As mentioned in the last post on Christmas Savings, this year, unfortunately, we cant be as frivolous and generous with our money as we may have been in past years, as due to the current economic climate, a lot of people are just not in a position to. So, we need to consider how we can maximise our Christmas savings so that we can still have a great Christmas, but not one that leaves us out of pocket!

If you are having a big family feast, or you like to host Christmas parties for your friends, then best way to help your Christmas savings is to share the cost. Ask each group of people that are coming to bring something that reminds them of Christmas (make sure you give each person a different course otherwise you will end up with 500 mince pies!), or their favourite Christmas drink. This way you can continue the festive theme by celebrating, but you improve your Christmas savings as you have not had to fork out for all the food and drink.

Try not to buy impulse purchases as all the Christmas savings you have made previously could be taken away with one panic buy! A panic buy can be described as anything from thinking that you need to buy your partner more gifts on Christmas eve, from forgetting that you have not bought your Dad anything! But, the problem with panic buying is that you will buy anything for the sake of having a present, instead of carefully considering your budget and the Christmas savings you are trying to make.

Why not wait for the sales? You think it may sound cheeky but surely its what most of us think we should do anyway, as it can be heart breaking, gloating about your Christmas savings, to then find the very expensive vase you bought your Mother is actually half price…one day later! This is only not a good idea when you have to buy for children, as for them its not just about the presents, but when they receive them and the excitement of Christmas. But for adults, it’s a great way to make Christmas shavings!

A brilliant way for increasing Christmas savings is to make your own presents. It need not be anything over the top or flamboyant, but even the simplicity of homemade sweets can be really touching as the thought is in the gift. Also, making your own Christmas cards is a great way to add to those Christmas savings and although it can be time consuming, its worth it financially.

The toy billed as the most wanted Christmas top this year has hit the shops. Waybuloo characters, the toy based on the Cbeebies hit show Waybuloo, are expected to be the most sought after toy for pre school children this Christmas.

Following in the footsteps of other massive TV shows like the Teletubbies and In The Night Garden, Waybuloo is set in the fictional land of Nara. There are four main characters-De Li, Nok Tok, Lau Lau and Yojojo. There is a ‘hippy’ element to Waybuloo as throughout the series, children are encouraged to hug each other to achieve happiness, which subsequently means that the Waybuloo character float when they achieve this happiness of ‘Buloo’

There are real children on the show as well as the fictional Waybuloo characters and each show begins with the children searching for the Piplings (the Waybuloo characters) in a game of hide and seek. The main message that the Waybuloo show aims to portray to viewers is having an understanding of concepts such as having respect and sharing.

Viewers are also shown how to take part in yoga exercise by the Waybuloo characters having a ‘Call to Yogo’. Yogo has similar exercises to Yoga and the ‘Call to Yogo’ takes places when the sun shines on coloured crystals enabling and old yogo machine to turn and create sounds.

The whole concept of the Waybuloo shows and the Piplings is to highlight to young children the importance of relating to friends and their environment in a fun and happy way.

Many stores sell the Waybuloo range, but offers are limited so get shopping!

WITH cashback try

Play.com-£26.99 Up to 1% cashback
Mothercare £26.99 Up to 3% cashback
Hamleys £27.00 Up to 4% cashback
Toys R Us £26.99 Up to 2% cashback
Tesco £26.97 Up to 1% cashback
Early Learning Centre £20.00 Up to 3% cashback

WITHOUT cashback: