A thrifty Christmas doesn't have to mean an austere Christmas. In fact being thrifty and frugal during the festive season can actually make for a more meaningful Christmas for everyone involved.
Plan
Don't worry you have not left it to late to have Christmas on a budget. You can accomplish this if you start planning now.
Second hand is not second best
By not buying new you can save a lot of money. Think about what gifts you can purchase preloved and start looking for them now. Ebay, local facebook pages, charity shops and friends can be great sources for quality second hand gifts.
Look for the best deals
Once you have a list of what you need to buy, then make sure you look for the best deal available and before you spend any money check out a cashback site such as Paidshop.com. Well actually Paidshop.com is more than a cashback site, it features flash sales, allows you to check the latest sale items with all major UK retailers, search for voucher codes for favourite shops and of course earn cashback. In fact I signed up myself and love it. You can sign up using my referral code here (don't worry it is free to sign up and you can save money)!
What can you make
Homemade gifts are a wonderful way to save money and also are really well received. I know I would rather receive something that thought has gone in to rather than just something from a shop.
Do not over shop
We do not purchase for adults such as my brother and he doesn't for us. We made this decision when we hit adulthood, I don't need a gift from him to know that I am loved. This also applies for food. Menu plan and only buy what you know you will eat.
Set realistic expectations
If your kids do not expect hundreds of pounds worth of gifts then having a thrifty Christmas is much simpler. We have christmas list rules in our home and my boys understand this and have learned not to expect more.
Give the gift of experiences
Experiences bring more happiness than things. So why not give the gift of a number of experiences throughout the year, spreading the cost. Such as a trip to the cinema, rock climbing or a family meal out.
How to have a Thrifty Christmas
Plan
Don't worry you have not left it to late to have Christmas on a budget. You can accomplish this if you start planning now.
Second hand is not second best
By not buying new you can save a lot of money. Think about what gifts you can purchase preloved and start looking for them now. Ebay, local facebook pages, charity shops and friends can be great sources for quality second hand gifts.
Look for the best deals
Once you have a list of what you need to buy, then make sure you look for the best deal available and before you spend any money check out a cashback site such as Paidshop.com. Well actually Paidshop.com is more than a cashback site, it features flash sales, allows you to check the latest sale items with all major UK retailers, search for voucher codes for favourite shops and of course earn cashback. In fact I signed up myself and love it. You can sign up using my referral code here (don't worry it is free to sign up and you can save money)!
What can you make
Homemade gifts are a wonderful way to save money and also are really well received. I know I would rather receive something that thought has gone in to rather than just something from a shop.
Do not over shop
We do not purchase for adults such as my brother and he doesn't for us. We made this decision when we hit adulthood, I don't need a gift from him to know that I am loved. This also applies for food. Menu plan and only buy what you know you will eat.
Set realistic expectations
If your kids do not expect hundreds of pounds worth of gifts then having a thrifty Christmas is much simpler. We have christmas list rules in our home and my boys understand this and have learned not to expect more.
Experiences bring more happiness than things. So why not give the gift of a number of experiences throughout the year, spreading the cost. Such as a trip to the cinema, rock climbing or a family meal out.
I really like the idea of giving gift experiences rather than "things". Problem is, we're planning to go to my sister-in-law for Christmas, and she really really over-buys everything, including gifts for the children and food. She makes the gifts I make or buy for my own children look really paltry.
ReplyDeleteI like the Christmas gift rules - definitely an attitude to take on :)
ReplyDelete