My Debt Diary

Taking short pause over Christmas

Today’s post is just a short one. You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting to my regular schedule over the past week or so. As the festivities have taken hold I’ve lost track of my regular work and blogging routine. Instead of trying to fight it I’ve decided to just let it happen. Following the final Your Debt Diary post of the year on Wednesday I will be taking a short pause over Christmas.

I’m so excited for 2019 to begin and to continue to share the progress that I make with my debt journey along the way!

Decorate for Christmas without Breaking the Bank

As someone who absolutely adores Christmas and everything that comes with it I completely understand the urge to go over board with decorations come December. As a result this can of course mean spending a lot of money, but it doesn’t have to. From affordable trees to simple touches that give your home a festive feel, here are ways to decorate for Christmas without breaking the bank.

Find an affordable tree

The centre of most homes at Christmas is the Christmas tree. There are two options when finding one of course, real or fake. Buying a real tree can often be the cheaper option however it will only last the month before needing to be thrown away. Fake trees, whilst not quite as realistic, can be stored away and kept for years to come. This is where it’s best to do a bit of research and figure out which is the best for you.

After taking a quick look around I have noticed that Home Bargains are selling real trees this year for £9.99. They may not be the bushiest, however they are a fantastic option if you are on a tight budget. You can also find very affordable artificial options in many shops and online. I’ve found this one on Amazon for just £19.99 and it is 6ft tall!

Add finishing touches to budget items

Often I’ll spot cheap wreaths and garlands in the shops which are a great price, but look a bit bare. There is such an easy trick to solve this. Instead of leaving it as is, buy a few extra finishing touches to add to your decorations that will really bring them to life.

As an example, last year I bought a plain wreath from a budget shop. I then purchased some pine cones, berries and ribbon at £1 each along with some wire. It only took me around twenty minutes to add these to the wreath, fluff out the foliage and then finish it with a bow. I had only spent around £10 in total, which was still a lot less than the more expensive shops were charging and now I have a beautiful wreath for my front door that I can use year after year.

You can do this with essentially any decorations and it makes such a difference. If you’re not naturally creative, have a quick nosey on places like Pinterest and Youtube. You can find some great ideas and “how to” tutorials.

Stick to a colour scheme

There are two big benefits to choosing one colour scheme that you love. Firstly, having one or two colours throughout all of your decorations will pull them together and really make your room or home look more full and complete. I always stick to green foliage with red and gold accents in the form of baubles, berries and lights. Many of the shops even do large sets of baubles like this one here which should be enough to cover an entire tree.

Secondly, if you stick with the same colours year after year you won’t have to buy new decorations each December. Having spent around £150 in 2017 on our decorations I was worried about our potential spends this year. In fact, we have only spent £6 on a couple of baubles from trips we have taken. If you look after your decorations well and store them properly throughout the rest of the year they will last you a long time.

Never underestimate the impact of a few candles

The flicker of a candle flame can have such a huge impact on a room. So much so that the Danes have a name for it; Hygge. A candle brings so much cosiness and, paired with a few simple decorations, can bring a real feeling of Christmas into your home. If you choose to opt for a scented candle, you will add that extra layer of warmth. My favourite has to be apple and cinnamon. Of course, some people prefer not to have an open flame in their home. In this case faux candles like these ones, paired with a room diffuser would give the same cosy effect.

Hang up your Christmas cards

Before decorating my own home for the first time last year I worried how I was going to fill one particularly blank space of wall in our living room. As our Christmas cards began to arrive however, it occurred to me that they would be the perfect solution. I found some twine that I had been using to wrap presents with and a couple of pins and strung them up in two rows. The room felt more and more complete as they dropped through the letterbox each day. As a bonus, I wasn’t getting annoyed with them all falling off the shelves and sideboard as I normally would!

Make your own

Last but not least, home crafting is another fantastic way to decorate without spending a lot of money. You might in fact have many of the things you need to decorate in your own back garden. Take a moment to go outside and see what you can forage. Sprigs of holly and berries could be added to a flower arrangement, whilst pine and conifer might be the perfect foliage to create a fireplace garland. Inside the home you might even have some spare paper to make paper chains, a simple but classic touch to add to your living room.

 

As I have mentioned before in my other Christmas posts, this is a wonderful time of year but it is not worth causing yourself financial problems over. There are always budget friendly solutions and often the items that we have worked on ourselves are the ones we hold on to most fondly for years to come.

