Christmas Money Saving Tips

Here are some very simple ways to save money at Christmas. 

Christmas Money Saving Tips

It’s very easy for finances to get completely out of hand at Christmas.

We are constantly bombarded with Christmas messaging from as early as September until Christmas Eve.

Buy more!

Buy more!

Is essentially what the messaging is telling us to do.

Even if the messages do come gift-wrapped in beautifully made extended television adverts from the nation’s favourite department stores.

But does spending more money equal having a better Christmas?

I think we all know the real answer to that.

But still it is so easy to be seduced each year.

So how best to save money at Christmas time without feeling like Scrooge incarnate?

Here’s a list of some simple ways you can save money this Christmas.

Christmas Money Saving Tips

1. Start out with a plan, planning always saves money. Draw up a Christmas to do list using my ultimate Christmas to do list printable
2. Work out a maximum budget and stick to it! Use my Christmas gift planner google sheet to track your budget
3. Split budget between main areas of spend e.g. food, presents, decorations
4. Define a maximum spend for main items in each area
5. Keep tally of my spend and constantly calculate how much I’ve got left
6. Go through each item in my shopping list and find cheaper alternatives
7. Agree gift opt out with other grown ups
8. Or agree to make a charity donation rather than exchange gifts
9. And agree present price cap with everyone else in family
10. Get a cash back credit card but DON’T use card to increase budget!
11. Cut daily spend in run up to Christmas e.g. coffee, newspapers, treats
12. Write a food shopping list & look for offers & coupons on everything on it
13. Look for new or gently used items on e.g. eBay, Freecycle or CraigsList
14. Skype the family on Christmas day rather than calling them!
15. Recycle gift tags from last year’s cards
16. Christmas cards … make our own Christmas cards
17. Send electronic Christmas cards
18. Only wrap a few of kids presents … put rest in pillow case sack
19. Make gift bags from scraps of fabrics
20. Use cheap alternatives to wrapping paper e.g. brown paper, newspaper, kids pictures, butcher’s paper, wrapping paper scraps
21. Create gift boxes from painted cardboard boxes, food tins
22. Make our own lovely stocking stuffers
23. Make beautiful handmade decorations
24. Collect pine cones to make decorations, garlands and wreaths
25. Forage for holly and pine for wreaths, mantels and picture frames
26. Chocolates … make own own chocolates as gifts
27. Home made gifts … I’m not a brilliant crafter but there are still hundreds of lovely home made gifts that we can make ourselves
28. Organise our own santa’s grotto with neighbours
29. Go to free Christmas carol concerts rather than expensive shows
30. Buy a Christmas tree with roots so it can be used again next year
31. Sell unused clutter … free up space AND earn cash by selling clutter
32. Use my Ultimate list of 100+ Christmas planning tips to make sure you don’t miss any opportunities to save money this Christmas

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