50 days to Christmas: Time to start prepping

Christmas Day is now just 50 days away. So you’ve got just seven weeks to sort everything from presents and food to travel and decorations.

But when everything seems so expensive, where on earth do you start?

Work out how much you can afford to spend

The average Brit is set to spend an average of £245 on gifts and other purchases between Black Friday and Christmas, estimates from TSB suggest.

So if money’s tight, it’s important to work out exactly what you’re able to spend this festive season.

Start by making sure you know how much you’re likely to spend on regular expenses like household bills, groceries and subscriptions.

You’ll then know what you have available to spend on Christmas presents and other festive expenses.

Don’t forget to factor in those smaller expenses you might easily forget about.

Research from MoneySuperMarket shows we’re set to spend an average of £49.26 on wrapping paper and gift tags this Christmas, and £48.24 on cards and postage.

Yet, as the price comparison site points out, these festive essentials “rarely get planned for”.

Get started by checking our guide to how to create a budget.

And give our budget planner a try - it’s free and easy to use.

Make a present list 

It’s easy to adopt a scattergun approach to Christmas shopping, picking up random gifts when we’re out and about or scrolling online.

But that can often end up costing you more in the long run.

Instead, write a list of each person you want to buy a present for and what you’d like to buy for them.

If you’ve got it all down in writing, you’ll be more likely to stay within your budget and avoid impulse buying.

Don’t leave it all to the last minute

Yes, Christmas can gradually creep up on us, but the fact is we all know exactly when it lands.

So there’s no real reason to wait until the last minute to buy Christmas presents and festive food and drink, like chocolate, crisps and your frozen turkey.

Yes, you might be holding out in the hope of a last-minute deal or discount.

But relying on a single month’s pay packet can put your finances under strain, and it’s the last thing you need when money’s already tight.

Plan ahead for travel

If you’re thinking of visiting family during the Christmas period, make your arrangements as early as you can.

You might be able to get better deals on flights, trains and accommodation if you can book sooner rather than later.

Check our money-saving tips

We’re regularly sharing tips and hacks to help you keep costs down in the festive season, such as:

• how to save money on food this Christmas here
• 12 ways to enjoy the festive fun without blowing your budget
• how to spend less on chocolate this Christmas

So keep checking back here between now and the big day for more advice on how to save money this Christmas.