Save for Next Christmas

[WendyB]

soooo, the OFT and CAB reckon we should all start saving for next Christmas.I totally agree and that is exactly what I say I'm going to do every year. Except life gets in the way, you know, like eating, fuel, council tax etc, and generally living. So then come November I realise I only have one payday left, from which to "do" Christmas. Everything. The lot. Unfortunately as we never have any spare cash after carrying out the mundane task of living and actually surviving from one month to the next, this is a really tall order. Never more than this year.

So anyway, I am absolutely determined not to be in the same position for next Christmas.

My original plan is/was to save a fiver a week from the end of January (can't start before then as I will be living on crisps till next payday so will need the fivers to buy the crisps with lol)
My secondary plan (and I think a good one) is to carry on doing the online surveys with Lightspeed, Valued Opinions, Ipsos etc, save up all the points earned and don't redeem any at all, then in about October, redeem as many points as I can for Boots, Argos, Paypal etc vouchers. Use vouchers to sort out Christmas. Job done. No stress. Sorted. So far I have earned enough points just on Lightspeed to buy £10 worth of vouchers, in about 6 weeks, so I reckon I should have a couple of hundred quids by next October. I think this is a good plan because it's not as if I'll have money stashed away that I will dip into whenever I'm skint (which is often lol)

So come on everyone, put your ideas on here so we can all work towards a stress free, no money worries Christmas 2010. :-)

[Emerald]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

Start buying things for next xmas in the sales special offers etc with the fivers before you get a chance to dip into them.
Put the fivers in an online account that takes a few days to get back to your bank account.
Empty all your change into a sealed pot - that needs a lot of unwrapping or smashing to get into.
Keep the fivers up the attic or somewhere not easy to get to, but safe.
Start a xmas club at work that needs 2 signatures to get fivers out.
ANything you buy online - use one of the cashback sites - I made £355 this year just by using quidco.com for the things I would normally buy online.

Good Luck

[enaid]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

We save all our small change and once a month take it to Morrisons then exchange it for stamps.
Wends have a go at stopping the old coughing weed lol you will feel tons better health and wealth wise :snowbal:

[MrsSkint]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

Well I'm gonna take Enaid's advice to Wendy and try and stop smoking. First day, New Years day. Wanna join me Wendy?

Has anyone tried selling stuff on ebay? Was thinking about trying that as well.

And the small change in a large, hard to get at jar.

[WendyB]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

Already do the small change, not to the extent of not spending any that's still in my purse though. As for the coughing weed, I deliberately didn't mention it cos I know I won't do it. I have cut down, so will try to give up, but don't hold your breath.
Ebay - yes I've tried it, have made money selling unwanted stuff Tony has sorted out of the garage etc, also horsey stuff which we seem to collect then never use.

[Sapphire]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

Order shopping vouchers from Park Christmas Savings then you HAVE GOT to pay them off, you can order enough to make it £5 week.

Don't forget the £2 coin and small change savers club on Beagles.

This is what I've started ready for Christmas 2010:

£2 coins - started.
loose change jar - started.
Vouchers and a meat hamper from Park - ordering next week.
Holiday being booked during January to start 26 December, that way we HAVE to pay it off.
Was going to have a break this year but bought a new TV with our £2 coins and loose change money instead.
Also don't forget to buy your cards, wrapping paper and tags in the sales now, and buy a book of 2nd class stamps each month too. That way come August/Sept or October time you can sit down in the sun and get those cards written ready to post on 1st December, and get that horrid job over with, and if you buy any pressies during the year you can get them wrapped and out of the way. Better than leaving it all till the last minute as far as I'm concerned.

[Luminol]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

You could try Simply Drop , its a recycling scheme for brokem and unwanted technology, ipods, cameras, phones etc, its run by the Royal Mail.

[Emerald]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

You could try Simply Drop , its a recycling scheme for brokem and unwanted technology, ipods, cameras, phones etc, its run by the Royal Mail.

Just got £27 for my cranky old phone:santa1:

[PJ69]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

I've picked up a savings card at Asda today, and going to make sure I put a minimum of £2 per week on it [started today], or more if my shopping is under my weekly budget - that's just over £100 [at least] by Christmas. I'm also doing the lightspeed panel surveys, plus several others, and build the points up for vouchers [altho' I'm planning on using those for my little 'luxuries' like moisturiser etc from Boots, rather than out of my wages]. Also signed up to Quidco, as per Emeralds tip, and I'm continuing putting silver in a jar in my cupboard [ that started last year but, like Wendy, I tend to dip in when I'm skint!]

[WendyB]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

Have used Simply Drop before, got a good price for Oh's old mobile phone. You need to shop around the recycling sites as prices vary from site to site depending on the model. Another good one is to recycle printer cartridges for cash, I did this and got over £70,in one go. unfortunately this avenue now closed to me as the boss has decided to recycle so I can't get my mitts on the cartridges any more....you can get 3.50 a cartridge for HP ones.
Have signed up to Quidco and will get an Asda card next time I go.

[Emerald]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

So how are we all doing?

I've just reduced my house building insurance by £126 per year so have a extra £10 per month to put towards nexr nex xmas - wil put it in an instant saver i already have open and linked to bank account.

[charitynjw]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

I'm still saving for last Xmas!!!

[WendyB]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

well I got up to £125 but was so skint last month that I spent it all except a tenner. However today I am back up to 45 courtesy of a 30 win on the Irish lottery and a £5 tip from a customer in the bookies. Need to book for the showjumping comp at David Broomes soon though so will probably put that towards it. So although it won't be for next Christmas, the putting to one side does come in handy.

The survey stuff is doing well and remains completly ntouched as I haven't claimed any of my rewards, which stand overall at about 45, so not doing too bad on that front.

[Sapphire]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

I'm still saving the £2 coins and loose change, its going well, thank the lord.

[PJ69]

Re: Save for Next Christmas

I've got almost £30 on my Asda card, built up £49 with Quidco with a couple of bits I've bought, plus buying my car insurance via there. I'm still doing the surveys, so they're building up abit as well. I've not really got anything in my silver jar tho', as I try not to get cash out of the bank if I can help it - rather pay by debit card, cos I only spend any change thats in my purse!