This week Christmas

1 Cut-price turkey: A lot of turkey farms have no choice but to sell the greediest of their gaggle now because they're growing too fast and, if left to their own devices, will be far too big for the Christmas market. Savvy shoppers can shave 50 per cent off their turkey bill by buying now.

2 Avoid wanton excess: Plan your food shopping with military precision, make lists and stick to them. Christmas is a time of wanton excess, so try not to shop like you're heading into a nuclear winter – well over 30 per cent of Christmas food bought by Irish householders will end up in the bin.

3 Embargo on presents: Introduce a present freeze – we don't mean be all Scrooge-like but think who you're buying for and ask if spending €25 on a bottle of whiskey for someone who'll spend €25 on a bottle of whiskey for you makes sense. Make a list of such people and contact some suggesting a joint embargo till the recession lifts – chances are they'll be delighted.

4 E-mail Christmas cards: Send fewer Christmas cards – they're dear, environmentally unfriendly and, with the omnipresent nature of e-mail, a complex way to tell friends you're thinking of them.

5 Shop online: The bargains to be made by shopping online are immense and, by shopping on the internet, at least 30 per cent can be shaved off the price of presents. December 6th will be the busiest online shopping day so, to beat the rush and guarantee delivery, do it well before then.