Presents and parties

Forward planning can help you to avoid overspending in a last-minute pre-Christmas panic. Many of the same tricks and tips can cut the cost of birthdays, too.

There are advantages if you Go online, Start early and Plan ahead – and the same principles apply when you are organising Parties.

Go online

• If you want the best prices, go online. Price comparison and auction sites will help you to identify bargains, both on the Internet and in the High Street.
• Check out voucher web sites for discount shopping codes – they could save you a fortune on everything from toys to toiletries.

Start early

• Do not leave your shopping until the last minute. Buy next year’s cards, paper and decorations in the January sales and pick up presents when you see them, all year round.
• Holidays can often be a good source of reasonably priced gifts – keep an eye out for cards, textiles, jewellery and local crafts.
• Christmas clubs are an easy way to put a bit of money aside and are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. From the local butcher to the Post Office, there will be one that suits you. Some offer shopping vouchers, others have catalogues and more simply promise a selection of their own goods.
• Store up retailer and credit card loyalty points for pain-free present shopping. Check www.visa.co.uk/promotions regularly for discounts and shopping tips.
• Savvy travellers book their train and coach tickets as far in advance as possible if they are visiting friends and family at Christmas – it can reduce the cost by a third or more.

Plan ahead

• Look out for special offer days at favourite stores and put the dates in your diary.
• Make a shopping list and stick to it – that way you are much less likely to go over budget.
• Take advantage of extra cash or supermarket special offers by stocking up on festive food and drink. You can top up your loyalty points at the same time.
• Consider prepaid gift cards as presents – the recipients can buy what they really want and you will not be tempted to overspend.
• If you are planning to take advantage of the interest-free period on your credit card, make sure you will have enough cash to pay it off come January – otherwise the financial hangover could last well into the new year.

Parties

• Plan ahead and budget. As always, the further in advance you think, the greater the savings you can make.
• Send e-invites instead of paper ones to save on postage – and programme your computer to send a reminder a week before the event.
• Why waste your money on venue hire? Hold the party at home or join forces with a friend who has more space to hold a joint celebration.
• Build your party round an activity. Children of all ages love a treasure hunt, for example. Or escort kids to the park and set them a target, such as spotting and naming six different kinds of bird or ten flowers, with a prize for the first one to finish.
• Bring back old-fashioned party games, such as pass the parcel, musical chairs or statues or pin the tail on the donkey. They are cheap, fun and tiring – and many adults rather like them too.
• Bake your own cake – you can cheat with cake mix from the supermarket if you find it difficult. Then get artistic with the shape and the icing. Or make a cupcake or fairy cake pyramid, held together with icing or butter cream – or a mound of profiteroles doused in chocolate sauce.
• Save up money off and two-for-one vouchers and take a small group of kids (or grown-ups) to a theme park, the cinema or bowling. Eat at home before or after and you will save a fortune on food.
• If you will be drinking, buy a basic amount of beer, wine and soft drinks and ask your guests to bring a bottle. Or make a punch based on fruit juice – it will help to ensure that people do not overdo the drinking.
• Nibbles need not cost the earth. You can make a ton of quiche, sandwiches and salads very cheaply. Visit the market and budget supermarkets for bargains.
• Check websites for bulk buys and discontinued – but perfectly good – decorations or small gifts that can go into party bags. Or have a craft session at the party and let the kids take their own creations home instead.
• Set a food theme, such as Italian or American and ask your guests (or their parents) to bring a contribution.
• Buy party items, such as paper plates and tablecloths, in generic colours and patterns – avoid cartoon superheroes and fairytale princesses and you can buy in bulk for all generations. You can hire crockery and cutlery for adults if you do not want to risk your dinner service or do not have enough pieces.
• Forget the DJ – get your friends to nominate their own favourite tracks and compile a downloaded soundtrack. You could specify one decade in honour of an important birthday.
• Forego the children’s entertainer and rope in a friend or relative instead. Think magician, cook, dancer, fortune teller, fitness or craft expert and more.
• For an older child a sleepover involves minimum effort and money – a couple of borrowed DVDs, microwave popcorn and home-made pizza and ice-cream and away you go.

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