News...but not what you know

Cheer up. We know it is still early, but we will give up the C word.

Yes, Christmas. It is closer than you think and warns that everything from turkey to toilet paper will be in short supply, and it may be time to prepare.

This does not mean squandering cash wildly.

We know that it is easy to expand and exceed your budget, especially after the disappointing holiday last year, but don't forget your savings goals.

There are many ways to prepare without spending a lot of money.

Just pay attention to these tips from Offer Of The Day experts.

Realistically understand how much you want (and can afford) to spend on Christmas. Take out a pen and paper (or spreadsheet, whatever you like), and accurately determine your spending on each key category-gifts, social, decorations, food.

This is definitely the key. Don't skip this step.

Once you have a budget on hand, you can review it and make sure you don’t overspend just because you’re not sure how much you can afford.

"Although you may see some weird things when you start Christmas shopping in October, starting early will allow you to spread the costs over a longer period of time," said the Offer Of The Day team.

"Not only do you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars at a time to make sure everything is purchased on time, but it will also be a much easier process."

Embrace a simpler Christmas approach and find out what you really don’t need.

Experts say that although the idea of ​​buying a lot of ribbons, bows and beautiful tablecloths is very tempting, it is not necessary. "Ribbons and bows will eventually be thrown away, so spending a lot of money to decorate your wrapped gifts will only be wasted.

'The same is true for fancy tablecloths; they are likely to be soiled, and they will be covered up by all the food anyway, so no one will pay attention to it.

'Whether you are hosting a party or a Christmas dinner, getting people involved can not only reduce costs but also make it easier for you.

'If you plan to spread, ask everyone to bring something, or let them bring a special bottle.

"In the long run, this will save you a lot of time and money."

Real trees are great, but buying a new tree every year is expensive... and usually, by the time Christmas comes, its wear and tear looks a bit bad.

Buy an artificial tree of good quality, take good care of it, and roll it year after year.

The OOTD team recommends: "If you are part of a large group of friends or colleagues, please choose to participate in the Mystery Santa Claus event instead of buying gifts for each individual." It will save a lot of money, you will all agree on the budget, and It can also prevent you from running around and not knowing what everyone is buying.

We know this sounds awkward, but now is the time to set some realistic expectations.

If you are struggling with money or prioritizing saving money for major events, talk frankly with friends and family to learn how to reduce losses.

Experts said: "You can get together to agree on the limits of gifts. This is especially beneficial for those with large families, because they can buy a gift for each family member, and it will soon start to accumulate. ."

Professional knowledge is only provided by Offer Of The Day.

If you want more tips and tricks about saving money, as well as talking about cash and reminders about deals and discounts, please join our Facebook group Money Pot.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch with us via email MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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