How To Save Money At Christmas

We can all agree that Christmas is an expensive time of year. With a tonne of gifts to buy and an entire dinner to cook for the whole family, the cost of Christmas quickly adds up. Luckily, there are ways to save money. With a little bit of planning and budgeting, everyone can save money at Christmas.

Christmas Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that Christmas is expensive and that’s just the way it has to be, but that’s not true. Christmas doesn’t have to be a giant financial strain. There are a number of ways to cut the cost. For example:

• Start Shopping Earlier – Christmas will be a lot more affordable if you spread the cost over a longer period of time. Instead of leaving everything until the last minute, start shopping earlier. Think about what you can buy in advance, such as gifts and wrapping paper, and leave food and drink until nearer the time.

• Have a Budget – Before you start spending anything on Christmas, give yourself a strict budget. Know what you plan to spend money on and how much you plan to spend. This will highlight where you can save money and how much of your income you will have left at the end. Nobody wants to get into the situation when they have spent too much on Christmas and don’t have enough left to cover other costs.

• Track Your Spending – It’s very easy to spend more than you intended at Christmas especially if you are buying things here, there and everywhere. To ensure that you know how much you are spending, track everything. You won’t be able to stick to a budget if you don’t know how much you’re spending.

• Embrace DIY – You can save a lot of money at Christmas by making things rather than buying them. Even if you only have minimal craft skills, there’s sure to be something that you can make. You could bake biscuits, make decorations and give homemade gifts to loved ones. This will take you more time than shopping does, but it means that you’ll cut down on the overall cost.

• Shop Around – Though it is tempting to buy things as and when you see them, you may be able to get a better price if you look elsewhere. Whether it’s presents or food, take the time to shop around at Christmas. Saving a little bit of money here and there all adds up. There’s always online discounts, vouchers and special offers for you to find.

At Cockle Finance, we know that Christmas can be costly. It’s the most expensive time of year for many people and affording everything is often a struggle. Luckily, we’re here to help. Contact Cockle Finance to find out more about doorstep loans and covering the cost of Christmas.