The hunt for discounts is one of the main routes to save on Christmas shopping. But there are some precautions that can help you slim down the final invoice of the court ahead or avoid pitfalls that can become costly.

Budget as
To prevent spending on gifts run amuck stipulates a budget how much you spend. Also make a list of people present and the amount to be spent on each case. Stipulate, for example, a value for adults and another for children. Also avoid using the credit card. In addition to its use give you a false sense of their financial availability could result in increased costs with interest. Please note that credit cards interest rates can reach values close to 20%. If you do not dispense with the credit, try to write down the value of each purchase. Makes it easier to control spending and to stick to the budget.

Cut in gifts
As Christmas is children, one way to save some money is adults combine not give gifts to each other. Grown not give up the surprise in the shoe, opt for a memory rather than a valuable offering for gifts together with others or to organize a “secret friend”.

Do it yourself
Be immune to the appeal of typical commercials of the time they fuel consumption and become a supporter of “do it yourself”. There are several websites and books that have some suggestions for unique gifts that you can do at home and that surely will surprise your friends and family. Floral arrangements, jams ‘gourmet’ agendas or frames are just a few ideas.

Avoid shopping? Last Minute
Wait until the last minute to buy gifts can result in a “poisoned gift”. The range of options is narrower and it is easier to give in to hasty purchases because of the rush and the fact that the shops and shopping centers are crowded. Carry children is another mistake. As well as get bored and “help” the hasty purchases, you will most likely take home more than planned.

Enjoy? The black friday
Brands like Fnac, Media Markt, the Popular Radio, Worten, El Corte Inglés or Toys R Us are wont announce specific deals this festive season. Fnac, for example, already has on its website a clock counting down to the ‘black friday’ which takes place on 27 November. But the El Corte Inglés promises to make discounts up to 50% at the same time.

Recycle Christmas decoration
You do not have to buy new decorations every year. Take advantage of its ability to create some new decorations, using reusable materials or take on decoration used in different years and try to conjugate it, creating a tree with a ‘look’ different. You can also take advantage of pine cones, holly, branches, pine, paper balls, wreaths with ancient decorations, fruit-filled jars of the season (oranges and tangerines or even nuts and cinnamon sticks), ribbons or cans painted saves to create a decoration original. If you’re short of inspiration have a look at www.pinterest.com.

Save the? Supermarket
Hypermarkets and supermarkets are increasingly becoming a preferred option by the Portuguese not only to buy the ingredients for consoada like to get presents. Whatever the goods to be purchased, the choice of the supermarket chain can make all the difference in costs. A recent study Deco concluded that the price discrepancy in supermarkets the same region can reach 20%. So before you pick up the cart and prices and watch the flyers and campaign discounts available for toys for the typical delicacies of the season.

Shared supper
Full table is a difficult expression to dissociate the Christmas season, so the budget to compose the table consoada can easily slip. To avoid straining your wallet, ask each guest to contribute, taking an entrance, follow-up, a salty, sweet or drinks, for example.

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