The return of Christmas

With Christmas only weeks behind us, it seems almost inconceivable that it will ever return - or at least that it's much too far away for us to care.

Throughout January, Christmas stock is being sold at massive discounts everywhere. With foreseeable price rises to emerge throughout the coming year, there will never be a better time to prepare for Christmas 2013.






Deck the halls
Now that Christmas is over, most stores are terrified by the prospect of seasonal items sitting in their warehouses for another year: almost immediately after Christmas, stores  begin to slap heavy discounts anywhere from 50-90% on anything that's even remotely Christmas related. 

While its easy to feel drained of Christmas spirit (or perhaps a little tender from too much of it), it really is worth buying any decorations, lights, gift bags, wrapping paper, and cards now and store them away yourself until next Christmas. When you consider the predictable effect of inflation on top of the discount you receive in store, you'll be saving well over 50% on items that you would need to buy sooner or later anyway.


January sales
Throughout January there are bargains to be had both on the high street and online. With a little searching, it is possible to save yourself a lot of money. The key, however, is to think about what an item is worth to you and whether you would actually make use of it.

If you can't justify spending money on yourself over January, consider buying gifts for birthdays and the Christmas to come. Just be sure that whatever you buy will last long enough - that delicious looking box of chocolates might not look so appealing after another eleven months!


Tightening the purse strings
There's no denying that Christmas, and indeed winter in general, is the most expensive time of the year. If you have children, especially, it's likely that your January bank statements will seem less than festive.

If you feel that you're in need of help, it is worth paying a visit to your local Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB). Most CABs have specialist money advisers who are able to provide financial advice and support for debts. Furthermore, all of the CABs services are free of charge regardless of your income.

Heating and powering your home has never been more expensive and it's likely that most households will feel the strain over the winter period. Check out the articles on how to save money on your gas and electricity bills so you don't end up, literally, out in the cold.

If you've taken any loans or bought gifts on credit, it is imperative that money is put aside to cover these expenses. If payments are missed, you could find that your repayments and fees skyrocket uncontrollably.

If you've received any unwanted Christmas presents, you could attempt to return them to the store (if you've been given a gift receipt), or you could sell them on eBay or the like. Even if you do like a gift you're given, it's worth considering whether the need for money is more pressing.

You will find general advice on cutting back and saving money throughout this website, so head on to the site map for more tips and tricks.


Start a Christmas fund
Christmas becomes more expensive every year, but you can take out some of the strain by saving a little bit each week. With 50 weeks remaining to next Christmas, just £1 a week would mean having an extra £50 + interest to play with when it rolls around.
There are a number of companies who operate gift funds, but you will never receive the value that you put in and - in some cases - you may find yourself seriously out of pocket if the company goes belly-up as one company famously did just a few years ago.

There is a way that you can cut out the middle man: just open a savings account. The rest is all about discipline and reminding yourself to pay into the fund every week, or at least once a month. How much you pay in is entirely up to you, but be sensible: don't pay in so little that it is practically pointless, but at the same time don't pay so much in that you'll be tempted or required to dip into your savings early.


Conclusion
While you might not be feeling the festivity anymore and next Christmas may seem like a long way off, you can save on a lot of money and undue stress by preparing for it now.