Christmas on the net

By JO THORNHILL
Updated:

 

Christmas is the most expensive time of year even for the most frugal of us. But it is possible to cut down on costs without spoiling the fun.

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Here are This Is Money's top tips to doing Christmas on a budget, and just as a contrast we also show you how to do it in style if money is no object…if only!

Christmas on the cheap

If you can't get an invite from family or friends for the Christmas holidays, the most obvious way to cut down costs, then there are some other ways to save money. Probably the biggest cost is going to be presents, so the first thing to do is shop around and have a good look out for any special offers and pre-Christmas sales.

Boots is offering a special deal on a selection of its Christmas gifts - for every five presents you buy you get the cheapest free, for example, and many other high street stores launch special offers to entice Christmas shoppers. If you've got reward points stacked up on your store cards this is the time to claim them and save money. It could also be a good time to redeem points on supermarket loyalty cards.

Shopping for gifts on the internet could work out cheaper in some cases. Many companies selling clothes, books and CDs on the web offer products at prices lower than you'd get in the shops and they will deliver to you home, cutting down on your petrol costs! Try Zoom, Amazon and bol for a range of products from books to toys. (see company contacts below)

As a last resort if you really can't be bothered with the Christmas high-street crush then just tell everyone you're going away for Christmas and buy all your presents in the January sales.

Instead of shelling out for a real Christmas tree that'll be dropping needles by Boxing Day, why not invest in an artificial one. These days they look like the real thing and they last for years. For extra cost-cutting make your own decorations. Argos does a five foot plastic tree for £9.99. You can purchase it online at their website and they'll even deliver it to your home for a small extra cost. And if you've got a bit of cash left over you could splash out on fairy lights for £4.50.

Food and drink

At Christmas food and drink is probably the one area you don't want to scrimp on too much, but remember to look out for supermarket offers - there are lots of two-for-one offers out there. And shop around - by going to a store that you wouldn't normally use, you might find some nice surprises.

For a cheap turkey go to Iceland. They've got a grade A 8-9lb turkey for £9.98 and you can order it and get it delivered from Iceland's website. In comparison the same weight fresh, whole turkey at Marks and Spencer will set you back between £18 and £22.

If you've not got enough wine left from your booze cruise earlier in the year then you'll have to hit the shops for your wines. Look out for Sainsbury's special offers on a range of its beers, wines and spirits. Most but not all of its offers continue until January.

Argos

Sainsbury

Marks & Spencer

Iceland

Bol

Amazon

XmasTreeDirect

Zoom

Do you have a good money saving idea for Christmas? Then email us here

How to do Christmas in style

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