COLUMN - Money Matters with Amanda Heath (Melton & District Money Advice Centre)

The pressure is mounting. It’s marketing and advertising’s best season of the year.

Their aim is to get you to spend money you have not got and things you don’t necessarily want or need to buy.

But you can feel the sense that you are a bad parent if you don’t get the latest toy, people won’t enjoy themselves if you don’t buy all the food trimmings and all the variety of drinks on offer.

So, let’s step back out of the whirlwind and look at your personal situation.

If you have the money to spend already saved for this expense, then great, no problems.

If you are really struggling and have not had the opportunity to save for Christmas spends yet, then the reality is that it is two more wages before Christmas.

Or, if you’re on benefits, possibly only one or two, depending when incomes fall.

So how much do you have spare over the next two months?

If it is only £50? Then that is what it is.

Christmas should not be about spending what you don’t have.

Write a list of those you really need to get presents for.

Can you make any gifts?

Home made chutneys, knitted products, home made vouchers of inviting people round for a meal, four hours cleaning for a friend who hates cleaning?

Presents don’t need to cost anything? Charity shop finds are also great.

Someone could open a wrapped book each month of 2027, a gift that covers a year for £6! 12 books at 50p a book = £6.

Think outside the box, take control and work against the pressures of marketing tactics.

Have your targeted list at hand, knock them off if you can without spending money if things are tight.

Have conversations with friends to limit pressures, secret Santas instead to lower amounts you must buy.

We d love to hear how you got on so drop us a line at [email protected] and enjoy this amazing time of year without the pressures and less to spend.