Gifts
- Shop throughout the year at big sales, and put gifts away until Christmas. Keep a list with each person’s gifts, so you can keep track of progress.
- If you are planning to visit friends/relatives AFTER Christmas Day, you can pick up great bargains in the Boxing Day/post-Christmas sales.
- If you have a large circle of extended family or friends to buy gifts for, you might be able to reduce the stress and cost of Christmas for everyone if you suggest a change in the way you all give presents. For example, you could suggest that your group: Buy presents only for the children.
- Have a Kris Kringle, where everyone draws a name out of a hat and buys a present only for that person.
- Set a limit on the cost of presents.
- Buy gifts for families rather than individuals - something like a game that they can all enjoy.
- Not all gifts need to come from a shop: Home made gifts presented nicely are beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Give homemade fudge/shortbread/fruit-mince pies in cello-wrap and a ribbon. Make cards or put time and effort into the message in each person’s card – this will mean more than a fancy gift.
- Create a voucher for a particular service you could provide such as babysitting, lawn mowing, house painting, coaching, gardening, teaching a skill etc.
- Do 'The Stocking' – buy only what fits into a Christmas stocking. This can be the main Christmas present or given with others.
Food
- Most supermarkets offer Christmas Clubs to help you save for Christmas groceries. There are also Christmas Hamper schemes advertised in magazines and on TV – Be careful with these hamper schemes though, as some charge more than you would pay if you bought the same items from the supermarket yourself.
- Start buying non-perishable Christmas goodies (including wine & beer) over the months preceding Christmas. Put these away each week and you’ll be half way there by December.
- Share the responsibility for different dishes or courses amongst the family attending Christmas dinner.
Decorations & cards
- For great savings, buy Christmas necessities (such as cards, wrapping paper, ribbons and decorations) at post-Christmas sales.
- Check out the $2 shop for fun Christmas presents and decorations.
- Have children create Christmas cards and Christmas crackers. There are instructions for creating these items on the internet and in library books, plus the kids will love doing it.
- Where possible, have your gifts wrapped at the store or mall where they were purchased.
The views or information given in this article are not necessarily the views of AMP or AMP Adviser Businesses. It provides general financial information and is not intended to provide financial advice. For personalised financial advice, we recommend you contact us.