We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our telephone system.
We apologise for any inconvenience and are working to resolve this as soon as possible.
Secured Loans > 5 ways to save money this Christmas

5 ways to save money this Christmas

4th November 2016 | Published by Evolution Money

For many families in Britain, the prospect of Christmas goes beyond spending quality time with family; it’s also very expensive.

When you consider the accumulative cost of food, drinks, cards and decorations, it’s easy to see why many people quickly find themselves in debt by the turn of the new year. That’s not to mention the price of those ‘must-have’ presents, which seems to be on the rise every year.

Not to worry – Evolution Money is here to help!

The words ‘festive’ and ‘frugal’ are rarely used in the same sentence, but that’s not to say it’s impossible to enjoy the benefits of a budgeted Christmas. Here are our top five tips to save yourself money throughout the festive period…

screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-15-10-26

 

  • Start saving from Halloween (or before!)

Those who rely solely on December’s payslip to fund their entire Christmas splurge are definitely asking for trouble.

If you want to go all out without sacrificing too many beloved frills then it always pays to get ahead with your Christmas shopping. Buy and stash what you can in November (or even October) in order to split the cost between two or three pay packets.

  • Agree your limits

As the conversation with friends, family and work colleagues turns towards the upcoming Christmas break, start planting the seed of expectation. For example, many couples with children choose to operate a ‘kids only’ rule – or at least set a fairly modest limit to spend on each other.

Secret Santa doesn’t have to be the sole preserve of the workplace either; if you’re lucky enough to have a sizeable group of friends then this can cut down the cost of getting gifts for everyone. And rather than picking up a bog-standard £20 book from the Waterstones bestseller list, get creative with £5!

Remember, it really is the thought that counts.

  • Gather your vouchers

Thinking of a perfect time to use all those Tesco Clubcard or Sainsbury’s Nectar points that you’ve accrued throughout the year? Christmas is it.

For many loyalty schemes, it pays off to convert your points into vouchers first instead of simply cashing them all in at the till in one go. These vouchers are ideal to compensate for the extra money that every family is likely to spend on all that lovely food and drink.

 

  • Choose your supermarket wisely

While you may not think twice about shopping at Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s for the rest of the year, have you ever stepped foot into Lidl or Aldi? For quality fruit, veg and meat produce, the price difference can be quite remarkable. That includes turkey!

Although all supermarkets will literally be teeming with special offers in the build up to Christmas, it’s probably best off to give Waitrose or M&S a miss if you’re looking to keep your shopping bill down.

  • The end of year clearout

While you’re already up in the loft pulling down bags full of tinsel and old decorations, take note of what items you may be prepared to part with: clothes, electronics equipment, that old telescope that hasn’t been used since 2006.

It’s no secret that websites like eBay are a prime market for selling on your unwanted goods. Once you get into the habit of uploading your listings (which can now be done quickly on your mobile phone) it could even become a fairly regular source of extra cash.

Category: Homepage, Money
This post was written by Evolution Money
Warning: Late payment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk
Representative 28.96% APRC (Variable) - For a typical loan of £20,950 over 85 months with a variable interest rate of 23.00% per annum, your monthly repayments would be £537.44. Including a Product Fee of £2,095.00 (10% of the loan amount) and a Lending Fee of £714.00, the total amount repayable is £45,682.15. Annual Interest Rates ranging from 11.7% to 46.5% (variable). Maximum 50.00% APRC. The loan must be paid back by your 70th birthday. Read more.

Think carefully before securing debts against your home your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other loan secured against it. If you are thinking of consolidating existing borrowing, you should be aware that you may be extending the terms of the debt and increasing the total amount you repay.
© 2024 Evolution Money | Cookies | Terms & Conditions | Fair Processing Notice
Start Here
Please wait

Please wait

Don't leave just yet!

Evolution Money are a multi Award Winning UK finance company with thousands of happy customers!

Award Winning

Our friendly loan advisors can let you know if you're eligible for a loan without affecting your credit score. Why not give us a call today!

Freephone 0800 144 8188

Back to Evolution