It is a tradition for Australian shoppers to spend billions on Christmas. The festive season has an annual habit of becoming a costly splurge. So if you are wanting to indulge in Christmas without the credit card hangover in the New Year. Here are my top 5 tips to help tighten Santa’s belt…
MAKE A LIST:
Make a list of all the people you need to buy a gift for, no matter how small the gift may be. Include ideas on what to give each person, along with the maximum amount that you are willing to spend. Stick to your list! It is easy to get carried away for Christmas, and following you list will help you avoid spontaneous purchases, buyer’s remorse and also keep track of your spending.
GO ONLINE:
Shop online or browse catalogues. Utilising google as a search engine can help you compare prices, find the best price and special deals can help you save a bunch, especially on those big ticket items. Online can also be great for purchasing if you like to avoid the rush and chances of impulse buying altogether! Though take care to also factor in delivery costs and time frame when purchasing online.
START EARLY:
Start early with your shopping to avoid the last minute rush, as this generally means you will be paying more than what you had planned as you are under pressure to buy whatever is leftover! Buying in advance you can be selective with choice, sales, and it can also help to spread the cost. If you have left it to late this year, start now and stock up for next year utilising after Christmas sales.
GET CREATIVE:
Put your skills to use! Or if you don’t have any… Learn! Take a local class or search on wikihow. Hand crafted gifts can be lovely to receive, and thanks to a growing obsession with all things crafty, artisan or homespun it’s trendy! Food and wine are always appreciated, especially around Christmas time as it can really help fill the table, so if you can bake, fish or buy bulk put together some hampers!
SMART TRADITIONS:
Consider starting some new Christmas traditions, get the whole family involved to have fun and save some money! Try a family secret Santa, it’s a great way to save with buying only one quality gift as opposed to many gifts for everyone. Start a communal baking tradition such as gingerbread houses, Christmas pudding or treats, to help replace deserts, fillers and even presents. Share the load, if Christmas is at your place ask family members to contribute and each bring a special plate to share.
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