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

Put a little away each month to save up for Christmas the following year & always stick to your budget. In the New Year sales lots of things are greatly reduced such as Christmas cards, wrapping paper etc so buy them in advance to save money for next year

Don't spend what you haven't got simple

we try to buy things throughout the year so we're not hit with huge expenses at one time

Try and win MN Survey shopping vouchers

Actually, with interest rates kaput , I am thinking of buying a few premium bonds each month to save for Christmas.

Though some Regular Saver Accounts have high interest.

I set budgets. And stick to them. I spend £5-£10 on nephews and £20-30 on main present for my boys, plus stockings. I'm frugal. We buy second hand if it's something big.

I shop in advance, looking out for sales and buying things then. I buy a couple large presents and maybe a couple smaller and stocking fillers for kids, and try not to over indulge.

i save up a little all year then buy when i see any bargains throughout the year

I buy my presents and special food as I go along so that I'm not paying for everything in one month. That just leaves the fresh food which isn't too costly to get.

I make sure I buy 2 presents a month & stock up on long dated foods and store it all in the garage. Come December I normally have enough presents to not buy anything other than stockings. When the get old & gifts get more expensive this might not work but at the moment its works well :)

I'd say my main saving is in managing expectations. I've never saved the 'big' present til Christmas, so one isn't expected then. I upcycle Christmas cards, use last year's tree, decorations and any leftover (unused) wrapping paper. (saving approx £50) see card here > blog

I start buying early and have a spreadsheet so I can keep track of who's got what.

I start shopping in September - buying things when I see them for presents rather than leaving it all to November/December. I also start buying christmas food bits with the weekly shop from the beginning of november to avoid a huge splurge later on. I try to reuse bits and pieces like cutting up last years christmas cards for present tags.

I don't spend more than I can afford and try and buy a little every week from november time to spread it out

I only spend money on christmas that I can afford .

I start with cards and wrap in the sales along with any little bits and pieces that I think would make good stocking fillers. Then at the end of the summer I add an extra item to the weekly shop (cleaning stuff, pet food, bottle of wine - anything that I'd need in December that doesn't have a sell-by or is long life). And I don't go mad. I try to choose presents that will be really liked rather than buy loads to make a big gift, don't overbuy food and try to make it special buy seeking out free Christmas events and attractions.

i buy gifts things throughout the year, so there isn't much to buy in the run up to xmas! Also writing a list and knowing exactly what you're going to buy before you go shopping and panic buy!

Budgeting very carefully

I'm afrad that I'm boringly orgainsed and plan to buy what I can in the months leading up to Christmas - and indeed I buy wrapping paper and cards in January when they're reduced.

I've always got an eye open in sales throughout the year for presents for people so I buy them and hide them away.

I buy, prepare and freeze food in advance for the Christmas/New Year week and always buy vegetables at the local market as they're cheaper than the supermarket.

OH and I also keep an eye out for wine bargains and hide it away for Christmas Day.

I start buying early and i also buy saving stamps all year round so that way it is all covered by December and i dont have any debts,my kids know i dont have loads of cash so never asks for anything they know i would not be able to afford,I also think kids must be taught the value of money from a early age get them started early.

Don't go mad.

We don't do presents for adults, just the children. They get a stocking on Christmas morning and main present after lunch plus new pjs.

We make marmalade, chutney or florentines for neighbours etc.

Get cards in the sales.

Decide what's important for you and then don't buy more stuff for the sake of it, eg. I want a real tree and enough gin

I only spend within my budget, as I don't have credit cards or savings.

I shop in the sales after christmas and in the sales throughout the year and put gifts aside. I have a huge extended family so it saves me hundreds a year which i can then spend on a holiday to combat the christmas stress.

We all love xmas really!!

We spread the cost over the year - festive stuff (wrapping and baubles) is bought in January then presents are bought throughout the year to spread the cost. We have a change jar for £1 and £2 coins which we collect over the year for the food shop

After many financial hangovers in my younger years I try my best now to be more organised. I do the following:

• Buy cards/wrapping paper in January sales ready for December
• We all chip in for the food/drink for Christmas Day depending on who hosts
• I save each month by transferring money each payday into a separate saving account and am very strict to not touch it until I start Christmas shopping
• Make the most of sales that start early (Nov/Dec) for presents
• Keep an eye on offers coming up (i.e. 3 for 2)
• Never, ever get into debt for Christmas, only buy what I can afford
• Don't go overboard for the sake of it
• Get creative - I am making a beauty box for my friend full of lots of little minatures/samples that I have collected over the month

I always buy in the sales and put away for the next year. I also save up and use my Shopping points (Tesco/ Nectar) and vouchers that are sent from stores.