Watch our last episode of Shop Talk where CarrieMumsnet discusses surviving the Christmas shop with Ruth Langsford. NOW CLOSED

[KatieBMumsnet]

Last week MNers were asked how they get the best deals on Christmas food and present shopping.

Watch episode 4 of Shop Talk now for tips on savvy seasonal shopping.

Barclaycard Freedom Rewards, in association with Mumsnet, created a new weekly online chat show, Shop Talk, and this is the last episode.

Here's what Barclaycard have to say about the show: "This is the final episode of Shop Talk, a weekly chat show where weve tackled the big shopping stories that you're talking about. A different presenter has hosted each show, and for our last show it was Ruth Langsford. Two panellists, including shopping blogger Emily and Carrie from MNHQ, joined Ruth to discuss surviving the Christmas shop and stocking filler saviours.

With regards to the Barclaycard Freedom Rewards credit card, Barclaycard say: Freedom Rewards is a credit card designed to reward you for the way you already shop. Collect Freedom Rewards points everywhere, and double at UK supermarkets and petrol stations, to turn into vouchers to spend at our huge range of high street and online shop.
If you loved Shop Talk and want to see the highlights from all four shows watch out for them here from Monday 18th November.

Thanks,

MNHQ

Find hidden eBay local bargains! Youngers kids especially do not care if it is pre-loved by someone else. Infact a boxless toy is much more practical as you won't need to spend 15 minutes detatching the toy from the packaging with a screwdriver which drives me (and my children nuts)!

I never impulse buy. I have a 'Christmas' document on my phone where I keep a list of people I'm buying for and the sort of present I'm looking for, and put an x next to each person/gift as I get it through the year. That way I'm not tempted by something that seems a bargain, but I might have nobody left I need to buy for!

Forums like Hot UK Deals are fab for finding deals - have used it for loads of presents for the kids and there seem to be some really good deals at the moment. I do most of my shopping online and tend to buy things when they're on offer, even if that means buying Christmas presents in April!

I buy specific presents for my son according to his list. But for everyone else, I simply buy when I see especially when on offer. I find that the 'quick grabbit' forum of the MSE website details lots of bargains!

I start by using comparison searches online for big items to see which retailer sells at the cheapest price. I try to start this process early and watch prices fluctuate until they're at an all time low, then buy! I tend to buy online however I do check instore as sometimes there are local deals :D

I save £50 a month in a Christmas account and have £600 to spend on the 3 teens.

I don't worry about splitting it evenly at all, last year DS1 got a kayak that was £340, he really, really wanted it and has lived in it all year! This year DS2 is getting an xbox and DD is getting a digital piano (off ebay), DS1 is just getting a cheapo archery set but he understands why!.

It all evens out in the long run.

We also save money by being careful regarding which works do invitations we accept, some of them are extortionate so we make sure we are already busy on those dates.

We are lucky that my DM always pays for our National Trust membership for Christmas as we can enjoy free days out all year.

Dh and I rarely buy much for each other, I have everything I could ever want or need in my family and would rather flowers in my hair than diamonds on my fingers anyday!

I write a list of people, decide on a budget, then buy things as early as I see them. Most things are bargains, or on sale. There always a few men on the week before Christmas that I have to rush to buy things for.

I save up all year and fly to New york , I found an amazing discount outlet about an hour outside manhatten it has over 200 stores its amazing , my son is the main one that benefits from my trips as his just 3 , but boy does he have a christmas I go with two empty cases and sometimes buy another one if need be its amazing xxxx

shop online so i don't get tempted by bargains I don't need. I also make homemade gift.

I always make a list and try and stick to it as best I can. I also buy things when on offer if I see something I know someone will like and price check online. I save up my supermarket points/vouchers all year and use them on the Christmas food shop

I put a lot of thought into giving presants but I am very careful with my money. I shop around, research online and try to get as many offers as possible.

If I see a bargain I grab it whether that be in the shop or online!

Thought and planning are the keys

*I am always thinking if I see a nice 'gift' throughout the year who it would be suitable for. Some just sing their name!!

