Xmas clearout

January 5th 2014

Now the Christmas season is over, some will have been busy in the sales, this is the time to get those cards, wrapping paper, lights and crackers etc. for 1/2 price or even less. Additionally you're probably left with;

• christmas cards
• unwanted/un-needed gifts
• a credit card bill

Before you get rid of your Christmas cards, quickly go through them, some of them especially long & narrow ones can be used as lovely bookmarks just cut off the back

Use really small ones as gift tags for next years presents

Extra tip for next Christmas, keep an empty cardboard box and decorate it with used wrapping paper (good activity for bored kids during the holidays) and keep all your Christmas bits and bobs in. Then next Christmas use it to keep the presents in

With gifts it can be awkward depending on who has sent it. If its still in the original packaging you can 

• try a direct exchange in the store to something of equal value, most of the big name stores accommodate this at this time of year
• list it for sale on Ebay, Gumtree, Amazon or your local newspaper online
• put it towards a car boot sale - if you don't have enough items now, wait until spring and get together with someone else.
• swap it on a site such as Swapit
• hold a swap party - while you're at it use up any left over christmas food 
• give it away on on recycling sites such as freecycle
• or donate it to charity - e.g. +Rainbows Childrens hospice in Leicester is one of many who have requested unwanted gifts 

If you haven't done so already make sure you switch to a 0% credit card, for 9, 12 or even 24 months. You will have to pay a transfer fee, right now many are offering as low as 0.75 and 1% however the minimum cost is usually £5. Just DONT use it to buy more stuff, and pay off IN FULL in the last month of the offer period.