Decorate for Christmas without breaking the bank - pinterest

Shopping for Christmas with Just Six Weeks to Go

For some of you, six weeks until Christmas will mean you still have loads of time to prepare. The festive season hasn’t even started yet and you won’t think about it for a while. For others Christmas started back in the summer and six weeks will feel like no time at all. Anyone on a strict budget may have a different way of looking at things. Six weeks until Christmas will mean just one more pay cheque, two if you’re lucky, until the big day.

If you have read either of my previous posts about spreading the cost of Christmas you will know that I am determined to enjoy the holiday season fully prepared and without going further into debt. There is still plenty of time for you to get organised this year without having to look at your credit card or panic buy gifts.

 

Get organised

Santa has a list and you should too! The best way to get started with your Christmas shopping is to get organised. Make a list of all the gifts, food, drink and other expenses that will arise over the festive season so that you know exactly what you are going to have to pay for. Then add in the detail. What are you gifting each person? How much will you be budgeting for food? Do you need to have a pot ready for nights out?

Specifics really help here. Don’t just right down “computer game” for your nephew. Find out exactly which one you will be buying, where you’ll get it and how much it is. The same goes for food. Instead of writing “Christmas dinner”, list everything you’ll need. Turkey, bacon, potatoes, carrots…you get the gist. The more specific you are the more organised you will be. It will also stop you from throwing unnecessary things into your shopping basket, digital or real, and overspending.

Secret Santa with family

I have spoken about this tip previously but it is one I really believe can help the most. We are doing a secret Santa gift exchange with both sides of our family this year and I have worked out that it will save me roughly £300. That’s huge. For me, that means putting an extra chunk into my debt payments over the festive period instead of watching it disappear. Now that’s a happy holiday!

Shop around

This might sound like an obvious one, but when we are so busy trying to do everything at once it can be so easy to just opt for the gift we are looking for in the first place we see it. The more organised you are the more time you have to shop around and do some comparison of prices. A quick look on Amazon normally does the trick for me. Remember to check for voucher codes too to see if discounts are available!

Make sure to get cashback

Always remember to make purchases through a cashback site wherever possible. I normally pop onto TopCashBack to check what’s available. Most shops offer between 4% and 10% back, which can make all the difference if you are doing a lot of online shopping. If you click here you can use my referral code to sign up. It won’t cost you anything but I do receive a little bonus. If you choose to use it, thank you!

Keep the cost low

Even something as simple as putting together a hamper of a loved ones favourite things can make a big impact. I definitely recommend starting somewhere like the Poundshop or Homebargains for this kind of thing. For example, a hamper filled with scented candles, chocolates, cosy socks, stationery and a nice bottle of wine would be my dream and you could pull all of those together for £10-15 in an affordable local shop. Planning ahead of time with a list of things your recipient would love will help you to refrain from overspending too.

Make extra money

This is something I talk about a lot on my blog, but I’ll mention it again as it can make such a difference to your bank balance. Making small amounts of extra money in the run up to Christmas, and throughout the year, can add up so quickly and make a real contribution to your spending pot. You might choose to sell things on Ebay that you no longer use or need, clearing space for all of the new gifts that will soon fill your house. Maybe taking surveys would be perfect for you, or could you take some over time at work? Get creative!

Also, remember to check the points you have on supermarket loyalty cards as these could end up covering the cost of your food shop. If you have any store cards check those too, they all add up quickly. Do you have boots advantage points that could get you a lovely toiletry set for your mum for example? If you’re looking for more money making ideas, be sure to check out www.emmadrew.info.

Homemade is always a great option!

You might find that your budget is stretched to it’s limits and there is simply no room left for buying gifts without using a credit card. If you can put you hand to crafts or baking then homemade can be a great alternative. Whether you brew some flavoured drinks, bake someone’s favourite biscuits, make them some chocolate bark or even gift them something from your own garden, there are so many options. Of course, Pinterest is always a great place to look if you’re stuck for ideas!

 

Please remember that Christmas is not about the amount you spend and it is certainly not about going into debt in order to make others happy. Get started now and you can enjoy a wonderful Christmas without breaking the bank!

