The festive season is fast approaching and it might appear that the whole world has gone into a spending frenzy.

But at a time when many of us don’t have endless resources, the idea of spending our hard-earned cash on presents recipients don’t appreciate feels like anathema. So, how can we buy Christmas gifts people actually want?

According to a poll by the Post Office in 2023, almost a third of consumers planned to return some of their Christmas gifts. This was partly down to financial pressures caused by the cost-of-living crisis, but many of those polled said the items were not wanted or wouldn’t be used.

The most common items being returned, sold, regifted or donated were clothes and shoes, beauty items, books and stationery.

I like to think I take a more mindful and well-considered approach to gift buying than I used to. No more rushing around at the last minute chucking gift sets into my basket. I would rather buy nothing than give a present likely to be donated to a raffle in a few months.

On the flip side, wouldn’t we all like to receive gifts with thought and love behind them? A small, well-thought-out present will be more welcome than something expensive but unsuitable. But how can we get our gift-giving right?

What NOT to buy

I asked members of my Facebook Group, My Second Hand & Frugal Life, what their least welcome gifts have been.

They disliked being given items for the home or last-minute petrol station panic buys (and – take note – most of these seemed to come from EX-partners!).

Someone received a vacuum cleaner from her husband for their first Christmas together who was bewildered when she cried. Another received knickers and Tampax, and Paula had replacement foot mats for her car …

Seren dislikes ‘tat’: “Any ornaments, uplifting quotes on plaques, cheap boxed sets of toiletries … scented candles that smell of food (coffee, cranberries, cinnamon, etc).”  Candles came up several times as an unwelcome gift, as did “pointless, sentimental ornaments.”

Buying toiletries is a minefield, as many people have sensitivities and allergies, or only use particular brands. As well as the afore-mentioned gift sets, bubble bath, shower gel and hand cream got the thumbs down. However, these can work if you know what people like. Diane, for example, loves to receive body butter and bath bombs.

Catherine doesn’t appreciate being given clothes that don’t fit her or aren’t her style, and Kerry dislikes festive clothing that she only has a few days to wear. Jilly especially does not like gimmicky socks. “They are always poor quality and can cut your feet.” Joke slippers were another gift seen as a waste of money.

Be careful with edible gifts, too. Christine doesn’t want to receive “Edible gifts, because I’m a coeliac and also intensely dislike coffee and nuts.”

Rachel is not a fan of “anything that is sold ready-packaged as a gift (as there has been) no thought put into it at all.”

The group was split on receiving alcoholic drinks like bottles of wine. Some said they would love them, but others didn’t drink or didn’t enjoy the taste of certain products.

If you are considering alcohol, make sure you know what your recipient likes drinking. Michelle says the only drink she enjoys is a dry white wine, so she doesn’t appreciate receiving “mulled wine or liqueurs such as that famous Irish cream…”

Sami says that because she has a cat she receives things like “cat playing cards, a make your own cat food recipe book and a ‘how to speak cat’ book. Please just get me a bottle of wine!”

So…which Christmas gifts do people actually want?

The thread on my group was revealing. Some presents I thought would be fail-safe, like gift vouchers, were disliked by as many members who said they would appreciate them. 

Many people said they would welcome experience gifts. However, my partner once received a zorbing experience (where you get bounced down a hill in a huge bubble) when he had a herniated disc, so approach with caution!

Rachel prefers people asking what she would like: “I hate spending money on myself, and the thought of spending £50 on a Dermalogica cleanser and moisturiser pains me, but it’s so lovely to get it from someone else.”

Susan has written a list for her family which consists only of gardening or sewing gifts.

Research is key to buying successful Christmas gifts. Take some time to find out what people really want. If you prefer to surprise your recipient, ask their nearest and dearest for some ideas. Otherwise, ask them directly for a list of suggestions. 

You could also use an app such as the Giftster app, which allows you and your group to create wish lists, or Elfster, which is great for a Secret Santa draw.

Do you need to buy gifts at all?

