NOW summer is over, the Christmas countdown clock is ticking.
Yesterday, Argos revealed the toys set to top kids’ wishlists and predicted the number one best-seller will be the Bluey Celebration Home Mega Bundle, which comes with a hefty £80 price tag.
Find out how you can save £2,600 before Christmas with money left over for January[/caption]
So there is no time like the present to start stashing cash.
Our ten-point plan can help you make £2,621– enough to cover the parties and presents, with money left over so you don’t need to fear the festivities
Ticket alerts
Save: £78
Cash in on early bird offers for pantomimes[/caption]
TRAVEL firms launch tickets ten to 12 weeks in advance with potential discounts of 70 per cent, possibly saving £76 on a train fare from London to Manchester.
But don’t assume you’ve missed the boat — or train. Sign up for alerts when tickets are released.
Pantos have early-bird offers, too. Exeter Corn Exchange has knocked £2 off tickets for the Wizard of Oz until September 30.
Party planning
Save: £94.90
Simmons Bar offer free prosecco for bookings made before September 30[/caption]
FESTIVE bashes can hurt your pocket as well as leave you with a sore head — but plenty of venues offer tempting perks.
All Stars Lanes will throw in a round of selected drinks for bookings made before September 30 — that could save you £94.90 on 12 glasses of prosecco.
Plus Simmons Bars is dishing out prosecco for bookings made by September 30.
Hollywood Bowl has ten percent off party packages now too.
Shop early
Save: £48
Morrisons is offering 25 per cent off six bottles of wine or fizz during September[/caption]
START shopping early and pounce on discounts.
Morrisons is offering 25 per cent off six bottles of wine or fizz before September 30.
Baileys is down from £22 to £14.99 on Amazon.
Boots has slashed half off brands including Lynx, Bulldog and Dove.
While John Lewis has a three-for-two deal on wrapping paper.
Use price trackers to find discounts — Dyson, Shark and Ninja’s eBay outlets all have hidden bargains.
Bookend challenge
Save: £130
Pop a fiver into a piggy bank every time you hear your favourite Christmas song[/caption]
TRY the Bookend challenge and put £3 into your savings every Monday and Sunday.
You will have saved £90 by Christmas.
Pop a fiver into the piggy bank every time you hear your favourite Christmas song. If you hear it twice a week between November 25 and December 25, you will have saved £40.
Check your bills
Save: £150
Go through your bills to work out which subscriptions you do not need and save that money for Christmas instead[/caption]
COMB your statements to snip subscriptions and put the money into savings instead.
If you are on a standard variable tariff for your energy bill see if you can switch to a fixed deal.
“Depending on how ruthless you’re prepared to be, you could save £150 by Christmas,” said Sarah Coles from investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown.
Switch to Sim only
Save: £80
A Sim-only contract could save you an average of £321 a year[/caption]
THERE are five million Brits “double paying” their mobile phone bill, according to Uswitch.
This is where you are out of contract but have not swapped to a Sim-only deal. You could save an average of £321 a year, or £26.75 a month, just by switching.
That could be a saving of £80.25 by Christmas, depending when your bill lands.
Reclaim energy cash
Save: £1,177
You can ask for a refund if you’ve built up too much energy credit over the summer[/caption]
IF you have built up too much energy credit over summer, ask for a refund.
Check this by looking at your credit balance, minus two months’ payments.
The average customer had £215 in surplus credit last year, Ofgem said.
While you are at it, check for payslip errors, such as the wrong tax code, that could mean you are paying too much tax.
The most common code is 1257L. If this has W1, M1 or X on the end, you are on an emergency tax code and paying over the odds.
The average tax refund was £1,562 in 2023, said Rift Refunds.
Hunt lost accounts
Save: £450
Brits have an average of £450 sitting in forgotten bank or savings accounts[/caption]
AROUND £4.5billion is sitting in forgotten bank or savings accounts, each holding an average of £450, according to Moneyfacts.
Fill out a form on mylostaccount.org.uk. They hunt through records of banks that have since closed or merged.
You should hear back about all your lost accounts within three months — just in time for Christmas.
Clear clutter
Save: £179
Flogging unwanted clothed and household items for extra cash[/caption]
IF there is an item you have had since last Christmas but have not worn, flog it on Vinted.
For bulkier collection-only items, try Facebook Marketplace.
Sellers make an average of £716 a year on eBay, according to Post Office data — around £60 a month. So you could make £238 from now to December.
Make sure to upload plenty of brightly lit photos.
Boost your balance
Save: £175
Many banks will offer you free cash by simply swapping accounts with them[/caption]
BE a savvy saver by switching accounts — many banks lure new customers with free cash.
First Direct is offering the highest bonus, with £175 to sign up.
Pay in £1,000, make five debit-card payments and have two direct debits or standing orders set up.
If you move to NatWest there is £125 up for grabs or £100 at TSB.