Inside: How to save money in the run-up to Christmas. Collaborative post.
It’s that time of year again. Christmas is on the horizon, and people are getting excited. In fact, you may already know someone who’s itching to get the decorations out the moment Halloween ends.
Although you might not be putting the tree up right now, you may be starting to plan for the festive period. The Bank of England reckons the average person spends an additional £740 in December. This is 29% more than in a regular month! But where do you find that extra cash to burn in these tough times?
Here are four tips for saving money in the build-up to Christmas.
Make a budget and stick to it
Start Christmas saving by setting up a budget that helps you to identify areas where you can save money. It’ll also help you determine what you can afford based on the money you have. Set yourself a daily spending limit.
Or how about having a weekly ‘no-spend’ day? You can also look at spreading your Christmas costs out over the year to make things easier. If you haven’t done that, sales and offers in the run-up to Christmas are more plentiful nowadays. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great for luxury and tech bargains.
Use cash back
Why not check out cashback websites? Cashback sites pay you a cash reward when you buy products through them. That means when it comes to Christmas time, you could get decent payback on all the presents you’re buying.
That should help you save a little extra this Christmas – or at least get you a little more for your money.
Get yourself a VPN
A virtual private network, better known as a VPN, allows you to disguise your identity online. Most people get a VPN mainly for privacy, but using one could also help you save money at Christmas.
Did you know that prices can differ online depending on your location?
Sites also know whether you’ve visited them before via cookies which can affect prices. With a VPN, you can change your location and block cookies to see whether you’re getting the best deal.
Use loyalty cards and vouchers
If there’s the best time to be using vouchers or hard-earned loyalty points, Christmas is it. Retailers offer all sorts of promotional discounts during the festive period. With that in mind, an online voucher site can come in handy for getting the best price.
If you’re a regular shopper with a brand, loyalty schemes can also help you save money on your present shopping.
With Christmas, only a few months away, think about how you’ll afford your holiday fun. With the four tips above, you’ve got a good starting point to make this festive season more affordable and fun.