Money Matters this Christmas

Check out our top tips to help you save this Christmas

• Shop smart online – A quick internet search will come up with price comparisons of thousands of products, giving you details of which retailers stock them the cheapest

• Make it a discount code December– Check out www.moneysupermarket.com/vouchers for discounts on attractions, gifts and meals out around Christmas and the new year.

• Click and collect – Save on delivery charges by using click and collect. Some online stores will deliver to a store or local shop near your home free of charge.

• Shrink your gift list– Set a price limit for family, have a ‘children only’ rule, or set up a Secret Santa where you draw names so that everyone has to buy only one gift (and guess who it is from!)

• Don’t buy too much food– If you don’t want to waste food – or the money you’ve spent buying it – look at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, which has a portion calculator to help plan for parties.

• Share the cost – If you are inviting friends and family over for Christmas lunch or a new year knees-up ask everyone to bring a dish.

• Get on eBay – No, not to buy presents – tomake room for them! Selling your old things could generate quite a bit of money for the Christmas kitty. There’s also Amazon if you want to sell books. Local internet forums are worth a look too, as many let you list items for free.

• Beware of borrowing– If you can afford to pay for something outright then do it. But if you cannot avoid borrowing use the creditor with the lowest interest rate (APR)+. Check out our affordable borrowing tips for more.

• Points make prizes – Use your accumulated reward and loyalty points. If you’ve been building up points from various retailers throughout the year – put them to good use!

• Budget for bills– Don’t forget everyday bills. Remember that rent, utilities, food, rates and other existing debts still have to be paid – and the consequences can be severe if they’re not. Keep some money back to pay bills in January.

Need support and advice on budgeting, bank accounts and more? Check out our money advice section for more tips.