Five Ways To Ensure You’re Not Skint After Christmas
Some people still think that it’s a little too early to be talking about Christmas but as it’s basically November I actually think it’s a little late. After 8 Christmas’ in retail, I’ve held onto some habits from those times whereby my shopping would be finished by 1st December as then I’d be left with one month of solid work. Thankfully I’ve maintained this which means that not only am I less stressed in December, but I don’t have to spend out any money on presents during the month so I can treat myself instead.
Here are just a few of the ways you can ensure you’re not skint after Christmas.
Spread out the costs
Really this should have been a tip from the summer as it’s something I’ve been doing for months, but to ensure your December paycheck isn’t all spent on presents it’s important to try and spread out the costs for Christmas over as many different paydays as possible.
If it isn’t something you’re able to do this year think about it in advance of next year. I start doing my shopping and gathering ideas in the middle of summer because if I do that I can spread the cost and ensure I’m not left skint.
Make a PPI claim
You’ve probably heard the adverts all over the radio about PPI claims seeing as the deadline is coming up soon but submitting a PPI claim before Christmas could mean a little cash boost before the big day to help with the Christmas expenses or a sum in January to keep you going after the big day. I recently put in my PPI claim just to see if I was owed anything so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Keep aside some money to keep for January
Now, this might seem like an obvious idea but I like to take some money out of my pay at Christmas and put it in another account so there’s no chance I’ll be totally poor when it comes to January. I like to think about all the bills I’ll have in January and put enough money in to cover those alongside my general weekly spend that I’d use on things like food and diesel for my car.
Doing this means although January might be tighter than a normal month I won’t be scraping the barrel for money.
Don’t feel you have to buy new outfits for every event
I’m really bad and I love to have new outfits for every event like my work Christmas party, the Christmas meet up with my friends, Christmas itself and New Year among other events which might crop up but realistically it’s not feesible to keep buying new outfits (even if you do work for a clothing company *oops*).
I’m doing my best to reuse outfits I might have had for a while and pair them up with different shoes and accessories in order to make them look new. Everyone’s talking about Fast Fashion at the moment and if I have nice clothes in my wardrobe why shouldn’t I be wearing them.
Do a car boot sale/ jumble sale
I started off selling a load of my items on eBay but it started to become tedious as I felt I was always at the post office and after postage and expenses I wasn’t making much money so a few weekends ago I did a car boot sale with my parents. It’s surprising how many jumble/ car boot sales there still are at this time of the year and it’s so nice knowing someone else is going to get joy and use out of your products. Plus it’s amazing the stuff people will genuinely buy. I managed to make enough money to put aside for mine and Luke’s anniversary meal, but otherwise
Plus it’s amazing the stuff people will genuinely buy. I managed to make enough money to put aside for mine and Luke’s anniversary meal, but otherwise it would have made a great addition to my Christmas funds.
Pin It
24 responses to “Five Ways To Ensure You’re Not Skint After Christmas”
Leave a Reply
All About Me
Rhian Westbury
Travels and Destinations
Nothing currently planned
These are great tips – especially not buying outfits for every event! It’s so easy getting sucked into feeling like you have to buy something new for every party!
There’s some great advice here. Personally, I’m in the same boat as you here, the earlier the shopping the better! Unfortunately I don’t have that as a habit yet haha, thanks for the insight!
These are some great tips! I don’t do a whole lot for Christmas other than the day itself with my kiddos and then that’s it.
These are some very informative tips. I will be away for Christmas so I don’t need to worry so much 🙂
We don’t have Christmas here but Indian festivals are way too expensive. And these things you have suggested are simply great because I already follow them and they work.
such great ideas, Christmas can be so expensive. I also think it is important to really whittle down your gift list. You don’t need to buy for everyone!
I’m definitely going to be using a few of these tips to save a bit of cash this holiday season. These are great!
I’ve been so on track with my christmas shopping this year, I’ve amazed myself ha!
But it does help to spread the costs and usually all the rubbish is left in december too! x
These are some really great tips! Although, to be fair my way of lowering the cost has been by choosing to only buy for a few people… not because I’m mean but because it’s a tight year this year. Love these though, may try spreading the cost next year.
I shop for Christmas gifts early, starting around July or August. I take advantage of the sales and discounts available at any certain time of the year. I can be proud to say that I am almost done with my Christmas list. (yay!) I go for practical gifts and not those that look cute for now but will only accumulate dust on a shelf later.
I love Christmas time so much (and I have such a controverse relationship with november) that I think November the 1st the perfect moment to live, feel and enjoy the Xmas waiting. Thank you for your tips (also very motivational)
These are amazing tips and very helpful. I will write down all of it to serve as a reminder.
Sounds like good ways to make sure you don’t overspend for the holidays and you have a little left over. I don’t think we have anything like PPI in the states. But the rest sound like good ways to protect myself from overspending on my daughter, which I have a tendency to do.
Great tips thanks, I am trying to start buying presents now.
Some brilliant tips here. I definitely need to have a declutter and do a car boot in time for Christmas to ensure I have some money for January
I’ve made a note of these tips thanks. We have 3 kids, so Christmas is a very expensive time. It always makes me laugh that if you just wait a week or so (till after Christmas) you can pick up things half price in the New Year Sales.
These are great tips. I totally agree, you deffo do not need a new out fit for every event xx
I will be broke on the way to Xmas and probably after which is horrid. This year I definitely want to make some changes, some great ideas here x
Love these tips! For me, I put away some money throughout the whole year so that the cost is covered x
Christmas can be a crazy time for finances, far too easy to over spend. You’ve given some really helpful tips to help save some pennies, and sanity.
These are some great tips. I desperately need to do a car boot sale.
Yes, save some money for January. Don’t spend it all on the holidays. Isn’t New Years so relaxing compared to Xmas?
It is so easy to overspend at christmas – I now make a strict budget and stick to it
Yeah, this post is very important! I think most of us get swept up in the feel good factor and hey presto – by January our wallets are nursing hangovers as well!