• Keep a list of what you have (especially with my memory)
• Special deals / will they become treats at Xmas, but only if you hide them to stop the family eating beforehand (problem is your will power)
• don't over-buy, its amazing that you don't need the food mountain !!!
• use your left-overs in exciting ways, so the family do not get sick of turkey!! *plan your parties / guest visits and use a similar menu, that way there should be less left-overs as you will be buying the same 'extra' type ingredients. *I do plan my shopping, all the non perishables, tins and packets are bought at the beginning of the month or earlier if possible
• Perishable foods in the last week, if it is possible to prepare them before the 'day' like peel and chop carrots, it will not matter if the vitamins are lost from one meal *get everyone to plan with you, hopefully you will not buy food no one will eat *remember the shops are only closed a maximum of 2 days !!!

I spread the cost throughout the year generally starting in the January sales. I find that if you buy classics they suit just about everyone except stroppy teenagers of course. For them I try and pick up on what they say they like Oct/Nov time and then start trawling the shops for the best deals. A friend and I have boys he same age so we tend to collaborate on any get the second half price deals etc.

I rarely buy anything full price. I save Tesco vouchers, nectar points etc until Christmas. I mostly shop online so that I can compare prices and look for discount codes and I shop through quidco.

If you shop online always go via cashback websites ie Topcashback and Quidco. It's worth if you use the Chrome browser to also download the Nectar card toolbar extension, not only do you get points for your net searches, you're also notified on websites if you can collect nectar points when you shop there. You might as well collect them if you're buying anyway!

Another tip for the High Street is download the Vouchercode, Vouchers, o2 Moments (if your on o2!), Savoo & vouchercloud apps on your phone - which offer great deals for retailers and restaurants. Hope that helps! :) xx

Use Sainsburys half price toy sale. Buy things like xmas cards, crackers, tableware etc in Jan sales, and then keep eyes peeled constantly for offers.

We spend Christmas 200 miles away with our son, so instead of lugging presents on the train, I allocate each member a certain value of voucher and they get what they want. Son and wife get vouchers for their special interests. Then I know know exactly how to divide up my budget.

And, as I am disabled, I don't have to do lots of tiring shopping. Simples!

I set a budget for each recipient and try to buy something within that price range that I know they will like.
I also save up points from survey sites all year round and exchange them for Amazon vouchers wherever possible, which helps with the budgeting!
Lastly, if I'm buying online, I always 1) look for discount codes and then 2) go via a cashback site.

We only buy gifts for the kids. The adults get a £10.00 secret Santa My kids get one pressie from Santa plus a stocking which I fill with bits and bobs picked up all through the year. Food shopping has began. I pick up non perishable items early to avoid it all coming out of Decembers money.

I do plenty of research online looking at hot uk deals, other sites like groupon and mysupermarket for the best prices. if it means the best delas ate in town i go into the shop and try to haggle.

I buy two presents a month, starting in January. Then, come December, I only have to buy the last minute little bits and bobs.

Buy things as I see them (starting early). By Nov I have a list of what I am giving people. This year I have regularly saved to avoid that horror when I realise I am paying for Christmas for the rest of the year.

Using amazon wish lists for gift ideas for relatives, rather than wasting money on a gift I might think perfect but they won't like. Set a clear budget for presents. DH's family do a grown up Secret Santa. We all buy for one other person and spend a max £25. It has worked v well in the past.

Persuade another relative to host Christmas day!

buying early... better deals on gifts in September. Trawling the internet and comparing prices...

Vouchers, promo codes, nectar points, clubcard vouchers..... anything to scape a few pounds off!

I don't buy for many people any more. We have an agreement with Mother In Law that we don't buy presents for each other.
For the few presents I do buy, I seek out sales, special offers (usually via MSE or Hotdeals) or discount vouchers.
If I buy anything I always ask if there is any wiggle room on the price. I recently got a further 10% off 2 cabin cases that were already on sale at 50% off!
I also save Nectar / Tesco / Boots /Superdrug points and use them at christmas.