THE A-Z OF SAVING MONEY (AND TIME) THIS CHRISTMAS

Clever budget-savvy hacks to take the worry out of festive buying

Christmas can be an expensive time for all of us – a typical household spends around £2,500 per month on average, but in the run-up to the festivities, we can expect to add another £800 to our outgoings*. Having spent months in lockdown, it’s understandable that we might want to splash out a bit more than usual on friends and family, but none of us will want to start the new year in the red. So we’ve compiled an A-Z of thrifty tricks to help you stay on track with your spending without compromising on the fun. Let’s get started…

A IS FOR APPS

It’s true what they say: there’s an app for everything! And when it comes to saving money, the number of apps out there can be overwhelming. Here are three worth downloading…

Slash your mobile phone bill with Airtime Rewards. Link the app to your bank card and when you shop at stores such as Boots, Argos, Halfords or Wilko, you’ll earn a percentage of your total spend back, which is then taken off your phone bill. The app works with Vodafone, O2, EE and Giffgaff.

Use Checkoutsmart to save on groceries. Check products on offer on the app and scan your receipt for cashback into your bank account.

Keep an eye on household bills with Snoop, which lets you know when they creep up and suggests cheaper suppliers. It also lets you know if there are any deals at shops where you go regularly.

All three apps are free on both the App Store and Google Play.

B IS FOR BUDGETING

Use the Money Advice Service’s Christmas planner to help you work out how much the big festive spend will cost you, how much cash you actually have to spend, and how much more you would have to save to avoid getting into debt. You can search for it at moneyadviceservice.org.uk.

C IS FOR CASHBACK

Use Quidco or Topcashback to earn money as you shop. Once you’ve set up an account, click on the retailer you want to buy from. You’ll be taken to the retailer’s website to shop as usual. Your purchase is tracked and you will earn a percentage of it back. The amount of cashback you earn varies, but it could be anything between 1% and 12%. It’s a no-brainer!

D IS FOR DIARY DATES

There are usually a deluge of deals in the run up to Christmas, so make sure you take advantage. A number of stores run discount events, but these are the big dates to mark on your calendar…

27 November: Black Friday 30 November: Cyber Monday

BUYING ON AMAZON? Check uk.camelcamelcamel.com before you buy – it tracks prices over the year, so you know if you’re getting a real bargain or not.