I've said it! I've said that 'C' word. Christmas! There isn't long to wait now and Christmas will be here. This time last year I had already bought more than half of the kids' Christmas presents and I think it saved me a lot of money as I did find a lot of the prices went up the following month or two as Christmas was getting closer. Christmas is a very expensive time of the year for parents especially. But there are ways you can budget for Christmas and not go overboard with presents.
Let The Kids Choose
Sit down with the children, get some magazines and catalogues together and let the kids decide what they would like for Christmas. You could make this as a craft activity. all you will need is a piece of paper or card, glue or selotape, scissors and a catalogue/magazine. Then all the kids have to do is cut out the toys/clothes/accessories they would like from Santa for Christmas.
Have A Budget
You will never budget if you don't have a set budget. Try and think how much money you want to spend on each child and stick to the budget.
Shop Online
By shopping online you know how much you are spending and if you were in a shop you would be more tempted to put extra things that you don't need into your basket. Also, with online shopping you can be on different sites at the same time which means you have a better chance for finding bargains and better offers - which saves you money!
Enter Competitions/Giveaways
Spend a couple of hours a day (or more if you can) and enter giveaways through Facebook, Blogs, Twitter and Instagram. There are hundreds and hundreds of giveaways around these days. The more you enter the more chance you have to win something.
Are you ready for Christmas?
I am giving £50 away to one lucky winner. You can either have the £50 sent to you via PayPal or as £50 Amazon vouchers {online}. Please read the terms and conditions.
This giveaway is open worldwide. The £50 will be sent to the winner via PayPal - IF you do not have Paypal then I will be happy to exchange the £50 cash to a £50 Amazon online evoucher. The winner will be notified within 48 hours of giveaway ending. Giveaway ends 11th September 2016 at 11.55PM. Please enter the Rafflecopter correctly. Any questions please e-mail me : bethmiaelliw@outlook.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yes, BattleKid will be nearly 3 so we're sure he'll be more into it and excited about Christmas this year!
ReplyDeleteYes I am looking forwards to Christmas this year I love the Christmas bubble your in from Christmas day to new years eve when nothing matters except family :)
ReplyDeleteNot really looking forward to it - much prefer the good weather!
ReplyDeleteEek #kcacols!
DeleteYes! I love Christmas and love to see Christmas appear in the shops in September!
ReplyDeleteYes i am i have 2 grandkids this to buy for
ReplyDeleteMargaret Clarkson
ReplyDeleteYes, I like Christmas
yes i love it
ReplyDeleteYes my 4 year old son understands all about Christmas now and is already thinking about what he's going to ask santa for.
ReplyDeleteYes I'm looking forward to this Christmas because my girls are going to love it! The toddler will be almost 3 and the littlest will be a year and a half and should understand what's going on.
ReplyDeleteI need to sit down and do a budget otherwise I can see the credit cards getting a bit of a bashing! x
Yes, I love the magical run up to Christmas and all the excitement surrounding it
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas but I'm trying not to think about it too much as I need to have a baby first!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I enjoy Christmas every year, so can't wait!
ReplyDeleteyes, we love having all the family together
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to Christmas. It's full of warmth and tradition.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas! I start buying presents as soon as the sales come out, and buy bits and pieces throughout the year! Have to cut back this year though. :(
ReplyDeleteNot yet, too far away.
ReplyDeleteYes! We have just moved house so a new experience this year! :)
ReplyDeleteEver since having children, it's my favourite time of year. Thank you for the lovely giveaway. We are planning on booking Disneyland Paris in lieu of tons of toys that take over our house for Christmas so this would be amazing! They'll still get toys - just not as many haha!
ReplyDeleteeeer no not at all, may be when we get to december
ReplyDeleteNot just yet, still thinking about Summer and holidays.
ReplyDeletehopefully a lovely holiday somewhere hot
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Christmas. I've already started Christmas shopping for our 4 kids. It's best to be organised.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas. I have bought a lot of things in the sales last year but I do start to panic around this time thinking about how much money we are going to need to get the kids everything, the food etc. The main thing is spending quality time with family though. I love it :-)
ReplyDeleteMost certainly YES, I love Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a super giveaway :) x
I love Christmas but I don't like to think about it until Summer's over, keeping it shorter makes it more exciting for me. I absolutely love it when it's here though!
ReplyDeleteJenn x
I love Christmas :D
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I love Christmas. I have already started buying gifts and planning the days. I love going over the top
ReplyDeleteAt this moment in time no, if ill health carries on through out the year then we will be down to half pay & there's no way Christmas can happen if that happens to us. Also Christmas day will be the 1 year anniversary of the death of my Granddad who suffered a awful accident & we suddenly lost him.
