Christmas on a Budget

Christmas is a time of togetherness and gift giving. But the expenditure it can incur strikes fear into the heart of anyone on a strict budget.

We have found that the secret to affording a good Christmas for your family is to start buying gifts earlier in the year, when shops offer significant sales. However, because Christmas is now four weeks away, here are some great tips to help you navigate this tricky issue.

• Establish a budget for Christmas dinner and for each person’s presents, and stick to it!
• Resist the temptation to buy things using “Afterpay” or similar.
• Establish a “Kris Kringle” present giving arrangement with adults in your family, and set a budget limit of $10 per gift.
• Don’t fall into the trap of buying a host of low-quality goods in the belief that more presents equal more love. There is nothing more disappointing to a child than toys that break on Christmas day.
• Don’t think that your gifts have to be brand-new. Go to op shops and have a look at what’s available. Some cooking tins and utensils will be great for the baker in your family. Vintage tools will be great for the gardener, old books will be great for the book-worm, and an old cup and saucer filled with Christmas sweets will be great for those that are hard to buy for.
• Around Christmas time, the price of classic Christmas meats goes up. Turkey, ham on the bone and fresh cooked prawns can be quite costly. Think outside the box, and offer your family and guests several salads, accompanied by cold sliced ham and turkey (available at your local delicatessen). A large fruit filled trifle with lashings of custard and cream makes for a wonderful Christmas dessert that won’t break the bank.

Sticking to a budget means that you are living within your means and don’t end up paying for Christmas 2022 throughout 2023.

• Topics:

• Christmas
• Living and Lifestyle
• Food