Cheap ways to escape the winter blues

As the economic doom and gloom continues, the idea of a winter holiday can become more desirable even as it seems further out of reach. but there are ways to cut the cost of a winter break.

First consider when you want to go. If you are prepared to fly on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve you can save yourself a fortune, says Which? Money. When comparing flights to Buenos Aires flying on December 25 and 31 on Expedia.com, it was £490 cheaper than flying on December 20 or 27.

You can also cut the cost of accommodation by house swapping. Swap you house with a New Yorker and you can save £1,000 on a week's trip to the Big Apple, compared with staying there in a three-star hotel. Which? Money recommends joining www.homelink.org.uk to find fellow house swappers. Finally, enjoy the financial protection of paying by credit card, without paying the surcharge levied by many travel firms, by paying with a Visa debit card "Visa cards are covered by a chargeback scheme, which lets you claim compensation from your card provider" should something go wrong says Which? Money

Holiday With Friends
Whether you are going abroad or staying in the UK, you can often get reduced rates for party bookings, says Stephen Ellis in the The Sunday Telegraph. For example, cross channel ferry companies offer deals that cover all those in a car, so fill up the car and dilute the cost.

Cash in on your china.
Chinasearch.co.uk buys and sells second-hand and discontinued china, pottery, glassware and cutlery. "So if you have a tea or dinner service getting dusty in the back of a cupboard, it may be worth getting in touch for a quote" says Melanie Wright in The Sunday Telegraph.

Get the Best shopping deals.
Find the best bargains of the day at www.offeroftheday.co.uk. The site updates prices and the stock levels eight times a day, so what you see is what you get. "you can browse through reductions on goods from a massive range of high street shops and online-vendors" Says Jasmine Birtles in the Daily Express.