CHRISTMAS is on the horizon, but the run-up to the festive season does not have to damage your finances.
The key to frugal festivities is organisation, pouncing on the best deals and not impulse-buying, according to experts.
Dani Whitehead, of the credit-building firm Loqbox, said: “Vendors know they can take advantage of high demand and last-minute shoppers. Do shopping early and avoid higher prices and queues.”
Harriet Cooke looks at key sales dates and other tips to spread the cost.
FOR chocolates and sweets, look for the supermarket loyalty scheme deals or multi-buy offers starting this month.
At the moment, Morrisons is selling two tubs of famous-name chocolates for £8.
Sarah-Jane Outten, of My VoucherCodes, said: “Many of the deals come to an end as soon as December kicks in.”
IT is not too early to draw up a list of potential gifts for loved ones, so you can monitor prices and get the best deals.
Shopping comparison site idealo.co.uk allows you to set up email alerts if your chosen items fall to a certain price.
There is a handy graph to show you the item’s lowest cost all year, giving you a target.
Only buy from reputable sites that you have heard of and trust, and never buy at full price.
FOR early gift-hunters, Amazon is holding a day of discounts and deals for Prime members, with brands including LG, Sony, Bose and Tefal.
A similar Prime Day in July saw a Ring doorbell and Amazon Echo bundle previously costing £145 reduced to £60.
Check the product’s price history on camelcamel.com to see how good the deal is.
PLAN your Christmas food delivery. Supermarkets typically open up their Christmas delivery slots in October and November, with
Sainsbury’s opening its bookings around mid-October and Tesco in early November. Bookings at Ocado, Asda and Morrisons are already open.
ON the hunt for kids’ presents? Check out supermarket toy sales. Sainsbury’s and Smyths are expected to be around mid-October, with discounted Lego, Barbie, Nerf, Hot Wheels, and Playmobil gifts up for grabs.
CHECK out the “Fragrance Star Gift” deals at Boots, with discounts on brands such as Boss, Jimmy Choo and Rabanne. Choo perfume, for example, is £33, down from £55, and CK One was £74, now £34.
It ends on October 22, but Boots will have discounts on health and beauty products all the way through November.
Never buy perfume or aftershave at full price and research its previous highest and lowest prices.
IF you are buying an advent calendar, particularly a pricey one containing toys, fragrance, books or booze, search online for discounts to avoid buying them at a premium on November 30.
For example, this week on Amazon you could get a Disney Princess advent calendar for £8, with an RRP of £21.99.
BLACK Friday is not officially until the end of the month, but the sales typically kick off weeks before.
Liz Hunter, of MoneyExpert.com, said: Black Friday’s reputation as the cheapest time for Christmas shopping is often overstated.
“In fact, a study by Which? found that just one in 50 Black Friday deals are at their cheapest price on the day of the sales extravaganza.
“So if you spot a good deal before Black Friday or Cyber Monday, grab it while you can.”
ANY Disney fans in the family? Check out the Disney Store website to get a code for 25 per cent off toys, such as this Mickey Mouse soft toy.
FOR sports-related presents, Adidas normally has 50 per cent off selected items around this time.
Later in the month, Nike has 25 per cent off for spending £50 or more.
MID to late November is a good time for getting in the festive booze, with supermarkets typically offering 1-litre bottles of Baileys for £10.
Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda usually offer 25 per cent off six or more bottles of wine, sparkling wine or prosecco around now.
GET an array of discounts on designer and high street clothing brands online.
The last week of November has previously seen French Connection doing 30 per cent off, Asos 80 per cent, Disney Store 30 per cent, Ralph Lauren 30 per cent, Urban Outfitters 50 per cent, Gap 20 per cent and Selfridges 20 per cent.
Some shops discount everything, but with others it is only selected items.
WITH one month to go, check your wrapping paper supplies before buying any more.
Amy Knight, of NerdWallet, said: “Reusing last year’s giftwrap leaves more money in the pot to buy the actual presents.”
IT’S Black Friday – the year’s biggest shopping day, with deals of up to 80 per cent off.
Cyber Monday offers another round of online discounts. If you are looking for tech for Christmas, such as a Fitbit or iPad, it is a good time to look, especially if you are prepared to buy an older model rather than the latest.
GET a letter from Santa by sending one to the big man himself at Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.
Include your full name and address and don’t forget to put a stamp on it.
MARKS & Spencer is likely to start its “12 Days of M&S” online daily deals, with discounts and freebies for members of its loyalty scheme.
Last year’s complimentary handouts included a box of chocs and an Apothecary reed diffuser, each worth £6, and Percy Pigs, which usually cost £2.
STARTING from the first Saturday of December and lasting for two weeks, American Express cardholders can normally get £5 cashback for a minimum spend of £15 or more at selected local businesses, normally including clothes shops and hairdressers, after registering their Amex card with the Shop Small website.
It is a great way to cut costs and helps your community.
THE last days for online Christmas orders are normally between December 16 and 20, depending on the retailer.
But do not leave it until then. In recent years, large delivery companies have struggled to clear the backlog of parcels before Christmas Day, so get orders in by early December.
SMYTHS Toys was running a three-for-two sale on board games about this time last year, so keep an eye out for another promotion.
MID-December and onwards presents the best opportunity for getting some bargain Christmas decorations. John Lewis, for example, normally does half-price on selected ones around now.
M&S tends to discount from early December.
DASH to the post box! It is the last day for sending Christmas cards by Second Class post, which costs 85p per stamp.
Send by this date or earlier, or you will need to pay for a First Class stamp, which rises to £1.65 on Monday, for which the last date to post in time for Christmas is December 20.
Don’t buy any Christmas dinner veg until supermarkets start slashing prices to 19p per kilo. This normally happens around now.
