35% of freelancers earn less than £10,000 a year. Despite that, they’re some of the hardest workers in the UK, and stick to their self-employed ways purely for the love of being their own boss.

So when Christmas rolls around, it’s understandable that these entrepreneurs don’t have cash to splash on their nearest and dearest.

If you’re struggling on your freelance wage, here are some money saving tips that could help you through the Christmas holidays without being a Grinch.

Get crafty

One of the easiest ways to avoid spending too much over the holidays is to invest some time in learning a new skill.

Handmade items can be much more meaningful to close family, especially as you have the option to personalise gifts and cater them especially to their tastes.

So put on your apron and get crafting. From making cakes and festive loaves to crafting handmade soaps and bath bombs – the sky is the limit!

Be inventive with what you have

And we don’t mean digging out unwanted gifts from last year and wrapping them. You could ending up gifting back to the same person who gave it to you in the first place, after all.

Instead, try getting creative with bits and pieces you have around the house. For example, turn the Christmas cards from last year into gift tags, instead of buying them every year. It might not seem a revolutionary change but a little goes a long way.

Shop the deals

If you don’t have time to be crafty this year, or feel your baking just isn’t up to scratch, make sure you’re getting a deal when you do head to the shops.

Black Friday may have passed, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be found. Make sure you check the sales and look for cheaper alternatives before you commit to buying anything – your wallet will thank you in January!

Buy gifts early

We might be into December, but that doesn’t mean you’ve run out of time. Get a wriggle on and buy your Christmas presents sooner rather than later if you want to save as much as you can.

Buying early will give you a chance to put more thought into gifts, and will give you time to shop around for that bargain.

Use your work

If all else fails, use the skills your work gives you to create great presents. While your friends and family may not appreciate a feature length article on the pros and cons of online banking, gifting them with a short poem will most likely mean a lot more than a shop bought novelty gift that they won’t use after Boxing Day.

If you’re a graphic designer, your skill will come in especially handy during the festive season. Paint, draw or create an image of a loved one, a family pet or just a scenic place that means something to the recipient! Your craft really can come in handy, so don’t let it go to waste when you need to save money.

Have you got your own money saving ideas for the Christmas period? Share them with other freelancers by popping them in the comment section below!