musicMagpie Blog

It's nearly that time of year again when we indulge in presents and overload on food, but the festivities do mean that our bank balances take a hit, especially with gifts, parties and the Christmas food shop! 

With that in mind, we've got some handy budgeting tips and tricks to help you enjoy the festive season without worrying about your pocket.

Keep reading to find out the best ways you can budget your spending this Christmas!

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In this blog:

• Work out what you can afford 
• Buy a cheaper turkey or alternative 
• Buy refurbished tech
• Be smart about delivery costs 
• Resist impulse buying 

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Work out what you can afford

It's far too easy to lose track of spending once the Christmas spirit has well and truly set in, especially with deals popping up all over the place!

Before you head to the shops or start your online shopping, make a list on a notepad or your phone of everything you're looking to buy and start crunching those numbers. 

Once you've worked out how much you plan to spend, identify where you can cut back or find cheaper alternatives. You'll discover that making small changes to your list can make a big difference!

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Buy a cheaper turkey or alternative

Whether you order your turkey from the local butchers or are planning on heading down to the local supermarket, keep in mind that you don't have to buy the most expensive turkey or alternative that you can get your hands on.

Buying a cheaper turkey doesn't mean you'll be losing out on taste and you don't need to shop at higher-end supermarkets just because it's Christmas. You can get better value by shopping at supermarkets such as Iceland, Aldi, Asda and many more.

Plus, to reduce your waste this Christmas, buy a turkey or turkey alternative that's the right size for however many people you are hosting. You can even buy a Turkey Crown to reduce the price or choose something else that's cheaper.

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Buy refurbished tech

If you want to cut the cost of presents this Christmas, especially tech gifts, then going refurbished is the answer. You'll get the same exact features as new, but for a much lower price!

You'll not only save when buying refurbished, but it is a sustainable way to help the planet. Shopping refurbished helps keep products in circulation for longer and reduces e-waste. 

For more information about refurbished tech, check out our post 'What is refurbished tech?'. 

When you buy refurbished tech or buy refurbished phones at musicMagpie, we'll give you a free 12-month warranty on all tech orders and free delivery too.

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Be smart about delivery costs

Even though shopping online for Christmas is more convenient than getting stuck in supermarket queues, delivery costs can really add up! Especially if you prefer to pay for next-day delivery, which can set you back a couple of pounds. 

However, there are a few different ways to get around delivery charges whether it's for food or presents:

• Look out for delivery offers – you'll find retailers do deals such as 99p or £1.99 next-day delivery around Christmas 
• Check the Christmas delivery cut-off – you don't want to pay for delivery and your item arrives after the big day 
• Buy yearly delivery – if you shop with the same retailers quite often throughout the year, buying yearly delivery rather than paying each time will help you get more for your money 
• Get a free trial – If you're shopping on Amazon, sign up for a 30-day trial for Amazon Prime 
• Buy a delivery pass – ordering your food shop can work out cheaper if you buy a delivery pass from the supermarket

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Resist impulse buying

Try not to fixate too much on deals when shopping for Christmas gifts! Look at it this way, if you were going to buy an item anyway and it's half price, you've saved yourself 50%. But if you weren't planning on buying it in the first place, but do because it says half price, you've wasted 100%. 

It's very easy to get distracted by last-minute Christmas offers, but before you know it you've spent way too much. 

Only buy what you need this Christmas, your bank balance will thank you for it in the long run!

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Find the perfect Christmas gift at great prices on the musicMagpie Store with our huge range of refurbished tech, including refurbished consoles, refurbished tablets, used iPhone models, refurbished iPad devices and so much more! We have plenty of cheap iPhone models to choose from, including cheap iPhone 11,  refurbished iPhone 12 and refurbished iPhone 13 models. 

Looking to save even more money this Christmas? Trade in your unwanted tech for quick cash to put toward your Christmas gifts! We offer iPhone trade in and Samsung trade in options, along with trade in options for a whole range of other tech items. So if you're wondering "where can I sell my phone for quick cash?", look no further than musicMagpie!