How do you avoid a post-Christmas financial hangover? Share your tips with Lloyds Bank and you could win a £300 Love2Shop voucher NOW CLOSED

[ZaneMumsnet]

We've been asked by Lloyds Bank to get Mumsnetters' tips and tricks for stretching every pound in the run-up to Christmas.

”Christmas is a joyous time of the year, however, many parents find it difficult to truly enjoy it. Somehow, your money (and time) is needed to cover presents, food, drink and travelling amongst many other expenditures. We would love to hear how you make sure Christmas doesn’t leave your bank balance a Santa shade of red.” – Lloyds Bank

So, what's your secret? Do you have a special knack to shopping that saves you pounds? Or are you more into the homespun approach, making your own gifts (and fun). Have you perfected the art of negotiating a lengthy list to Santa with a budget in mind? We’d love to hear your top tips.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

I have a spreadsheet. Seriously. In Google Drive. Otherwise it gets easy to buy lots and lots of little things that add up to a silly amount.

I'm saving for a deposit for a mortgage at the moment so I'm lucky enough to be able to say "this month, I will buy Christmas things instead of putting that money in my savings account" (and then see how much of the amount I would have put into savings is left).

I have a budget and stick to it. I also buy lots of things throughout the year when I see them, which helps spread the cost somewhat.

We are another boring "spend what we can afford" family, although the nectar card points will be used for buying Christmas booze, boots points have bought some gifts for family, we've bought as much as possible through cash back websites so should at least get a little back.

I try to start the shopping earlier in the year, always look for sales , codes and bargains.
I will only borrow on cards what I can afford so not to add to the January blues.

I only spend within my means at Christmas, not worth putting myself in debt over one day

I set a budget for the DDs and OH. I've also cut back on the expense of gifts for other family members. I do look for deals throughout the year and stash gifts away as I go. I also have no problem with buying 2nd hand toys - the DDs don't even notice!!

We start shopping really early in the year, even if that means starting in the January sales. We very rarely pay full price for anything and you can pick up some real bargains.

Park vouchers savings club for big presents, buy bargains throughout the year for small gifts and stocking fillers. I also use quidco and nectar/ club card , all points used towards Christmas .

Don't go mad and don't get sucked in to the must have everything marketing. Decide your budget including presents and extra treats nice food etc. Divide this by 10 and put that amount to one side each month Jan-Oct. If you can't afford that each month you need to reduce your budget/expectations.

get everything in the january sales

This is the first year I've had a budget and have stuck to it (for the most part, might have gone over on some gifts but under on some).

I decided in advance what I was buying and shopped around. I bought a lot from Amazon on Black Friday. I've used cashback sites.

Some gifts this year are homemade so these have been fairly inexpensive.

Not very exciting, but the best way is to spread the present buying out over a few months and make sure you stick to a budget.

Surely it's as simple as spend only what you have?

I have a budget for each person and stick to it. For older and younger people I buy early in advance, for teenagers I usually hang on so see what's the current trend or what's on their list so as not to buy tem something they don't want.

I try to shop locally at small villages etc as I hate paying for parking and prefer more interesting gifts.

Food wise we get something cheap early such as gammon and stick it in the freezer. Then on Christmas eve we hit the shops looking for a turkey bargain as I refuse to pay £40. if there isnt one we will stick with the gammon, still have al the trimmings though and will make my own pigs in blankets etc rather than paying for them to be pre-made. Christmas puddings and the like I will get from Aldi or Lidol.

I start In the sales after Christmas,I save monthly for vouchers and buy saving stamps through out the year

save up during the year even if its just a few quid a month and keep an eye out for bargains throughout the year!

start Christmas shopping early and stick to a budget

Shop in the sales and gift handmade presents

I have to stick to a strict budget all year round, so I try to put £20 a month away for Christmas

I put away £50 a month for heating oil, but it usually only costs around half of that, so the rest is spent on Christmas presents. I have a limit per person, and I never get into debt. There is no point.

I start buying in October. I use supermarket vouchers and buy chocolates wine, sweets etc from them.

This year I was lucky enough to win on a Mumsnet thread, £250 to spend at John Lewis. That has taken care of some of DD's presents. (I have kept £150 to spend in the sales or on bridesmaids stuff for DD when my brother gets married).

I use nectar points and vouchers earned on Consumer Pulse. It all helps to reduce spending.

i shop steadily through the year, and also sign up to do overtime during september and october so have the extra money for christmas. I do have a big budget to spend but know i have worked for it which makes it extra nice !

I noticed a few years ago that all the big toy stores have half term, half price sales in the October/November and so I put money in my Xmas pot throughout the year and then hit all the big stores over half term and get most of my presents in one go!
I also buy wrapping paper, cards and tags for the next year in the January sales (some shops sell off immediately after Xmas day so must be quick) for next to nothing and put away in loft. To make sure I don't forget I write a list in the back of my new notebook for the next year so I can check how much I have before buying any.

I have been entering a lot of competitions hoping to win a lot of presents, I've won some bits and bobs so that has helped. I've also been buying things when I see deals posted in a facebook page I am a member of. I don't go too crazy and spend within my means

One side of our family just buy presents for the children and do a Secret Santa for the adults - saves so much money and stress! I really wish the other side would go for it! Also have agreements with friends that we only get gifts for the kids. I work in retail and buy as much as I can from my own store to make use of discounts. I start to buy presents about August so I don't have to do it all in one go. I save up points on my Boots card through the year so I can use it in December on their 3 for 2 gifts. I also try to cut down spending on luxuries during this time so I have a bit more in the bank come December. But the biggest thing is making sure I don't spend more than I can afford - DH and I leave shopping for our presents to each other for last and if things are a bit tight we agree not to get anything for each other or to buy it later. That way we keep in budget without anyone else losing out.

I save money each month, decide and budget, and stick to it.