THERE may still be seven weeks to go, but to avoid suffering a painful financial hangover well into next year it is time to start thinking about how to pay for Christmas.
Fail to prepare for the most expensive time of year and the consequences can be lasting. According to the Money Advice Service, one-third of adults realised they would start this year in debt because they didn't get properly organised last Christmas.
Jane Symonds, a money expert at the independent advice provider, said: "Christmas can easily turn from an exciting time with the family into a big financial stress. If you haven't already set a budget, now is a good time to take control of your spending."
There is a planner at moneyadviceservice.org.uk/christmasplanner to help prioritise and organise spending.
With two paydays to come for most people before the festive break, there is still time to set some cash aside. It is also worth considering how to make the money you have work harder over the coming weeks.
M&S Bank is offering new current account customers a £100 gift card to spend in store. This rises to £125 for applications made through comparison site Moneysupermarket.com. The account has no minimum monthly funding requirement and gives reward points on M&S spending.
Halifax Reward and First Direct are also offering £100 - which can be spent anywhere - to account switchers, although they must deposit £750 or £1,000 respectively each month. First Direct customers who fail to do this face a £10 monthly fee.
Neither account pays interest, but Halifax gives a £5 monthly reward provided the holder pays two different direct debits and stay in credit, which is likely to be worth more to the majority of customers than the current account interest available elsewhere.
Those who can afford to pay for Christmas without credit might want to use a cashback card and pay it off before any interest is due.
The American Express Platinum Cashback card pays five per cent - or £5 for every £100 spent - on up to £2,500 of purchases in the first three months and 1.25 per cent after that. Anyone spending £10,000 or more a year will also receive 2.5 per cent back on their account anniversary.
Santander's 123 card gives two per cent back on spending at major department stores and one per cent on shopping at leading supermarkets.
Both cards charge an annual fee though - £25 and £24 respectively - and this needs to be factored in when working out if they are worth having.
Anyone paying interest on credit card debt may be able to reduce their outgoings by transferring it to a zero interest card.
Barclaycard Platinum is offering 34 months free on transferred balances with a fee of 2.99 per cent, while Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Platinum, Sainsbury's Nectar and Tesco Clubcard allow 33 months and charge between 2.8 and 2.9 per cent. MBNA has a 32-month free transfer card with a 2.69 per cent fee.
However, anyone transferring debt to one of these cards needs to clear it before the free period ends or they will typically be charged 18.9 per cent annual interest.
Barclaycard, Halifax, Lloyds and Sainsbury's also allow six months interest free on new purchases, but Tesco and MBNA give only three months.
Those who will need longer to pay off new spending should look at cards with better interest-free deals.
Halifax's Purchase card charges nothing for 20 months, while Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Tesco apply no interest for 19 months on their equivalent cards.
Remember, though, that zero per cent agreements are dependent on meeting all the issuer's terms and conditions, such as paying off at least the minimum monthly amount by the agreed date. Fail to do so and the deal will be withdrawn and the card's standard rate applied until the debt is cleared.
Those who need longer than these interest-free periods to pay off festive spending should ask themselves whether they can really afford it. Anyone determined to go ahead could consider taking out a card with a permanently low rate.
Sainsbury's Nectar charges 6.9 per cent, Tesco Clubcard charges 7.8 per cent and the rate for the Co-op's Platinum card is 9.9 per cent.
However, anyone applying for a new card should bear in mind that the rates quoted will be offered only to those with good credit histories - anyone else can expect to pay more if they are accepted.
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