While the holidays are the most magical time of the year, they’re also one of the most stressful, especially when it comes to managing your finances. In fact, a recent study found that “the average family spends £3,240 in December – that’s 29% more than any other month of the year.” This means that come December, we’re all trying to pinch our pennies.
However, the current cost of living has further elevated these financial strains, meaning you may be more worried than ever about how you’re going to put presents underneath the tree.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to save money when buying gifts this Christmas and survive the festive season.
Remember that Presence > Presents.
The easiest way to save money this Christmas is to remember that you don’t have to spend hundreds of pounds to show someone you care. Smaller gifts are often more meaningful and impactful than more expensive ones – and sometimes the only thing you need to do to make someone smile is spend time with them. To put it simply presence will always be valued over presents.
Buy items second-hand.
You can save money when gift shopping by buying second-hand products. For example, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a tech-savvy teen or spouse, you could buy them a Second hand Apple Watch. After all, these products have often been refurbished so they are as good as new – the only difference is the price tag!
Support local businesses.
Supporting local businesses can be another great way to stay within your budget, as they often offer much more competitive prices than bigger brands. As a result, now is the perfect time to stop by local stores or Christmas markets in search of a great deal!
Find discount codes.
If you’re planning on doing most of your Christmas shopping online, you aren’t alone. In fact, in 2021, one in three brits did all of their Christmas shopping online, and will likely continue to do so this year. While this not only makes Xmas shopping more convenient (as you don’t have to brave the crowded shopping centres), it also gives you some serious opportunities when it comes to saving money. For example, you could install apps such as Honey on your computer, which will automatically search for discount codes that you can use on a range of websites. This means you won’t overspend unnecessarily.
Suggest a family Secret Santa.
Suggesting that your family participate in their own secret Santa, instead of buying gifts for each individual person is another great way to save money this year. This is because you’ll only have to buy one gift instead of twenty. Furthermore, it also means you can spend a little more on the individual gift, so the recipient gets something they’d truly like as opposed to stocking fillers. Be sure to set a clear budget ahead of time so that everyone is on the same page (and gets their hands on a good gift at the end of it!).
*Collaborative post*
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