THRIFTY CHRISTMAS

‘Tis the season to be thrifty!

The cost of living crisis has caused stress and anxiety for a great many people in 2022 and, sadly, Christmas looks set to exacerbate those worries still further. But it’s worth remembering that first and foremost, Christmas is a time for togetherness, not a time for increasing debt.

The joy you will feel by being too free with the plastic cash for a few days of fun simply isn’t worth the trauma that will follow in the new year.

Christmas can still be a success on a shoestring – and if you have children, they will never remember what they didn’t get for Christmas, but they will cherish those times of togetherness.

It’s important to set a budget, and then stick to it.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the season of goodwill for less.

Be realistic

If you can’t afford to buy this year’s must-have toys, paying for them on the ‘never-never’ isn’t ideal – because you will have to pay eventually, plus interest.

If your children are young enough to know that Santa is visiting, they are young enough to appreciate whatever he leaves for them.

Look online for bargain buys from the online auction sites, check the online sales of your preferred stores and stay tuned – many shops offer flash sales or special days with super reductions at short notice.

And how many extended family members and friends do you splash the cash on, but seldom see throughout the year?

With the constraints on our money, 2022 is the ideal year to have a conversation about cutting back – they will welcome your honesty and quite possibly be glad of it. Martin Lewis has been telling us to do this for years!

Secret Santa

It doesn’t just have to be a bit of fun in the office – it can be a great way to ‘do’ Christmas at home too. Everyone agrees on a spending amount, pops their name into a hat and takes the name of another. You then purchase an item for your recipient. You might choose to keep the cost low, or maybe you’ll spend a larger amount, but only buy a gift for that one person – everyone will still receive, but the piggy bank won’t be broken in the process.

Let’s be honest, the boxes often prove just as popular with young children as the contents!

Real tree, or not real tree, that is the question...

If you have a plastic tree, make it work for you. When you throw your tree out for the dustmen it’s destined for landfill which is terrible, so keep your ‘fake’ trees and love them – after all, they are only used for a couple of weeks annually!

If you really must have a newbie this year, please consider donating your pre-loved one to a charity for resale – or offer it free online. People will be only too pleased to come and collect from you.

And what of real trees? In December they are paraded in windows looking spectacular, and yet come January, the sad piles of dumped trees are a depressing vision.

If you have a real spruce in the house during the festive period, you have a responsibility to dispose of it properly – and if you live in Milton Keynes, for a suggested donation, Willen Hospice will take it off your hands.

Every year they increase the postcodes they collect from – keep an eye on their website (willen-hospice.org.uk) to see if they will be collecting in your area – they’ll be out and about between January 6 and 8.

Make your own decorations out of things you can find

Compare prices of supermarkets to get the best deal on your Christmas food Nothing beats the excitement of going to choose a Christmas tree but make sure you recycle real trees in the new year

Decorations

The price of some baubles these days can be as much as buying someone a gift. It’s enough to make you choke on your advent calendar choccie!

A tip for next year – buy decorations in the January sales. They are slashed in price in time for the Boxing Day sales, and if you don’t mind waiting longer you can pick up fabulous adornments for pennies. Some of the biggest savings can be found in the biggest stores.

But what about this year? Make do with those you already have languishing in the loft or at the back of the cupboard, and encourage the kids to get creative.

And start saving those empty toilet roll tubes right now; a little bit of sticky paper and some felt tip pens can transform the tubes into ace Christmas decorations, or you could use them to make crackers. Much cheaper than buying in the shops, recycled and you choose what goes inside, meaning no terribly cheap plastic trash!

Paper snowflakes are another easy to do craft activity and the kids will love seeing their creations hanging at home – perfect decorations for minimum expenditure.

Food

Food prices have risen enormously and the nation’s collective purse has felt the pinch, but it is still possible to shop for a food bargain this Christmas.

Here are some ways to make the cash go further:

Pick up the in-store magazines They often have money off vouchers for new products, and some even offer free items within their pages.

Cash in those store cards! We all swipe when we shop, but do you know how much you’ve got on your cards? It’s free cash, so use it to purchase any treats – and always look out for special offers rather than popping the first things you see into the shopping basket. It’s an easy way to make the money work even better for you. Buy own brands These are often made in the same factory as those premium brands, and it’s impossible to taste the difference. In fact, the only difference you’ll notice is that your wallet isn’t quite so light.

Compare prices online By doing a quick sweep of supermarkets online, you’ll be able to see where the best special offers are from the comfort of your sofa.

Lots of stores offer big discounts on wine and champagne if you buy in bulk. Why not split the cost and the fizz between yourself, families and friends? You’ll all be quids in.

Check sell-by dates Confectionaries will often have long dates on - buy when they are on special offer and set aside for Christmas.

Seek help if you need it Christmas time can make things seem all the more difficult, but please reach out for help. Food close to and just past its sell-by date can be taken for free from the many Community Fridges that are in the area, which is a great way to prevent waste, and if you are struggling to feed your family, Food Banks are there to help. Please make the connection.

It’s simple, if you are fortunate to have enough food, consider giving a little, and if you need some help, take a little.

Bake some mince pies and share them with a neighbour

Be neighbourly

Fewer of us than ever know our neighbours today, but there really is nothing stopping you from offering a mince pie or sharing a glass of mulled wine across the fence.

Please make an effort to check on elderly or vulnerable people too – a small gesture could make all the difference, and it’ll make you feel good too.