It's not too early for Christmas saving and planning – Money Saving Amy shares her latest hints and tips as the cost-of-living crisis rumbles on

Gifting

Firstly, and this one is so important, being open and honest with friends and family about gifting. It’s so important not to put yourself under pressure or get into debt for one day. Everyone’s feeling the pinch this year and this is a great time to perhaps suggest to family and friends that you set a clear budget, or don’t even buy for each other. How about suggesting a Christmas meet up instead? Perhaps everyone can chip in to get some Christmas nibbles and drinks and someone can host the get together. Or grab a nice Christmas themed coffee and head for a walk in a park, rather than buying gifts. Creating memories can be just as lovely as buying or receiving gifts.

Another way to save on Christmas gifting is using apps such as Vinted to buy clothing, beauty, toys, books and more. Along with Facebook Marketplace, you could find some real bargains.

And of course there’s the charity shops, I’m starting to notice Christmas jumpers in them and this is a great place to not only support a charity but to get great value gifts and Christmas wear.

If your little ones love wearing Christmas clothing, what about getting creative and buying a cheap t-shirt from primark and getting some fabric pens and letting them design there own Christmas clothing. Don’t forget, if you’re buying from primark and other shops, to use the Jam Doughnut app for instant cashback.

Saving

Saving in advance in beneficial for a couple of reasons, one is that of course it helps to spread the cost and the other is that if you see an appropriate gift or a great offer you can pick it up as and when you see it.

It’s surprising how quick the pennies turn into pounds so here’s some examples for you to show just how quickly those amounts add up.

Save £1 a day = £91 by Christmas

Save £1.50 a day = £136.50 by Christmas

Save £2 a day = £182 by Christmas

These are small amounts that could be quite easily made by having a clear out and selling on Facebook Marketplace or Vinted, or by completing a few online surveys from home. If you buy a coffee out each week, that would usually be around £3.95, why not skip the coffee and that would give you £51.35 by Christmas.

Using offers to buy gifts

If your local Marks and Spencer’s has a shwop box, that you can donate clothing to in return for a bag of sweets, you could choose the Christmas themed bag of Colin or Percy’s and pop them away ready for Christmas Eve boxes or stocking fillers. My Marks and Spencer’s app randomly gave me a free bag of sweets the other day, so check your apps as lots of people have had a free bag of sweets added or a loaf of bread!

The boots Scan 2 Recycle scheme could be great for building up points buying your general toiletries or gifts, and then gaining bonus points to buy more gifts.

Check what you’ve already got

This may be an obvious one, but I think a lot of us are guilty of packing things away one year, forgetting about them and then buying more. Now is a great time to check the loft, or storage cupboards and make a list of what you’ve got, so you don’t go out and buy more of the same things.

I hope these tips and tricks help to ease the cost of Christmas.

I hope that these tips have been very helpful and help you to save on those rising grocery bills. You can find me sharing daily tips and tricks on my Instagram _moneysavingamy and Facebook moneysavingamy.