Lifestyle

How To Stay Out Of Debt This Christmas

– SPONSORED COLLABORATION –

And all of a sudden it’s nearly December. It’s that time of year where we spend, spend and spend some more. We get tap-happy with our contactless cards and wallow in debt, leaving us strapped for cash during the new year.

PresentsWe do this every year and you’d think that we would learn a lesson, but the bright lights of Christmas displays in shop windows and the endless sales and discounts on items makes it hard to resist. I myself have found that splurging out is way too easy and you tend to buy a little too much so I thought I’d share a few tips on how to keep out of the red this Christmas.

Budget

The most obvious thing to do is to budget what you’re going to spend. That way, you don’t get tempted to veer off on a spending spree online or in the shops. No matter how big or small this budget may be, make sure to list this out in some way, whether it be a spreadsheet or a simple list (I find Wunderlist is my go-to favourite)

Also, think about how much you’ll want to spend on that person and how many people you plan on buying for. Don’t just buy for every man, woman and their pet. Be stringent and only buy for those that you really want to treat. Also if you buy for someone who doesn’t buy you anything back (excluding small children who have no money!) – cross them off the list for next year.

Group Your Gifts

Couples and families are the worst when it comes to gift buying. You can’t just buy for one person when they have another half or a whole throng of family members. If you’re strapped for cash or just looking to save some pennies, group gifts if they’re a couple or have a fairly big family. Festive hampers are always a crowd pleaser and you can some great ones from John Lewis and M&S that won’t break the bank.

Put It On Your Credit Card

Credit cards are definitely dangerous for the inner splurger but it can actually help a lot if you want to spread your costs. If you have a credit card, perhaps spend half the amount on your credit card and the other half with a debit card. 

The worst thing you can do is sign up to multiple buy now and pay laters which you’re likely to forget about. If you’ve not got a credit card yet, find out more to see if it’s the right financial aid for you.

Find The Dupes

Many bloggers within the industry talk about dupes and we often use this when we’ve found something that’s cheaper than the original. 

The shopping industry is overflowing with a whole host of companies and whether you’re looking for high-end makeup, designer bags or a specific toy that your child HAS to have, there’s always a cheaper option or even a suitable alternative. Most of these can be found online, so spend an afternoon traipsing through the web. You’ll probably save a lot. 


Go ‘No Presents‘ This Year

Considering that gift giving isn’t really what the festive season is about, you can tell your friends and family not to buy you anything this year. This can give you a way out of buying presents for them but you could always do something which allows you to share the festive feels regardless. Go for a festive walk or put on a Christmas spread. Christmas is all about sharing it with loved ones so that doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg on presents.

Did you find these tips helpful? Let me know in the comments below.

 

*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. All words are my own.


Signature for Natalie

 

You Might Also Like...