Carolyn says, “I cannot see the sense of buying gifts … just because it is Christmas. As one gets older we have mostly what we need so our present at Christmas is your presence.”

Natalie agrees: “ I would prefer to go out for the day and make memories. They are more precious than any gift.”

Yvonne says she detests “the whole thing of ‘I have to buy/make a gift for xyz. So many are not required or appreciated and the whole gift-giving process is completely out of hand.”

Susan has a different approach: “I started a trend years back with my two boys that we could only spend £5 and it had to be from a charity shop. Always fun to see what we get.”

If you dislike the massive commercialisation of the season, or if you simply cannot afford to join in the gift-giving, then perhaps it is time to take a step back and either reduce your gift purchases to the bare minimum or stop participating altogether.

I would love to know your thoughts on this, and on how to buy Christmas gifts people actually want. What’s your approach to festive present giving?

Photo credits: Pexels

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I know there is always a huge collective groan whenever I mention Christmas during the Summer, but it is coming! 

Christmas is said to be the most wonderful time of the year, but not if you are broke. Last year the Independent predicted that the average UK family would spend around £1800 on gifts, food, entertainment and decorations.

It must be planned and saved for when you are on a budget. You still have time to increase your Christmas savings pot and help remove some of the financial anxiety of the festive season. With this in mind, I have compiled a list of eight quick moneymakers to put towards your Christmas spending.

1# Get paid to walk your dog

Biscuit is a great little app that allows you to earn vouchers and discounts from various retailers, simply for walking your dog. 

You need to input your dog’s microchip details, and then remember to switch on the app at the start of each walk. When you walk every day, it doesn’t take long to gather ‘biscuits’, which can be converted to money in the form of vouchers.

So far, I have earned £40 of M&S vouchers, but I could have chosen vouchers to spend at Caffe Nero, Costa or various restaurants, or taken advantage of discounts on dog training, treats or pet-sitting.

2# Host language students

If you have a spare room some of the time, hosting language students from around the world is an interesting way to make extra cash and learn about other cultures.

English UK says you can earn up to £250 a week hosting students, but it will depend on where you live. This was my favourite side hustle for several years, and you can read my experience and tips on how to do it here.

3# Airbnb

Another way to make money from your spare room is to join Airbnb as a host. You don’t have to live in a palace with a pool. A clean room with a comfy bed in a family home can do well, too. You can find guidance on becoming an Airbnb host here. 

4# Sell your old clothing

You can sell unwanted clothing and homewares easily on the Vinted app for free, so why not have a wardrobe declutter?

To compete, eBay has also removed fees for clothing, but they still charge selling fees on footwear, accessories and anything else from your home, so bear this in mind when setting your prices.

5# Make money on books and media

There are many companies that will buy your old books, DVDs, CDs and games. The most well-known are probably Ziffit, Music Magpie, WeBuyBooks and AbeBooks, although there are others. They buy to sell on, and therefore you may get a very low price, but this adds up if you have a few to sell.

Items with a potentially higher value may be better sold individually, such as textbooks, first editions, signed or out of print books, and vintage games. Check what people are asking (as well as sold prices) on eBay or Amazon. Bear in mind the fees you will be charged and the cost of the postage.

6# Use cashback on every purchase

Sign up for cashback sites like TopCashback or Quidco to make money back on your online purchases.

Retailers pay these sites to drive traffic to them, and they pass some of that to you. It soon adds up and you can cash out straight to your bank account.

7# Rent out your driveway

If you live in a busy town or city, especially if you are near a station, airport or city centre, you can make money by renting out your driveway or parking space. If it sits empty all day whilst you are at work, it requires little effort. 

A quick internet search will give you a list of sites to help you rent a parking space, such as JustPark, Your Parking Space or Park On My Drive.

8# Switch banks

Many banks offer cash incentives of potentially hundreds of pounds for you to switch to them. These deals change frequently, so research the best current switching deals before making a move.

Check cashback sites too, as signing up via one of these then switching could net you some money back on top of the bank’s incentive. Be aware that you will be credit checked when you apply.

