Save a fortune on Christmas

Yes, we know it’s two months away, but the sooner you start, the more it’ll pay!

CHRISTMAS Day is just less than eight weeks away — that’s only one payday for many people — so while it may still feel too soon for high street stores to be rolling out their festive stock, now really is the time to start planning your shopping. It is so easy to overspend at this time of year, with many families still paying off last Christmas. So let this be the year you keep your spending under control.

Here are our top tips for keeping costs down — without turning into a Scrooge.

1. JOIN A PRESENT PACT

WE’VE all been there. Someone unexpectedly gives you a gift, so you run out and spend £20 on a scarf for them — something you really hadn’t budgeted for.

This year, Martin Lewis, of consumer website moneysavingexpert.

com, has launched a campaign calling for people to sign up to a ‘No Unnecessary Present Pact’.

‘Family Christmas gift-giving is a lovely tradition,’ he says. ‘Yet a tick-list of presents for friends, which will only languish unused in cupboards, isn’t.’

Try suggesting that you should buy only for children this year, and agreeing with relatives a strict spending limit of, say, €20 per child.

2. STICK TO YOUR LIST

A LIST will give you a clear idea of who you need to buy for and will help you budget. It’s often when you forget someone that you end up paying over the odds for a last-minute gift.

Just make sure you stick to your original list — and avoid panicbuying extras on Christmas Eve because you think your present looks too small.

3. HIT THE SHOPS NOW

WITH time on your side, you can scour the shops now for the best deals. This will also help you spread the cost so you’re not buying everything in one go.

Keep a log of what you spend and cross the names off your list as you go, so you don’t end up accidentally buying twice — or even three times — for the same person.

4. BRAVE BLACK FRIDAY

THIS is a monster shopping event where major High Street retailers — and some online stores — slash their prices. This year, it falls on Friday, November 23.

It’s not for the faint-hearted, however, with customers often queuing for hours to get their hands on the best bargains.

Cyber Monday follows on November 26, where retailers discount goods online.

Heavily reduced items can sell out in seconds, so it’s worth creating online accounts with your favourite shops in advance to save time.

5. TOP UP THE TIPPLES

IF YOU want to stock up on your favourite festive tipple or plan to buy a bottle of bubbly as a gift, this month is a good time to do so.

The big supermarkets have been consistent in offering discounted champagne from the third weekend of November.

Aldi and Lidl are likely to be the cheapest, while Tesco usually offers 25pc off when you buy six or more bottles of wine, prosecco and champagne towards the middle and end of November.

Be sneaky with your mixers: leave Fever Tree bottles around the place, but discreetly make G&Ts with cheaper supermarket tonic water.

6. HUNT DOWN CODES

WHEN you come to pay for online shopping, there is usually a little box that says ‘enter promotional code here’. There is almost always a code to be hunted down, offering you money off or free delivery. To find them, try websites such as

vouchercloud.ie, voucherpages.ie. Or simply type the retailer’s name and ‘voucher code’ into Google.

7. GET RE-GIFTING

IF you receive a present you know you won’t use, pass it on to someone who will like it.

Start a present drawer. If a dinner guest brings you a bottle of wine or box of chocolates you don’t fancy, tuck them away and dig them out another time. Just keep track of who gave you what, so you don’t end up handing them back to the same person!

8. SWITCH BANKS

IF YOU despair at your own bank, now is a good time to switch. Some banks offer cash bonuses to new customers, which could be a welcome boost to your budget. There are a number of comparison sites including bonkers.ie where you can check out the best deals and see what’s right for you.

9. DISCOUNT TOYS

SELECTED a shops and other large superstores are offering 50pc off a range of toysat the minute, and Debenhams have a range in their current sale, including many paint and crayon sets which make ideal presents for any child.

Some Tesco stores have also been running a real half-price sale, as opposed to an ‘up to’ 50pc-off sale, where stores typically offer much smaller discounts.

But even with such chunky discounts, never assume you’re getting the best deal without first checking elsewhere.

And watch out for the deceptive lure of the bargain. Special offers can sometimes be so enticing that you end up buying far more than you meant to just to get the money off.

10. PERSONAL PICKS

WEBSITES such as photobox.

ie and moonpig.com allow you to personalise gifts using photographs. You can order items such as cushions, calendars, mobile phone covers, bags, mugs and keyrings, as well as create photobooks for the coffee table.