 

Shopping for Christmas with Just Six Weeks to Go - pinterest

How to Spread the Cost of Christmas

Last week I wrote this post on how to plan for a debt free Christmas. I discussed the importance of working out a budget for Christmas in advanced. This allows you to set aside money each month to ensure you spend the festive season debt free. I wanted to follow that post with some tips on how to get organised and spread the cost of Christmas. In particular, spreading the cost of food and gifts.

Spread the cost of gifts

Gifts are always the largest expense for me, as I imagine they are for most families. There are a couple of ways to handle this without scrimping on the things you give to your loved ones.

Shop in the sales

Some people choose to shop in the January sales, others keep an eye out for good deals throughout the year. Whichever method suits your shopping preference, there are huge savings to be had if you plan ahead. Begin with a list of items for each person that you are buying for. Then simply keep an eye out in the shops and on places like amazon for great deals.

Use a cashback websites

It might be the case that you aren’t able to save money on an item itself however there is always the option to earn some of your money back through cash back websites. Top Cash Back is one of my favourites. Instead of going straight to the seller’s website, check to see if Top Cash Back have a link that you can buy through. You can use this link here to sign up. It is an affiliate link and I receive a small bonus at no extra cost to you if you use it, thank you.

Take part in Secret Santa

This one is a big hit in my family. With so many siblings in my generation now having children, gifts were getting out of hand. Instead we put all seven names in a hat and agree to spend £20 on one gift only. We all still receive something nice and it doesn’t break the bank. It also means you have to spend a lot less time shopping too.

Make your gifts

Making gifts is of course a great option for a number of reasons. Firstly, you can determine exactly how much you want to spend. If for example, you choose to make something like Christmas cookies, you can make as many or as few as you choose. And of course, home made gifts have a very personal feel to them which is perfect for Christmas! From hampers to home made rhubarb gin, there are so many things that can be made on a small budget!

Spread the cost of food

This might be more unusual for some people as most of us are so used to doing a weekly shop or popping into the supermarket to pick up things as and when we need them. It is actually possible to prepare food for Christmas weeks, and even months in advance. What I will say is that I am no culinary genius. I would suggest doing your research in terms of food prep and so on from a more professional source.

Pick up a few items with each weekly shop

There are a number of items that we often buy at Christmas that have long shelf lives. Items such as cranberry sauce, packets of stuffing, dried fruit and melba toast can be bought early and stored in the cupboard. These are all the sorts of “special extras” we buy for the big day where the cost will soon add up. Purchasing a couple of items with each normal shop in the weeks and months running up to the 25th will help you to spread the cost and feel more organised.

Make some items ahead of time and freeze.

So many food items from meat to vegetables can be prepared and frozen ahead of time. Did you know that you can peel, chop and blanche your carrots, parsnips and sprouts and freeze them months before Christmas? Last year myself and my fiance bought most our veggies in October. We prepared them, wrapped them and stored them away in the freezer. They were done before Halloween! Doing this can also help you save time and allow you to enjoy more of your Christmas eve instead of spending the day in the kitchen!

You don’t need to fall for the seasonal packaging.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for tartan and holly covered everything at Christmas. When you look closer at what you’re buying however, the decoration on the packaging is an excuse to bump the price up.

Last year for example my fiance and I found an amazing looking ham joint in the supermarket that came with an incredible looking glaze and cloves to garnish. When we looked closer however, we realised we could make the glaze for pennies and we already had cloves in the kitchen cupboard. All we actually needed was plain a ham joint, which was at least £2 cheaper!

 

Incorporate each of these suggestions into your preparation and you will be sure to have an affordable and stress free festive season. You can breath knowing that you are about to begin a new year free of Christmas debt.

For more fantastic tips the Attachment Mummy has written a great post on How to Get to January Without Going Broke.

how to spread the cost of christmas - pinterest

5 Tips for a Debt Free Christmas

Every single year Christmas happens on the 25th of December. You’re giving me a funny look aren’t you…yes Emma I know when Christmas is. Well the crazy thing is that so many of us reach the first of the month and begin to panic about how we will manage to afford it all. With the extended gap between December and January pay days that many of us face the pressure is on!

So many people across the UK, and the rest of the world, go into a large amount of debt each year to cover a holiday that should be enjoyed, not worried about. The January blues then take on a whole new meaning when you have a credit card to pay off. Follow these simple steps to prepare for the big day and allow yourself to enjoy a debt free Christmas!

