IDEAL HOME’S COLUMNIST AND EDITOR OF MONEYWEEK.COM KALPANA FITZPATRICK SHARES HER FINANCIAL WISDOM

Q I’ve got a big night out planned and I’d love a new outfit. How can I do it for less? A The ideal situation would be having a friend the same size as you with a stylish wardrobe you could borrow fro

Q I’d like to help others this Christmas but my budget is limited. Do you have any tips? A There are lots of ways to help others that don’t involve money. Are there any local charities near you lookin

Start right now! It’s the best way to keep calm, make informed choices, allow a little flexibility and spread the cost. You’ll be able to reap the rewards of being super-organised nearer the time. Set

Just 23 sleeps until the big day – make sure you’re not wasting cash in the run-up to Xmas. Financial strategist Laura Linden, of Feisty FD (feistyfd. com), shares some savvy reminders...

We all want to make the festive season magical for kids, but it’s also important to set expectations