These sites run special offers all the time, so create an account, upload your photos and just wait for an email or text alert advertising a sale.

At photobox.co.uk you can currently get up to 40 per cent off selected lines including photobooks, posters, cushions and selected mugs. Notonthehighstreet.com has more unique gifts.

11 SNIFF OUT SALES

IT WOULDN’T be Christmas without giving or receiving festive ‘smellies’.

Keep an eye on the annual Boots Star Gift Christmas offers, such as a Joules on the Move satchel, containing skincare products for €30, dow from €65).

There’s also a Beauty Treats Box featuring all your favourite products like a Soap And Glory Fizz-A-Ball, CYO Illuminating Mixing Cream and

the Sleek iDivine palette to name but a few. This normally retails at €50 but right now is a steal at €26.

If you know someone who loves a good fragrance, Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Toilette is currently €47, down from €84. These discounts will be in store and online at boots.ie). But a new selection of star gifts will be rolled out every Friday so keep your eyes peeled for things to buy from now until Christmas.

The Boots three-for-two gifts section is worth a look, too. Items included have a green present sticker on them. This is an easy way of stockin up on gifts the whole family will love while saving money at the same time.

12 OUTLET DEALS

OUTLET villages, such as Kildare Village or The Boulevard in Banbridge, Co Down, offer big discounts on end-of-line products from quality brands.

Kildare Village always has a wide range of gifts and ideas to choose from in the run up to Christmas, and offers a number of shopping packages which include train or coach tickets and discount vouchers . See kildarevillage.com

Some high street and high-end shops now also have online outlet stores, so you don’t have to trek across the country. Check individual websites for details or ask next time you’re in store.

13. USE UP POINTS

EVERY household is sitting on whopping sums fromunused points, miles and cashback, according to research by fundraising group For Good Causes. So dig out your loyalty cards, find out how many points you have built up and redeem, or donate, them.

Remember that supermarket schemes can be far better value if you trade your points for vouchers.

At Boots you typically get four advantage points for every €1 spent. But you can sometimes scoop more points on various products which will help boost your card balance.Sign up to the email alerts and you will be kept informed of all the special offers you can get your hands on.

14. SAVE ON FOOD

TRY not to over-cater for parties. Website lovefoodhatewaste.com has a Portion Planner calculator. It works out that if you’re catering a party that will last two hours, you’ll need seven nibbles per person.

When it comes to the big food shop for Christmas Day, go online to compare the cost of your shopping trolley at the big online supermarkets.

If you’re feeling brave, wait until Christmas Eve to buy your turkey. Last year, there were offers at some of the big supermarkets for halfprice birds the day before Christmas, while Marks & Spencer has also cut prices on last-minute buys in previous years.

15. CHECK PRICEY P&P

BUYING online isn’t necessarily cheaper. Always check delivery costs before ordering shopping, as some websites lure customers in with big discounts only to ramp up postage charges or hike the minimum spend for you to qualify for free delivery.

And be sure to check how much it will cost to return something in case it isn’t quite right. Some firms insist you send back goods by recorded delivery to guarantee you’ll get your money back.

Sending a large parcel via the tracked delivery service at An Post starts at €11.

16. DISCOUNT DINNER

TREATING a friend to dinner is a good idea if they don’t need any more ‘stuff’. You could even split the bill and make it your gift to each other.

It’s also worth waiting until the Christmas rush has died down in January, as most restaurants offer big discounts to get people through the door.

17. STASH STAPLES

TINS of Quality Street and bottles of Baileys are a must-have for many families at Christmas, so get them while they are on offer.

Tesco is currently offering 720g tubs of Quality Street for just €5 whic is an ideal saver. But you need to be quick as the offer will only last until November 6.

18. STUDENT PERKS

IF YOUR children or grandchildren are students (and a member of the Union of Students in Ireland), take them Christmas shopping with you.

Retailers such as Topshop, Blacks, Fat Face, Hollister, Jack Wills, New Look and Office all offer students a 10pc discount if they hold a valid student card. French Connection gives students 20 pc off.

Students can also register on some of the sties to get extra discounts and money off offers. Ideal for pupils — and their cashstrapped parents too!

19. BECOME A VERY EARLY BIRD

IF YOU’RE not meeting a friend or family member to exchange presents until after Christmas, wait to buy their gift in the St Stephen’s Day sales.