CHRISTMAS FOR £99 IS A CRACKER

How to save a festive packet

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MECHANIC Steve Audsley has finally switched on his stunning display of Christmas lights after spending almost a year turning his home into a festive dream.

The 49-year-old, right, started in January and estimates he spent about 40 hours a week hand-crafting the 100,000-LED light spectacle with music and animation.

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He is now putting on nightly 30-minute shows at his home in Gildersome, West Yorks, and said: “It’s worth it when I see the smiles on all the kids’ faces. They love it.”

A FAMILY of four can buy everything they need to enjoy a bumper Christmas for less than £100.

According to research, families overspend by £252 every year at Christmas.

But income app Wagestream found budget-savvy shoppers can cut their costs with several tricks to make sure their Yuletide bill comes in at just £99.61.

The priciest item is the turkey, which costs £9.99 from Lidl.

But the entire dinner can be bought for just under £40 with diners still enjoying Christmas staples like pigs-inblankets and sprouts.

The list even includes tipples for the grown-ups, like sherry and Bucks Fizz.

Tesco was the best-value supermarket for 11 items on the shopping list, including treats like a pack of six mince pies for

Lidl Braemoor Ready Basted Small British Turkey with Giblets, £9.99

Pack, £0.87

Essential Waitrose Brussel sprouts 500g, £0.65 Lidl Favorina Christmas Pudding, £3.39 Tesco Bucks Fizz 75cl, £2

Tesco Mince Pies 6 87p and a bottle of mulled wine for £3.50. A Christmas pudding costs just £3.39 from Lidl and can be paired with a splodge of brandy butter which is only £1.74 a pot.

A 3ft tinsel tree can be bought for a fiver from Wilkos, and be decorated with baubles and tinsel totalling £4 and lights from Aldi that only cost £3.99.

And to get the presents tree-ready, wrapping paper can be bought at The Works for £2 and put in stockings from Hobby Craft that only cost £1 each.

Peter Briffett, of Wagestream, said: “You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great Christmas and you don’t need to scrimp on the simple pleasures.”

The Works Retro Wood Satchel Skateboard, £4

The Works Giant Fairy Shaped Foam Jigsaw Puzzle, £7

Green Tinsel 3ft, £5

The

Wilko Tree

OXFORD is the most Christmassy town, with houses displaying an average of 350 fairylights, ahead of Coventry and York, moneyexpert.com has found.

AS many as 4.7million of us will miss Christmas Day this year because we are working, according to research by sports retailer Decathlon.