With less than 100 days to go until December 25th, thoughts are slowly starting to turn to preparing for the big day.
And as people across the country continue to grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, planning ahead for the festivities has never been more important.
Financial expert Makala Green has warned “forewarned is forearmed” as the countdown to the most magical time of year begins.
It has been a year of price hikes for us all and many household budgets, and savings, are feeling the squeeze more than ever before. In fact, research from rewards club Virgin Red shows that people plan to cut their Christmas budget by an average of 24% this year.
To help get ready ahead of the festive rush, we’re sharing a few tips to help take the stress out of your Christmas prep.
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1. Set your budget
Let’s be honest, when we think of Christmas, we often conjure up images of the perfect festive extravaganza that wouldn’t look out of place on a Christmas card.
While that might be the dream, it’s important not to lose sight of reality.
Before you start planning the perfect Christmas, it’s important to know exactly how much you can afford to spend.
Far from being a Grinch, having a budget in place is the best way to enjoy your Christmas preparations without worrying about a financial hangover come the new year.
It’s also important to take into account other expenses you’ll have in the run up to the big day – especially in December. Don’t forget to include birthdays, nights out or any other day-to-day expenses that could crop up such as car insurance renewals.
2. Check your gift list
They say you don’t give to receive but if we’re honest, if someone buys you a gift at Christmas there’s often a pressure to gift back.
Before you start your Christmas shopping, it’s a good idea to prioritise who you’ll be giving to.
Writing your list and checking it twice isn’t always about seeing who’s been naughty or nice. It can be a useful way to make the best use of your budget and cut down on gifts that you’re only giving out of obligation.
Don’t feel pressured to buy for everyone you know this year. If your budget only allows you to spend on immediate family, that’s OK. If you’re feeling bad about leaving out friends of extended family you could arrange a Secret Santa with a strict limit that means you’re only buying for one person out of that social group. You could also make a plan to get together in the new year, that way you can save and have something to look forward to.
3. Search for deals
Starting your Christmas shopping early is a great way to spread the cost and to help you secure the best deals.
Sometimes the festive rush can force our hand when it comes to buying certain things – especially the season’s most coveted toys. However, by starting early, you give yourself more time to search for the best possible deals and allow you to spread the cost of big purchases.
It also saves the stress of waiting on last minute deliveries or standing in huge high street queues in December.
4. Be wary of gift cards or vouchers
For the person who has everything a gift card or voucher can seem like a brilliant gift.
Easy to buy, the beauty of a gift card or voucher lies in their simplicity. However, it’s always worth spending with caution.
Buying a gift card or voucher comes with risks that you may not immediately think of. There’s always a chance that the retailer or provider could go bust and there’s often an expiry date to be aware of – especially on experiential vouchers.
Of course, there’s also the risk that a person could forget about their gift or worse lose it, so it’s always worthwhile weighing up whether or not it’ll be as simple as it seems.
5. Don’t believe social media hype
Social media can be an amazing way to capture and share festive memories. However, for many it can also create a pressure to keep up with an unrealistic lifestyle.
As we approach December 25th, our social feeds slowly begin to fill with over-the-top Christmas decorations, trips to have breakfast with Santa, party nights and trips to Christmas markets.
If you’re committing to spending more cautiously this Christmas, try not to get caught up in the social media hype. There are plenty of activities that capture the magic of the season without costing a fortune. From having a Christmas movie marathon at home to get you in the spirit, to wrapping up and going to see the Christmas lights in your local area or making your own decorations, there’s plenty of fun to be had without a costly pricetag.
6. Don’t overspend on dinner
Christmas dinner is perhaps the best dinner of the year. That being said, just because it’s the ultimate meal it doesn’t meal you need to fork out for top of the range goods for it to be tasty.
If you’re only having a small gathering, why not consider sticking to one meat instead of feeling pressure to have options. Don’t feel pressure to go to Waitrose or M&S if you shop in ASDA or Aldi every other day of the year.
In fact, according to an experiment by Martin Lews, 62% of people he tested couldn’t tell the difference between ‘high end’ and own brands, so don’t feel the need to go all out if you can’t.
7. Ask for help
Christmas might be the most wonderful time of year for many, however, for those living with money worries it can be one of the most difficult.
If you’re concerned about debt, it’s important to ask for help sooner rather than later. If you reach out before the beginning of the rush, you could avoid further financial worries in the new year.
