Christmas may seem far away but there are just 13 weeks to go, so it's probably time to start thinking about how much it's going to cost.
It’s an expensive time of year but preparing for it financially can reduce your stress levels in the run up to December 25.
Even though we’re nearly into October already, there’s a way to save over €575 between now and Christmas.
By putting aside a little bit of money each day, you can tot up enough to cover some Christmas shopping , or pay for a few festive nights out.
To save over €575 by December 5, you need to put away €8 a day, starting today (Tuesday September 24).
Doing that means you will have saved €583 by Friday, December 6 - giving you a big chunk of money to go shopping with on that first weekend in December.
If you've got a partner you could event split the cost between you and put €4 a day each into a pot. The money will soon add up.
Follow these tips to help save your €8 a day:
- Stop buying take away coffees and use a portable cup to drink your own instead
- Cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink - a bottle of wine at home, or a couple of drinks in the pub can easily cost the €8 you need to save that day
- Switch to supermarket own brands instead of buying branded goods - this could knock a few euros off each time you shop
- Follow Money Saving Expert’s supermarket shopping hacks to save even more money at the checkout
- Save money by taking your own lunch to work
- When shopping in town, take public transport to avoid expensive car park fees
- Have a clear out and see what you can sell on Depop or eBay
- When your make up and perfume runs out, buy designer replicas. Primark sells an €9 bottle of perfume that smells exactly like Thierry Mugler’s Alien and Aldi is full of beauty replicas like this bargain eye cream that's €400 cheaper
- Plan your weekly shop - and stick to it. It’s surprising how much money you waste on impulse buys in the supermarket. Never go shopping when you’re hungry.
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Spend time looking over your recent bank statements and work out what you’re spending money on that could be cut out. You only have to give it up a few weeks between now and Christmas to help save your €8 a day.
