There's only a couple of weeks to go but it's not too late to save on the cost of Christmas. Whether it's cheaper presents you're after, or how to save on Christmas travel, we're here to help.
Brits expect to spend a hefty £560 on Christmas this year, according to research by M&S Money, but even that may turn out to be wishful thinking.
Not only does the poll of 2,000 adults exclude spending on travel, focusing on presents and food only, it also reveals that just 20 per cent of us set a budget for Christmas and manage to stick to it.
Indeed, just one in 10 of us save all year for Christmas. More than half of those polled admit not saving a penny for the annual festive period.
The simple but effective way of keeping costs low is to make a list of what you need for your Christmas shopping.
This should prevent overspending and impulse buying. Here are my five tips for a cheaper Christmas.
Do your best Blue Peter impression
Making your own presents doesn't have to mean cutting up and drawing on bits of cardboard, which is usually what I think of when someone suggests it.
A quick internet search for "make your own Christmas presents" will return hundreds of different ideas.
Having made my own cards last year, I know the personal touch is appreciated, especially if you're not known for making things.
One blogger, Mookychick, has put together a list of 71 homemade present ideas, including how to make soap, personalised umbrellas and bowls out of vinyl records.
There really is something for everyone, just be careful not to mislabel the cups made out of bacon and the private pin-up calendar.
Buy presents for free
Well, effectively for free.
If you're fortunate enough to be asked what you'd like for Christmas, specify what you' like but make sure it's something you would need to buy yourself next year anyway.
Then, when you buy these people presents in return, make sure it's of a matching value.
That way, the gifts you give are effectively free, because you've spent no more than you would have had to on yourself.
Shop around for discounts & rewards
Shops don't offer discounts and rewards because they want less of your money.
They do so because they know it convinces you to buy, to be spontaneous and to not shop around, especially when there are similar products going more cheaply elsewhere.
What's more, you spend even more than you intended to when you think something's on offer.
That's why so many shops have almost constant sales.
Do your research so you know how much your gifts should cost before you hit the shops.
If you're a smartphone owner, the RedLaser Barcode Scanner app can make this task easier.
Scan the barcode of the item you’re interested in and it’ll tell you where you can purchase the item cheapest, whether that’s on the high-street or online.
This app is free on iPhones and Android phones.
Christmas travel tips
It's may be too late to get the cheapest train and plane tickets as these cheapest tickets normally go on sale months in advance.
However, you can still book cheap coach travel, with potential savings of 80 per cent or more compared to travelling by train.
National Express and Megabus run services across the UK and prices are kept low by competition from car journeys and trains.
You can find a comprehensive guide to UK coach firms at UK Super Web.
Sharing your car or someone else's is also a great way to save money. There are many firms to choose from including CarShare, National CarShare or Go Car Share.
I've used coaches and car shares and my experiences have always been between adequate to enjoyable, with the one exception of when the heating was broken on the coach.
Pay for Christmas on the right plastic
If you are going to cover the cost of Christmas on a credit card, make sure you choose the right one.
The longest 0 per cent balance transfer credit card on the market - 22 months - can be found at Barclaycard.
Spreading the cost of your purchases, interest free, with a new credit card deal means you can avoid paying potential interest on overdrafts or existing cards.
Tesco is offering 15 months 0 per cent interest deal on its Clubcard credit card.
It's a good idea to plan your card repayments to ensure you pay off the balance in full before the 0 per cent deal ends.
Also, set up a direct debit to cover at least the minimum payment each month so you don't incur charges or risk the card provider pulling the interest free deal.
Typically 0 per cent credit card deals are aimed at those with a good credit record.
Confused.com offers a Card Matcher service that can help you to judge whether your application for a card will be successful.
