We're all guilty of putting off sorting out our finances but Santa has a better reason than most for being busy this time of year.
But by spending a short time managing his money matters, he could save a fair amount of cash and even time in the long run. So here are moneysupermarket.com's 10 top tips for old Saint Nick.
Avoid a last-minute shopping panic
Santa has to find toys for all the boys and girls, and there's only so much his crack team of elves can do.
If he finds himself short on a present or two with just days to go, it must be easy to spend more than he meant to in a last-minute shopping panic.
But Santa shouldn't panic - some retailers still guarantee Christmas delivery for orders made as late as December 23 (read our article 'Don't miss last orders this Christmas' for a list of deadlines).
If he compares prices online and uses vouchers and discounts, Father Christmas won't need to blow his budget on those last-minute gifts.
Protect your reindeer
If Santa wants to spoil his four-legged friends this Christmas, he should think about getting pet insurance for his team of reindeer, so they can be treated with no thought of cost if they become ill.
Unfortunately, eight magical flying reindeer (nine if Rudolph tags along) probably count as exotic pets.
He could insure a dog or cat for as little as £9 a month, but he'll need a specialist quote for flying reindeer.
Fortunately, if he compares a number of different pet insurers, he'll be able to find the best price possible.
Leave the lights on
Santa's round-the-world journey takes approximately 24 hours, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
That's a long time to be out of the house and leaves Father Christmas vulnerable to burglars, who may be angry they are on the wrong side of the naughty/nice list.
So, we recommend he take precautions, such as leaving a light on, ideally on a timer switch.
Alternatively, perhaps he could ask an elf to pop round, open the curtains and make it seem as though someone is in. That way, he won't have to make a home insurance claim.
Protect your health
Being Father Christmas is undoubtedly in a high pressure job, involving lots of climbing on snowy roofs and squeezing down chimneys. On top of that, he has a higher-than-ideal body mass index (sorry Santa) and a definitely wobbly belly.
With so many of the world's boys and girls relying on this one man to deliver presents, he has a duty to keep himself in peak health.
Although he could undoubtedly benefit from losing a few pounds and cutting back on the sherry, Santa should also consider joining a gym. He may want to check out this moneysupermarket.com exclusive free five day pass to Fitness First, that includes a health check.
He should also consider investing in critical illness cover so that he could still afford to care for his elves and reindeer if he did fall ill. The good news is, that'll be cheaper if he loses the belly.
Buy breakdown cover
Everyone should take a few precautions before setting off on a long journey in this weather and Santa is no different.
In case of a breakdown, he should pack a warm drink, blankets and a first aid kit. But he should also take out a breakdown cover policy so he can get help if he needs it.
He can get comprehensive cover for as little as £30 a year, which is less than it would cost to get towed if he did break down (and that's not even considering the price of retrieving eight or nine angry reindeer).
Cut your energy bills
If you think it's cold here in Britain, that's nothing to the North Pole. With recent hikes in energy bills, poor old Saint Nick is probably starting to feel the pinch.
But by switching energy providers, he could save hundreds of pounds a year - and the sooner he does it, the more he will save.
It only takes a few minutes to compare gas and electricity deals and get the ball rolling, so he should be able to squeeze this in before Christmas.
Get a decent roaming tariff
With a job as big as his, it's likely that Santa will be on the phone a fair bit on Christmas Eve, asking elves to check addresses and give directions.
But it's easy for mobile costs to spiral when you travel, as many mobile phone providers charge extra for both receiving and making calls. If Father Christmas contacts his provider and asks to be put on a roaming service then that could considerably cut his bills.
Drive down your sleigh insurance
Like any driver, Santa Claus will need to have at least third-party insurance on his sleigh. He'd be better off investing in a fully comprehensive policy, so he won't be left with a hefty repair bill.
After all, NORAD reckons he's been delivering toys for at least 16 centuries, so that sleigh is a classic model and must cost a fair amount to fix if he accidentally hits a chimney or two.
There are ways of keeping his insurance costs down, like parking the sleigh on a drive or garage at home instead of the street and shopping around for cheap car insurance instead of letting the same provider automatically renew him each year.
He could also cut the miles he drives each year, although we probably wouldn't be very popular for suggesting he cuts back on the 175 million mile journey he'll make on Christmas Eve...
Take out travel insurance
With 60,000 tonnes of presents and having to travel through many different countries and terrains, Father Christmas needs a good travel insurance policy.
Because he is an older gentleman, Saint Nick may find his insurance costs are higher than they otherwise would be. If he struggles to find an insurer who will cover him, he may want to try a specialist company like Saga or Age UK.
Book a relaxing break
Loads of us start to think about our 2011 holidays once the madness of Christmas is behind us, and a stressed-out Santa must feel he's owed a holiday.
He can browse all-inclusive holidays over at travelsupermarket.com, or book his flights, hotels and all the other bits separately if he prefers.
The travelsupermarket.com team thought he might enjoy a round-the-world trip, letting him spend a bit more time in each place than he does on Christmas Eve. By comparing round-the-world flights, he can travel for as little as £778.
Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.
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