Preparing for the Finances of Christmas

Everyone past the age of fifteen knows that Christmas can cost a national debt. We spend our savings on buying gifts for our friends and loved ones, spend our months wages on booze and work parties and splash out on expensive foods to make our crimbo dins the very best that they can be. When you have young kids, the 25^th December gets even more costly because you feel wrong if you’re not taking your kids to Christmas fairs, Santa’s workshops and pantomimes.

All these costs and payments add up to one extremely expensive day that you’re preparing and saving for again by January 1^st! Here are a few tips to help you manage the coming festive season.

1)      Loans

If you want to receive some money to pay for presents etc. quickly and easily, opt for logbook loans. If you have a car, you can get logbook loans simply by taking your vehicle logbook to a lender and borrowing money against the value of your car. You pay money back via monthly repayments and still have the full use of your car throughout your contract.

2)      Pre-order catalogues

Usually around May you’ll start to see adverts on TV for certain catalogues that offer the chance to order all of your Christmas gifts good and early so that you’re not faced with a last-minute, expensive shopping dash. Once you’ve ordered, you pay the money back for your gifts, food etc. over the remainder of the year. Come Christmas, you won’t be struggling for money and your festive season will be already paid for.

3)      Budgeting

If you are low on funds this coming December, try to make a few alternatives to your usual spending. Instead of buying a large turkey, buy a small one and make some other dishes to accompany it – like chicken for example, or fish. This will lower the cost of meat and make it stretch further because everyone can have a little of each instead of one big portion of turkey. Go mad with the filling veggies such as boiled carrots and swedes (which, when mashed together make a fabulous alternative to mashed potato). Rather than make lots of foods that everyone likes, try to reach a compromise with your family and create a Christmas meal that comprises only one or two choices of meat and dessert. You won’t have as much wasted food and can save a little money for crackers and decorations. When it comes to decorations, try to make as many of them yourself instead of buying the expensive ones.

4)      Presents

Probably the most expensive aspect of Christmas, presents can really break the bank account. Try to find as many BOGOF deals and special offers as possible for the kids. Kids aren’t often as excited about actual items, but more the action of opening gifts. Make it look as though you have bought them more by wrapping up smaller items such as individual nail varnishes, packets of sweets and stationary sets. You don’t have to spend much money to make kids happy – just wrap them up lots of small things.

Don’t let finances get in the way of your Christmas this year – Remember, it’s about celebrating with those closest to you, not how much money you can spend.

Tags: Logbook loan

Category: Loans