Our top tips for treating your loved ones on a budget this Christmas — plus find out how to win £5,000
THE festive shopping season is creeping up, heralding one of the most expensive times of the year.
The cost of gifts can soon add up even before we have factored in food, booze and all the little extras.
But there are ways to keep your expenses in check.
Hannah Maundrell, editor of , said: “When it comes to getting the best deal on Christmas presents, be a savvy shopper rather than a bargain hunter.”
Here are her top tips on how to treat your loved ones without breaking the bank:
- Plan and track: Make a list of all the gifts you need to get and their current prices before you start buying anything. Keep an eye on them and only snap them up when you get the best deal or a price you are happy with.
- Discounts: Always look for discounts and voucher codes to get money off your shopping. Sign up to your favourite retailer’s newsletter to get exclusive offers.
- Cashback: Check websites such as Quidco or Topcashback to see if you can get a percentage of your Christmas shopping back.
- Check prices: If you are shopping online, use sites such as Camelcamelcamel, which track Amazon prices and tell you when it was last cheapest. This can help you tell if you really are getting a bargain.
- Delivery: Factor in delivery costs when you are buying online. It may mean that a different website is actually cheaper to buy from once you have added this cost.
- Search around: When you have found the gift you want to buy, give the product a quick Google to see if it is cheaper elsewhere.
- Use your loyalty: Cash in on loyalty points you have collected through the year and use the points to slash pounds off your shopping.
- Get creative: This does not mean you have to start making things from scratch, but even putting a hamper together yourself could save you a fair amount.
- Discount shops: For your stocking-fillers, avoid the more expensive stores and go to bargain retailers to get smaller prezzies for reasonable prices.
Today's top reader tip
HORACE WRIGHT, of Colchester, Essex, says: “Hunt around your local charity shop for cushions. Then use them to re-cover your old dining-room chairs in order to give your home a fresh look.”
- Send tips to sunsavers@ the-sun.co.uk and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Please remember to include your name and town.
MATALAN has £5 off its kids’ collection with a voucher on its Facebook page. Screen-grab voucher and show it at the till. Use code KIDS5 for online orders. Ends October 31.
Price is ride with bargain bike
SAVE BIG: Perfect for little ones getting to grips with the world of cycling. Indi Frogster kids’ bike, was £120, now £60 at Halfords. Offer ends December 24 or until stocks last.
SAVE: £60
SAVE SMALL: Tackle the chilly weather with this Silentnight Luxury Deep Sleep 10.5 tog duvet. Was £19.99, now £13.99, from . Offer ends October 31.
SAVE: £6
Win £5,000 cash
WITH winter just around the corner and the autumn chill forcing us to put the heating on, now is the time of year our household bills start to increase.
But The Sun is here to help as we’re giving you the chance to win £5,000 to put toward your bills for a year.
TEN lucky winners will get £5,000 cash each.
To enter, simply join Sun Savers today. Then collect ten Sun Savers codes before Tuesday, October 31.
Today’s code and how to join Sun Savers is on further down. Once you have your ten codes, you will be
prompted to enter. Make sure you enter by Monday, November 13.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Collect TEN Sun Savers codes from the 18 printed in The Sun between today, Saturday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Last chance to join in is Sunday, October 22. Competition closes at 23:59 on Monday, November 13. Over-18s, residents of the UK only. One entry per person.
Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. There will be TEN winners of £5,000 only. Allow 28 days from entry closing for the draw to take place. Winners will be notified within seven days. No cash alternative to prize in whole or in part. Prize is non-transferable. Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition. Promoter is News Group Newspapers Ltd.
Not open to staff of the Promoter and promotional partner or their families. The winners will be required to participate in reasonable publicity relating to this competition. The Editor’s decision is final.
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club, which launched this week, will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
Simply collect 28 codes and we'll give you £5 for FREE
In fact, it is completely up to you how much you save.
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at .
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.
All we’ll ask of you is your name, your date of birth and an email address to get you on the way to your first crisp fiver.
You can choose to save or cash out straight to your bank account or instantly with Paypal.
Don’t delay — join Sun Savers now!
