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Christmas is coming! It’s an exciting time of year with preparations beginning for the big day already. It’s no surprise to anyone that it can be one of the most expensive times of the year too, with gifts, decorations, food, and celebrations throughout.
For some, Christmas planning can become a little stressful when working out how you’re going to afford everything you want and need over the holiday period without leaving yourself short of money.
Budgeting, spreading the cost of purchases, and keeping track of your expenditures are all great tips but we know they can be hard to do.
We’ve compiled a list of some of our Christmas shopping saving tips, and how to get the things you want without breaking the bank.
How much should you spend this Christmas?
Write a list of all the things you’d like to make the festive period one to remember, and set a budget accordingly.
Tools like MoneySuperMarket’s Budget Planner Spreadsheet are great, as they’re ready-made to input your budget (plus you can use it throughout the year for other things too!).
Remember – you don’t have to pay out for everything you want in one go if it’s going to leave you short. For example, why not spread the cost of the pricier items over several months?
Get discounts where you can
Why pay full price for an item when you can get it discounted? Many Black Friday offers are extended until the end of December, and there are hundreds of offers out there on items that you probably have on your gift list. Start looking now at what you can tick off, at a discounted price, to save yourself some money this Christmas.
Look out for voucher codes and discounts on social media too. An influencer or brand ambassador may have an exclusive discount code for a company you wish to buy from which could help you get the item you want cheaper (although be sure that they are legit).
Don’t pay a delivery fee if you don’t have to
Delivery fees can add up, and if you’re ordering from lots of different online retailers, it can be costly. When you’re looking at your list of things you want to buy this year, ask yourself: can any of them be bought from the same place to save on multiple delivery costs?
Many retailers also offer free delivery if you spend over a certain amount. Browse our Shopping Directory to find merchants who offer free delivery as well as finance options.
Buying from somewhere with a local store? Click and Collect will sometimes cut the delivery fee out entirely. Contact the merchant to check if you’re not sure if this is available.
Post your gifts early
Sending gifts to loved ones abroad this year? Getting them posted early not only cuts out the risk of the gift not arriving on time but also saves on any late delivery fees that may be brought in over the Christmas period.
It’s also a good idea to search around to see if a courier service online may be a cheaper option this year. Although using Royal Mail at your local post office may feel like the easiest option, why not take a look at other options such as ParcelHero to see if there may be another service that will save some money.
Get cashback where you can
Finding the perfect item you’re looking to buy is a great feeling – but wouldn’t it be even better if you could get cashback with that purchase too?
Using a cashback site like TopCashback or QuidCo will allow you to buy what you want and earn money back from it too. They make their money by sending traffic to certain sites – some of which they would give to you.
Even with this, you can still shop around. Some of these sites may offer you money back when you buy through them, but you may be able to get the item cheaper elsewhere. Always compare prices.
Buy with interest free credit
Our interest free credit option allows you to pay for purchases over a period between two and twelve months and you won’t be hit with any additional costs.
It only takes a few minutes to apply, and if you use a finance provider who offers soft credit checks, you can safely determine whether you’re likely to be approved ahead of time.
If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas on finance, there are hundreds of options to choose from in our Shopping Directory of trusted merchant partners. Take a look today!
