Make a list... check it twice... and keep Christmas costs under control

The bangs of Bonfire Night have faded and now nothing stands between us and the festive season.

If you’ve been putting off thinking about Christmas until now, the time has come to pour yourself a glass of something sparkly, and pull out your notebook.

There’s nothing like a list to help you hold down the costs of everybody’s most expensive season. Last minute panic buying is guaranteed to exhaust your credit card, so get planning, create a budget and - most importantly - stick to it.

First up, make a list of everything you need - from the food for the table, and that perfect party outfit, to Christmas cards, gifts and decorations. Then figure out where you can afford to get creative.

The outfit

There’s the work Christmas do, the drinks with your friends, the family party. It can sound overwhelming... until you realise that due to the different circles you’ll be moving in, one fabulous outfit can easily work for the whole month. Hit the shops now (somewhere like TK Maxx is a great place to bag yourself a gorgeous label at a fraction of the price) and get this one in the bag and ticked off your list. And if a new outfit is pushing it, dress up a reliable little black number with some sparkly new jewellery. Nobody will ever know!

Food

It’s easy to over-do it on the food, or risk things going uneaten due to the busy season. This is where planning once again wins the day. There’s the big Christmas dinner, of course, but then there’s also the Christmas Eve nibbles, or the cocktails and appetisers for Boxing Day. Make a list of all the evenings in the final two weeks of December when you’re entertaining, or eating a family meal at home. Plan what you need to buy on what day, or maybe even do a couple of online shops to have things delivered at just the right moment. And when it comes to hosting a Christmas gathering, focus on free festive fun - like Charades or Pictionary. Quality time doesn’t have to cost a penny.

The accessories

Christmas is in the details, so if you’re keen to have crackers on the table, a fabulous Christmas tablecloth, or festive spiced cinnamon candles dotted around the house, keep your eyes peeled now and stock up on things as you see them. Christmas soon adds up if you start doing it all in one go, but if you can stick a box of crackers in with your next food shop, or pick up those delicious smelling candles the next time you’re passing a Quality Save, you’ll have what you need when the time comes without paying out in one go. Take the time to shop around budget stores and see what they have on offer - from advent calendars to new decorations.

Cards

When it comes to Christmas it’s not just money we’re all keen to save, it’s a little time too. Some people love sending cards to their nearest and dearest, but if it’s a Christmas chore you’re happy to forego, why not save yourself a little of both by making a donation to charity instead? You can still send a lovely festive email to friends and relatives far away to fill them in on all your news, and even attach a couple of photographs, and post a message on your social media to let everyone else know your charitable plans. And it’s definitely kinder to the environment.