Kendal and District Debt Centre is working with Christians Against Poverty offering free debt help and advice on how to make Christmas special, even on a budget.
Chair of trustees of Kendal and District Debt Centre, Rev Jonny Gios said: “With Christmas almost upon us, it is a time to celebrate what Christmas really means.
“There’s no pressure to splash hundreds of pounds for one day to show your love for a friend or family member.
“We know that most people want to have a nice Christmas but it can seem hard to do when money is limited and everything seems to cost so much. We’re delighted to launch our debt centre in 2022 to help those who are struggling in debt.”
“Following these very simple tips can, hopefully, take some of the pressure off and stop people in South Lakes having to worry about out of control bills after the Christmas period is over.
“Christmas is supposed to be a time for celebration, but we know that for many people in our area things can be tough, with not much money to go around. We think that with a bit of planning and organisation, as well as a little creativity, people can still make Christmas Day very special for them and their families.”
10 tips to help you have a happy Christmas on a budget
1. Make a Christmas budget
Create a budget based on what you can afford, and stick to it. Write out everything you need and work out exactly how much it will cost. See if there’s anything you feel you can do without this year to save some cash.
2. Don’t be ashamed to talk about your finances
If you’re worried some family or friends may buy you a more expensive gift and you feel like you’ll have to return the favour, be open with them about what you can afford.
We all face different circumstances and challenges in life so there’s no shame at all in not being able to afford the same as someone else. Maybe suggest you both set a limit of £10 or whatever you can afford to ensure you stick within your Christmas budget.
3. Only buy Christmas presents for close family and friends
People love to be generous at this time of year but maybe those gifts for the kids of your old neighbours from six years ago aren’t crucial. Prioritise family gifts first.
If the whole family is trying to do Christmas on a budget, try a family Secret Santa, with a small maximum amount. It means you only have to buy one person a gift and it can be great fun for everyone.
4. Avoid using credit or borrowing if you can
There’s always a temptation with Christmas to just go wild and worry about the consequences later but that is likely to leave you in financial difficulty at the start of 2022.
A great approach is to only buy what you can afford to buy, according to your budget.
If you really must make use of credit or ‘buy now pay later’ deals, always check the interest rates and terms and conditions first to make sure you fully understand what you will have to pay back in the long run.
5. Make a food shopping list and only buy what you need
When you’re doing your food shop, make a list, check it twice and stick to it. We all know wandering aimlessly, picking up what we fancy, results in a much bigger bill at the checkout.
Try different, cheaper, brands for some of your festive grub. You may not be able to tell the difference. It’s also good to plan your meals in the run up to Christmas to make sure nothing goes to waste.
6. Reuse things from last Christmas
New things are nice but not always necessary. Items like Christmas jumpers and decorations can be costly these days so make sure you get plenty of use out of your old ones.
Alternatively, see if any of your family or friends have any Christmas stuff you can lend.
7. Consider asking for gifts that you really need
It’s not wrong to want a little treat for Christmas but asking for a gift that you need and planned to buy anyway will save you money.
8. Start saving for next Christmas now
Putting something away for a rainy or snowy day or saving up ahead of Christmas instead of waiting for your end of November payday will really help relieve some of that horrible financial pressure people can feel at this time of year.
Maybe just start putting away £15 a month for Christmas next year, even if that doesn’t cover everything it’s much better than relying on just one payday to cover the whole of the festive period.
9. Keep an eye on the energy you’re using
We know energy prices are on the rise so if you have Christmas lights, try not to keep them on all day.
Wrapping up warm with an extra jumper and turning the thermostat down slightly, plus avoiding the use of fan heaters that use a lot of energy will help save you money as well.
10. Seek free debt help if you’re already struggling
If you are already in debt and worried the cost of Christmas will only make things worse, seek free, non-judgemental, debt help from Christians Against Poverty or another free debt help service.
Get in contact with CAP today on 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org