Final thoughts

Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list of quick moneymakers, but hopefully these ideas will get you started.

Make sure you keep your Christmas savings pot separate, so you aren’t tempted to dip in. Ideally, pay a small amount in every month throughout the year as soon as you get paid, then add any extra earnings on top. It soon adds up!

Being financially prepared for Christmas will help ease your financial anxiety and help prevent starting the new year with debt.

The post Eight money makers to put towards your Christmas spending  appeared first on Mouthy Money.

It’s not only at Christmas you need to think about gift-giving. Birthdays, anniversaries, new babies and weddings come throughout the year, and the costs can soon stack up. Here are some ideas to save money on gifts year-round.

Get organised

As with most things, planning ahead and being organised about your gift-giving can often prove a money saver.

By making a list of significant occasions when you are likely to need a gift well in advance, you can take advantage of special offers and sales with the recipient in mind. It also prevents those last-minute panic purchases when you might not find a present that will be appreciated. 

Keep a list of what you buy, however, so you don’t forget who you have already bought for!

Set a budget

Another advantage of planning prospective gift purchases is that you can work out your budget. Decide how much you can afford to pay and try to stay within budget so your gift-giving doesn’t create financial stress.

Don’t feel you need to buy for everyone you know. If money is tight, it is perfectly acceptable to keep your purchases to a small group of special people.

It can be uncomfortable if somebody insists on buying gifts for you when you don’t want to reciprocate, but most people get the hint if you thank them gracefully but don’t buy for them in return. You can give them a card to show you are thinking of them, but stand firm and don’t give in to peer pressure. 

Get cheaper gift cards

Did you know there are online marketplaces where you can buy and sell unwanted gift cards? You can save between four and 15%, depending on the retailer. Give the cards to the recipient directly or use them to buy presents yourself.

For example, Cards2Cash currently offers Playstation vouchers at 15% off the face value, Cineworld vouchers at 12% off and BodyShop vouchers at 8% off.

DIY gifting

There are loads of inexpensive items you can make yourself without any particular skills to save money on gifts. For example, a memory book works well for a special birthday.

You can fill it with photos, letters from loved ones and stories about the recipient’s life. I made one for my Dad’s 90th birthday. He loved it so much that he looked at it daily for months and kept it on the coffee table to proudly show visitors. 

Other easy-to-make presents include homegrown plants, packets of seeds collected from your garden, homemade cakes or preserves, hampers of toiletries or sweets, framed photographs or photo montages, or an appreciation jar filled with nice thoughts, memories or compliments about the person receiving it.  

If you are lucky enough to possess more skill, you can make soaps, body scrubs and bath bombs, knitted or sewn items, paintings or embroidery.

Homemade gifts require your time and care, which is bound to be appreciated.

Regifting

If you are given something you know you will never use, why not pass it to someone who will and save money? Just make sure to remember who it came from to prevent any embarrassment!

Buy second-hand and vintage

I am a fan of buying secondhand and vintage gifts for people, as they are more sustainable and affordable. But I also find, particularly with vintage items, that I can locate something interesting and unique that I might not be able to afford if it were new.

Get cashback

Always check cashback sites when purchasing gifts online. In fact, I do this for all my purchases as the money soon adds up and is useful at Christmas time. My favourite is Top Cashback (my referral link).

Get rewarded

Save your reward points from the retailers you shop at regularly to spend on presents. Loyalty cards offering rewards that can easily be converted to gifts include Boots Advantage card, Tesco’s Clubcard, Sainsbury’s Nectar card and Superdrug Health & Beauty card.

Save on wrapping and cards

Once you have made your purchases, you will want to present them attractively. However, instead of buying expensive wrapping paper and cards, get your children involved! They will enjoy making cards from scraps and inexpensive craft items. They can even create some beautiful wrapping paper by potato printing a roll of plain brown paper. 

If you don’t have a troupe of children to exploit, brown paper and coloured twine create a simple and elegant look. 

It is also helpful to keep a stash of recycled gift bags and wrapping paper, bows and ribbon to wrap your gifts and you can decorate small boxes with coloured paper rather than buying new ones. Look out for pretty boxes and baskets in charity shops, too.

