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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Saving for Christmas - how do you do it?

44 replies

Notgoodtogo · 04/10/2016 22:14

I've seen lots of people referring to Parks vouchers and other means of savings for Christmas. I'm really keen to find out more-is it safe, where can the vouchers be spent etc? And are there other ways that work for you? I'd really like to find a way of budgeting for next year. Thanks

OP posts:

dalmatianmad · 07/10/2016 10:44

I have a standing order set up and pay £100 into my dad's account every month and then he gives me £1200 in December.
However! The money is there for whenever I want it and I've had £600 to take the dc's away in the summer
But I'll still be able to sort christmas with what's left! I've been doing it for a few years and it works for me!!

dalmatianmad · 07/10/2016 10:45

How much do folk pay into the park scheme then? Do you get to choose??

GizmoFrisby · 07/10/2016 10:45

I use park vouchers too. I get the high street and m&s too. I find it really good. And don't worry when it gets to this time of year

BingBongBingBong · 07/10/2016 10:46

I would never use a scheme like Park because if it goes bust and you don't get your vouchers you've lost all the money you've paid in. Too risky for me. Better to put it in a bank account or something. My way isn't that popular but I have an Argos card and buy toys on offer through the year. As long as I make the payments within the interest free timeframe I don't pay any interest on what I buy. So depending on how much I spend I'll have 3/6/12 months to pay it off so I make sure it's paid off. The rest I just save some coins each week and do a big food shop nearer Christmas. I've got all my presents for this year for the kids and I've paid off what I've bought on my card.

BathshebaDarkstone · 07/10/2016 10:47

I can't afford to save, I buy 1 present a week starting in October.

idontlikealdi · 07/10/2016 11:15

We have Christmas saver with clubcard, usually get £100 ish in vouchers and the do offers on boost or we just put it towards the food shop. Otherwise around this time of year I start buying things as I see them on offer or a bargain and hide away.

We don't have to buy for a lot of people - family is a secret Santa £60 limit and we just buy for a couple of nieces and nephews and our kids obviously!

InTheseFlipFlops · 07/10/2016 12:39

I have a direct debit into a savings account, its £10 a week. I also try and pick bits up in sales as the year goes on.
I don't like the park scheme as you can do the same with your own bank and then you can spent it anywhere (e.g eBay, aliexpress). I also worry about these schemes, didn't one collapse a few years back?

GizmoFrisby · 07/10/2016 12:57

Yes Dalmatianmad. You can pay as little or as much as you like. I pay about £20 week and get £1000 vouchers. You can choose which vouchers. You can get it on a prepaid card or vouchers. Google and have a look. I find them a godsend

Dafadddu · 07/10/2016 16:21

I save with Park. They have a lot more tooffer now than just HS vouchers. They have supermarket gift cards, Primark, JD.

Been with them for 23 years.

princessconsuelabannahammock · 07/10/2016 19:23

I saved £600 and I had a mix of love to shop vouchers, primark, Tesco and Amazon. It probably won't cover everything as I have lots to buy for and around Xmas loads of birthdays but takes the sting out of it. I am really glad I did it. I am sure they put the money in a trust so it can't disappear if they go bust.

SprogletsMum · 07/10/2016 20:03

I save with park too, this Christmas is my third year of doing it, I made my final payment for this Christmas on 1st Oct and ordered for next Christmas straight away so I have a full 12 months to make the payments.
I've always saved £250 which covers the main presents and then I get little bits starting from September.
Next year I'll have 4 dc so I've ordered £300 but that should still cover the main presents. Dc4 will only be 8ish months so won't cost too much for Christmas.

Looloo8 · 09/10/2016 01:25

Hi, I save for vouchers too, £30 a month but it's only for 11 months I think. Then I also have a regular savings account with HSBC, I really recommend this! You can only get the cash out by closing the account and if you keep it going to the end you get a higher interest rate. I've been doing £60 this passed year but will up it for next year I think as maybe thinking about adding to the family. Also my little boy's toys are getting more expensive!

Bishybishybarnabee · 09/10/2016 07:06

I save with Park too. I have about £20 go out of my account on pay day each month and use it for vouchers. I just know I wouldn't be so disciplined if I saved it myself. I quite like doing a bit Christmas presents shop too, rather than spreading it out.
There are risks as with any saving scheme, but I feel comfortable enough with the arrangements. They have a trust scheme which means money paid in is pretty well protected, it's not infallible but it feels ok to me.

chanie44 · 09/10/2016 09:49

I don't save as such, but I buy presents throughout the year and put them away for Xmas. It means I can grab things whilst they are on offer.

SlatternIsTrying · 09/10/2016 09:50

I save £50 per month towards Christmas. But I also try not to use it and cover the cost out of normal money. As a result I have a bit of a slush fund so if we ever have a Christmas with no money coming in I can still afford to do it.

user1471461436 · 09/10/2016 10:01

I dont save money but I buy things I buy on sale throughout the year, plus side of this is I have everything already but the negative side of this is I don't know how much Ive spent - but I know its not excessive as most things have been reduced. I only have 2 children and they are the only children in the family but we buy adults presents. Couples get joint gifts. I also save anything Ive got for free and add it to my box. I know it sounds tight but I make sure I give people what theyd like

bimbobaggins · 09/10/2016 14:17

I start saving about £50 per month from January and to be honest I don't have a lot of people to buy for so isn't usually too expensive. I prefer to get ideas from people for what they want so it wouldn't work for me buying things throughout the year

BravingSpring · 12/10/2016 20:18

I've saved with Park for years, this year at the last minute I opted for a Mastercard you can use anywhere that accepts MasterCard, it's received a few funny looks in shops because it's not chip and pin but it's been accepted everywhere. There's a 10% charge though unlike the other giftcards, but I decided it was worth it for the convenience.

I had decided not to use Park for next year, and to use a savings account instead but I've changed my mind today and placed an order while I can still pay over the full year and finish paying on the 1st October next year.

Finances are tighter now there's just me and dd and I can't face the prospect of getting to next Christmas and having failed to save, there's too much of a temptation to dip into a savings account when things are tight.

MrsDilligaf · 12/10/2016 20:40

We save £100 a month, which gives us more than enough. I am starting the penny a day savings on 1st November this year for next year on the basis that it will fund all of DH's and DD's presents and anything left over will just go into DD's savings account.

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