When it comes to Christmas presents the bills soon stack up – but there are ways to save.
“Many feel the pressure to spend in the run-up to Christmas, but it’s important to always ask yourself if you can really afford it and stick to your budget,” says Oli Townsend, deals expert at MoneySavingExpert.
“If you normally buy gifts for friends, extended family and colleagues, consider a ‘pre-nupp’ (pre-Christmas no unnecessary presents pact) to end obligatory gift-giving, or agree to a Secret Santa-style £5 to £10 cap on gifts.
“If money’s tight, you could give time instead,” adds Pli.
“Pledge to do something nice for someone such as breakfast in bed or cleaning the car.”
In day two of our Cost of Living Christmas savings special, we’ve found more than £1,000 of savings.
Our guide looks at the best bargains to find for gifts and toys, no matter your budget.
Super smellies: For her
“For perfume, opting for a popular ‘smell-alike’ duplicate can cost a fraction of the price of the designer brand – often even the packaging is similar,” says Oli.
Mugler Alien , Debenhams, 60ml, £67 online
Smell-alike: Milton Lloyd Stars, 50ml, £4.99 from Amazon
SAVING £62.01
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle , Chanel, 50ml, £91
Smell-alike: Suddenly Madame Glamour, 50ml, £13.99
SAVING £77.01
Tom Ford Black Orchid , Boots, 50ml, £90
Smell-alike: No.493 Black Orchid & Chocolate, Eden Perfumes, 30ml, £18
SAVING £72
Gucci Flora John Lewis, 30ml, £60
Smell-alike: PS... Summer Blossom Eau De Parfum, Primark, 75ml, £6
SAVING £54
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium , Boots, 50ml, £65.60
Smell-alike: Poundland Black Dusk, 100ml, £1
SAVING £64.60
Super smellies: For him
Dior’s Sauvage Elixir , John Lewis, 60ml, £124
Smell-alike: Jubilee Scents CD170, 100ml, £2.49
SAVING £121.51
Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum , Boots, 100ml, £75
Smell-alike: Body Shop Arber Eau de Toilette, 100ml, £18
SAVING £57
Yves Saint Laurent Y Men Eau de Toilette , Boots, 60ml, £59
Smell-alike: DIVAIN-291, Divain, 100ml, £22.50
SAVING £36.50
Boss Bottled Night , Boots, 100ml, £70
Smell-alike: FM457 Perfume by Federico Mahora Pure Collection for Men, 50ml, £12.90
SAVING £57.10
Tom Ford Noir Eau de Parfum , Tom Ford, 100ml, £100
Smell-alike: DIVAIN-304, Divain, 100ml, £22.50
SAVING £77.50
Top 10 terrific toys
According to toy experts, these are some of the most popular items topping kids’ wish lists to Santa this Christmas.
And while the top of the range toys might be pricey, there are some cheaper versions out there. And ask yourself, a week later will the kids really know the difference...?
1. Jiggly Pup, £9 at Wilko
The electronic toy dances to its own music, wags its tail and barks, and while it costs £12 from Tesco (£9.50 for Clubcard members), it’s £9 at Wilko
SAVING £3
2. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse: The Animated Story, £9.99 at Oxfam
Bestselling hardback by Charlie Mackesy is £9.99 at Oxfam, compared with £16 at Wordery.com
SAVING £6.01
3. Pizzeria toy - £10 at Argos
Got the next budding Jamie Oliver or Prue Leith on your hands? Spark your little one’s imagination with their very own pizzeria, complete with toppings and a pizza wheel.
Let them run their own restaurant with the spectacular £10 version from Chad Valley at Argos, or splash the cash with John Lewis’ £40 wooden pizza kitchen.
SAVING £30
4. Styling Head - £9.45 at Amazon
Mini fashionistas can spend hours brushing, playing and creating new hairstyles with a styling head.
The Magic Toy Shop on Amazon has a version for just £9.45 with pretty pink and purple clips, a crown and a hairbrush, compared with John Lewis’ Jasmine Doll Head at £79.99.
SAVING £70.54
5. Smart Drawing Robot - £13.99 from brightminds.co.uk
JotBot is a clever little robot that can draw any of the images put into its data chips while singing.
It’s priced at £49.99 from John Lewis, but we’ve also found the similar Drawbot that trundles along the lines you draw going for just £13.99 from brightminds.co.uk.
SAVING £36
6. Unicorn - £9.99 at Amazon
Admit it, who wouldn’t want a plush unicorn with rainbow hooves to cuddle up with? Rein in the budget with the £9.99 Aurora Sparkle unicorn from Amazon, or let your mane down with a £59.95 cuddly toy from Le Mieux.
SAVING £49.96
7. For car fanatics - £19.99 at Aldi
Pint-sized car fanatics will love Aldi’s £19.99 Stunt Garage, which has a car elevator and mini petrol pumps, compared with the £124.99 Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage, which comes with a ferocious Robo T-Rex, space for 100 cars and a working car lift plus the exclusively bundled Hot Wheels 20-car pack from John Lewis.
SAVING £105
8. Ice Cream Cart - £99.99 at John Lewis, £20 at Argos
The temperature might be dropping, but it’s never the wrong time for ice cream. Set their imagination free with the Chad Valley Ice Cream Stall from Argos, which has flashing lights, toy ice creams and music.
The cherry on top is that it costs just £20, compared with the Play-Doh Ice Cream Cart from John Lewis at £99.99, which comes with a soft-serve station, 12 pots of Play-Doh in different colours, a sprinkle maker and a cash register.
SAVING £79.99
9. Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball - £49.99 at Smyths
Hot on the heels of last year’s must-have toy - the Magic Cauldron - comes the Crystal Ball from Magic Mixies.
Children can wave their magic light-up wand and summon the magical mist to create their very own fortune-telling pet inside the crystal ball.
We’ve found it for the magical price of £49.99 at Smyths, compared with £76.49 at Boots.
SAVING £26.50
10. Squishmallows - Tesco, £9
The very cute and collectable Squishmallows plushy toys have been hot property on school playgrounds across the UK.
Choose from the ultra-squishable koala bear, loveable penguin, adorable pug or any of the 24 designs on offer at Tesco for £9, compared with £14.66 on Amazon.
SAVING £5.66
Glorious gifts for her
“If you still prefer the big brands, use a price comparison site such as Google Shopping or PriceSpy to see where it is selling cheapest,” says Oli.
“Also check voucher code sites to see if you can get a better deal, or go through a cashback site which, while not guaranteed, can give you some money back on your purchase.”
Heated slipper boots - Wowcher, £6.99
2023 diary - The Works, £1.50
Brentford’s weighted blanket - Amazon, £18.99
Reindeer Christmas pyjama set - 5poundstuff.com, £5.99
BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Styler - Lookfantastic.com, £28
Fluffy gloves - Peacocks, 60p
One Pound Meals: Delicious Food For Less cookbook by Miguel Barclay - thebookbundle.com, £7.99
Mini Hot Water Bottle - Dunelm, £5
Fab buys for fellas
Greene King Brewer’s Beer Selection - Asda, £9 for 6 500ml bottles
Grow Your Own Seed Kit - £6.69 for 12 packs, Herbal Age at Amazon
Dressing gown - £10 , Bedroom Athletics
Novelty socks, £1.99 for a pair, Yorkshire Trading Company
Toilet golf game - George’s Whitstable, £9
Yekei smartwatch - £7.99 , Amazon
Personalised football shirt keyring - Amazon, £5.99
CSI: Mafia Murders - Play at Home Escape Room - Virgin Experience Days, £12