Save money on gifts with a little effort, organisation and planning, and your bank balance will thank you!

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Although Christmas is the time of giving – it doesn’t need to be a day to splurge on presents that won’t be used.

There are a lot of gift ideas that not only will be good for your wallet, but might actually save THEM money in the long run too.

These are classed as money saving gadget gifts, and there are a few options out there to give the gift of making their bills a little bit cheaper.

Here are some options for you, and what they cost.

Airfryer

Airfryers are one of the hottest sellers right now, and it’s easy to see why. It’s fast and more convenient cooking, as you don’t need to wait for it to preheat, and cooking times are much shorter.

It’s been claimed that air fryers use 80% less energy than conventional ovens when cooking the same food – so you’ll be saving some money on your energy bills.

They can range in cost from around £50 up to £300 for the top of the range models. Finding stock of decent airfryers has been difficult, but you can still find some.

Find an Airfryer here

Dyson Hot & Cold (Or Heater)

It’s costing more and more to heat your home, so you could save someone a little bit of money by getting them a room heater.

You can find things like the Dyson Hot & Cool, which heat rooms, cool them down and purify the air all in one.

Some are so powerful, that they can heat rooms in a few minutes, without the need for turning the heating on. With heating bills so high recently, it could mean a decent saving.

The Dyson model will set you back over £500, but there are some cheaper alternatives with blameless technology for around £150.

Find a 3 in 1 fan heater here

Ionic shower head

If shower time is something your loved ones love the most, this might be a good present for their long showers.

There are shower heads available to purchase that reduce the amount of water that is used per shower, but without decreasing the water pressure.

It claims to use 50% less water, which should decrease your water bills from showers by a fair chunk.

You can get them for around £10-15, so it’s a much more affordable present or stocking filler.

Find an Ionic Shower Head here

Smart plug

Smart plugs have been a growing trend, and it’s easy to see why. They’re handy to have, switching on or off your electricals at the touch of a button.

Having ‘vampire’ plugs in your home which are always on, may add £10s or £100s to your energy bills each year, so having a smart plug can cut back your costs.

You can also use them to turn lights on when you’re away from home, so that it doesn’t look like there’s nobody home.

There’s available for around £5-10 each, or you can get a pack of 2-3 for around £20.

Get some smart plugs here

Phillips hue bulbs

Having LED bulbs throughout your house should save you a bit of money on your bills.

The Phillips Hue Bulbs take the boring lighting a bit further, with the ability to change colour to what you’d like.

It’ll still be cost effective, but gives the room a bit of pizazz at the same time.

They aren’t the cheapest for lightbulbs, where you could pay £20+ each for them, but it will be better for energy, and should make things nicer.

Find some Phillips hue bulbs here.

Fresh & Save by Zwilling

Food wastage can be a big problem that sends £100s down the drain each year. You can however buy Tupperware that keeps food fresher for longer.

Zwilling allows you to secure food in vacuum sealed containers, and can be used on everything from cheese, to fruit and even meals that you’ve pre prepared.

If you’re able to eat more of the food that you buy because it’s not going off, you’ll be saving money and saving food from going to waste.

You can pick up a multipack of containers, including glass dishes and plastic for £60+. It might be a big outlay, but save a few meals from being wasted, and it’s a good investment.

Find the Fresh & Save here

These are just a few money saving gadgets, that could make a great gift. There should be something to suit everyone’s budget, and over time will help their wallet too.

It’s likely there are other products that didn’t make our list. If there’s a money saving gadget that you recommend, be sure to leave it in the comments below.

Photo by Kalisha Ocheni on Unsplash

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There’s less than eight weeks left until Christmas! Arguably the best time of year, but we can probably all agree it tends to be one of the most expensive times of year.

A few Christmases ago I got sick of trying to scrape money together to get through the Christmas period.

I have since found that a few things intentional actions have drastically helped my Christmas finances, so I hope some of these will be helpful to you too!

