Money expert says you can cut cost of Christmas presents to £50

A money expert has shared how to have a debt-free Christmas - including opting for Secret Santa and using charity shops. Sally Mills, 47, spends her days advising clients on how to clear their debts.

She says the run-up to Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of year when it comes to finances. The grandmother-of-two says overspending is inevitable unless you cut out "buying for the sake of it".

She suggested doing a family-wide Secret Santa and each buying one large gift instead of smaller gifts for everyone. And Sally also suggested setting boundaries with family members you're less close to - so you don't have to buy gifts that aren't necessary.

She advised checking out Pinterest for ideas on gifts you can DIY - and said you're missing a trick if you shy away from charity shops. Sally, who works for the charity Christians Against Poverty, said: "Ultimately you can't buy people's love.

"Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones, no matter what age. Nobody wants to see their parents or loved ones stressed trying to pay for something beyond their reach. But there are ways to reduce the costs."

Mum-of-four Sally says she and all the adults in her own family have been doing a Secret Santa for the past four years. With a set budget on the higher end - she suggests £50 - everyone can get one big present instead of smaller, less satisfying ones.

They use an app called Elfster to allocate people names and you can also write wish lists and link ideas to give your Secret Santa inspiration. Sally says this way everyone gets something they really like.

She said: "When my adult daughters were younger I'd have a budget for each of them. But now they all have partners and two of them have children as well, the list gets a bit ridiculous.

"You can end up buying for the sake of buying - this is a cheaper way of doing things and it works really well."

Similarly Sally suggested having a conversation around who you want to buy for - and set some boundaries. She suggested having a conversation with adult cousins, siblings and siblings-in-laws, about whether presents are necessary. She said: "We made an agreement with my brother and his wife - we only buy presents for my nephew, and they only buy for our kids."

She suggested checking out charity shops - especially for children in the family who won't care if their toys or jigsaws are brand new. Sally also recommends buying presents that are an 'investment' - citing the example of an Oodie - which she says will not only be a nice gift but will keep them warm and potentially reduce heating bills.

And when it comes to gifts for teachers at the end of term, she suggested avoiding buying 'tat' like mugs - because they probably won't get used. Instead she suggested buying a plant - which can be a lower price point than some gifts and won't end up at the back of a cupboard.

Or she said setting up a parents WhatsApp group to arrange everyone chipping in a smaller amount would be more cost-effective - and result in a better present too. Sally's final tip before splashing out is to consider a DIY gift, and to find inspiration on Pinterest.

She said: "Pinterest has a wealth of knowledge and you can make things yourself. Like a jar with all the ingredients in for cookies or hot chocolate. Or make a pot with ideas for activities to do, like a movie day or games night, for them to choose from."

SALLY'S TIPS FOR A DEBT-FREE CHRISTMAS:
- Try a family Secret Santa
- Set boundaries with people you don't need to buy for
- Check out charity shops
- Club together to buy quality gifts - don't just buy tat for the sake of it
- Try your hand at DIY gifts using Pinterest inspiration