TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO SAVE MONEY & GET ORGANISED FOR CHRISTMAS

Hello everyone! Now that we are almost a week into November, it is the time when the majority of us all start to think about Christmas shopping and what we are going to get, for who we are going to get gifts for (unless you are one of those extra organised people who do their shopping mid-year). That being said if you aren't one of those super organised people, yet you want to be this year then i thought i would share with you some tips and tricks on how to get organised for Christmas, as well as how to save yourself some money along the way.

1. always make a list(s).

Before you start absolutely anything, always make a list whether that be on your phone or in a notebook. By making a list of the people you need to buy for, it allows you a clear vision rather than just keeping it in your head and you are less likely to forget anyone. Also to be extra organised, write down next to the persons name a rough idea of what you want to get them and roughly how much you want to spend on that person.  

2. shop around online first.

So once you have an idea on what you are going to get someone, always type into google the item and shop around for the best deal. This doesn't mean you have to buy it online, you can still head into the store to buy it but just don't buy the first one you see from the first place, as you could be wasting money and you could be saving getting if from somewhere for a little or a lot cheaper.

3. pick up a Christmas catalogue.

A lot of stores from around September onwards, have free catalogues available to pick up and they are filled with both Christmas gifts/gift sets and also inspiration for things such as gift buying, food ideas or even homeware/decorations. If you see one pick one up (especially a Boots one), you can even mark in/fold pages on items you see that you think might interest you or be a great gift for someone.    

4. take advantage of discounts/store offers (such as 3for2).

So we all know when it comes to Christmas a lot of stores like Boots and Superdrug have 3 for 2 deals on Christmas gift sets, which is perfect when picking up either stocking fillers or a larger gift for those beauty lovers in your life. As they are on a 3 for 2 deal you are saving money on one gift, because you only ended up paying for two and you get the cheapest one free. Also if you have a present in mind for someone and the store has a discount offer on such as 10 or 20% off, don't hesitate pick it up whilst the deal is on and you'll save yourself some money.

5. do NOT over buy.
This is when sticking to the list(s) you made comes in handy, as you are less likely to over buy especially when it comes to gifts and the food shop (just remember they are only closed for one day) and there is just no need. Also when you have finished gift buying for someone, make sure you check them off of your list as you don't want to double buy, as this is just a waste of money.

6. do your shopping in November/the first week of December.
Rule number one when it comes to being organised, never leave your shopping until the last week or minute as more often than none shops will have increased their prices, they won't have anything you wanted left and most importantly you'll end up spending more time queuing up to pay than you will do shopping. If you are wanting to get someone a fairly expensive gift (such as something electrical) wait until Black Friday (27th November) as you could bag yourself a bargain or two. 

7. ask family/friends what they would like.
Another way to not waste your money and to give you an idea on what to get someone, it to always ask them a rough idea on what they would like to receive for Christmas (especially those hard to buy for people - every family has one). By doing this like i said you are not only not wasting your money on something they are never going to use or what they don't have an interest in. Sometimes this is also when giving them money or a gift card can come in handy and there are also some places where you can get money off on gift cards.

8. browse to find the cheapest way to get your gifts.
Another thing we don't always take into account is the money we spend actually getting the gifts to us, whether that be shopping in-stores or online. If something is free delivery online, always opt for that option because even going to buy something in-store sometimes costs you more in the long run, as you have had to spend money on transport like petrol or the trains/bus. Another tip is to sign up to 30 day free trials for delivery such as Amazon Prime, as once you have completed your gift shopping there is no need to sign up/pay for another month/yearly subscription (unless you want to that is).

Catch my "the best new-in beauty gift sets" post HERE...

xo.