With summer very much out of the equation now, many of us will be turning our focus on Christmas.
The festive season is certainly an expensive one, with many Brits relying on sales to buy their gifts.
But for those who have missed out on this opportunity, Martin Lewis has revealed some tips for saving money around the season.
The Money Saving Expert founder wrote in a recent blog that Brits should put a ban on unnecessary presents.
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Here are his top 7 tips:
1. Try not to buy an expensive turkey
Martin suggests looking into buying a cheaper bird for the Christmas table. As multiple taste tests have proved the most expensive option isn’t always the tastiest, this is an opportunity to save money.
The 47-year-old advises to look at taste tests online to compare prices.
2. £5 presents
In 2012, Martin challenged people to come up with the best presents that cost less than a fiver.
From planning dates to buying chocolate, the money saving guru believes Brits could bag some great gifts at an affordable price.
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3. Avoid unnecessary presents
Martin is against buying for extended family and colleagues. He thinks the culture of “obliged giving” needs to stop.
The MSE founder suggests creating a No Unnecessary Present Pact (NUPP) with extended family and friends, or agreeing to do Secret Santa with a £5-£10 cap on gifts.
4. Pre-Christmas sale
If you’ve not used an item since last Christmas, why not sell it?
Martin suggests becoming an online entrepreneur and selling your unwanted goods on Facebook Market Place, Shpock or even Gumtree.
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5. Get cashback
Sign up for free on “cashback sites” and then click through them to buy something.
The site gets paid for sending traffic to a certain website and will give some of the cash back to you.
Some people get hundreds a year from doing this, but you should never let the cashback dictate where you spend. Focus on the cheapest deal and if cashback is available then you’re winning.
6. Stick to your list
Christmas shopping can be dangerous and could get people spending hundreds if they’re not careful.
Make a list and stick to it. If you’re shopping on the high street, remember to compare the prices.
7. Keep tabs on end of sale bargains
Each year, there will be discounts on wrapping paper, Christmas cards and decorations in stores.
Many of us get to January and don’t think about purchasing some extra bits for the following season.
But a recent poll found that at least 63% of the 9,000 surveyed purchased their Christmas cards and paper.
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