Christmas

Budgeting and Saving Money

• If you manage to get a good bargain on a present you don’t need to buy more presents for the person on your list to bring their value up to the original figure you had planned to spend. If you do, it defeats the purpose of buying a bargain. Keep the money you have saved for something else.

Shopping

• Don’t leave your shopping to the last minute. Buy presents early to avoid inflated prices or last minute rushed purchases. If time is an issue, mark time in your from September onwards to get out there and wander around the shops.

Presents

• Spend quality time with your family and friends as a substitute to spending lots of money on them. Playing a good board game, having a sing along to a Christmas CD or musing over a jigsaw puzzle can give hours of pleasure and meaning to your loved ones.

Christmas Feasts

• Consider making a Christmas hamper of goodies by buying a few extra bits and pieces with each of your weekly grocery shops from now until Christmas. Some great items you can start to buy early can include chips, lollies / sweets, dips, drinks, crackers, tinned fruit, tinned ham, chocolates etc. Make sure you check use by dates though.

Entertainment

• Take advantage of the free fun filled family activities around the suburbs such as movies, concerts, carols in the park. Visit the website of your local council to see what is on in your area.

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