Christmas is really not that far away if you think about how fast the year has gone, and so now is the time to start making the plans to help you save for that time of year. We all know that the spending can get a little out of hand, especially if you leave things to the last minute. But don’t despair, here are a few tips to help you make some savings this year and to still have a jolly time. 
Buy gifts when the bargains are there to be had
Buying gifts last minute always means one thing, you are going to spend more than you would like or more than you can afford. Fact. But, with a little careful preparation you can make some big savings when it comes to the gifts. First of all, there are some great bargain days to be had including Black Friday sales that can bring the costs down even further. Planning for sale events can help you to make awesome savings. You might also want to think about combining purchases as many stores have three for two offers available and one off sales.
Meal plan and start buying in now
December is a month of food and drink, especially around the Christmas holidays, so why not make sure that you can enjoy this time of year without blowing all your budget at the supermarket. Meal planning and preparation in advance can make a big difference. You can hunt out the bargains, choose the best places to shop and also make sure that you have everything you need in advance. Taking advantage of your freezer is a great idea.
Start thinking about the gifts now and buy early
A big part of the spending at Christmas is the gifts, and so buying them early and spreading the cost can help you to not only make the savings but also to feel less overwhelmed with your finances at the end of the year. Whether you want to stick up on the Christmas pajamas now, buy the Christmas jumper or even just start buying the main gifts, you will feel more organized and less worried about the financial impact Christmas can have on so many.
Plan your schedule and don’t over commit
The Christmas period is always going to be a busy one socially, so you may want to ensure that you can do all you can to enjoy the season, but to not have to spend too much. Don’t over commit yourself and plan the period as best you can. Making sure youa have days where you can just relax and enjoy the festivities with family at home instead. There is nothing like a Christmas movie afternoon that is not only great for your wallet but is fun as well.
Use your loyalty card points
Finally, many of us have those loyalty card points that we have collected over the course of the year, but a lot of us forget to use them, and this could be a big mistake. You may have a lot built up on your card and not even realize it. This could give you some huge savings on all sorts of things such as food and gifts.
Let’s hope that these tips help you to make some savings at Christmas
