How to save money this Christmas

We uncover the little tips you can use to beat the inevitable mark ups in prices.

12:02 22 November 2010

With Christmas just around the corner and the wintery months causing havoc on your electricity and gas bills, itÂ’s hard to discover ways of saving money.

We uncover the little tips you can use to beat the inevitable mark ups in prices.

Shopping
Every week thereÂ’s a new deal at your local supermarket or high street and these should be followed and monitored closely.

Think before you purchase; those big tins of assorted chocolates may be a bargain now as you think about the treats you can have over the festive period, but will your £5 stash really last until into December?

Always ensure that the deals youÂ’re getting really are great deal and always take a list of the things you definitely want before heading out. ThereÂ’s no point in spending an extra few quid here and there as your bill will get higher and higher.

Some supermarkets will offer lower prices for DVDs, CDs, cards and wrapping paper, as well as special offers such as spending over £40 per week over the next six weeks in Morrisons will get you £30 off your Christmas shopping bill.

Personal finance
Are you clued up on your
financial situation?

Going out
You donÂ’t have to stop your leisure time over the next few weeks to prepare for Christmas, but think carefully about how much money you wish to spend before the end of the year.

If you want to take the kids out to watch a few films over the next few weeks, investing in a family month pass may be worth looking in to. You can usually go at any time and it certainly saves money in the long run.

Also, if you have a sweet tooth, bring your own snacks to the cinema – just make sure you wait until the film has started to start eating them!

For meals, it would be worth signing up to the emailing list of your favourite restaurant as you can often find that they send you discounted offers, especially close to Christmas.

Bills
Many find that electricity and gas bills are crippling over the winter months, which doesnÂ’t help when you have all those gifts to buy.

If your energy company has been threatening to raise the amount you pay, itÂ’s not too late to shop around. Try comparison websites which can monitor your specific details and find the best deal for you.

Changing not something you want to do? Help to reduce your bill by lowering the temperature on your radiators, washing clothes at 30 and drying them outside if possible. Invest in a hot water bottle for those cold nights in bed and light candles or buy energy-saving bulbs to bring more light into your gloomy days.

Always remember to turn off your appliances at the plug if theyÂ’re not in use and you can find energy-saving adapters for electrical products.

Presents
If youÂ’re in a quandary about what to buy all the many friends and family you have, why not head to your local high street which now have many deals available.

More so than ever this year, you will find clothes shops offer significant discounts, drugs stores with 3 for 2s and pound shops stocked up with wine.

In previous years, the Internet has overshadowed the local shops for cheap presents and amazing bargains, but now the high street is fighting back.

Again, create a list of the people you wish to buy for, with what you want to get them so that you donÂ’t stray too much away from what you need.

Just remember not to get a store card – although it may look good, think of everything you’ll have to pay for come January.