I swear by my simple Christmas budgeting hack – people say it’s ‘genius’
As Christmas approaches, many people will want to put some extra money aside to make the holidays as stress-free as possible.
Between buying presents, stocking up on snacks and preparing the big Christmas dinner, Brits will be doing a lot of budgeting and calculations to ensure they keep everything under control.
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And with expenses piling up so much, it’s no wonder that planning ahead can make a big difference in avoiding the financial crisis this holiday season.
And one savvy money saver has just the trick, but those who want to follow it should start now.
Twenty-something Meg Leab took to her TikTok page to share a post video in which she reveals the trick.
Speaking to the camera, she said: “I do this every year before Christmas, and everyone tells me I’m a genius. So I thought I’d share it with you here.
“From September 1 to Christmas Day I buy a small, non-perishable Christmas item in every weekly store.
“It basically means that when I get to Christmas, I’ve already bought all my non-perishable snacks, condiments and stuff like that.
“So it eases the financial burden around Christmas.
“And of course if you only have a few pounds a week coming from your weekly shop you won’t notice it as much, unlike if you go out at Christmas and spend £100 on random snacks.
“Obviously we’re still a few weeks away, but if you start now you’ll literally have 16 to 17 items before Christmas.”
She captioned the video: “If you start this week’s weekly shop you will have at least 14 things ready for Christmas!
“It makes the Christmas shop a lot cheaper and you don’t have to worry as much about getting an expensive month.”
One said: “I do this.
“I put them all in the top kitchen cupboard, which I have to use a chair for.
“I’m lazy and I can’t be asked to drag the dining room chair from the other room just to get chocolate.”
Another added: “I’m keeping my Asda rewards points in the Christmas piggy bank. Cannot be used until a certain time.
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“Helps with Christmas shopping, even gifts or pajamas.”
But one fan of the hack did point out one problem, writing: “My problem is that I would find this and eat it for Christmas.”
Meg replied, “It’s hard. Good way to train self-discipline lol.”
Another smart saver also suggested another tip.
They wrote: “I save and use all my Tesco Club Card points and Nectar points throughout the year.
“Last year with the Nectar double I had just over £100 in points.”
How to Save Money on Christmas Shopping
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the number of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not host a Secret Santa among your inner circles so you don’t have to buy multiple presents?
Plan ahead – if you have the stamina and the budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for next year during the January sales.
Make sure you shop for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you don’t spend more than you need to.
Buy on sale on Boxing Day – some retailers are starting their main Christmas sales early so you can actually score a bargain before December 25th.
Delivery may cost you a little more, but it could be worth it if the savings are significant.
Shop through outlet stores – you can save a lot of money by shopping through outlet stores such as Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually the wear and tear is minor.
