CAN NOW SHOP IN CHARITY SHOPS WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH! SO IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH IDEAS FOR THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE GO AND GET THEM SOMETHING VINTAGE FROM YOUR LOCAL CHARITY SHOP

2. PLAN & SAVE EARLYIF YOU PUT ASIDE A SMALL AMOUNT EACH MONTH ALL YEAR ROUND AND MAKE AN ONGOING XMAS FUND YOU WON’T FEEL THE PINCH SO MUCH WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR FIRST HO HO HO! THINK ABOUT IT, JUST £10 A MONTH WILL SAVE YOU £100 TOWARDS YOUR XMAS FUND, £20 – £200!

3. GET CREATIVETHERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR MAKING YOUR OWN DECORATIONS, XMAS PRESENTS AND CARDS. EVEN IF IT ENDS UP LOOKING AWFUL YOU GET TO WAVE THE ‘THOUGHT THAT COUNTS’ CARD WITH PRIDE! HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS FOR YOU:

• BUY A CHEAP FRAME WITH MULTIPLE WINDOWS FROM A POUND STORE AND FILL IT WITH FAMILY PICTURES

• PERSONALISE STUFF! – SOME WEBSITES LET YOU PERSONALISE AT LOW COST INC MUGS, T-SHIRTS, CALENDARS

• PROMISE CERTIFICATE – DESIGN YOUR OWN KISS, HUG, CLEANING, LURVE MAKING OR PROMISE VOUCHERS

4. SHOP ONLINEWHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT IT IS EASY TO GET CARRIED AWAY AND GRAB THINGS OFF THE SHELVES! BOOK YOUR GROCERY SHOP EARLY ONLINE AND TAKE TIME WORKING OUT YOUR BUDGET. OFTEN MOST GIFTS ARE CHEAPER ONLINE IF YOU ORDER IN ADVANCE, FOR EXAMPLE AMAZON IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET ANY BOOKS OR DVDS!

5. IT’S NOT THAT SIZE THAT COUNTSSMALL CAN BE CUTE AND THEREFORE YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF GIFTS UNDER £10. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SMALL GIFT IDEAS OUT THERE, HERE ARE JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

1. CANDLES

2. LITTLE BOOKS OF WISDOM / JOKE BOOKS

3. SMALL TEDDY BEARS

6. GO GO GADGET

THERE ARE SO MANY COOL GADGETS AND GIZMOS TO CHOSE FROM NOW. A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITES:

1. THE WORLDS SMALLEST WALKIE TALKIES

2. MAGIC SQUARE

3. ALWAYS RIGHT, NEVER WRONG CUFFLINKS

7. GET YOUR BOOZE AT ALDI / LIDLALDI AND LIDL DO CHEAPER

ALTERNATIVES OF THE MAIN BRAND ALCOHOL THAT MOST OF US ENJOY AT CHRISTMAS. INCLUDING ADVOCAAT, MALIBU AND ANY BRANDY OR WHISKY. THEY TASTE JUST AS GOOD AND LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE!

8. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHERIF YOU HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS OF FRIENDS ORGANISING SEPARATE CHRISTMAS SOCIALS SUGGEST THAT YOU GROUP THEM TOGETHER OR HOST A PARTY OF YOUR OWN AT HOME SO YOU CAN SOCIALISE WITH THEM ALL AT ONCE! ONE PARTY, ONE EXPENSE!

9. VISIT YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILYLETS FACE IT, WE ALL HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY WITH MORE MONEY THAN US OUT THERE SOMEWHERE! AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MORE FOOD AND DRINK, SO WHY NOT STAY WITH THEM OVER CHRISTMAS! OFFER TO BRING SOMETHING (LIKE YOUR CHEAP ALDI / LIDL BOOZE) AND SETTLE IN.

10. E-CARDS!SAVE MONEY ON BUYING CHRISTMAS CARDS BY MAKING YOUR OWN PERSONAL E-CARD. YOU CAN INCLUDE PICS OF YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS / FAMILY OR EVEN BETTER YOUR PET! THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT CUSTOMISING THE E-CARD WILL SHOW THAT YOU CARE AND IT WON’T COST YOU A PENNY! THERE ARE A FEW FREE E-CARD PROVIDERS OUT THERE INCLUDING:

123 GREETINGS

EGREETINGS

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