12 ways to cut the cost of your Christmas shopping

With just 8 weeks left until Christmas, it's time to start planning your festive shopping. Here are twelve top tips for stocking up on gifts and goodies this year -without breaking the bank.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…There are sparkly lights in shop windows, advent calendars everywhere and an alarming number of jingly jingles on TV.

However, amidst all the excitement at this time of year, it can be easy to get carried away and spend more than you can really afford.

And right now, when we're all feeling the pinch, the last thing you need is to wake up in January with a nasty financial hangover weighing you down.

In this article I'll explain twelve simple ways you can slash your Christmas costs - and still have a jolly good time!

1. Budget

Sit down and work out how much you can realistically afford to spend this Christmas. This will help prevent you overspending and facing a debt disaster later down the line.

2. Make a list

Shopping with a purpose is a sure-fire way to save you both time and money.

Follow Santa's lead and make a list of what you want to buy before you hit the shops. This should make it easier to avoid those expensive impulse buys.

3. Agree a spending limit

If you're on a tight budget, try to agree on a spending limit with your friends and family.

On the other hand, Secret Santas, where you just buy one present instead of gifts for everyone, are a great way to keep costs low without feeling like a modern day Scrooge.

4. Pay off last Christmas

If you're paying expensive interest rates on pricey plastic and loans, see if you can cut your interest costs.

Shifting what you owe onto a balance transfer credit card could help you to beat down your balance faster and for less.

5. Borrow for free

If you know you will need to borrow money to cover your Christmas purchases this year, make sure you choose the right credit card for the job.

Spending on a 0% purchases credit card means you won't pay a penny in interest on your shopping - as long as you clear your debt within a set period.

6. Claw cash back

If you have enough cash in the bank to pay for your purchases upfront, why not see if you can make some money this Christmas by using a cashback credit card.

As long as you repay your balance in full each month, you will earn back a proportion of what you have spent.

7. Avoid expensive loans

As the pressure of Christmas shopping mounts up, beware of companies trying to flog you expensive credit cards and loans.

I've already been offered two £500 cash loans this year - each with a delightful interest rate of 272% APR! Er thanks, but no thanks.

8. Shop online

Shopping online is a great way to bag the best bargains and escape the crazy Christmas shopping crowds.

However, make sure you don't lose track of how much you're spending. It is easy to get carried away when only have to click on something once to buy it!

9. Shop around

Use a shopbot to help you compare prices and dig out the best deals.

Instead of trawling up and down the high street to compare deals, you simply enter the item you want into a search engine. The shopbot will then pull up a list of retailers that provide the product in lowest-price order (usually inclusive of delivery charges.)

10. Sign up to a cashback website

If you can, try to buy your goods through a cashback website.

Have a look on websites such as Quidco, Top Cashback and GreasyPalm, and see which site is best to use for each of your purchases.

11. Find a voucher code

Before you buy anything online, it's always worth searching for a discount voucher or code that could bring the price of your shopping down further.

Websites such as Hotukdeals.com and Myvouchercodes.co.uk offer thousands of money off vouchers that you can use at a wide variety of retailers.

12. Be creative

Finally, remember that you don't need to spend a fortune to show you care.

If you're strapped for cash, get creative. Dig out the glitter and glue and make your own cards, cook your loved one a romantic dinner for two or offer to do the gardening for your parents.

After all it's the thought that counts.

**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**