Christmas is an expensive time of the year but that doesn’t mean you should start the new year in debt. Feeling secure financially is the best gift you can give yourself. This festive season, we have compiled a list of smart saving tips to help you enjoy a stress-free Christmas. 

Five top tips to shop smartly this Christmas 

• Bills first: Always pay your priority bills (like your rent, utilities, etc.) before buying any gifts. This gives you a realistic budget to work with.  
• Set your spending limit: Set a cap on the total amount that you can afford for gifts and food. Write it down and track your spending. 
• Say no to high interest loans: Be extremely careful about borrowing money at high interest rates for your Christmas shopping. A few moments of joy isn’t worth months or years of debt. 
• Clear out, cash in: Do a clear out pre-Christmas and sell any unwanted items online or at a local car boot sale. It’s a smart way to earn some extra cash for your Christmas budget. 
• Use loyalty points: Utilise the points you’ve collected throughout the year from loyalty schemes like Tesco Clubcard or Sainsbury’s Nectar to spend on presents and groceries and save money. 

Five creative ways to cut costs and celebrate in style 

• Embrace homemade gifts: Make thoughtful gifts like customised chocolates, homemade jams, festive wreaths or framed art. It’s a low cost alternative to retail buying and the personal touch makes the present truly special. 
• Buy pre-loved items: Check out local charity shops or online sites like Vinted and eBay. You can find unique and high quality gifts for a fraction of the retail price. This is a smart way to be both cost-effective and sustainable.  
• Use supermarket comparison sites: Before you start your food shopping, check your list using a supermarket comparison site such as trolley.co.uk or hellosupermarket.co.uk to find the best deals.
• Check for online discount codes: When trying a new online retailer, always check for introductory discount codes (e.g. 25% off your first order) before you check out. It’s a simple way to save money. 
• Host a potluck lunch: Instead of hosting the entire Christmas meal yourself, ask each guest to bring a dish. It’s a fun hack that significantly reduces the cost of hosting. 

Find out how we’re supporting our customers this winter here.