AVOID a financial meltdown this festive season by marking some key dates in your diary – and you could save around £1,800.
Households typically splash out £2,500 over Christmas, according to the Bank of England.
But as the nation continues to be clobbered by a crippling cost-of-living crisis, this year’s celebrations could be the most expensive ever.
Planning ahead means you can throw a very merry Christmas without breaking the bank.
LUCY ALDERSON, from The Sun’s Squeeze Team, has put together a handy savings calendar you can follow to get the best deals on booze, food, prezzies and more for a well-earned festive break
NOVEMBER
Wednesday, 2nd
IT is the last day shoppers can make the most of Tesco’s half-price toy sale.
Clubcard members can get the biggest discounts, with some goodies costing as little as £7.50 for members.
You can get a Lego Friends Value pack reduced from £40 to £24, saving you £16, or a hy-pro football table for £12, down from £24,
That’s a saving of £12. If your child loves Sylvanian Families, save £28 on the Bluebell Cottage, which is £42 instead of £70.
Other retailers also hold big toy sales in the run-up to Christmas, so don’t worry if you miss Tesco’s.
Smyths Toys currently has Hot Wheels Playsets with £20 savings – £29.99 instead of £49.99 – while a Barbie Closet and Convertible set is £49.99, down from £79.99 – saving £30. Remember to compare prices before you buy.
Saving: £106
Saturday, 5th
THERE are 50 days until Christmas Day on this day, so why not start a festive money- saving challenge by putting cash away based on what date it is?
Today, you would start off by putting aside £5, then on November 6 you would stash £6, and so on and so on up until November 30 when you would set aside £30.
By the end of the month, you will have saved £455.
Then start over again for December.
That means you will have saved up £755 by the time it is December 25.
That might be a stretch if your budget is already tight, so you could swap pounds for 50p, for example.
Saving: up to £755
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Monday, 7th
11JUST three weeks to go until the December Christmas countdown – and there are big savings on advent calendars.
Time is running out for stores to shift them so it is around this time that prices are slashed.
Boots reduced prices by 50 per cent around this time last year, when you could get a Baylis & Harding toiletries advent calendar for £20 instead of £40.
You could save at least £50 if you bought two or three advent calendars that are on sale this year.
And recoup even more by giving the gifts inside as presents to loved ones.
Saving: around £50
Wednesday, 16th
GET ready to reserve your supermarket delivery slots at a number of major stores from mid-November.
Ordering your food online instead of going in store could stop you from putting items in your basket you do not need.
Households budgeted to spend £256 on Christmas food alone on average last year, according to research from M&S Credit Card.
This time, that figure could be even bigger.
But plan ahead and it is possible to make a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for less than £25.
Aside from Asda and Sainsbury’s, who released delivery slots earlier in October, other supermarkets have not confirmed when customers can book their place.
But judging from last year, you will want to be on red alert for bagging yours from November 16.
That is when Tesco released its slots, and Morrisons followed soon after.
Aldi shoppers could book their click-and- collect food slots on November 24 last year.
Saving: £231
Friday, 25th (Black Friday)
BUCKLE up – it is the biggest shopping event of the whole year on November 25 . . . Black Friday.
Shoppers can get mega discounts on tech, electricals, beauty, fashion and kids’ toys as high-street giants slash prices by as much as 80 per cent, in stores and online.
It is important to check prices for the best deals throughout the year, but you will usually save money by getting your Christmas presents early on Black Friday.
Buy your hauls through cashback sites to earn money and boost the savings further.
The best deals The Sun spotted last year were for high-value items such as TVs, laptops and furniture.
We saw a Toshiba Smart HD TV for £499 instead of £599, saving you £100 from AO, and a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner for £299.99 instead of £449.99 – £150 less.
Saving: £250
Monday, 28th
IF you missed Black Friday, don’t panic.
There is still Cyber Monday on November 28, when big shops slash prices online for 24 hours.
The event has proved to be such a success in recent years that some retailers’ websites have crashed, or shoppers have had to join a virtual queue.
Beware, though, as sometimes the deals are not as good. I would look out for clothes, toys, shoes and beauty discounts.
Boots slashed the price of its Panasonic Nanoe hair- dryers from £109.99 to £44.99, saving shoppers £65.
While you could get a LOL Surprise Fashion Camper set for £74.99 instead of £99.99 – a saving of £25.
Use sites such as pricespy.co.uk and CamelCamelCamel to compare prices.
Saving: £90
DECEMBER
Monday, 5th
LOOK out for supermarkets slashing festive booze prices in early December.
Last year, Sainsbury’s kicked off a Baileys price war on December 5 and cut the price of 1-litre bottles in half from £20 to £10.
Tesco swooped in to undercut that offer two days later, by selling the same bottles for £9.50.
Get the bubbly out for less by keeping an eye on cheap prosecco deals, which happen around the same time.
Asda usually rolls out a popular deal where you can get 25 per cent off fizz and wine when you buy six bottles at the start of the month.
Last year. its shoppers could save as much as £5.
Saving: £15.50
Monday, 19th
GET your presents signed, sealed and delivered for less by posting presents second-class before the cut-off date of December 19.
Standard delivery costs up to £12.95 to send parcels first-class but it is £10.45 if you opt for second-class – saving £2.50.
At the same time you are heading out to the Post Office, pop into your local supermarkets to see if prices of veggies have been reduced.
Last year, Lidl kicked off a Christmas veg price- slash bonanza on December 15, when shoppers could get bags for as little as 19p. Aldi followed close behind, cutting its to the same price.
This could easily save you a tenner if you stock up. Cook them fresh and freeze for the big day.
Saving: £12.50
Wednesday, 21st
IF you are willing to risk it, make the most of early sales.
Retailers start slashing prices as early as December 21 because some stores stay shut on Boxing Day.
John Lewis, H&M and Boots rolled out discounts of up to 70 per cent on products, with Hugo Boss gift sets going for £33.33 instead of £50, and coats cut to £36 from £60 in some cases.
Bosch irons were going for £45 less at £34, and Ted Baker trousers were on sale for £47, down from £119 – a saving of £72.
Saving: £157.67
Christmas Eve
IF you have nerves of steel and are prepared to hold out for the best Christmas food deals, go shopping on Christmas Eve.
Shoppers have bought turkeys for £7, down from £50.
You can also pick up veg for as little as 5p as shops look to clear stock before the holiday break.
Savings could be big – but there is a risk you won’t get all the supplies you want for the big day by leaving it this late.
Saving: £60
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Christmas Day
WHILE you are sitting on the sofa in a post-turkey food coma, scroll through online sales for bargain Christmas cards and wrapping paper for 2023.
Last year, supermarkets were selling rolls for as little as 25p.
Browse for big deals on Christmas chocs, too.
Big buckets of Cadbury Heroes and Lindt chocolate may be around half-price, and you could save as much as £5 per tub.
Stock up on a couple of them and you will save a tenner.
Saving: £20
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