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Saving For Christmas 2007 Is Not As Mad As It Sounds

I’m pretty sure that Christmas 2007 is the last thing on your mind at the moment, but like most people at this time of year, I bet that you wished you’d put a bit more money aside to cover the ever-increasing cost of the festive season.

On average we each spend around £600 at Christmas time on presents and festivities, so why not start saving as early as possible and save yourself from another financial headache in 12 months’ time.

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If you sign up now for a savings account, you will build up your Christmas nest egg and at the same time be comfortable in the knowledge that not only will you be earning interest on your savings, but also there is the security and protection offered by your bank which cannot always be found within other Christmas saving schemes, as we sadly saw this year with the collapse of Farepak.

Although it may seem a little early to start thinking about Christmas 2007, most regular savings accounts are fixed for a 12-month period, so by starting now you can ensure your savings will mature just in time to start your 2007 shopping spree.

In general, regular saving accounts allow you to invest anything between £10 and £5,000 per month, with rates of at least 6% easily found, ranging as high as 8.25% or up to 10% if you choose to hold your current account with the same provider. Most of these accounts require between 11 and 12 monthly payments and around two thirds allow limited withdrawals. 

If you were to save £600 in a regular saver account, at the end of the year you could have earned an extra £25*  in interest – enough to buy that extra Christmas present, treat, or pay towards a new party outfit.

* Based on an interest rate of 7.5%