This article is designed to help you get through financial difficulties at Christmas time.

Christmas is now less than two weeks away which means shopping centres and supermarkets are set to go absolutely bananas over the coming days. With so many presents, decorations and food to buy over a short period of time, the festive period can create some serious financial strain on many people throughout the country. However, with careful budgeting and planning it is possible to buy everything on your list, without heading into the red of your bank account. By following some of these top tips to ensure you enjoy a very merry Christmas and a happy new year without the sobering shock of the January bills.

Compare Prices
With so many gifts to buy for so many loved ones in our lives, we are understandably under pressure to get everything bought in time for Christmas, which can lead to buying everything as soon as we can find it, no matter the cost. Before you know it, you could have easily overspent your initial budget, with much of your list still to source. Set some time aside to compare where the best prices are to be found, it is now very easy to compare prices online, and you even find that the best prices are found online. You could save yourself a fortune by buying all your gifts this way, after all, your loved ones will love the gifts they receive and the thought behind it, they won’t know or care how much it cost you.

Loans
With so much financial strain over the Christmas period, it is okay to ask for help in order to afford everything on your list. You may ask a friend or relative for a short term loan, which they know you will be good for after your next pay check. You may consider asking your bank, or even seeking out a payday loan from a company like Wizzcash. It is important to remember never to borrow more than you can afford to pay back, and always be aware of interest rates. It is also possible to apply for a credit card, with banks like NatWest, Halifax, M&S and Tesco offering deals like 0% interest on all purchases for 18 months.

Budget
It is important to assess how much money you have left in your account after you’ve paid for all the essentials like bills and food after your latest payday. Whatever money is left after all your bills and responsibilities have been paid for, that amount is your Christmas budget and it is very important to overspend it.

Your Christmas Itinerary
The festive period stretches out over a fortnight and during that time you could be in any number of places. You could be round your parents, the in-laws or a friends, and in those cases you won’t need to be buying food. Work out what days you will definitely be home over the Christmas break, and when you might be inviting people over, and that way you can plan your food and drinks shopping accordingly. You can also take advantage over supermarket food offers throughout the Christmas break and seriously cut down on any food that could be thrown out and wasted.