6. Shop at home instead of on the high street …

The best deals can still be found online, so make a list of what presents you are buying and log on. Consumer group Which? claims to have saved almost £400 by shopping for 27 Christmas gifts online instead of in high street stores – it found a Samsung TV at for £310 compared to £379 on the high street. Use comparison tools such as InvisibleHand to make sure you are getting the best deal. And don't buy at full price without searching for discount vouchers first. The Guardian's voucher code page has a list of 20 codes each day.

7. … but check delivery costs first

Be organised and place your online Christmas orders early (ie now) to avoid hefty delivery charges or courier fees. If you leave yourself three to five working days you can use free super saver delivery with Amazon, but if you leave it to the last minute you could end up paying £8.80 for the guaranteed delivery option.

If you're buying specific brands from the US, use a shipping service like BundleBox to avoid paying inflated international shipping costs, or to shop on sites which don't otherwise deliver overseas. The site provides you with a US address which it will reroute to you. It typically charges 60% less than mainstream international delivery providers.

8. Forget the office secret Santa

Unless you're particularly attached to it, don't waste money on an office secret Santa – most people end up with something they'll never use anyway, with a recent survey showing that 62% of employees would rather not bother with it. Save your £5 for something nice for a friend or relative.

9. Ask for gift receipts

It won't help you cut costs, but it will stop you wasting money on something someone isn't able to use. A gift receipt lets the recipient take the item back with (hopefully) minimum hassle, but won't give away how much you spent until they do. Just pop it in discreetly with the present.

If you get something you really don't want or need, and it doesn't come with a gift receipt, use recycle a to turn your unwanted pressies (books, DVDs, CDs, games or tickets only) into cash.

10. Don't go crazy on Boxing Day

The Christmas sales will be in full flow on Boxing Day, but try not to overdo it on the credit card, particularly if you've already slapped a lot on it pre-Christmas. Shop sensibly and don't buy something that doesn't fit just because it is reduced.