January starts with the realisation of how much you spent on Christmas in 2015, credit card bills hit the door mat and your bank balance looks pretty bleak. It’s not a good way to start a year is it? However it doesn’t have to be like that! Yes Christmas is an expensive time, especially if it’s something you want everyone to enjoy, however you don’t need to break the bank to afford it.
According to a study conducted by My Voucher Codes, many people are now beginning to pre-plan their Christmas shopping and start as early as Boxing Day for the following Christmas. They surveyed people to find out whether they would consider buying anything in the Boxing Day sales for next Christmas, 44% of those surveyed said that they would. In addition the most popular items which were purchased were; Clothing i.e. festive jumpers, toys, cards/gift wrap, decorations and none perishable gifts.
They also asked why those taking part in the survey why they started shopping for the next Christmas so early, most (70%) stated that saving money was the main reason behind starting early, with 40% wanting to be organised and 20% wanting to save time.
They also provided helpful money saving tips from super saver, to help you save for next Christmas, you can read the full list here; The Cheers. In addition to other helpful money saving tips:
Money saving tips
Sales
Throughout the year we are bombarded with a sale of some sort, whether it’s the traditional seasonal sales such as winter, summer or mid-season sales, there are plenty of opportunities to pick things up for less. In addition, in the run up to Christmas we Brits now also have Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales offering huge discounts on items perfect for festive gifts.
Vouchers
Vouchers and voucher codes are handy for shopping, perhaps when items are not in the sale. Many outlets run different voucher codes throughout the year whether it’s for money off specific items, or signing up for mailing lists. In addition vouchers from stores, given in exchange for products, as a gift or after a purchase are also handy to keep. Just because you can’t find something for yourself with a voucher does not mean you won’t be able to find a Christmas gift for someone.
Savings accounts
Setting aside a specific amount each month for Christmas into a savings account will mean you won’t have to spend all your November and December salary on Christmas. It also means that you don’t have to rack up credit cards bills and pay interest, instead by saving money you will gain interest!
Planning
Keeping track of who you have to buy for, who you have bought for and also how much you have been spending will help you keep on top of costs, when buying throughout the year. It will also stop you from over buying or making unnecessary purchases. For instance, you can create a list where you can note down the things to buy for individuals. If you have to buy a graduation gift like an announcement, you can plan it early and see if you are getting discounts on websites like https://www.jostens.com/graduation/high-school/announcements. Once you have made the purchase, note it down on the list. Go about the similar way for the other gifts.
Hopefully, the above-mentioned money-saving tips could be useful for those who want to spend a budget-friendly Christmas. It is true that Christmas can be quite expensive if the holidays are not planned properly. Moreover, it can affect the financial goals set for the new year. That is why it would always be a good idea to plan ahead and plan wisely. Remember overspending could cause stress which could ruin your holidays.