Visiting family and friends around Christmas time can take a big chunk out of your budget, especially when you've left buying your train ticket to the last minute. Make plans now for who you're seeing when, and get your travel sorted. After all, the earlier you book, the cheaper it is — 51 percent cheaper on average, compared with a non-Advance fare, according to Trainline.
The cheapest fixed-time Advance tickets are released around 12 weeks before you travel. These are limited, so get in there quick. Check out National Rail to see how far in advance you can book with your train company of choice, and register with Trainline to get an email alert saying when Advance tickets are on sale for your route.