How to Do Christmas On A Budget

For many, Christmas can be an expensive time of the year, and often the pressure of getting great gifts can become too much. However, it is perfectly doable for Christmas to be done on a budget.

Plan Ahead

The best way to cut the costs of Christmas is to plan early. Your best friend at Christmas is a list! Start with writing down a list of all the things you need for Christmas, for example, presents, food, decorations, etc. Write these down in order of importance and break down the bigger sections, such as presents, into more detailed lists with the recipient’s name, the money you can afford to spend on them and present ideas. While you’re doing your Christmas shopping, have this list to hand so that you can check you aren’t spending too much money. Once you have bought their present tick it off, this can stop you from buying more than you need to as it can be easy to forget what you’ve purchased. Do this for all aspects of your original list, such as food and decorations. By planning what you can afford rather than buying randomly, you can massively cut the costs of Christmas!

Shop Savvy

You don’t have to spend a fortune to let people know you care about them. It’s the thought that counts more than the amount you have spent. Pre-owned jewellery can be loved just as much as brand new items. You can also buy other pre-loved gifts by looking in charity shops; you can often find quirky and unique gifts when you’re being money savvy so don’t let the thought of something being used before put you off. Another good place to look is on Facebook Marketplace; there are lots of pre-owned items that would be perfect as Christmas presents. If it’s in good condition, there’s no reason to spend more money to get the same thing brand new.

Be Crafty

Again, it’s the thought that counts. If you can’t afford to buy Christmas presents this year, get crafty instead. Home-made gifts often look a lot more thoughtful than simply buying something from a shop. It shows that a lot of thought and effort has gone into a gift which is more valuable than spending lots of money. Here are some ideas to get you going: sugar scrub, candles or glitter mugs.

Try Secret Santa

Secret Santa is a good idea, especially if you come from a large family. This way, everyone gets a present, but you don’t have to spend a fortune buying for everyone. You can put a cap on the amount of money each person is allowed to spend and cut the costs massively. It’s also a good idea to incorporate Secret Santa at work rather than having to buy presents for all your work colleagues. It also takes the pressure off of having to think of gift ideas for everyone!

Make Memories Not Debt

Christmas is about spending time with the people you love the most. It shouldn’t be filled with stress and debt. The most important thing you can do at Christmas is to make memories, go for long walks, eat too much and argue over Monopoly. Don’t get caught up in trying to spend as much as everyone else.