1. Start planning now

It might seem a bit mad to begin speaking to family and friends about Christmas in July, but this is the best time to figure out what you’ll be doing on the 25th and across the festive season. Figure out important things like who will be hosting Christmas dinner, which friends you will likely be meeting for a Christmas lunch and which members of your family (that you pay for) will have Christmas parties and nights out with work.

These are all inevitable costs, so thinking about them ahead of time will allow you to plan out a budget far in advance. If you are hosting you will of course need to set aside a larger amount to cover the cost of all the food and drink, however if you will be a visitor this year you may just need to cover the cost of an item or two that you plan to take as a contribution to the day. Then there are the presents. Don’t forget the presents!

Nothing needs to be booked in the diary, you just need to get an realistic idea of what you will be up to during the holiday season.

2. Set a budget

Use the information you have collected from your early planning efforts to now figure out a budget for Christmas. It might be as simple as taking your list from step one and marking an estimated cost next to each item. Add these all up and now you have a rough idea of the cost of Christmas.

This budget will be great for two reasons. Firstly, it lets you know exactly what you need to set aside, save up or earn between now and December first in order to be fully prepared. Secondly, it may act as an eye opener for you. You might find that in fact you’re not at all happy with your normal spending habits during the holidays. This is a perfect opportunity for you to make some changes and help your finances!

3. Save a little each month

Taking the total that you calculated in step 3, make things more manageable by breaking that number down. Divide it by the number of months left, or the number of pay cheques before Christmas. Maybe you would prefer to work with a weekly figure, do whatever works for you.

To give you an example, let’s work with months and use a simple total. As of today June 25th there are exactly 5 months until Christmas. Say that I have calculated my budget and it looks like Christmas will cost me about £1000 this year. Divide that by 5 and we are looking to make or save an extra £200 each month in order to cover the cost of Christmas ahead of time.

The Fugal Cottage have started the Christmas savings challenge. This is another great way to save a small amount each week instead of trying to find all of the money you need for Christmas at once!

4. Earn some extra money

Once you have your broken down monthly or weekly cost, you may decide that your normal pay cheque won’t quite be enough and you’d like to earn some extra money each month. There are a number of simple ways to do this.

If it is possible in your line of work, asking for over time is the most straight forward way to earn more. If, like myself, you are self employed, is there a way for you to find more work? It might mean pushing your normal working hours into evenings and weekends for a while, but if it helps you to have a debt free Christmas it’s certainly worth it!

I have mentioned survey sites before a number of times on my blog so I won’t go into too much detail, however Prolific Academic is a website that I recommend over and over. If you ever find yourself with spare time in the evening you can complete surveys as you watch TV. Perfect!

Selling unwanted items on Ebay and Facebook is another great way to make extra money. We’ve all got things at home that we can make some money from. Whether it’s unwanted furniture, some items of clothing that we never wear or toys that the kids don’t play with anymore. Have a look and see what you think might help you reach your target for the month!

I’ve written a post before about Ebay selling and survey sites with lots more information here.

5. Spread the cost

We all like to fill our homes with special treats and wonderful gifts for our loved ones at Christmas time, however if we choose to buy everything at once the hit can be scary, for us and our bank accounts. In the same way we have broken down the cost of Christmas with saving, it is a good idea to spread the cost with spending.

Whether you are able to begin buying gifts in January or picking up food items with long shelf lives in July, purchasing items throughout the year allows you to break down your outgoings instead of dealing with them all in the one month. I’d definitely recommend keeping a note of your spending somewhere so you can make sure you are sticking to your budget. It’s also a good idea to make a note of where you’ve hidden the gifts that you’ve bought. You don’t want to find those on December 26th!

Nicola from Mum on a Budget has written a great post about planning for Christmas that includes a Gift List Tracker.

There is so much more I could say on this topic alone so I will be adding another post on spreading the cost of Christmas next Wednesday. I will make sure to link it here once it is live!

 

There is pressure on us all to have a perfect Hallmark card Christmas every year. It is important to remember that the holidays are about spending quality time with loved ones, not the things that we spend our money on. Whether you choose to have a simple dinner for two or go the whole nine yards bells and all, I hope these tips help you to enjoy a debt free Christmas!

5 tips for a debt free christmas - pinterest