Christmas saving tips

1. Consider a 'Kris Kringle' arrangement, where each member of your group agrees to draw a name out of a hat and only buys a present for that person. Don't forget to set a price limit so that no one goes overboard

2. Forgo gifts altogether and do someeting special as a group instead, such as a dinner or picnic get-together

3. Buy presents just for the kids, not the adults

4. Don't leave your shopping until the last minute. Buy things through the year - sales are a great time to do this. Take advantage of lay-by.

5. If there are any friends and family you won't see until the new year, hold off on buying presents until the January sales

6. Shop with a list - otherwise you might end up blowing your budget out of sheer desperation or going home with nothing

7. Take advantage of complimentary gift-wrapping services

8. Ask about a shop's returns policy when buying a present. That way, a gift can be exchanged if it's unsuitable

9. Cut up old Christmas cards to use as gift tags

10. Get out the board games, the kids will love spending time with you. If you don’t have many to choose from, maybe you can borrow a new game from a friend or neighbor. You never know, they might have a closet full they never even use!