ReplyDeleteI love christmas! I have lots ready already for my son. Just need to sort everon3 else out now xxx
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, I'm still like a little kid.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I've entered, thank you! #kcacols
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the time off not so much the expense.
ReplyDeletelove christmas mornings seeing my family faces :)
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, I'm definitely looking forward to it!!
ReplyDeleteKirsty Fox
now the summer hols are coming to an end i'm starting to think about xmas, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas! I'm not thinking about it until October though - its the middle of Summer still :D Rafflecopter entries are in my real name NIKKI HAYES, thanks for the lovely giveaway :o)
ReplyDeleteYes! Yes! Yes! I love Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to Christmas, but not just yet. Summer is still (supposedly) here.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love it! I'm like a big kid (even though I'm middle-aged)! x
ReplyDeletei love christmas, i cant wait!! makes it even more special that its our 6th childs first christmas this year :)
ReplyDeleteIm in a bit of a daze about Xmas as Ive just heard that family in Australia are coming over to have Xmas with me
ReplyDeleteYes as always , it will be great fun.
ReplyDeleteUntil you mentioned Christmas I hadn't thought about it... Usually around December for me... I do like it though!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forwared to Christmas, I love it.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to it. It will be the first time myself and my partner are spending it together despite being a couple for 7 years and getting married next year!
ReplyDeleteYes, but I don't start thinking about it until the 23rd December :)
ReplyDeleteNot yet but will be in a couple of months
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, but I do like to wait and get excited in December, Autumn first :)
ReplyDeletelove Christmas! sucha lovely time of the year to spend with the family
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas - and all the preperations leading up to it. We moved house in November last year and I really didn't get to enjoy it as much as I usually do as everything was so manic, so really looking forward to enjoying it properly this year!
ReplyDeleteIve already been telling people at work how long it is til christmas!
ReplyDeleteYes! I've already done all my christmas shopping!!
ReplyDeleteYes and no. Hate all the Christmas rush and the cold, but love to be with the family at that special time.
ReplyDeleteNot looking forward to Christmas... I have both parents re-married and a sister that thinks she's my mother = arguments and upset over where I eat dinner 😔 Very stressful.
ReplyDeleteNot yet. Too early
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas! Am so excited about it this year.
ReplyDelete@rachiegr
Oh yes! We are a big family; Parents, us their 4 daughters and their 13 grandkids and I've already started buying Christmas gifts! My spare room has a couple in there already!
ReplyDeleteYes, its so stressful in the run up but every second is worth it on Xmas day with my family :)
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas but it's the expense I don't look forward to x
ReplyDeleteYes, but I love the decorations so much I keep them up all year round! I have 3 trees and my house is smothered in fairy lights! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to think about christmas and just enjoying the sunshine
ReplyDeleteyes I love christmas x
ReplyDeleteI've found that the weeks leading up to Xmas that I've had that 'happy anticipation' feeling has diminished every year since my teens but having children definately makes it more special in a different way. x
ReplyDeleteI always really enjoy the run up to Christmas with the Christmas Carols, films, advent calander etc. So fun.
ReplyDeleteYes - it's when our little baby boy is due :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Christmas is my favourite time of the year! <3
ReplyDeleteYes! Our little one is 4 this year and he's going to be so excited. Such a magical time!!
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to Christmas. My son is 4 and is already thinking about what to write on his list to father christmas. I love the look on his face when he sees all of the lights and tinsel. It's my favourite time of year xx
ReplyDeleteI do love Christmas but I don't tend to look forward to it in August!
ReplyDeleteNot really it can be a bad time for people who have lost their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteLove Christmas!
ReplyDeletenot really.I've just split up with my partner of 4 years & all my close family are going abroad so not sure what myself & my 2 children will do
ReplyDeleteYes
ReplyDeleteLove Christmas, even more so since my almost 5 year old was born on Christmas Day!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas. Even more so since my son was born. This is a great giveaway, thank you xx
ReplyDeleteLove Christmas, just hate the cold weather!
ReplyDeleteYes we love christmas its a Magical time of Year where my kids can have all there little heart desire and see the magic brought to life by believing in santa would love to win for them thanks for chance
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Christmas, spending time with the family
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Christmas. So excited as my little girl will be 22 months and will know more
ReplyDeleteYes I can't wait. Last year I had just had a baby so it was all a bit of a blur! @kleesical
ReplyDeleteyes xx got family over from Portugal xx
ReplyDeleteChristmas is always fun but expensive -So in one way I am looking forward to it and in another there is a bit of trepidation!