Monzo Christmas pot

This has by far been the biggest game changer for me. I have a dedicated Christmas pot within my Monzo account where I contribute between £30-£50 every month.

At first it felt strange putting away money in January for December, but now it’s just become a part of my budgeting strategy.

How much you contribute to the pot monthly will depend on how much you can afford to stash away each month, as well as how much you need for your Christmas spends.

If you find yourself not disciplined enough to not touch the money, there is even a handy lock feature which makes it a bit more difficult to access the funds until the appointed time. Starling Bank also offer this feature by the name of ‘Spaces’.

Cashback websites

If you are someone who does a lot of online shopping for Christmas, it will be in your best interest to check what cashback offers are available through websites such as TopCashback or Quidco.

To date, I have pocketed over £1,300 in Cashback since opening my account with TopCashback in 2019. This is one area where only a little effort is required, but the payback can be quite substantial. I have a YouTube video about TopCashback if you’re new to it linked here.

Black Friday deals

In recent years, Black Friday has hit the UK in which we now get to benefit from some great deals so close to Christmas.

I like to make a list of things I plan to buy for Christmas before Black Friday and have a look online to generally get a feel of the prices to make sure the deals are in fact deals.

Websites such as Pricerunner can help you see where products are being sold for the cheapest to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Remember: Don’t get sucked into buying things you really don’t need or you didn’t have intention to buy in the first place.

Secret Santa

If you have quite a few family members and friends to buy for over Christmas, consider trying to set up a Secret Santa this year. Not only will be it kinder to your pockets, but also to your loved ones’ pockets.

Secret Santa is where each person is assigned one other person to buy before. You generally set a budget as a group, as big or as small as you want, so everyone has a budget to work within that fits everyone.

It means everyone gets a gift to open. In my family, we have used this for the last couple of years and it works very well and makes Christmas more affordable.

Note: We don’t include children in the Secret Santa as we buy gifts for them separately, out of personal preference.

Photo by Superkitina on Unsplash

The post Getting financially prepared for Christmas appeared first on Mouthy Money.

If I am going to buy a gift for somebody, be it for Christmas or a birthday, I want the recipient to enjoy using it.

I would hate to spend my hard-earned cash on something that will be immediately re-donated, or left to gather dust in a cupboard.

However, I have another consideration this year: since many people are worried about their finances in these times of rapidly rising prices, I have been looking at gifts that are not only useful but are likely to save the recipient money too.

Here are some ideas for Christmas gifts that will save money.

A Slow cooker/Crock pot

Slow cookers cost very little to run – certainly much less than putting the oven on for an hour or so to make a casserole. In fact, I have read that they use about the same amount of power as a large light bulb. 

As the cost of electricity and gas is set to rocket, a slow cooker could be the ideal gift that will save money for the recipient.

You can pick up a basic three-litre model – suitable for an average family – for as little as £15.

A bicycle repair and maintenance kits

Lots of folk are looking to pay less for their transportation. In addition, the recent petrol shortage got many of us back on our bikes! If you know a cyclist, then a gift to help them repair or maintain their bike will always be appreciated.

Halfords do a range of repair kits, from a basic puncture kit for around £7 to a bike cleaning kit for £35, containing a cleaner, brushes and protect spray.

 A battery charger

If you know of a family with a lot of gadgets, how about giving a battery charger with some rechargeable batteries?

I find that the most useful chargers are those that charge the AAA and AA batteries that are in so many of our gadgets. These will set you back around £18-25.

Reusable items 

Anything that can be reused time and again to replace a disposable item is likely to save money. For example, you could make a zero waste, money saving Christmas hamper consisting of items such as some bamboo makeup remover pads, a safety razor with recyclable steel blades, a cloth shopping bag, some old-fashioned hankies and a roll of washable kitchen towels.

Books on saving money

There are some brilliant books to help you live a frugal lifestyle and manage your money better, which also make great gifts.

A classic guide to frugal living is The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amay Dacyczyn. Pretty much anything by Dave Ramsey is good too. I particularly like his Total Money Makeover.

