Ah, January. New month, new year, new goals… And quite possibly, debt. The festive season can incur a little more debt than the rest of the year, and it can hit you hard as the new year arrives.
If you’re already feeling the pinch, how about setting a new year’s resolution to NOT be in this same position next year? The key to reducing financial stress over December is to to… Not wait until November to start budgeting! What you do throughout the year can make all the difference.
These simple cash-saving tricks will help you to set yourself up for a stress-free festive season. Best of all, they can be used again and again and again… For years to come. Try them out!
Small Steps to Saving Big Cash
Think you’re bad at saving? You just don’t have the right tools and tricks! Everyone can save. If you follow these tips, you may be surprised at how much you’ve racked up in the bank by the time Christmas comes.
Download a Budgeting App
Let’s be honest. Budgeting is boring. But it DOES have a huge positive impact on savings… If you stick to it, that is! So, how do we make budgeting less deathly boring and more interesting? Appify it, of course.
A smartphone app is the easiest way to track how you spend and budget at the same time. You can get budgeting apps that are visually delightful, which can help remove some of that boring stigma. Keep in mind that you’ll need to do things like scan receipts, input information, or possibly connect to your bank account in order for it to work.
Some of my favourite apps include:
- PocketGuard, a money tracker and budget app.
- Qapital, an automated savings app that stashes your spare cash.
- 52 Weeks Money Challenge, which is a fun and challenging way to save.
Go Energy-Efficient
This might cost you a little bit in the beginning, but it can save you a whole lot throughout the year. Switch our regular light bulbs for energy-saving globes, install a smart thermostat, and change your energy provider to a more affordable one. Other things you can do include:
- Sealing up air leaks (saves you on heating bills).
- Installing solar and motion-sensor lights outdoors.
- Insulating your walls.
- Installing a water heater timer.
- Use a clothesline instead of a tumble drier.
- Switching plugs off at the wall when not in use.
Find a Side Hustle
Got some spare time and a skill that’s in demand? You could make a bit of extra time by doing some online work in your free time. Sites like PeoplePerHour, Fiverr, and Upwork offer a vast array of work opportunities, and they’re dead simple to sign up for.
If you can:
- Write great blog content
- Optimise text for search engines
- Design eye-catching graphics
- Do IT support
- Design websites
- Code
Then you have a legitimate chance of earning a good chunk of cash on one of these platforms. Alternatively, create yourself a website on Carrd.co and market yourself on social media (LinkedIn is excellent for finding clients!).
Creative Gift-Giving
Instead of buying a gift every time someone has a birthday, an anniversary, or another occasion, why not get a little creative with gift giving? Depending on you and the person you’re spoiling, you may be interested in some of these ideas:
- Bake their favourite cookies or make a special dessert.
- Do something crafty! Origami, quilling, or scrapbooking are a few options.
- DIY vouchers. Depending on the person, you could offer to babysit the kids for a night out, declutter their home (if they’re comfortable with you doing that), knit them a custom jersey of their own choice, or anything else relevant!
Try The Voucher Trick
This one is all about taking the stress off when Christmas 2023 comes around. It might seem counter-intuitive, but trust me—it takes the pressure off big time when December comes around!
Here’s how it works. Every month, when your salary comes in, buy a voucher. You can set a specific amount upfront, like £100, or you can take it month by month.
Either way, stick them in a safe place so you don’t spend them. By the end of the year, you’ll have a few hundred to a thousand pounds that you can spend on Christmas gifts, hosting parties, or whatever you need to.
No need to dig into your bank account! By the time January comes around, there’ll be none of the usual stress and panic about paying your bills… You might be lucky and have some voucher cash left over to spoil yourself for the new year!
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