ReplyDeleteI am but it will be a weird quiet one as my parents are travelling the world :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never really looked forward to Christmas, probably because I'm part of a big family! I don't like large gatherings. It's much better now there's just my wife and I.
ReplyDeleteYes, but mainly because of my kids. I love watching them opening their presents.
ReplyDeleteyes I love christmas
ReplyDeleteYeah. I love that season feel so 'festivalish'. Lot's of gifts and cards
ReplyDeleteYes love the build up to Christmas
ReplyDeletenot really all that bothered - it all seems a bit anti-climactic xx
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to christmas, we tend to keep it laid back though, so it's not stressful :) x
ReplyDeletelooking forward to it, but not the expense!
ReplyDeleteNot yet, but once I've started shopping for it I will. I try to start in September and like to be done by end of November. Then I can relax and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteFIRST YEAR WITH A GRANDCHILD SO YES
ReplyDeleteYeah im looking forward to it, (i love christmas) as i do every year with my two boys x
ReplyDeletei cant wait ! love christmas !
ReplyDeleteyes, looking forwrd to a week off work!!
ReplyDeleteYes I always love Christmas but not in August, not yet way too early
ReplyDeleteLove it, it's a magical time when you see those little faces light up because 'hes been'!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm always looking forward to Xmas... My favourite time of year!
ReplyDeleteKelly Ellen Hirst
baby no 2 is due around christmas time, so im planning already just incase, i want my 4 year old to have the best christmas ever, especially if im in hospital. so im all finishished with her gifts, just need some bits for the family, then i will start wrapping x
ReplyDeleteChristmas? Let's get back-to-school over with before we think about that :-)
ReplyDeleteNo not at the moment, usually get into the spirit in December ��⛄️��
ReplyDeleteI haven't really cared for Christmas in a long time. However, this year it will be my nieces first, so I can't wait. I won't get 'Christmassy' until December though.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely as my little boy is 4 now and really believes in Santa!! He is excited already....
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to it for the kids but not the expense. i have 2 of my three children with birthdays in December so it's all expense and I never get anything :(
ReplyDeleteYes! I always love Christmas, I find it so nostalgic and I love to give gifts!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love xmas, can't wait for it!
ReplyDeleteYes and I'm ready for it this year will be stress free :)
ReplyDeleteyes i love xmas
ReplyDeleteYes I am looking forward to Christmas. I love everything about it.
ReplyDeleteWe always look forward to the holidays such a festive family time!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely we LOVE Christmas especially the family time and food yum!
ReplyDeleteYes, I LOVE Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYes! I love Christmas and everything about the festive season!
ReplyDeleteyes very much so i love christmas
ReplyDeleteMy kids are excited about it already xx
ReplyDeleteYes - I've always loved Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHazel Rea - @beachrambler
It's all about the kids - so as long as they enjoy it, that's the main thing!
ReplyDeleteYes and no. I like the time of work, I hate the cold and the putting up decorations.
ReplyDeleteNot really I find it very stressful
ReplyDeleteYes I can't wait for Christmas, am a bigger kid than the real kids in the house!
ReplyDeletecant wait for christmas and have hot chocolate by the fire
ReplyDeletenoooo i dont really like christmas if im honest but the kids love it and i always make it special for them xx fab giveaway thankyou x
ReplyDeleteYes I am looking forward to Christmas, always have a good time with my family xxx
ReplyDeleteFantastic 👌👍👏🍀🍀🔥⭐💞♠😊
ReplyDeleteI can not wait for Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI love christmas, cant beat seeing beaming faces on christmas day
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year!
ReplyDeleteYes,I'm looking forward to Christmas
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas almost as much as my 5 children do
ReplyDeleteMy kids are excited already xx
ReplyDeleteYes and no. I would give anything to have a quiet Christmas with just my husband and our two girls. Unfortunately, no-one on my husbands side ever invite his Mum and Dad to their house for the day so it's always left to us to have them over. It infuriates me. I've tried dropping hints but to no avail :(
ReplyDeleteIt's far too far away to even begin to think about. I do like autumn though, and love Halloween. And it is time to get craft things in for Christmas so I suppose I'd best get on with it.
ReplyDeleteYes I love Christmas
ReplyDeletetime off work
ReplyDeleteI am lovely to have the family all together and have a big feast!
