Savvy Shopper: Ten ways to have a magical Christmas on a budget

The Christmas countdown is on and expenses are piling up. Here’s how to do the festive season in style without spending big bucks

The countdown is on. Not that many sleeps until Santa comes! I have some super sneaky ideas on how to make Christmas still Jagermeister fancy on a goon-bag budget. Here are my top 10 budget tips:

1. DON’T BUY A HAM

By Boxing Day, you’ll be sick of the sight of ham. And that full leg of ham costs a fortune. I buy ham off the bone by the slice at the deli. Same stuff, sure, more expensive. But I’m only buying, say, 500g. It all gets eaten, works out cheaper and no waste. 

2. AVOID GIFT GIVING GONE MAD

The major cause of stress is having to buy gifts for people you haven’t seen since you played doctors and nurses at your mum’s house. If you MUST buy gifts, put all the names in a hat and purchase just one gift – and limit that gift to $20.

Chrismtas doesn’t have to cost the earth.

3. BUY GIFT CARDS

I know this isn’t “personal”, but if you are buying for tweens or teens, this is the way to go. Nothing you can buy them will be cool anyway. Let them buy their own. It might not save you money but it will save you heartache.

4. DITCH EXPENSIVE BOILED CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Christmas in Australia is hot! Grab two litres of good quality vanilla ice-cream, mix it through with a small fruitcake that has been broken up into small chunks, and pour it into a loaf tin mould. Pull it out just before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and cut into slices – you have Frozen Christmas Pudding. It’s about a tenth of the price of those big fancy Christmas puddings.

5. COOKIES IN A JAR

This is perfect for neighbours or school teachers. Grab, say, flour, sugar, oats and cocoa, layer the ingredients carefully in a mason jar, tie with a ribbon and add the cookie recipe to the card. Looks good – and works out under $2.50 each to make.

Fill Christmas stockings with essentials that your kids need.

6. USE COVID AS AN EXCUSE TO STAY HOME

This is the perfect year to have a legitimate excuse not to visit extended family. Instead, stay home as a family and enjoy Christmas as a unit. Let the kids play with their gifts, listen to Michael Buble, eat and drink then have a nap and watch Netflix. Not only does this save you time and money, but your sanity will also thank me!

7. USE ESSENTIALS FOR STOCKING STUFFERS

Stocking stuffers never used to be a thing here in Australia. But now not only are we up for the cost of Christmas gifts, we also have to fill a bedazzled sock with stuff too. Don’t get lollies and trinkets that they’ll break in a day. Fill it with things they need. My boys will be getting deodorant, socks and jocks in theirs.

Regifting is good for the environment.

8. REGIFTING IS NOT SORDID

I regift constantly! I think regifting is environmentally friendly, cheap and a fantastic way to get stuff out of my house. The secret to a good regift is to ensure the person you give it to isn’t the person who gave it to you – and put some thought into who receives it. You may not have appreciated the gift, but it doesn’t mean the giftee won’t.

9. FREE ACTIVITIES

Every community has a list of free activities they hold over the Christmas period. There are usually fireworks or a community Christmas party or movie nights etc. See what the local library has on, especially kids’ activities. Take advantage of these community nights to have a cheap (or even free) night out.

10. CHECK OUT THE DISCOUNT STORES

There is a discount store in nearly every shopping centre. You would be surprised at some of the goodies you will find in there. Great for cheap Christmas wrapping paper, they have kids’ gifts and are a really good stockists for arts and craft supplies, decorations, serving platters etc.

Jody Allen is the founder of mothers’ network Stay At Home Mum. Find her at @StayHomeMum on Facebook, @jodyallen.stayathomemum on Instagram, @JodyAllen_SAHM on Twitter

Originally published as Savvy Shopper: Ten ways to have a magical Christmas on a budget