Plan what to buy and when Some things are best paid for early to get the best deals – such as postage stamps or travel tickets. Others are best left to the last minute, such as stocking fillers. If you are shopping online, remember to save postage & packing costs by consolidating purchases.
Shop around
Always compare prices on the high street and online, they often differ. Price comparison sites can be useful but do use more than one for a true sense of the cost.
3
Hot hints for Christmas Future
It comes once a year but many of us are left paying for Christmas long after the turkey is finished and the tree is gone. Before you start shopping, make some money resolutions to put yourself in a better position for 2013.
Be cautious with credit You may be offered credit to ‘help’ you with the cost of Christmas 2012. Take care, and be sure you understand the terms of any borrowing including the APR. Know how you will pay the money back in 2013.
Get the most out of the sales Boxing Day bargains can be brilliant, but the bills can haunt you. Be savvy: use them to save money in the New-Year, e.g. birthdays and anniversaries, and even gifts for Christmas 2013!
Set a money goal Think about 2013 before the Christmas rush. Make time to work out your weekly/monthly income/ spending. Then set yourself a money goal, e.g. pay- off or reduce a debt, save for something special, start a pension etc.
WASTE NOT…..
The Energy Saving Trust website is another terrific source of information when it comes to free impartial advice. Here are their Top Ten tips to help you save energy and help cut those nasty bills this winter!
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Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and typically saves around £60 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
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WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDES.CO.UK
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Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for
draughts around windows and doors.
Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile
phones on charge unnecessarily.
If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses
less energy than two half loads.
Only boil as much water as you need (but re- member to cover the elements if you’re using
an electric kettle).
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A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
Use energy saving light bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £55 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £120 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and the
Energy Saving Trust will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £280 a year on your household energy bill. You can do this by visiting
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
TOP TIP:
Cutback and free up some spare cash. Try the Money Advice Service online Cutback Calculator to see how making little changes to your regular expenses really adds up. You might be surprised how much making a packed-lunch instead of buying lunch adds up over just a few weeks.
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