Mumsnet users share their best budget buys for Christmas 2020 with Park Christmas Savings

[LibbyMumsnet]

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When it comes to Christmas, planning ahead is key, especially if you want to stay within your budget. It can be so easy to get swept up in the excitement of Christmas and spend beyond your means, but festive fun doesn’t need to cost a fortune - you just need to be a savvy-shopper. With this in mind, Park Christmas Savings would like to hear what your best budget buys are this Christmas.

Here’s what Park Christmas Savings have to say: “For over 50 years now, families have trusted Park Christmas Savings to take the stress out of saving for Christmas. With our huge range of digital and physical gift cards with online spending options that allow you to shop in all your favourite retailers, we help you make Christmas truly magical.
Whether it’s covering the Christmas ‘big shop’ and not holding back on the fancy crackers and prosecco, using Love2shop Gift Cards to buy all the gifts on your list, or simply sending them to the people you can’t visit over Christmas – we’ve got you covered! To find out how you can start saving today and be the smug organised mum next year, take a look at our site”.

So, we are asking you, what are your best budget buys this Christmas? Have your past experiences of not properly budgeting for the festive season made you a super-saver this year? What steps have you taken to plan ahead and to make sure you stick to your budget? Maybe you have some tips and tricks for getting the best discount codes, recommended retailers, or you think getting crafty with homemade presents is the best way to keep costs down?

Share your best budget buys on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I always buy my cards and gift wrap in the Christmas sales for the next year. That way I get the good stuff at a fraction of the price!
I also have a plum account that syphons bits of money out of my current account in to a separate ac. I don't really notice it as it's smallish increments. (You can change the settings depending on how much you want to save) this always helps with the financial strain of Christmas as it's an extra pot of money for when it's most needed!

I used The Works to buy books as they have a 3 for £5 deal on

Buying second hand from online sites and local sites, saves tons of money, and saves the planet as well.

My advice is to buy all throughout the year and save them. Also shopin charity shops as they do have new things still in boxes you just have to be lucky.

My best savings have been buying new boxed un-used toys from other parents online! I've saved loads from surplus birthday or Xmas presents other kids haven't used. My best was talking woody and buzz light year RRP £35 each and I got both for £20!! Brand new in boxes as her son didn't want them for his birthday.

set a budget and only take that amount with you forcing you to stick to the list , leave all the cards at home

I shop around - the present I got for my nephew was really good value from where I found it from. I always try and use voucher codes so searching for those before buying.

you can get some good deals on selling sites and young children don't notice.

My best budget buy was an unopened still cellophaned box of Kuros Aftershave which had been donated to my local Charity shop. An absolute bargain at just £2.50. Hubby will be chuffed on Christmas day as it is his favourite (but I won't let on how cheaply I got it for!)

I bought a lol hair flip from Very, best price anywhere, £7 cheaper than others

Look for things that include the P&P - we buy cakes from Collins Street Bakery and they post worldwide which is especially good when we have relatives in the USA which has extortionate postage

Like previous posters have said - buy stuff like wrapping paper and cards in the sale and shove them in the loft ready for next year. When the kids were younger I also used to buy stocking filler style items in the sales such as Christmas socks, clips etc. It saves money and also makes me feel really organised when Christmas rolls around.

My best buy was the wrapping paper, tags & cards - all bought in the January sale

I budget by starting shopping for next Xmas in the January sales, picking things up all year round. making decorations with the kids and shopping at "budget" supermarkets like Aldi because their range is second to none. Why pay more?! Merry Christmas!

Plan ahead and pick things up throughout the year when on offer. Buy your wrapping paper, tags, cards and put away with the decorations for next year.
Decide on your spend limit for each person and stick to it.
Don't buy expensive individual cards, you can get some lovely cards in packs and then have the savings to go towards the presents.
Don't overbuy on food, just get what you need for the meals as you usually get chocolates, biscuits etc as gifts too.

I have made up our own hampers. bought lots of ymmuy treats and put them into lovely boxes and gift wrapped them. half the price of a premade hamper and you can pick peoples favourites rather than a standard mix

Enter competitions to see if you can win gifts. Make a budget and stick to it. It is all about the giving and thought which has gone into the gift, not the price.

I make knitted and crocheted gifts.
Toys, shopping bags, hats, scarves

Tips & tricks that I use to help ease the stress of Christmas shopping:

• Check out 'bargain hunting' sites daily to find great deals
• Purchase gifts throughout the year during sales and special events
• Use cashback sites if I'm purchasing online and take advantage of their increased cashback rates where applicable (I also save my cashback up until December to use for Christmas presents)
• Save my store loyalty points all year and use them in December

The above all help me to spread the cost and not go on a manic spending spree during the run up to Christmas itself!

With more time at home I've been making things for presents.

Toys I usually do really well on facebay and boot sales. Practically good as new..hardly played with.
I was super happy with LOL dolls this year for 30p each instead of £11. With 4 nieces all loving them this most certainly helped.
I 'm a natural bargain hunter and learnt from my Nan. I am sure missing the sales this year tho.

Some of my friends have started to collect vinyl records again . I have found some great Abba albums in a charity shop for a pound each and they are in great condition. They will love these for their collection.

I always buy dish washer tablets/pods in October usually works out abot 11p instead of 20p each. Also Which magazine suggests Daz liquid is best for whites, so I from Home bargains - 49 wash size for £5. Remeber 1ml weighs as 1 g so you can measure really easily on scales.

We buy items during the year and shop on a well known auction site for bargains x

Bought my cards and gift wrap in the Boxing Day sales, will do it again this year.