I talk more about my favourite books on money and frugality in this recent YouTube video.

Herb plants

What’s nicer for the frugal cook than a few pots of fragrant herbs on the window sill in the winter? 

Parsley, thyme, coriander and mint all have a multitude of culinary uses, and if you present them in a decorative ceramic pot they make an attractive house plant as well.

Sewing supplies or a sewing machine

A sewing machine can be a great money saver, although it is obviously quite an investment initially. However, you can buy second hand curtains or clothing and alter them to suit, make cushion covers and fabric gift bags or sew fabulous presents, such as those in this post.

If your budget doesn’t run to a sewing machine (although they can be found second hand), then sewing supplies will be welcomed by someone who enjoys this craft.

Veggie seeds

A selection of vegetable seeds at £1 or £2 a pack, some gloves and a trowel can be a nice gift for the aspiring gardener. Growing your own food saves you money, as well as giving you free exercise!

A fruit tree or bush 

Along a similar vein, a fruit tree not only provides colour and shade for the garden, but can produce fruit for free for years to come. 

Prices vary depending on the size of the tree, but you should be able to pick up a plum or apple tree for around £15.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

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UK shoppers could have emitted as much harmful CO2 as 216,000 return flights from London to Sydney this Black Friday, new research claims.

New data from money.co.uk suggests online shoppers will have generated 386,243 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of 3,679 blue whales – on 26 November alone.

Black Friday has become one of the key shopping dates in the retail calendar, with businesses slashing their prices in a bid to boost sales before Christmas.

But shoppers may not be aware of the environmental damage that their bargain hunting is causing, according to money.co.uk.

To offset or not offset? That is the question

The pandemic caused a boom in online shopping, which is great for convenience but not for the environment.

However, despite the increasing popularity of online shopping, shoppers say they are increasingly aware of the cost their habit is having on the environment – and many are looking to offset the damage.

According to money.co.uk, shoppers aged 18-23 say they would be willing to pay up to £8.84, on average, to offset the carbon produced by their online purchases – more than any other age group.

However, more than one in six (17.3%) UK shoppers admitted that they would be unwilling to pay any additional money towards offsetting the carbon produced.

Find out more: If you’re 18 – 29, we want to hear from you! By taking our quick survey, you’ll be in with a chance of winning a £100 shopping voucher from your choice of Amazon, John Lewis or M&S – plus four £20 vouchers up for grabs too.

What else can you do?

If you are unwilling or unable to pay extra to offset your carbon footprint, what else can you do to be more considerate to the environment during the holiday season?

Instead of buying gifts, buy experiences

Tickets to a concert, an event or even a horse-riding show can be far more valuable presents than the usual scarf, or funky socks you give to family members. That way, your present will be a memory that will hold the test of time, proving its sustainability.

Don’t do same day delivery

Quicker deliveries tend to use more diesel vehicles and be less efficiently organized than slower couriers, creating larger CO2 emissions, according to Climate Lab. Choosing a later delivery date or opt to offset your emissions.

Try repairing your broken things instead of replacing, if possible

Do you have a broken chair in your living room that you’ve wanted to change? How about you add your DYI tools to the mix and repair it? Instead of throwing away and recycling your chair, you can save that piece of furniture with your own two hands and preserve its history, while also choosing sustainability.

Think twice about upgrading

How much better is the latest iPhone than the one you have? Does your TV really need to be 10 inches larger? If it’s necessary to upgrade, then by all means do it. But if not, you might decide to wait a little longer before upgrading. This way you can save the planet as well as your wallet.

Shop locally

Doing your shopping, in person, at a local shop is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. On top of that, it also helps out a local business and boosts the regional economy.

Photo by Thirdman from Pexels

The post Splurged on Black Friday? This is what impact it had on the environment appeared first on Mouthy Money.

Can you sort your Harrods mince pies from your Nintendo 64s? Take the Mouthy Money Merry Quizmas quiz and find out!

Photo by Olya Kobruseva from Pexels

The post Mouthy Money Merry Quizmas 2020 appeared first on Mouthy Money.