Christmas Budget: 5 Tips For A Money Savvy Christmas
We do Christmas a little differently in Australia. Backyard cricket, days at the beach and (if you are unlucky) sunburn. But do you think about your budget over Christmas? Or is that January’s problem? To avoid a financial hangover in the New Year, we’ve put together a few quick tips to help you plan a cheap Christmas budget this year.
Overview:
- Make a list (and check it twice!)
- Make rules for your Christmas present buying
- Shop ahead
- Make your own gifts
- Clean out your clutter for cash
5 tips for a cheap Christmas budget:
1. Make a list (and check it twice!)
Planning ahead and making a Christmas budget is top priority! You should put a budget next to each item. The list should include everything from presents to food, entertainment and travel.
If you’re planning a big family Christmas, it’s a good budgeting idea to split the costs and decide ahead of time who is bringing what. That way you save money and time (it’s not just 1 person putting everything together).
2. Make rules for your Christmas present buying
You could agree on a set price per present so everyone can afford to bring something and not feel bad about the price. Or you could do a Secret Santa for 1 family member (instead of all of them!). Or maybe this year you agree to only buy for children and try this fun present-exchanging game for the adults.
3. Shop ahead to keep the Christmas budget low
Most shops have great bargains in the run-up to Christmas. Do your research and even shop online to help stick to the Christmas budget. See our list of 12 Australian made Christmas gift hampers under $35 for some budget Christmas present ideas.
4. Make your own gifts
You could paint a mug, bake cookies, or learn how to knit/crochet and make them something personal. If that sounds like too much work, check out our list of 15 cheap but nice Christmas gifts for more inspiration.
5. Clean out your clutter for cash
There’s still time to bag some extra cash to boost your festive finances. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. Why not do a good clean out and sell those items just taking up space in your cupboards? We have a bunch of ways for you to add to your Christmas budget: 25 Ways to Make Extra Cash For Christmas.
Need some last-minute cash to increase your Christmas budget?
Take out an easy Christmas loan online with Swoosh and borrow between $2,200-$5,000 in time for the special holiday. Apply online today and we’ll get you sorted ASAP.
