Postage
Send e-cards rather than posting actual cards. The cards themselves can be expensive and so are the stamps and if you are sending gifts by post, choose appropriately. Don’t buy heavy things or the postage costs will skyrocket.
Decorations
Resist the urge to buy new decorations every year. Christmas decorations become associated with memories, so it’s nice to be able to pull them out each year. You can also have fun making (rather than buying) decorations with the kids – even more memories!
Gifts
- Give sentimental gifts, such as a framed family photograph.
- Gifts of time are always welcome, such as vouchers for gardening, babysitting or dog walking.
- Edible gifts are always popular; try jam, biscuits, pickles mince pies or cakes – the options are endless.
- Suggest a family or friends ‘Secret Santa’ where everyone buys just one gift. Put names into a hat and you draw the name of the person you are buying for.
- Try an op shop Christmas – the rule is that all gifts must come from an op shop. You’ll be amazed at what you can find, you save money and are helping charities in the process.
- Make a list of everything you need, allocate a budget, and stick to it. Don’t be tempted by early sales or Christmas ‘bargains’ that aren’t on your list.
Food and drink
Suggest spreading the load this Christmas, where everyone contributes. Regardless of whether you’re having a traditional Christmas lunch with turkey and all the trimmings, or a laid-back barbecue, ask everyone to bring something.
Make a Christmas meal plan and write a list of everything you’ll need. Try not to buy ‘just in case’ items; if they’re not used, they’ll just go to waste. You can take advantage of 2 for 1 offers in the supermarkets, or weekly specials – but only if those items are on your list. It’s not a saving if you don’t need it, or you don’t use it.
Gift wrap
- Buy plain brown paper and decorate with twine.
- Use new tea towels as a wrapping and make them part of your gift.
- Have a painting day with the kids and make your own wrapping paper – much nicer than store bought.
And finally avoid ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes or paying for everything with a credit card– it’s just delaying the financial pain!
