Homemade Presents and 14 Other Ways to Save Money this Christmas

Christmas time can get expensive – the lavish food is one thing, and all the gifts really add up. But even if you’re on a budget, it’s lovely to be festive and be able to acknowledge family and friends with gifts. Making your own presents is not only inexpensive, but everyone will surely appreciate all the hard work and effort you’ve put into making them. And remember, the best gifts come from the heart.

Here are some great ideas for DIY presents you can give to your family and friends this Christmas:

For her

For him

For the kids

For the whole family

Everyone loves a handmade present, so why not give one of these a try – the effort that you put in will make someone feel extra special this Christmas.

Other ways to save money this Christmas

Set a budget

Before you do your Christmas shopping, determine how much you can actually spend. Take into account postage costs for Christmas cards or gifts, decorating the home, Christmas parties, etc.

Make a list

5Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for and write down how much you can spend on each person. For bigger families, create a gift list with other relatives so you don’t have to buy presents for every single person.

Trim your gift list

You can also choose not to exchange gifts this Christmas with friends, only buy presents for the kids, or set up a Secret Santa, where you draw a name out of a hat and you just buy a present for that person.

Pay in cash

This will allow you to set a spending limit and not overspend, which is good if you’ve had problems with paying your credit card bills.

Use vouchers

Check if you have any gift vouchers lying around the house. You can also use the reward points you earned on loyalty cards and convert them into vouchers.

Prepare for Christmas well in advance

Don’t wait until the last minute to buy or send gifts or even to cook the Christmas feast, as you may end up paying more.

Consider the value of intangible gifts

If you don’t have enough money to buy someone a gift, consider offering to babysit your friend’s child or walk their dog.

Send e-cards

It’s free or only costs a few dollars and there’s no postage either. Some play music and is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.

Say ‘no’ to expensive toys

Ask kids to make a list of realistic and affordable things to buy.

Go to a discount supermarket

Discount supermarkets offer inexpensive but good-quality Christmas food, including gingerbread treats and stolen fruit cake.

Use cashback websites

If you’re buying things online, use cashback websites to get back a percentage of the money you spent on online purchases. The cashback will be paid directly into your bank account.

Reduce postage costs

Use discount carriers when sending large or heavy items through the mail. They can also pick up stuff from your home so you don’t need to go to the post office.

Follow retailers on Twitter

If you don’t already have a Twitter account, set one up and follow big retailers like Amazon and eBay. They’ll often tweet about the latest deals they’re offering on their site.

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