The dark nights are drawing in and there is that familiar chill in the air – this can only mean one thing – Christmas is coming to town!
With only 8 weeks to go – it’s time to get organised!
But it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to bring the festive cheer to you and your family. You can make little changes to your daily lifestyle which will see you make your Christmas one to remember.
Christmas is magical no matter how big or small you go, but if you need a little inspiration to pull back the purse strings or to make sure you keep within your budget – we’re here to help.
Skip the morning coffee stop
Do you find yourself pulling up at your favourite coffee shop probably more than you would like to admit? Why not prepare your own at home for the next couple of weeks? If my maths is correct, you could save around £200 from now until Christmas just by making this small change. I don’t know about you, but my flask is being filled as we speak!
Prepare lunches for work/playdates
Okay, we lead pretty busy lifestyles and after seeing to the kids, we are the last to think about when it comes to most things and particularly food. Taking an extra 10 minutes aside from your day to prepare your food for work or playdates could make a huge difference to your bank balance. Again, savings of £200+ just by swapping your on-the-go meals for home cooked favourites means you can splurge on your Christmas food or the more expensive gifts you didn’t know you could afford.
Lists are your best friend
What do you actually need to buy for Christmas and who for? Writing everything down will give you a clear visual of where your money is going. This can help cut down gift buying – I mean, do you really need to buy for your second cousin who you haven’t seen in years? Being a little rigorous will allow for extra funds for you and the kids or meaning you aren’t overspending when you can’t afford too.
Do a little research
So the kids are asking for the latest gadgets but you know that they come at a price! Instead of buying from the first shop you come across – shop around first. By doing this, you could find it cheaper elsewhere and potential sales that you weren’t aware of. Also, with Black Friday on the way – this may be more of a savvy way to purchase all your Christmas goods – and see you saving the pounds once again!
Sell old toys
Do you have an over-whelming number of toys that the kids haven’t really played with in a while and are sitting gathering dust? It’s time for a clear out! Sort through your children’s toys – get them to help too – and divide them up into categories: Keep, Donate, Sell. This way, it will be easier on the kids if they are involved and get to choose what they want to keep (but not excessive) but also have the kids understand the meaning of giving at Christmas. Anything that has abit of life in them, you could take to a car-boot or sell online. Even if you make a small amount – remember pennies make pounds!
