Student Christmas Cutbacks

Hey everyone! 3 weeks to go until Christmas, can you believe it?

It’s a time to look forward to and if nothing else, having time off from university is always good — for a mental break, I mean.

Last week I talked about owning your winter wellness because this time of year can present challenges around the way that we look after our health.

Parties, fun and games, presents, decorations and nights out, let’s face it — it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, some people dread this time of year, afraid it might burn holes in their wallets and purses as the costs all add up.

I love the Christmas season, I really do, but I can do without the extra expenses associated with this season! I’ve vowed to not spend what I don’t have, to be smart with my money and not feel guilty about it.

I’m a student so budgeting and finances are constantly on my radar, which is why this week, I’m bringing you some of my tips on cutting back this Christmas.

Budget

Getting through Christmas on a student budget can be difficult and in all fairness, a lot of people don’t know how to budget.

Make sure that you have enough money for food and other basic necessities before deciding to do any Christmas shopping. You’ll feel much happier going into 2020 without accruing any debt — it’s all about your priorities!

ATM’s are overworked at this time of year too so where possible, take out exactly what you intend to spend for Christmas, as the temptation to use a credit or debit card can put a dampener on your Christmas spirit.

Christmas cards

I like to send and receive Christmas cards but it seems increasingly popular to send a text message filled with all sorts of emojis and GIF images. This time of year reminds me to be thankful for the people in my life and there’s no better way to show it than to spend a few minutes creating cards with those special people in mind.

Some craft stores sell card and envelope kits which can be used to create your very own cards, but if that’s too much trouble (it can be time consuming) there are other options. If you don’t have any cards left over from last year, you could pick up a pack of cheap Christmas cards from your local charity shop.

If you do want to buy Christmas cards, compare prices at different stores to make sure that you’re getting good quality at the best price.

Last year’s decorations

Recycling is good for the environment and if you have some decorations stored away from last year, re-use them. If not, pop to Poundland for some tinsel, hanging decorations and baubles.

If you started university this year, this might be your first Christmas in your hall of residence so if it is, rally together with other students and buy what you need to make your student accommodation feel like Christmas at home.

Wait 

There’s no shame in waiting… for the January sales, that is!

If you’re on a student budget like I am and you’d still like to give a gift for Christmas, just wait a little longer to grab a bargain in the sales.

Why do retailers slash prices so much after Christmas anyway? Oh I know, to get rid of all the over-priced Christmas stock.

So, figure out your Christmas budget and then wait, you’ll get great presents at great prices.

However you decide to cut back this Christmas, just know that you’re not alone, I’ll be looking for any way to save wherever I can.

Have a great weekend all.

SBS