We all know how much of a struggle it can be to get your finances in order around the Christmas period. Not only do you have to spend lots of money on buying the perfect presents for your loved ones, but you also need to make sure there is enough cash in the bank to cover all your bills. With that in mind, now is the best time to start your planning. Failure to do that could result in you having a less than happy Christmas. Thankfully, you still have enough time to sort things out before the big day.
Most people earn a little more at this time of year due to increased demand within their business. Even so, it can be easy to forget that you need to be careful. After reading through the information in this post, you will be ready to get started on ensuring your finances are in order by the end of next month.
Reduce your spending on energy
Energy is by far the biggest expense most people face during the winter months. Your electricity and gas bills might have been very low during the summer. Still, you can pretty much guarantee they’re going to double or even triple once the temperature drops. For that reason, it might be worth looking towards alternatives. Companies like Direct Oil and their competitors supply heating oil to those who can make a bulk purchase. Equipping your home for that is going to cost a bit of money, but it is sure to save you thousands in the long run. If that sounds appealing, start your research straightaway.
Buy your presents from the same store
While it can be tricky to find all the presents you would like to purchase for your loved ones in a single shop, doing so could mean you save hundreds of pounds. You could use any cash you have left over to help pay off your mortgage earlier than planned. If you think this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, you will have a lot more success with online retailers like Amazon. They offer periodic deals for people who spend over a certain amount, and their stock list is huge. Just make sure you order your items soon as delivery times tend to get messed up around Christmas.
Ask about cashback deals from your credit card company
Presuming you charge a lot of the items you buy to a credit card, it might be sensible to get in touch with the company and ask about cashback deals. It is entirely possible that you might make even higher savings if you choose to purchase things from certain retailers at certain times. Of course, you should get around 1% back on purchases anyway, but there is no harm in asking if other deals are running too.
You should now have a good idea about some of the best ways to save money this holiday season. We hope you have a fantastic time this year, no matter what state your finances might be in by 25th December.