Get three quotes, compare costs, and don’t be afraid to challenge fees

Get a Ghic card, use the flight compensation scheme, or claim refunds via your credit card provider

Overseas charges for credit and debit cards vary, as do exchange rates – and don’t forget duty-free allowance limits

Shop around for car rental prices and rail passes, and consider whether to take your own bike or hire one there

Compare prices for official and off-site airport parking, and make sure your passport is still valid for travel

Know your cabin baggage limits, check insurance cover and roaming charges – and find someone to care for your cat

When an essential appliance breaks down, it can be a shock – but there may be lower-cost options such as secondhand

Insiders from sites such as eBay, Depop and Vinted give advice on how to get the best cash for preloved items

Enter lots of contests, think of prizes as potential presents but beware of scammers

A cat will set you back thousands over its lifetime, but good insurance and buying secondhand can help you save

Work your way in for a free pass, club together with friends for gear – and don’t forget the toilet rolls and wet wipes

Learn the right way to haggle, take a load of small change … and get in early

Have a bidding strategy and a targeted approach … and train the algorithms

The are so many people involved, and so many things that can go wrong, so above all else … stay cool

It’s still the magic milestone when senior citizenship begins … with a host of money-saving offers to take advantage of

Take advantage of refills offered by top brands, dupes of high-end products and sharing your regime

From renovating existing wood and plastic to scouring the local tip for anything that can be recycled

From simple lifestyle changes to choosing the right bedding and gadgets that can help

From getting affordable professional help to becoming part of a support community, don’t suffer in silence

With just days to go it’s best to act now, do your homework and don’t panic