ReplyDeleteYeah i'm looking forward to Christmas but it's so stressful. So winning this would be so amazing
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Christmas <3 So much looking forward to the festivities with my lovely family and friends X x x
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas with my little family :)
ReplyDeleteYes!!!! I'm super excited - It's my little boys second Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to Christmas. A very special time of year :)
ReplyDeleteYes. I always enjoy a good family Christmas. It's nice to spend some time together.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely but not the cooking 😜
ReplyDeleteI do like Christmas - but I always get run down with everything there is to do beforehand
ReplyDeleteYes I love all the decorations and food!Such a great time to spend with loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to Christmas as I'll be spending it with my family in Sunny South Africa!
ReplyDeleteI'm not ecstatic about Christmas. Our daughters are grown up and we don't have any grandchildren. We don't have any big family gatherings
ReplyDeleteYes looking to forward to playing board games.
ReplyDeleteOf course I have 3 kids so can't wait
ReplyDeleteYes, I love it x
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas
ReplyDeleteYes, can't wait! Absolutely love christmas :) My favourite time of the year x
ReplyDeleteYes :) Thanks for running this comp.
ReplyDeletedefo yes x
ReplyDeleteFor the first year ever I'm feeling anxious, I quit my job and I'm going back to college to retrain as a preschool practiser. Funds will fight but I do love the challenge of finding a bargain :)
ReplyDeleteCLARE MUNDEN
Yes but a bit worried about the cost.
ReplyDeleteno I hate christmas because my dad died on christmas eve, but I try to make the most of it for the kids
ReplyDeleteYes! I love Christmas & am already starting planning presents & buying little stocking fillers 😊
ReplyDeleteOnly the day itself but I hate all the stress in the months running up to it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas - although I'm not always so keen on the commericial side of it.
ReplyDeleteYes, as all my family come home....it's exciting but can be utterly exhausting.....
ReplyDeleteI cant wait!!!my daughter is three so shell totally get it
ReplyDeleteI cant wait!!!my daughter is three so shell totally get it
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Christmas! It's such a special time in our home! We have so many traditions and family things that we all do together!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Christmas, with 4 children I just love seeing their faces when they come down christmas morning .x
ReplyDeleteYes! I love Christmas! Family time, presents etc
ReplyDeleteYes, love Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteI sure am :) this one will be extra special as it will be my first Christmas with my little girl, shes due in 6 days x
ReplyDeleteI'm extremely excited for Christmas, it's my birthday on Christmas day as well
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, I'll be pregnant this year so no mulled wine for me!
ReplyDeleteI used to love Christmas, now I'm working in retail I'm just tired out when the day arrives!
ReplyDeleteVery much so!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas because itsxwhen the whole family gets together xxx
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Christmas. :) It reminds me of happy times when we used to descend on my grandparents house along with the rest of the family, so there used to be 13 of us for Christmas dinner, had to do it in 2 sittings. Now my sister and brother-in-law usually come over (from the USA) and we don't see them very often throughout the rest of the year.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait, it's my favourite time of year! My little boy is older this year as well and knows about Santa Claus so it's even more exciting!
ReplyDeleteOh yes - I love Christmas :) I am like a big kid - I love putting my tree up and all the decs too and the kids love it just as much as me:) I love the huge build up to it and all the toys ect in all the shops while playing Christmas songs! Yep I think I love Christmas lots :D
ReplyDeleteYes I love Christmas, from decorating the house to buying gifts and baking Christmas treats x
ReplyDeleteyes we love christmas
ReplyDeleteHell yeah! Cannot wait x
ReplyDeletei'm not even ready to accept christmas is coming. But will love it when it gets here.
ReplyDeleteNot yet!
ReplyDeleteChristmas this year is going to be wonderful our baby girl will be 1, she's going to love the songs, the lights and tree
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, even if my son has had his Christmas list finalised by August
ReplyDeleteI have yet to organise ours, but have been putting together a lot of fun stuff for my great nieces in South Africa
ReplyDeleteyes i love christmas xx
ReplyDeleteYes yes !! started already shopping lol x
ReplyDeleteI use to always look forward to it but as my girls are now teenagers I find it so hard to know what to buy them!
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to Christmas, I have already started my shopping :-)
ReplyDeletei love it
ReplyDeleteyes its my baby boys 1st Christmas
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas especially having little children it makes it so magical.
ReplyDeleteyes, got all my pressies done too
ReplyDeleteI will be nearer the time but we have so many birthdays in September and October to get through first that can't think about it yet!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't like the weather, but I do like more family time that Christmas brings!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas. My partner's birthday is late November, so we kind of have a late run to Christmas! 🌲
ReplyDeleteThis is my first christmas as a mum! Little dude will be 6 months old by then I can't wait!
ReplyDelete