It is well known that most people spend far too much during Christmas, but with a little imagination and budgeting you can still enjoy Christmas on a budget. Here are 10 top Christmas money saving tips to help you enjoy the holiday season without the worry of being hit with a huge credit card bill in January.

1) If children are demanding the latest expensive ‘must have’ gift and you can’t afford it, you should start to manage their expectations well in advance. This will let them know what is possible and prompt them to make more realistic Christmas lists.

2) If money is tight you can have an agreement that only the children receive gifts. Sort the kids you want to buy something for into groups, such as siblings, or nieces and nephews, and decide a budget for each category.

3) Set your budget for presents and leave your credit card at home, draw your cash and deal in cash only for each shopping trip. Let’s face it if you don’t have the money with you, you can’t spend it.

4) When on a tight budget, there is no need for buying wrapping paper that will be ripped and thrown away at first instance. You can buy a dozen sheets of colourful tissue paper instead which is easier to dispose of and much better for the environment. Also don’t buy gift tags but instead recycle old Christmas cards by cutting around the main image, punching a hole and adding some ribbon.

5) Christmas cards can be quite costly to buy and post especially with loved ones abroad. Instead you can send free internet cards through various sites on the internet.

6) Instead of just thinking Christmas money saving you could instead spread the cost by arranging for a special treat in the New Year. Good examples include going for a meal to a fancy restaurant, making a trip or evening at the theatre. You can wrap a memento of the proposed teat and give it as the present to retain the excitement during Christmas.

7) Home-made treats are another way to save money and fill stomachs. Making jam, cooking special cakes, shortbread biscuits or just gingerbread men you will be showing off your culinary skills and creating a point for discussion.

Make sure you check out Christmas money saving deals on the internet. The internet has revolutionised shopping making it easier to compare prices and is frequently cheaper than buying on the High Street.

9) You can shop for good-as-new items in car boot sales, charity shops and local papers but you will find a greater selection on the internet. Look for specific items at sites like Amazon and auction sites like e-bay for nearly new unwanted gifts. If you are selective about the quality, the goods can be as good as new.

10) Make use of discount vouchers and money off coupons available from dedicated websites, newspaper and magazine adverts, leaflets or flyers. One of the best ways for Christmas money saving online is discount voucher codes sites which entitle online shoppers to money off, or some other incentive such as free delivery and it all helps to stretch the budget further.