According to a piece of research moneysupermarket.com released today, we're going to spend £1billion less on Christmas this year. The average woman is going to spend £392 (£23 less than last year) while the average man will spend £359 (£10 less).

So how are you saving the pennies this year? Are you going to spend less per peron? Have you stopped buying for distant cousins or Aunties? Are you simply shopping smarter?

Share your tips about how you are going to get the most out of this years festive period

Simon James

Shopping Commercial Manager

---

Simon James
simon.james @ moneysupermarket.com (remove the spaces)
http://twitter.com/ShoppingExpert

I send my Xmas cards out without a stamp on....it saves loadsa pennies when the recipient has to pay, after all Xmas it's not about money..........it's the thought that counts. !

commonkiller I'm sure your joking - but I'd send your christmas card back to you! Cheeky monkey! :D

I started shopping early so as to beat the price hike. It always makes me so angry that they put the prices up. Last year I tried to get a wii for my family but I couldn't get one anywhere. The prices were crazy. Couple of months later, looked in the friday-ad (was looking to get a car as my gearbox died - stupid expensive useless things that cars are!) and got one really cheap! games and all.

So yeah, budgeting, listing and what not. Then hopefully will check around and see what I can get it for. I'm a sucker for the usual internet tussle, play and amazon and what not. Will probably check friday-ad again though, was a bargain! C'mon Christmas - I'm ready for you!!

Do most people really spend nearly £400 on christmas presents? Seems rather a lot, but maybe if you have lots of kids or something......

Each to their own, obviously, but to me the important things about christmas are mistletoe, booze and grub.

lol love your answer conmankiller - if you want a tip from me for saving on postage which wont miff your mates send them an ecard :D if you dont want to send ecards make your own xmas cards - great way of saving money and keeping the kids occupied for a few hours

how to save money - thats easy,

1. go to car boot sales - i picked up a dr who cyberman mask for £3 still in the box RRP over £15

2. flog unwanted items on ebay save the money and buy the presents from the proceeds - that way you can have a really cheap christmas and declutter the house ready for the mass of junk you will accumulate this xmas.

3. buy all your gifts in the january sales ready for next xmas.

peace out

Georgina :D

---

George

Unfortunately, i know that i spend that much every Christmas - i have 6 brothers and 1 sister to buy for, plus there children and so on...... It all adds up. This year we are all putting our names in a hat and picking out 1 or 2 members of the family to buy for rather than buying for the whole lot!

Car boot sales are deffinately a good way of saving money, if you look hard enough you can pick up some good bargains.

:)

the problem with christmas these days is its so commercialised....

i remember the good old days when you would all gather round as a family to decorate the tree whilst bign crosby was singin white christmas or the pogues and kirsy mcCall blasting out fairytale of new york, the family and friend going to midnight mass on xmas eve (slightly drunk in my case) and belting out all the christmas carols....dad carving the turkey whilst the dog had ate the chocolates under the tree.

didnt cost much, had a great time, loads of xmas cheer and probably the best memories in the world. cant really remember what presents i had from one year to the next.

hope about getting back to basics this xmas - that would save money.

---

George

We've cut everyone out except kids and parents. Told everyone last year and everyone was happy. Kids get a present for the day and a lump of cash. Much easier. So easy that we are going away for 2 weeks to get a bit of sun! lol!

If only i could have finished my Christmas shopping, or even started it! :( I always say i will do it early next year, but next year comes and it gets left till last minute! I have seen good presents online, i just need to get around to ordering them! Not long left now!!

Loads of good deals to be had, everywhere i turn theres sales. Invest time into shopping about, i'm sure will be time well spent!!!

Methinks keeping an eye on the Discount Codes & Vouchers forum will do it's part in keeping costs down, as well as giving you ideas that you might not have thought of!

J

MeNamesJim:

Methinks keeping an eye on the Discount Codes & Vouchers forum will do it's part in keeping costs down, as well as giving you ideas that you might not have thought of!

J

Exactly! :)