I’m a cash-savvy mum – here’s where you can bag £250 gifts for £25, and four other tips to slash Christmas costs
IT may seem like summer just ended – but Christmas is less than 100 days away.
Although this time of festivities is supposed to bring us all together and enjoy much-needed time with our loved ones, for many cash-strapped households December also comes with financial pressure.
The sentiment that you should only buy the best of the best and the latest of the latest was also evident in a survey conducted last year, where the average spending per head ranged from just below £700 in the North East – to an eye-watering £973 in London, Statista showed.
Data by MoneySuperMarket paints a similar picture – the average cost of Christmas rose to £1,811.70 per household last year, which is more than 80% of the average monthly income.
Plenty of parents feel so much pressure, mainly due to social media, that they’ve ended found themselves in hefty debts around Christmas.
As we’re fast-approaching the most special time of the year, one cash-savvy mum-of-four, Casey Major-Bunce, has revealed five ways to slash the costs – and how to treat your little one with a posh Xbox even when you can’t afford it.
The influencing parent, better known to her 693k Instagram followers as The Queen of Hacks, spilled the beans on everything to know – from festive cards to purse-friendly deals.
Décor galore
No Christmas Eve and Day is complete without the main centrepiece – the Christmas tree.
As festive season super fans – and garden centres across the UK – are already decking their homes, you may want to start looking for the one already.
But with prices for an artificial tree averaging at around £60 to £70, Casey advised to best check out any second-hand offers online.
The money-smart mum, whose Big Book of Major Mum Hacks is launching in March next year, said: ”Facebook Marketplace is your best mate!
”You can find some brilliant trees for a fraction of the price, and don’t forget—you can flog your old one on there too.
”Trust me, people are always after a bargain, especially around the festive season.”
Fancy a cheeky bauble makeover but don’t want to splash the cash?
Casey, whose hacks have been liked by everyone from Stacey Solomon to the cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch, also had something to offer to the craft lover.
”Here’s a hack I swear by: grab a cheap pack of balloons in your desired colour, snip off the top, and wrap them over your existing baubles. Voila!” she said, chatting to Fabulous.
”Instant transformation. I did this a few years ago when I switched from gold to pink, and it looked fab!”
Bagging the best – for the least
From mince pies to scented candles, the shops are slowly getting filled with all things festive – including gifts.
Whether you’re after toys for your little ones or a brand new perfume for that special someone, Casey had one rule – to ” shop around”.
Spilling the beans on bagging the best deal, the mum-of-four said: ”PriceRunner is a lifesaver here. Just pop in the toy or gadget you’re after and it’ll compare prices for you, so you know you’re getting the best deal.”
The price comparison site, which claims to always be ”on your side as a consumer”, offers the service with over 5.8 million products and offers from close to 7,000 retailers.
Portsmouth-based Casey, who had her first child at the age of 19, went on: ”Speaking of deals, Black Friday is a goldmine… most of the time. But don’t be fooled by dodgy discounts.
”Some shops are sneaky and hike the price up beforehand to make it look like a bigger saving.
”A good trick is to screenshot the item you want in the weeks before and keep it in a separate album on your phone. That way when Black Friday hits, you can check if it’s a proper bargain.
”Last year I had my eye on something that claimed £200 off but in reality, it was only £25!”
The cash-savvy parent, who used to get brutally trolled for ”wasting her life” as a teen mum, also urged families to not sleep on second-hand goodies.
She told The Sun: ”Check charity shops and online for pre-loved gifts. We snagged my daughter a Frozen Elsa castle for £50 instead of £250—and it was already built!
”Wrapped it up, and she was just as excited, if not more, because we didn’t spend half the day trying to put it together!”
WHEN TO BUY WHAT
Festive food shop
You can start adding small, non-perishable items like chocolate and nuts to your shopping basket now – as long as it’ll keep for the big day. For fresh and big ticket items, wait until mid-December. And for vegetables, drop in around ten days before Christmas. That’s when supermarkets start battling to offer the cheapest deals.
Christmas tree
If a real cut tree is on your wish list, try not to buy it in the first week of December when the majority of people start looking for theirs. A well-kept tree cut in late November should retain its needles until Year’s Eve, and you’ll still have the pick of the bunch before demand gets too high.
Toys
If you know what your kids are pining for, now’s the time to act. Supermarkets begin toy sales around late September-October each year, lasting up to two weeks. Dates are subject to change, and you’ll need to be a member to take advantage of those low prices, whether it be Nectar, Clubcard or Morrisons More.
Booze
Last year, money saving expert Martin Lewis reported supermarket booze sales until late November, so hold off until the cold snap really hits. Loyalty customers can expect up to 25 per cent of popular prosecco and wine.
Tech
If you plan on gifting mobile phones, laptops or air fryers this year, don’t leave your shopping too late. Research shows that prices are cheapest in September and October, and tend to rise in November and December when demand gets higher.
Keep an eye out for Black Friday (November 29) deals and check prices in advance to make sure it’s a proper steal.
It’s party time!
What’s Christmas without the festive feast, tipple and and guests having a jolly time?
Although hosting a party can be fun, the costs quickly rack up, especially when there are snacks, appetisers, mulled wine involved.
But instead of asking guests to bring a bottle, Casey advised to try a different request this year – to bring a platter.
”Get each guest to bring a dish—nibbles, hot food, desserts—sorted by letters of the alphabet.
”You’ll save a fortune, and your sanity, by not having to feed the whole crowd yourself.”
Cards and traditions
As much as we love sending – and receiving – adorable festive cards with a Santa design, the postage costs are oftentimes higher than the cards themselves.
The social media hack queen revealed how to save money – without ditching the Christmas essential.
”Consider e-cards to save on stamps, or if you’re still going traditional, hand them out in person when you see people. Much cheaper than posting them!”
Casey went on: ”Family traditions don’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. Loads of people splash out on the panto for Christmas Eve, and with tickets going for £50-£100 a pop, it adds up fast.
”Why not start a new, budget-friendly tradition like cookie decorating or Christmas slime-making instead?”
Pricey gifts on the cheap
If your little ones are asking for something more costly, such as a PS5 or an Xbox, and you don’t want to let them down, Casey advised ”to rally the troops”.
The mum-of-four revealed: ”We all chipped in last year for my son’s PS5—us, the grandparents, even my brothers—and he still got his dream present without us having to fork out the full amount.
”For the under-fives, trust me, they’re more excited about opening presents than what’s inside!
”Pop to your local bargain shops and pick up little bits and bobs—they’ll be just as happy, and you’ll save a ton on big-ticket items they’ll outgrow in six months anyway.”
Casey wished: ”Simply saving a wonderful Christmas time!”