The festive season can be a particularly expensive time of year; especially for students. However, you don’t want to find yourself out of pocket in January after the holidays, do you? To make sure the festive season remains a time of pleasure (and is affordable) here are some top tips to her manage your Christmas budget…
Secret Santa exchange
Reduce the pressure by suggesting a Secret Santa exchange between your group of friends. This is far less time consuming and less expensive. Once you’ve got your groups organised, you’ll only need to plan and afford a handful of presents instead of buying for everyone! This will help you save big time if you limit yourself on how much you want to spend.
Don’t ignore student discounts
Students have the benefit of having a discount in pretty much every store! Use your student card to pick up discounted gifts for your friends and family, with many popular stores offering 10% or possibly more. Use this to really plan your budget and make a list on which stores offer discounts. Try to remember, it’s not always good getting carried away with deals – still keep track of your spending!
Avoid expensive shops
We all love buying expensive gifts for special people on Christmas… But on a budget it’s difficult. Once you’ve prioritised your gift list and know your budget, keep yourself on track and avoid the temptation of designer and upmarket stores. If you do have some extra cash leftover after Christmas, it’s best to wait for the Boxing Day and January sales to grab yourself bargain. Also, always check high-street prices against those online to make sure you are getting the best price.
Don’t panic
Most importantly, Christmas is a time for family, friends, and lots of food and gifts. Don’t get too stressed over your finances; as long as you remain sensible,plan, and monitor your spending accurately, your Christmas shopping list should be a breeze… And you might even have enough cash leftover to buy a few drinks.
Don’t panic, keep track of your spending, and have a very Merry Christmas!
