{"id":123528,"date":"2025-10-15T11:44:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T11:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/123528\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T11:44:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T11:44:07","slug":"start-today-and-end-up-with-e700-for-the-big-day-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/123528\/","title":{"rendered":"Start today and end up with \u20ac700 for the big day \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone mention Christmas<\/a>? If you think it\u2019s too early for the \u2018C\u2019 word, think again. <\/p>\n

We are now squarely in what\u2019s called the \u201cgolden quarter\u201d \u2013 the crunch period between October and December when retailers do everything in their power to get you to spend<\/a> so that they can \u2018win\u2019 Christmas. <\/p>\n

Tins of chocolates at the end of the supermarket aisle, sparkly tops in the shops, ads for sofas delivered for Christmas? It\u2019s already started. It\u2019s no wonder the State\u2019s Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs)<\/a> issued its planning tips for Christmas a month ago. <\/p>\n

Retailers have been gearing up for months to do battle for your money over the holiday shopping events of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Get your financial affairs in order. Your loved ones will thank youOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The outcome determines their annual financial success. <\/p>\n

Donald McDonald<\/a>, chief executive of Brown Thomas Arnotts, told The Irish Times last month that \u201c40 per cent of our business is done in quarter four, with 25 per cent from mid November to the end of December\u201d.<\/p>\n

Manufacturing, marketing, staffing \u2013 it takes military preparation by retailers. Most film their Christmas ads in August, for God\u2019s sake. <\/p>\n

Consumers need to get planning, too, to avoid overspending. There\u2019s a 10-week runway between now and the big day, so here are some things you can do to win Christmas for you. <\/p>\n

Have the \u201ctalk\u201d with families and friends about who is doing what for Christmas. Will you go to them, will they come to you \u2013 having the talk will clarify plans and help you plan your spending.<\/p>\n

\u201cChristmas can be a time of financial stress and anxiety, especially when it comes to buying gifts and hosting family,\u201d says Karl Cronin, regional manager for north Connaught and Ulster Mabs. \u201cPlanning early gives you time to build a budget, make a shopping list and set up a savings plan that works for you,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

Hosting is expensive. A whole ham is about \u20ac90 and a big turkey can be over \u20ac140, that\u2019s not to mention, starters, sides, desserts, fizz and wine. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re on the hook to host, agree early to spread the load to reduce your spend. You\u2019ll take care of the main event, but delegating drinks, desserts and starters to guests will ease the cost considerably.<\/p>\n

Christmas can mean a lovely, if expensive roster of drinks, lunches and dinners as friends reunite. These things get booked soon. By taking the lead on planning, you can steer things in a more affordable direction. Suggest swapping a swanky dinner for lunch, for example, potentially sidestepping spending on going out clothes, pre and post-dinner drinks, taxis or a babysitter. Better again, tell them you\u2019re on a budget and book-in a Christmas walk with coffees. <\/p>\n

Ringfence money<\/p>\n

There are nine weeks between now and the last shopping week before Christmas. That\u2019s two pay (monthly) cheques, or three if your employer pays early in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t just hope you\u2019ll have enough money,\u201d says Kel Galavan, money coach, author and founder of MrsSmartMoney.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cTreat your Christmas fund like a non-negotiable bill that you pay yourself each week, by setting up a standing order into a separate account,\u201d says Galavan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gets the money out of sight and into its own dedicated sinking fund, so you\u2019re less likely to be tempted to spend it.\u201d <\/p>\n

For example, if you could afford to set aside \u20ac50 to \u20ac100 a week between now and the first week of December, you\u2019d build a fund of \u20ac350 to \u20ac700.<\/p>\n

\u201cCash back vouchers from supermarkets are a great way to put money towards Christmas food shopping\u201d says Michael Laffey of Mabs. <\/p>\n

Loading deposit return scheme refunds on to a gift card from your local supermarket is another way of building savings towards your Christmas food shop, says Laffey. <\/p>\n

Supermarket loyalty programme members should check what vouchers or points are coming to them, too. <\/p>\n

Audit what you have<\/p>\n

Are you all set for Christmas? <\/p>\n

Give it a month and we\u2019ll all be saying it. We can mistake being ready with buying loads of stuff. There is something about the run up to Christmas that can cause your prepper instinct to kick in \u2013 as though preparing for a large-scale disaster, or societal collapse, you start stockpiling food, alcohol and clothes to ensure your family\u2019s survival.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore spending a single euro, take a look at what you already own,\u201d says Kel Galavan. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe often buy new decorations, wrapping paper, or even food that\u2019s already at the back of the cupboard,\u201d says Galavan. \u201cTaking that simple step not only saves money but also gives you a nice feeling of being prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chances are you\u2019ll find an unused and in date jar of cranberry sauce, plenty of wrapping paper and more than enough Christmas lights to be getting on with. <\/p>\n

Declare a truce on gifts<\/p>\n

Have you always bought gifts for your siblings? What about your partner, your in-laws, and your friends? If you find yourself locked in a cycle of exchanging unwanted and unused gifts to fulfil seasonal obligations, call a truce.<\/p>\n

