Saving money at Christmas

As I wrote in the previous article about Christmas preparation, making your own Christmas decorations is not only eco-friendly and individual – but also a money saving exercise.

Yes, you can save lots of money by doing lots of things yourself. For example, you can make your own Xmas card – make an ecard version and email this to those who are online (most likely you’ll only need to post a dozen by snail mail). You’ll save money and you’ll be kind to the environment..

Instead of buying presents for everybody – such as colleagues, occasional friends and neighbours – make your own Christmas gifts. Edible gifts, such as cookies and home-made chocolate bits are ideal. These are truly individual, yet festive, presents and, again, you can save a fortune. We’ll give you a couple of recipe ideas for these during the next few weeks. It’s important that you wrap these gifts very nicely – again, you don’t have to spend lots of money on ready-made decorative boxes – you can make your own boxes & wraps by using old boxes! Re-utilise cosmetic packaging or shoe boxes – then wrap them with pieces of fabric, ribbons, tissue paper or decorated paper.

As to Christmas parties, the cheapest solution is not to hold one – why don’t you go to other people’s party for a change (and take your home-made goodies with you!). If you must have a party or host the family Christmas dinner, start shopping for bits and pieces now – there are many things already on special offer and these can be kept in the cellar, larder or freezer.

We use more energy at Christmas than any other time of the year. It’s because all that Christmas lighting with which we like to flood our home. So instead of using outside lights – just light a couple of candles inside the window; also only use low-energy string & fairy lights. Always turn off the lights (and candles) before you go to bed! If you have external lights, put them on a timer/movement sensor.

You can also save money by making your own Christmas ornaments – in the next article we’ll tell you how.

After the holidays, the sales will start – if you want to save lots of money, buy next year’s presents, cards, wrapping paper and ornaments then! Next Christmas will be here sooner than you think!