How To Budget In Time For Christmas As A Student

We say it every year, but h0W is it that time of the year again?! 

It honestly feels like we just click our fingers and we’re back to prepping for Christmas.

Being a student at Christmas time can be super difficult, especially if your bank account is starting to look a little dry after all the social events and partying…

Honestly, if you’re feeling like it’s just you, we promise you’re not alone whatsoever. Some so many students are in the same boat financially, so don’t compare yourself! 

From this, we wanted to put together a quick guide on how to budget in time for Christmas. And yes, that’s why we’ve decided to start this in October!

It’s going to cover a whole heap of info, from ways to celebrate Christmas on a budget, to some of our top tips when doing so.

Keep on reading to find out more about Christmas shopping on a budget – you won’t regret it! 

How Do I Celebrate Christmas On A Budget?

Being on a budget for Christmas will not ruin your fun – we promise! It’s a great way to feel organised and on your feet during this busy period. 

However, we do have some fab ways for you to save money and keep on budget this Christmas. 

1. Plan Ahead

One of the first things you need to think about when thinking about Christmas spending is to plan. 

By planning ahead of time, you’ll be able to set realistic goals you can achieve, therefore keeping within budget!

We suggest setting up a spreadsheet and working out who you want to buy Christmas gifts for, the maximum amount you can spend on them and gift ideas (to save you time for the future). 

Doing this will allow you to visually see what you need to get, and organise your life for you…what’s not to love?

Christmas is not just a time for gift-giving, but it’s also a time for you to enjoy quality time with family members.

When planning, make sure to take into account that you’re going to be splashing the cash on social events, Christmas markets and Christmas decorations. 

The last thing you want is for your festive season to be ruined because you spent all your money on gifts (as lovely as that is, make some memories too!).

2. Workout How Much You Want To Spend

If you have an income, savings or a student loan you want to use, you need to work out how much you want to spend!

Give yourself a maximum budget and make sure there’s some leeway, ‘cos we all know how we can go overboard a little during the festive period.

Got a job? If you plan, you can work out how much income you’ll wrack up over the months before December! This will save the panic when it comes to Christmas and you have no wages left…

3. Stick To Your Budget

If there’s one thing you can take from this mini guide, it’s to bloomin’ stick to your BUDGET!

There’s nothing worse than having a set limit and realising you’ve spent half of it on an unplanned night outright?

Some of the ways we like to tackle this are by turning off Apple Pay on your phone and having a separate bank account to deposit money into.

They will help more than you realise, so make sure to keep these tips in your mind for your prep in time for Christmas!

How Do I Set Up My Christmas Budget?

Okay so there are a couple of ways you can save up your Christmas spending money, and here are some ideas below!

1. Get A Separate Bank Account (Or Savings Account)

As we mentioned before, it is recommended that you have a separate bank/savings account to organise your Christmas fund. 

This will allow you to deposit money and keep it separate from your spending money. 

You’ll most likely forget about the money you’ve put away, making it less tempting to spend it on unnecessary purchases!

2. Save In Cash

It’s a risky move, but there are people out there who’ll save their money in cash (that’s right, physical cash? Who’d have thought?)

On TikTok in particular, the concept of organising your money into pocket wallets has become a huge trend! 

It visually allows you to see your money and allows you to categcategorisesor your benefit.

Our Top Tips For Making The Most Of Your Christmas Budget

Christmas shopping can be super expensive, especially if you leave it till the last minute. 

Why not take a quick look at some of our top tips for making the most out of your allocated budget?

1. Look Out For Sales and Offers

When it comes to buying presents for your family members, making sure you’re on the lookout for sales is one of the best ways to maximise your budget.

If we were living in the perfect world, you could use the January sales, or even the Boxing Day sales to try and grab the gifts you want for next Christmas! But seriously…who is thinking of next Christmas at this point?!

When shopping online, if you sign up to student discount stores, such as Unidays and Student Beans, you might be able to grab some insane deals!

It’s one of the most loved perks about being a student, so deffo make the most of it.

2. Try Out Secret Santa

Instead of buying your entire family a gift this year, why not hop on the Secret Santa trend and spend a little more on that one individual?

It’s a trend that’s been going on for quite a few years, and it can save you some cash!

Controversially, this way of giving presents goes against classic Christmas traditions, so prepare for a bit of backlash when you suggest it to your friends and family. 

3. DIY

Ever thought about doing it yourself and creating Christmas cards or presents from the comfort of your own home?

Sometimes, when you spend a bit of time and effort making people presents, they appreciate the thought and there’s more meaning behind what you’re giving them!

Especially when it comes to older family members, we promise they will love a cute gift from you if you’ve poured your heart and soul into it.

Well, we hope you’ve felt all giddy reading this and are prepared for festivities to begin (we certainly are). There are so many tips and tricks in here to make your Christmas festivities as stress-free as possible…after all, ‘tis the season to be jolly!