November is too late to call an amnesty \u2013 the starting gun has already popped, so call it now. Tell loved ones you don\u2019t really want for anything, and ask how would everyone feel about taking the foot off the pedal of consumption this year and giving each other a pass?<\/p>\n

If this feels a bit Grinch-y, then go the Kris Kindle route. Each family member buys and receives one gift. <\/p>\n

\u201cSuggest a secret Santa to family and friends and set a spending limit on it,\u201d says Michelle O\u2019Hara of South Leinster Mabs.<\/p>\n

With that limit in mind, you can all ask for exactly what you want \u2013 maybe it\u2019s a specific book, a brand of sports socks, face cream or a hair salon voucher. Everybody spends the same amount; you get something you want, no one is wasting money. The positive impact on the planet is a gift in itself.<\/p>\n

Make a list<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve audited what you already have, and you know what you must buy, then make a list of what you will need to spend on. <\/p>\n

Apart from spending on gifts and food, add any planned hair and beauty treatments, and expected lunches and dinners with friends to your list, too. <\/p>\n

Keep it on your phone and tick it off as you go. <\/p>\n

\u201cTry not to be tempted by sales or special offers \u2013 unless it\u2019s on your list and you can tick it off, don\u2019t buy it,\u201d says Michelle O\u2019Hara. \u201cRemember, it\u2019s not a deal if you don\u2019t need it or won\u2019t use it.\u201d <\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason why there is Christmas stuff in the shops in October. Retailers bet you won\u2019t have a specific shopping list yet, so they will tempt you to advance buy, willy-nilly. <\/p>\n

If we start picking up a few tins of chocolates and biscuits now, some selection boxes, stocking fillers, toiletry sets, socks or whatever \u2013 come December, we will have forgotten what we already have and buy more. <\/p>\n

So don\u2019t start shopping too soon, unless the item is on your list. And definitely don\u2019t start without a list. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re out and about and spot something that isn\u2019t on your list, you can put it in your basket, but you have to walk away and think about it for 24 hours,\u201d says Galavan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe emotional impulse to buy will almost always fade, and it\u2019s a great way to save yourself from over-spending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santa planning<\/p>\n

In just a few weeks time, An Post will be inviting children to post their letter to Santa Claus. Santa has a lot of competing priorities, as parents know. That\u2019s why it pays to make sure your child\u2019s letter is carefully crafted. <\/p>\n

The golden rule for Christmas gifts in the house of Mabs\u2019s Karl Cronin is, \u201csomething they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read,\u201d says Cronin. <\/p>\n

By including some necessities in Santa\u2019s shopping list, Santa\u2019s gifts can tick a few practical boxes, too. <\/p>\n

If you are buying individual gifts for an entire family, you could instead give them the gift of an experience, says Cronin. This may work out cheaper than individual gifts. <\/p>\n

\u201cA post-Christmas family trip to the cinema will create lasting memories as opposed to individual gifts for everyone,\u201d says Cronin. <\/p>\n

Make a budget<\/p>\n

How many of us just blaze through December and deal with the financial fallout in January? Unless you set a specific budget for Christmas, you will overspend. <\/p>\n

With the list of things you will need to spend on, and likely social events, set an amount against each now.<\/p>\n

If the estimated cost tips you into debt, it\u2019s time for a rethink. <\/p>\n

This might mean deciding now you will join friends for drinks after dinner, or pledging to opt out of rounds this season, or shopping your own wardrobe instead of buying another sparkly thing that gets worn once. <\/p>\n

The alternative is racking up a credit card or overdraft bill that can steal your peace of mind and eat into January pay cheque. <\/p>\n

AIB customers alone did a whopping 75 million card transactions of all types in store and online in December 2022, according to the most recent figures from the bank. <\/p>\n

December 23rd was the busiest day that year for AIB cardholders, with 2.8 million card transactions in shops. That\u2019s 84 per cent higher than the average day. In the busiest hour, \u20ac12 million was spent on cards in-store.<\/p>\n

AIB customers spent \u20ac5.2 million in pubs on the busiest day, and card spending on groceries was almost 200 per cent higher than the average.<\/p>\n

Take note, the party season will have kicked off before your November salary lands. The shopping frenzy proper starts in just six weeks. <\/p>\n

Planning and budgeting now means avoiding the worst effects of Christmas on your pocket. By being mindful and intentional about spending early in the season, you can end 2025 on the right note \u2013 making the golden quarter a golden period for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Did someone mention Christmas? If you think it\u2019s too early for the \u2018C\u2019 word, think again. We are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":123529,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[75166,58082,79,16838,75167,18,19,17,66798,12094],"class_list":{"0":"post-123528","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-black-friday","9":"tag-brown-thomas","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-christmas","12":"tag-cyber-monday","13":"tag-eire","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-mabs-money-advice-and-budgeting-service","17":"tag-money-matters"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123528"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123528\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}