How cash-strapped Queenslanders are saving money but still having plenty of festive cheer

From Kris Kringle exchanges to second-hand Secret Santa and sacrificing adult presents to splurge on children, these are the ways thrifty Queenslanders are saving money but still having plenty of festive cheer.

Queenslanders are choosing quality of quantity when it comes to Christmas shopping for loved ones this year, with consumers hellbent on celebrating the festive season despite being restricted to tighter budgets.

Kris Kringle exchanges, beauty gift packs and sacrificing adult presents to splurge on children are just some of the ways those in the Sunshine State have changed their spending habits to make the most of their cost of living Christmas in 2023.

Kmart and Target chief executive John Gualtieri said families were being “driven by value” and putting more thought into their gift giving this holiday season.

“A lot of customers have shared that they expect an increase in Kris Kringle style gifting, which enables them to spend more money on their children,” Mr Gualtieri said.

“Toys and kids clothing are always incredibly popular with customers this time of year, with beauty and particularly beauty gifting packs, seeing a real spike for those shopping for older kids.”

Similar spend trends were seen by discount department competitor BIG W which reported a spike in toy and technology gifts as families continued to splurge on one-ff expensive items like the new PS5 Slim.

The new Sony PlayStation 5 Slim is proving popular this year.

Cheaper presents were also popular, with board games sales up 211 per cent and demand for ice makers up 240 per cent as Queenslanders prepare for summer activities.

“The trusted go-to LEGO was also one of the biggest family favourites this year,” a BIG W spokesman said.

“Customers are also leaning into summer fun at home with searches for the TikTok fave Bunch O Balloons range up 346 per cent on last summer.”

BIG W’s new MCoBeauty line emerged as the retailer’s Christmas bestseller, with the affordable makeup and skin products proving to be the perfect stocking filler or gift pack present.

“MCoBeauty is our second top searched brand for December so far, with searches up 731 per cent compared with last year,” he said.

Mothers shared their Christmas-saving secrets online, most agreeing they would buy for children only, while others opted to purchase second-hand.

“For material things like presents we have cut back this year,” Ginger Mendoza said, who purchased a kitchen toy for her toddler on Facebook Marketplace.

“This time we are just getting the kids presents and none for the adults.”

LEGO is as popular as ever.

Kirsty Byrant also limited her spending to children under 18.

“We are not buying for adults this year only kids u18 and I’ve been rounding up on my bank account daily and transferring the round up to another account,” she said.

Elle Coonan, from Toowong, said she wrapped her gifts in Woolworths paper grocery bags to save cash.

“I’m using the special Christmas patterned bags, the wrapping gets thrown out anyway so I don’t see the purpose in paying for paper. I’m also the type of person to save the paper and ribbon from floral arrangements so I imagine that will get a second life this year,” she said.

Ms Coonan said it would be her first time hosting Christmas lunch for her family and she planned to run it like a potluck.

“Everyone is assigned a dish or a contribution, like bring ice and an Esky, so that no one is unfairly out of pocket. I’m buying pre-made frozen canapes and seafood from Aldi, this will save me time and money and it takes the stress out of getting anything wrong,” she said.

“I’ve collected pine cones from the Kedron brook to decorate my table. my cutlery and crockery has come from the Ikea “as-is” section at 75%. I’m DIYing Christmas crackers with toilet paper roll and wrapping paper, the way I can fill them with things people will actually enjoy, like Lindt balls, and not junk that will be thrown out.”

Elle Coonan wrapping gifts for Christmas. Picture: John Gass

She said her family had agreed to do a second-hand Secret Santa.

“Presents can come from an op shop, from cash converters or from Facebook marketplace but they can’t be bought new,” she said.

Maryann Hine’s family is keeping it simple with Secret Santa gift exchange.

“My kids are all grown ups which makes it easier, but even the grandchildren said they wanted to do Secret Santa,” she said.

“The only kids in our family who are getting expensive gifts are getting them from their own parents.

“I think people tend to go a bit overboard with xmas (sic) presents anyway.”

Mr Gualtieri said Kmart and Target customers were making sentimental purchases that promoted “a sense of family and togetherness”.

“As part of this we’ve seen the continuation in the popularity of matching Christmas jumpers and outfits, a trend that is growing each year.” he said.

Despite tight budgets, Christmas-themed spending remained strong, with BIG W stores selling 118,000 trees.

“If we were to stack them all up, it would tower three times higher than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai,” a BIG W spokesman said.

Originally published as How cash-strapped Queenslanders are saving money but still having plenty of festive cheer