Christmas savings 2016

[lunar1]

I'm hoping that by the time I get to my Christmas shopping this year I'll have enough in vouchers, cash, food vouchers and PayPal to cover it all!

I've done it before, whenever I go into a shop I use at Christmas grab an extra £5/10 voucher and put it in a purse till shopping time. Let's hope I haven't given up by February!

I use Nectar Points (though Sainsburys rather tightwadishly halved their reward points last April there are loads of Bonus Points that I use)

And I keep a £2 tin running all year

One idea I thought was buy some Gift Vouchers for extra presents and if they aren't needed , then use them myself in the New Year. (Check expiry but usually 12+ months)

I used to do the tesco savings card. Might start up again, it's a good idea.

70, I have a £2 tin too! .

I put my child benefit into a separate account and use it for Christmas and birthdays' for the dc. I might try the vouchers idea too.

I've just bought a money tin that can only be opened with a tin opener. If I save only 3 quid a week I'll be laughing come Christmas time with the extra "free" money.

£3 a week by standing order into the Christmas Savings account!

I buy throughout the year, but I'm going to start saving a certain amount each month as I think Christmas is going to start getting more expensive as ds is nearly 6 and is into electronics!!!

I like your organiser. I do park vouchers I know a lot of people don't like them but they work for me. I also try and save cash not normally as successful but I try. I've also got a tin which I'm hoping to put £1 in a couple of times a week.

Good for you OP!

I'm going to pay off my credit card first and then I'm going to start saving for Christmas

A friend of mine buys a few quid of Morrisons stamps each week and uses the cards for her Xmas food shop - last year's shop cost her 59p

I do a tin as well, tenner a month, 2 a week and more if we get cash bdays, some will go in. but i was still short this year.

going to have to save move.

Has anyone worked out how much they spent at Christmas? Mine was about 1k! I'm cutting down this year. I love Christmas but its one day.

Also, I've noticed that I didnt factor inthings like Christmas party outfits for the dc, my work night out etc. These things were about 100.00.

2015, overall, was somewhat cheaper than some years have been. I reckon we spent roughly €1800 on presents (including an Xbox from a certain Man in Red, and birthday presents for DD on Boxing Day, and new PJs for everyone in the family).

This year, I did buy a new dress for Christmas Day (which I didn't wear as it was "too funeral-ly" according to DH) so clothing bits and bobs was another €200 or so (includes tights, and another new outfit I bought, not for Christmas but first worn over Christmas). I don't always, and any I do get are always things that will get a lot of wear again (although a new Christmas jumper could beckon this year!).

We didn't buy in a lot of treats this year as we weren't around much at home - but had "hostess gifts" to bring various places, and I had already bought most of my Christmas Day wine when we found out we were going to be travelling. So that all added up to another €250 or so (included 2 decent bottles of port for my large family gathering, and good wine which we are now keeping for a good occasion just ourselves).

Didn't spend a lot on going out this year, only about €40 (tickets to a carol concert, and the cost of my work night out). But DH did have his night out, and I had medical expenses (missed the Section Lunch, which we do pay for, because I was ill, and I spent over €300 on Drs and meds over the course of 10 days).

This year, I will do my usual and spread gift purchasing across the year as I see bargains that will really suit a particular person.

I will also do my usual of buying €2 stamps for 1 main supermarket to fill a couple of cards (€100 on each) for a big "stores and treats" shop a couple of weeks ahead. That supermarket usually has a lot of good offers around then as well, so I tend to do a big refill of shelves I have emptied out after the back to school offers are used up.

There's a loyalty scheme in my beautician, and I tend to save the rewards to use up at Christmas (1 maintenance visit, and I try for at least 1 treat visit like a facial or massage as well). And I do a salary sacrifice to the credit union at work - so put away money before I get my wages, which is generally used for holiday spending and Christmas shopping.

We had a nightmare and spent loads at Christmas as all the money I'd put aside last year went on fixing our heating which broke down end November.
So, this year I'm determined things will be different!

I'm doing Asda Christmas Savings Card - if you save £144 by November they give you £6 free.

Also saving Nectar and Tesco points.

I'm going to buy one or two presents a month over the year - things like clothes/bags/scarves/toys for smaller children etc and put them away.

I managed to buy some wrapping paper at the weekend £1 a roll. My dc's are older so the pressure isn't quite as much to produce the magical present. But I do enjoy buying for them and everyone else!!

I stocked up on wrapping paper and gift tags just the other day in Tesco.
Almost everything was down to 10p, so I got loads of stuff!!
Cards too.

Dd starts school this September so I am expecting she will want to send out lots of cards and maybe a few small gifts.

Have used the sales to stock up on 'filler' items for birthdays and such like through out the year.

Might start putting aside £2 a week. I figure that will give me £100 to spend on food and entertaining which will take the pressure off!

God I love Christmas!! [santa]

I have enough wrapping paper for the next 3 years now! Gotta love the sales. Cards bought too.

Have decided to buy Amazon gift cards as well as supermarket ones. Still saving my £2's but they can get swallowed up by unexpected bills so the gift cards are a good backup.

I've always bought throughout the year but my DC are now at the age where I need to wait until closer to Xmas to buy. They don't help by having November birthdays too!

I have almost £300 in nectar points so that's a big help.

I looked at the Tesco Christmas savings card and decided I didn't want to do it.

I use my club card vouchers for so much through out the year. Only way I can afford to take my kids out for pizza express usually!!

I might have to get one of those money pots that you crack to open, but I just know I'll never want to open it and break it!!

I also agree about the extras that you don't budget for. I generally have a couple of shopping trips which usually involve eating out and while it's not a fortune it all adds up. I save at work for the works do so that pays for my drinks and taxi if I don't get a lift. I did a new look order yesterday for pj's, dressing gown and Christmas socks for the dc's.

MrsDeath look in The Range/Card Factory/Home Bargains for the tins (much much cheaper than a ceramic pot and you won't mind opening it )

We save about £280ish a year in £2 coins (just get into the habit of keeping your £2 coins back and I always ransack DS pockets when he comes home. He spends his £2 coins on purpose but is quite happy to have his share of the divvy up )

I put £300 a month into a separate Christmas account then can do everything in December as I don't like spreading it out because I forget what I've bought and I don't buy anything in advance as they may change their minds before Christmas.
And we have 2 of our DCs birthdays in November so they don't write their letters to fc until December anyway.
We have a huge family and buy for everyone apart from our own siblings, Christmas just gone was covered mainly by the savings and then just another lump on top for food shopping and a holiday just after Christmas.
Good to see people making provisions!