Where you can wrap £250 gifts for £25 and four other tips to cut Christmas costs
IT may seem like summer has just ended, but Christmas is less than 100 days away.
While this time of festivities is meant to bring us all together and enjoy some much-needed time with our loved ones, December also brings financial pressure for many cash-strapped households.
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The sentiment that you should only buy the best of the best and the latest of the latest was also evident in a survey conducted last year, with average per head expenditure ranging from just under £700 in the North East to an eye-watering £973 in London, Statista showed it.
Data from MoneySuperMarket paints a similar picture, with the average cost of Christmas rising to £1,811.70 per household last year, which is more than 80% of the average monthly income.
Many parents feel so much pressure, especially from social media, that they end up in significant debt around Christmas.
As we quickly approach the most special time of the year, money-conscious mum-of-four Casey Major-Bunce has revealed five ways to cut costs – and how to spoil your little one with a chic Xbox even if you can’t. pay.
The Influencing Parent, better known to her 693,000 Instagram followers as The queen of hackstold everything you needed to know – from festive cards to handbag-friendly deals.
Decor galore
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No Christmas Eve and day is complete without the most important centerpiece: the Christmas tree.
While holiday superfans – and garden centers across the UK – are already decorating their homes, you might want to look for the An al.
But with prices for an artificial tree averaging around £60 to £70, Casey advised it’s best to check second-hand deals online.
The money-conscious mum, whose Big Book of Major Mum Hacks will be launched in March next year, said: ”Facebook Marketplace is your best friend!
”You can find beautiful trees for a fraction of the price, and don’t forget: you can put your old ones aside there too.
“Believe me, people are always looking for a bargain, especially around the holidays.”
Fancy a cheeky trinket makeover but don’t want to spend a lot of money?
Casey, whose hacks were loved by everyone from Stacey Solomon to cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch, also had something to offer the craft enthusiast.
”Here’s a hack I swear by: grab a cheap pack of balloons in the color you want, cut the tops off and wrap them over your existing baubles. Voila!” she said while talking to Fabulous.
”Immediate transformation. I did this a few years ago when I switched from gold to pink, and it looked fantastic!”
Packing the best – for the least
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From mince pies to scented candles, the shops are slowly filling up with all kinds of festive things, including gifts.
Whether you’re looking for a toy for your little ones or a brand new perfume for that special someone, Casey had one rule: “shop.”
The mother of four said: ”PriceRunner is a lifesaver here. Just place the toy or gadget you’re looking for and the prices will be compared for you, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal.”
The price comparison site, which claims to always be ”on your side as a consumer”, offers the service with more than 5.8 million products and offers from almost 7,000 retailers.
Casey from Portsmouth, who had her first child at 19, continued: ‘Speaking of deals, Black Friday is usually a goldmine. But don’t be fooled by unreliable discounts.
”Some stores are sneaky and raise the price in advance to make it look like a bigger savings.
”A good trick is to take a screenshot of the desired item in the weeks before and save it in a separate album on your phone. That way, when Black Friday hits, you can check if it’s a good bargain.
“Last year I had my eye on something that offered £200 off, but in reality it was only £25!”
The money-conscious parent, who was previously brutally targeted for ‘wasting her life’ as a teenage mother, also urged families not to sleep with second-hand items.
She told The Sun: “Check charity shops and online for second-hand gifts. We bought my daughter a Frozen Elsa castle for £50 instead of £250 – and it was already built!
“I wrapped it up and she was just as excited, if not more so, because we didn’t spend half the day putting it together!”
WHEN TO BUY WHAT
Festive food shop
You can now start adding small, non-perishable items like chocolate and nuts to your cart, as long as they last before the big day. For fresh and big ticket items, wait until mid-December. And for vegetables you can come by about ten days before Christmas. That’s when supermarkets start fighting to offer the cheapest deals.
Christmas tree
If a real felled tree is on your wish list, try not to buy it during the first week of December, when the majority of people start looking for theirs. A well-maintained tree cut in late November should retain its needles until New Year’s Eve, and you still have a choice before demand becomes too high.
Toys
If you know what your children are craving, now is the time to take action. Supermarkets start toy sales every year around the end of September-October, which can last up to two weeks. Dates are subject to change and you must be a member to take advantage of these low prices, whether it’s Nectar, Clubcard or Morrisons More.
Drink
Last year, money-saving expert Martin Lewis reported that liquor sales in supermarkets lasted until the end of November, so wait until the cold snap really hits. Loyal customers can expect up to 25 percent off the popular prosecco and wine.
Technology
If you’re planning on gifting cell phones, laptops or air fryers this year, don’t wait too late to start shopping. Research shows that prices are cheapest in September and October, and rise in November and December as demand increases.
Keep an eye out for Black Friday (November 29) deals and check prices ahead of time to make sure it’s a good bargain.
It’s a party!
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What is Christmas without the festive feast, drinks and guests having a merry time?
While hosting a party can be fun, the costs add up quickly, especially when snacks, appetizers, and mulled wine are involved.
But this year, instead of asking guests to bring a bottle, Casey recommended trying a different request: bringing a platter.
“Have each guest bring a dish – appetizers, hot food, desserts – sorted by letters of the alphabet.
“You’ll save a fortune and your sanity if you don’t have to feed the entire crowd yourself.”
Maps and traditions
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As much as we enjoy sending and receiving cute festive cards with a Santa motif, the shipping costs are often higher than the cards themselves.
The social media hacking queen revealed how to save money – without forgetting the Christmas essentials.
Consider e-cards to save on stamps, or if you’re still traditional, hand them out in person when you see people. Much cheaper than installing them!”
Casey continued, “Family traditions don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either. Loads of people go to the panto on Christmas Eve, and with tickets priced at £50-£100 each, that quickly adds up.
“Why not start a new, budget-friendly tradition, like cookie decorating or making Christmas slime?”
Pricey gifts for little money
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If your little ones are asking for something more expensive, like a PS5 or an Xbox, and you don’t want to let them down, Casey advised “rounding up the troops.”
The mother of four revealed: ”We all contributed to my son’s PS5 last year – us, the grandparents, even my brothers – and he still got his dream gift without us having to spend the full amount.
”For the kids under five, believe me, they are more excited about opening presents than about what’s inside!
”Go to the local bargain shops and buy small items; they will be just as happy, and you will save a lot on expensive items that they will outgrow within six months.”
Casey wished, “Just have a wonderful Christmas season!”
