This Christmas, we know it’s going to be tough. The squeeze on the purse strings has never been tighter and Christmas, whilst supposed to be a time of joy and giving, will understandably be filling parents with angst about how they’re going to be able to pay for it all.
There is no magic answer, other than cancelling Christmas, but if you’ve got young children, that simply isn’t an option.
So, we’ve interviewed our canny team here at Hippychick and trawled some of the best sites on the internet, to bring you the most compelling money saving hacks to help you navigate the season without breaking the bank.
Preloved
If you’re parenting pre-schoolers, this is the best time to invest in preloved and they will never know the difference! If you’re after seconds rather than second hand, many websites offer ex display stock and toys they can’t sell because the boxes no longer exist or are damaged. We’ve seen discounts of up to 30% off the retail price so there are genuine bargains to be had. Check our Preloved page to browse our line-up of latest bargains.
You can still grab some terrific used items from sites like Vinted, eBay and Preloved but always check the validity of the seller to see that items are genuine second hand rather than knock offs which may not comply with the UK’s stringent safety regulations.
Swap turkey for chicken
Consider roasting a chicken instead of a turkey (or two, if the size of your Christmas lunch party requires it). Adorned with criss-crossed rashers of crispy bacon and surrounded by pigs in blankets and roasties, you can achieve exactly the same festive vibe for a fraction of the price. But if you can’t resist a turkey, consider where to buy it. Does it really need to be a Bronze, or Organic and purchased from Waitrose? Odds are that you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test.
Don’t panic buy
Avoid last minute impulse gift-purchasing at all costs. Write a Christmas present list for everyone you need to buy for and stick to it – rigidly.
Create Memories
There is no greater gift than the gift of time during the build up to Christmas and precious moments spent with them will almost certainly form your children’s fondest memories. Take them on a walk and gather windfall pine cones and branches. Spray the pine cones with silver or gold paint and decorate mantlepieces, window sills and alcoves and the dining table with your own hand collected booty which is much more satisfying (as well as cheaper) than buying the artificial stuff from Amazon. But please don’t chop anything down from living trees and avoid berries which might be tempting for little ones.
Get a discount code
Scour the internet for discount codes from your favourite retailers– there’s normally at least one floating around. Don’t be afraid to call them if necessary to ask if there are any live ones. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Most retailers offer an introductory discount code on your first purchase – normally 10%. Sign up, make your purchase, and then you can always unsubscribe once you’ve taken advantage of the discount.
Wrap smart
If you’ve got little ones, particularly pre-schoolers, make sure you wrap everything, however small in a large box. It will add size and height to the gifts under the tree, giving the illusion of more.
Fragrance and candles
Giving popular fragrances as gifts is always a crowd pleaser. Thank goodness for incomers to the market such as Noted Aromas and Essence Vault who have revolutionised the sector, offering really good copies of some of the most well-known brands at jaw-dropping prices. And no need any more to invest £50 in a Jo Malone candle when Aldi’s version at £3.15 really does the job.