If, like me, you are struggling with affording day to day living then you are probably worrying about how you are going to afford Christmas this year. This is not my first year on a budget and therefore, I have learnt to get by. Here are my top ten ways to enjoy Christmas on a budget…

2. LET’S GET SAVING
IF, LIKE ME, YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDING
DAY TO DAY LIVING THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY
WORRYING ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO AFFORD
CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST YEAR
ON A BUDGET AND THEREFORE, I HAVE LEARNED TO GET
BY. HERE ARE MY TOP TEN WAYS TO ENJOY
CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET…

3. 1. VINTAGE CRAZE = CHARITY SHOPS!
THE BEST THING ABOUT THE NEW CRAZE FOR ANYTHING
VINTAGE IS THAT YOU CAN NOW SHOP IN CHARITY
SHOPS WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH! SO IF YOU ARE
STRUGGLING WITH IDEAS FOR THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE
GO AND GET THEM SOMETHING VINTAGE FROM YOUR
LOCAL CHARITY SHOP

4. 2. PLAN & SAVE EARLY
IF YOU PUT ASIDE A SMALL AMOUNT EACH MONTH ALL
YEAR ROUND AND MAKE AN ONGOING XMAS FUND YOU
WON’T FEEL THE PINCH SO MUCH WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR
FIRST HO HO HO! THINK ABOUT IT, JUST £10 A MONTH
WILL SAVE YOU £100 TOWARDS YOUR XMAS FUND, £20 –
£200!

5. 3. GET CREATIVE
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR MAKING YOUR OWN
DECORATIONS, XMAS PRESENTS AND CARDS. EVEN IF IT
ENDS UP LOOKING AWFUL YOU GET TO WAVE THE ‘THOUGHT
THAT COUNTS’ CARD WITH PRIDE! HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS
FOR YOU:
• BUY A CHEAP FRAME WITH MULTIPLE WINDOWS FROM A
POUND STORE AND FILL IT WITH FAMILY PICTURES
• PERSONALISE STUFF! – SOME WEBSITES LET YOU
PERSONALISE AT LOW COST INC MUGS, T-SHIRTS,
CALENDARS
• PROMISE CERTIFICATE – DESIGN YOUR OWN KISS, HUG,
CLEANING, LURVE MAKING OR PROMISE VOUCHERS

6. 4. SHOP ONLINE
WHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT IT IS EASY TO GET CARRIED
AWAY AND GRAB THINGS OFF THE SHELVES! BOOK YOUR
GROCERY SHOP EARLY ONLINE AND TAKE TIME WORKING
OUT YOUR BUDGET. OFTEN MOST GIFTS ARE CHEAPER
ONLINE IF YOU ORDER IN ADVANCE, FOR EXAMPLE AMAZON
IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET ANY BOOKS OR DVDS!

7. 5. IT’S NOT THAT SIZE THAT COUNTS
SMALL CAN BE CUTE AND THEREFORE YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF GIFTS UNDER £10. THERE ARE PLENTY OF
SMALL GIFT IDEAS OUT THERE, HERE ARE JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
1. CANDLES
2. LITTLE BOOKS OF WISDOM / JOKE BOOKS
3. SMALL TEDDY BEARS

8. 6. GO GO GADGET
THERE ARE SO MANY COOL GADGETS AND GIZMOS TO CHOSE FROM NOW. A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!
HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITES:
1. THE WORLDS SMALLEST WALKIE TALKIES
2. MAGIC SQUARE
3. ALWAYS RIGHT, NEVER WRONG CUFFLINKS

9. 7. GET YOUR BOOZE AT ALDI / LIDL
ALDI AND LIDL DO CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES
OF THE MAIN BRAND ALCOHOL THAT MOST
OF US ENJOY AT CHRISTMAS. INCLUDING
ADVOCAAT, MALIBU AND ANY BRANDY OR
WHISKY. THEY TASTE JUST AS GOOD AND
LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE!

10. 8. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
IF YOU HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS OF FRIENDS ORGANISING SEPARATE
CHRISTMAS SOCIALS SUGGEST THAT YOU GROUP THEM TOGETHER
OR HOST A PARTY OF YOUR OWN AT HOME SO YOU CAN SOCIALISE
WITH THEM ALL AT ONCE! ONE PARTY, ONE EXPENSE!

11. 9. VISIT YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY
LETS FACE IT, WE ALL HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY WITH MORE MONEY THAN US
OUT THERE SOMEWHERE! AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MORE
FOOD AND DRINK, SO WHY NOT STAY WITH THEM OVER CHRISTMAS! OFFER TO
BRING SOMETHING (LIKE YOUR CHEAP ALDI / LIDL BOOZE) AND SETTLE IN.

12. 10. E-CARDS!
SAVE MONEY ON BUYING CHRISTMAS CARDS BY MAKING YOUR
OWN PERSONAL E-CARD. YOU CAN INCLUDE PICS OF YOU AND YOUR
FRIENDS / FAMILY OR EVEN BETTER YOUR PET! THE TIME YOU HAVE
SPENT CUSTOMISING THE E-CARD WILL SHOW THAT YOU CARE AND
IT WON’T COST YOU A PENNY! THERE ARE A FEW FREE E-CARD
PROVIDERS OUT THERE INCLUDING:
123 GREETINGS
EGREETINGS
BLUE MOUNTAIN