Never too early to get prepped for Christmas

How on earth are we more than halfway through November?

- MARTYN JAMES

Know your budget for the festive season

If you're anything like me then 2025 may feel like it’s flown by in the blink of an eye. But like it or not, Christmas is a matter of weeks away, so now is the time to make a few plans so you don't get caught out in the rush to the big day.

I hate budgeting with all my heart. But if you take just 30 minutes out of your day, you'll save yourself so much hassle in the coming weeks. I recommend dividing up your festive planning into separate manageable chunks. I'd suggest using the following categories:

■ Gifts for family members and friends.

■ Cards and postage.

■ The Christmas meal.

■ Decorations.

Travel.

■ Entertainment.

Create a simple spreadsheet - there are lots of free templates online - and work out roughly what the minimum and maximum you'd like to spend is. You can use this list to set savings targets each week in the run up to December.