Christmas! Do's & Dont's HELP!
Help
When does everyone start to buy for Christmas? I am a little stuck on ideas and as much as I scour the deals page I always seem to think about its too early or if I buy this now will I find something better? Will I start to OVERSPEND because I have spaced my spending out over a few months? Has anyone else got the tenancy to overspend at Christmas? Any ideas of Do's & Dont's! Help!
I start in the January sales! I only have a few family members to buy for, but I start looking early. If I see something that is a bargain then I will buy it. I would set yourself a budget, so that even if you are buying over a few months you don't overspend. If you are buying stuff online, use cashback apps and if buying instore, if you have a loyalty card where you get points then use it. Save up over a period of time, put it into a separate account and then only use that account to buy Christmas presents, that way you only have that money to spend. Only buy a certain number for each person or set a budget to spend on each person.
Thank you so much for your honest answers! I would love to use cashback apps but I am so overwhelmed by the amount of places there are so I wouldn't even know where to start! I try to set budgets but I ALWAYS go overboard which is my problem! I have a tesco clubcard, morrisons more card and a coop card, I am not sure where else does them!
Thats an awesome idea, maybe have a separate account for Christmas and save each month! I dont have too many to buy for about 15 people but I just seem to get myself so caught out in terms of overbuying!
danniellasophia If you are buying stuff from Boots, get an advantage card, buy the presents when they have 3 for 2 and points events so you get even more back. I make a list of what I have bought and what I have spent for each person, that way I know when I have reached my spending limit for that person and not to buy anymore. Or make a list of what you are buying for people and once you have ticked off each item, you stop buying! This works for me, but might not be useful to you. What I find also works for me, is saying that the budget I have set is the maximum I want to spend and then try to stay under that amount to make it more of a challenge.
MrsCraig Totally! I do have a boots card too actually now to think and a superdrug card haha! I am so useless lol! I do all this as well I have a list of names, ideas of presents for each person and tick them off as I go along, but I always seem to grab extra bits here and there because I feel like I havent bought enough!
danniellasophia It is tough. You look at what you have bought and think it doesn't look like enough, which is when I look at the amount spent. We have a limit as a family as to how much we spend on each other and if we can't find something we know they will love then we buy gift vouchers. MIL loves getting her nails done, so we get her a voucher for her beauty salon. My mother loves the cinema so we get her a gift card for there. Granny gets a new charm for her bracelet. It makes it easier for us (especially this year!) and we know they will use them. I know not everyone likes gift cards, but we are big fans in our family.
danniellasophia start with Quidco and Topcashback. Every so often they give a bonus of £2.50 on a £10 spend so that immediately gives you a saving. Recently Quidco have done £2.50 on a £2.50 spend so essentially free, if you use click and collect.
I have started early and have all but 3 of mine now. I am trying really hard to get unusual presents this year but cannot share the info as a certain daughter in law may read this and I don't want to spoil surprise.
I bought a couple of wooden crates in poundland and with tissue from previous pressies, (waste not, want not), I shredded and lined the boxes. I am now placing little goodies that I see to make up a hamper. Soap and glory samples 3 for 2 in Boots, nail varnishes, mascara etc.
Thats a lovely idea! I usually do hampers (well stockings more like for my lot) but I seem to just buy lots of random things and pop them in! But then I seem to buy lots of little things which then I overspend on!
I overspent last year as I made the mistake of waiting until november. There are no good offers in November 
Buy it as you see it but make a list so you can see what you need.
Thats a great point, no deals are ever on in November unless they are for black friday! I have started to make lists every year as this helps me organise lol xx
danniellasophia definitely, black friday is good, i think that is the last opportunity to get presents at a reasonable price
I try to only spend £10 per person for presents, I use the vouchers from here to pay for most of Xmas.
I usually start to buy each time I see some good bargains esp toys for my nephews.. 
I do try to do that sometimes but I feel like if I buy early, I will end up finding something better?!
danniellasophia usualy tke note of my nephews likes and faves and keep them in mind and when i see a good offer i grab it 
To save some money for Christmas 2019, buy your Christmas cards in the last few days of December or January sales. For example, Paperchase usually has a good selection of discounted cards.
Yes! I do do this, I usually just store them for the next year in a cupboard!
I bought all the wrapping papers and boxes on the sale in January from Paperchase, so all of them is in the storage and will use them for Christmas.
If you have an Asda nearby you can save on their card and they give you a small bonus in November. You can use the card for food or present shopping, or keep it for the sales in January.
I buy everything before and collect the free things to make hamper for Secret Santa.
Soon the Christmas food delivery will come up and I order the food in advance, so I pay it now and not in December....
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