18th Nov 2025
Studying Time: 5 minutes
Christmas might be an costly time of yr. When you begin spending cash, it may be simple to get caught up within the festive spirit and lose observe of expenditure! You may fall into debt or get your self into additional debt. By not prioritising, you will discover your self with out cash to purchase what you actually need, whether or not that’s one thing like a vacation or extra Christmas objects.
Shopper champion Helen Dewdney, also called The Complaining Cow, repeatedly empowers customers concerning their client rights and saving cash. In her newest e-book 465 Methods to Save Cash on Christmas All through the 12 months she offers assist with budgeting, prioritising, saving, spending and making ready in a different way. Chapters embrace setting a finances and saving cash on playing cards, presents, garments, festivities, journey, holidays and leisure. With so many suggestions to select from there’s lots that might be new to readers.
Right here at MoneyMagpie, founder Jasmine Birtles says:
“Anybody who’s struggling to make ends meet proper now ought to learn this e-book and put into observe what it says. As ordinary, Helen 
has give you all the sensible recommendation you could unfold the price of Christmas simply over the yr and lower out the burden and confusion of paying for a contented festive season. There are finances calculators you possibly can fill in, issues to do every day and intelligent concepts for saving and earning profits by way of the yr to place apart for Christmas. One in all my favourites is her recommendation on generate income from garbage which you’ll then put in direction of your Christmas financial savings pile. “This e-book is a fast and straightforward learn, stuffed with fab concepts, hints, suggestions and wise client recommendation. Even should you couldn’t give two hoots for Christmas itself, it’s value studying this e-book simply to select up the numerous and numerous methods to save lots of day-to-day.”
Helen provided to share a few of the extra uncommon Christmas cash saving suggestions from the e-book:
Budgeting for Christmas
1) Organise your Christmas expenditure into classes, corresponding to meals, presents, journey, decorations and festivities, and many others. Set a finances and follow it. Don’t be swayed by so-called “bargains”. It will assist stop impulse shopping for.
2) Prioritise. Make a want checklist of all the things you’d like to purchase. Then, utilizing your finances, rank all the things so as of significance. It will cease you shopping for “bargains” which might be the least necessary till you get to that a part of the checklist.
Saving cash typically
3) Be part of Fb teams and “like” pages that share bargains. Set to get notifications so that you’ll at all times be notified when a recent discount comes up. Generally members get to listen to early about dates for presents or have low cost codes.
4) A displayed price ticket isn’t essentially the ultimate value. No contract has been fashioned till cash has modified fingers. And the worst that may occur is just being advised “No!” Haggling doesn’t simply should be on the telephone. You may negotiate costs through on-line chat on web sites, by telephone or electronic mail.
5) Bank cards typically have hidden advantages. Examine yours to see if it contains vacation presents, factors to make use of in opposition to journeys, reductions or cashback.
Saving cash on toys
6) Search for toys which were discounted attributable to broken bins, beauty scratches, and many others., corresponding to at Amazon Warehouse and eBay. Journey Toys promote discounted Little Tikes returns. Marthill Worldwide sells pallets of mail order returns made up of field broken, bag broken, defective objects and change-of-mind returns. They are often discounted by as much as 85%, so you possibly can promote some on and/or cut up the price with pals.
7) Look out for clearance and retailers on-line. For instance, Smyths, Argos and The Works have clearance sections on their websites that run all yr spherical. Do an web search on the phrase “outlet” and any retailer you prefer to see if they’ve an outlet. There are various massive names that do that. ao.com, Marks & Spencer’s, Currys and Tesco are just some.
8) Cash Saving Central predicts and provides dates for gross sales at on-line shops and supermarkets. (For instance: right here)
Saving cash on presents
9) Counsel as a bunch of pals or household that you simply placed on a fundraising occasion or volunteer to do one thing collectively, as an alternative of giving presents.
10) When you usually purchase presents for youngsters whom you don’t see fairly often, movie your self studying a narrative. Personalise it by utilizing the kid’s identify all through the story. Add to a platform like YouTube and set it to personal. Ship the kid that hyperlink. You possibly can, in fact, additionally write your individual story which might be even higher!
11) Reuse clear jars and on the skin, utilizing a glitter glue stick or pen, write one thing like “Appreciation jar” or “Why I’m beloved”. Then write out private messages on a number of items of paper. The recipient can open the jar and take out a be aware every time they really feel they should. You may also write down favorite recollections of time spent collectively.
Saving cash on different areas of Christmas
12) Try market locations, corresponding to Fb and Gumtree, for bargains. You’re prone to save extra as you possibly can accumulate domestically and there are fewer eyeballs on native sellers than different websites. You may also lookup “assortment solely” objects on eBay.
13) You possibly can swap garments on a bigger and extra everlasting scale by operating or attending a “swishing social gathering”. Right here, folks take the garments they not need and trade them for tokens which can be utilized to purchase different objects. That is perfect for bagging that Christmassy quantity!
14) Create your individual creation calendars. Kids may also help make them utilizing card and pens, or making bins and envelopes or utilizing materials and stitching on pockets. Fill the pockets with candies or treats or reusable toys you can carry out yearly. You may also repurpose previous Christmas playing cards. This would possibly turn out to be a part of your Christmas actions and traditions.
15) Try the “World Meals” grocery store aisle. Pack sizes are typically greater and you may typically save some huge cash on merchandise that you simply purchase from different aisles. For instance, nuts, lentils, beans, coconut milk and spices.
16) Take the carol singing one step additional. Organise a Midnight carol flash-mob: Coordinate with pals to sing a single carol at an agreed spot one night for no value and many environment. Promote as a lot as you want!
17) Ensure you know your client rights when shopping for services or products. The principle legislation you could perceive is the Shopper Rights Act 2015. This entitles you to items which might be of passable high quality, match the outline, match for function, final an inexpensive size of time and be free from defects. For objects which might be in breach, as much as 30 days from buy, you’re entitled to a full refund and after this time a restore or alternative.
For extra in your client rights see The Complaining Cow web site and Helen’s first e-book Methods to Complain: The Important Shopper Information to Getting Refunds, Redress and Outcomes!
With just a little ahead planning and Helen’s savvy recommendation, you possibly can hold management of your spending, keep away from festive debt and nonetheless take pleasure in a Christmas that feels actually particular.
Helen’s e-book 456 Methods to Save Cash on Christmas All through the 12 months will aid you to make financial savings all yr lengthy, now and into 2026.