When I go to pick up my little girl from school in Spain I usually wait with a group of Mums for the children to be let out of the school gates.

We talk about many things but one of the top subjects at the moment is how to keep Christmas spending under control, whether in UK or in Spain, this year we are all watching our wallets!

Here are our top tips…
1.    Try to set a budget on how much you will spend on presents for your children, partner, family etc and don’t be tempted to go over this limit
2.    Adults agree not to buy gifts for each other, only treat the children
3.    Try to plan ahead and buy gifts from Amazon and EBay and other online shops which are heavily discounted
4.    Some of the local shops have already started their winter sales, some with 50% reductions
5.    Our local department store is running a 3 for 2 offer on gifts
6.    If you are creative you can try to make your own cards, decorations and presents (for example one friend is a great cook and is busy making jams and preserves and another is brilliant at knitting).
7.    If you must put Christmas on your credit card shop around first for a good deal
8.    Think of Christmas dinner just as a special Sunday lunch, you don’t have to go mad over it!
9.    If you are lucky enough to live near a wine bodega, go and take advantage of buying some bottles in bulk
10.    If you have family coming you could always share the cost of the Christmas meal by everyone bringing a course
11.    Look out for farmers selling off their surplus fruit/vegetables. I live in a rural area and it’s not uncommon for farmers to sell off their excess crops either by the side of the road or wheeling them into town in wheelbarrows and selling directly to the public!
12.    Send free E-Cards instead of expensive Christmas cards
13.    Don’t be afraid to haggle, especially at the local market
14.    Many restaurants are touting expensive Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunches, look out for special deals on Boxing Day