Tip Store: Christmas: Hampers

Setting Up Your Own Christmas Hamper Fund

​With Christmas fast approaching I have started to notice Hamper King and Chrisco advertising about their 'great' deals where you pay them $X amount per week and get a hamper with assorted items in it and they get delivered in November to early December. A traditional Christmas food hamper can range between $12 a week ($625 all up) to more than $21 a week ($1131 all up) although you can get less or more expensive . However if you looked at the products you get for these prices you find that you are actually paying way more than it's worth and you probably won't use more than 80-90% of the products. Rather than pay to these companies each week, why not open a bank account that has a high interest rate and deposit the $12- $21 a week into the account? By the end of the twelve months not only will you have $625-$1,131 but the interest you earn too. If you set it up to mature in early December you can take the money you have and do a food shop (or shop online if its going to be a huge shop or you have difficulty getting around the shops so its more convenient to you). Not only will you get way more for your money, literally saving up to and beyond hundreds of dollars (especially if you look in the catalogues first to check out specials) but you know you won't have those extra products that you paid for but won't use as you will only buy things you know you will definitely eat/use.
​Contributed by Elissa, Noarlunga Downs

​DIY Christmas Hampers Delivered to Your Door

​DIY Christmas Hampers Delivered to Your Door Instead of signing up to a Christmas hamper club just so you save all the rush in the shops this time of year, next year why not try buying a $10 or $20 gift card each time you shop during the year to put aside, then use them all at once by doing a big grocery shop with either Coles or Woolworths online. You get to pick what products you will actually use (not what they pick for you). You don't need to find a large amount of money in one hit or put it on a credit card, just buy whatever amount card you can afford that week. Your groceries are delivered to you (no temptation at the shops, no crowds, no driving and you can even pick your delivery time). You aren't paying nearly twice the price for the same items! (Have you ever worked out what the actual cost of those hamper products are?) It may be too late for this year, but why not try it next year to save the stress that we all put up with. And why pay a premium price for a convenience when there is an alternative?
​Contributed by Erin, Abernethy

​$20 a Month Christmas Hamper Fund

​A few years back I signed up to one of the Christmas hamper companies. I paid my $20 a month for a whole year and a few weeks before Christmas I received my goodies. I started to realise that I could have purchased a lot more with my $20 a month than what was in the boxes. So the following year, instead of the Christmas hamper, every month I bought a $20 Coles Myer gift card and stashed it away at home. This gave me $240 to spend over Christmas at any of the stores the card is accepted at. I didn't notice the $20 a month but I sure noticed not having to pay for groceries over the Christmas period!
​Contributed by Vicki, Banyo

​Make Your Own Chrisco Hamper and Save

If you are considering buying Chrisco or Castle Hampers for next Christmas, take some time to compare prices at the supermarket. Work out how much you would spend and then each time you shop at the supermarket buy a gift card for that amount (that you would have paid for the hampers) and put the gift cards away. By November next year you will have a good amount of money on your gift cards and can buy whatever you want.
​Contributed by Maree, Burrawang

​DIY Christmas Hampers

​I have previously ordered a Chrisco hamper and while it was great to have all the extra supplies for Christmas, you do pay top dollar and if there are a few items you don't like or use it really puts the price up. The last two years I have made a list of everything I would need for Christmas using the hamper catalogues as a guide. Starting in January I began buying all the non perishables such as paper goods, cleaners and toiletries, just a few each week, taking advantage of specials, then on to tinned and dry goods, making sure the use-by is at least January next year. Meats to be frozen and vegetables will be bought Oct/Nov, leaving only a few fresh items to be bought before the day. On weeks when you don't buy hamper items, buy a supermarket gift voucher to use for the more expensive meats later. Box it all up as you buy, tick off your list as you go, and have everything you need for December.
​Contributed by Jenny, Rowville

​Groceries and Gifts

​Many people have discussed the pros and cons of Chrisco (and other brand) hampers. Although I have never purchased one I believe that pre packaged hampers always have things in them that are just not suitable for everyone (for whatever the case). As I shop at Coles Myer I have found this year by purchasing a gift voucher (whatever amount I can afford) during my grocery shopping I have been able to have a nice little "Christmas egg" to purchase food (that satisfies everyone!) and presents from the variety of Coles-Myer outlets. In December I have been able to start grocery and present shopping with the vouchers. Also picking up things when they are on special (both groceries and presents from the chain of stores) is an added bonus (as the gift voucher value seems to go a little bit further!) It certainly makes a difference!
​Contributed by Desley, Forest Lake

​Gifts for Christmas

I make my own hampers for Christmas. Gift boxes range from 50c from The Warehouse, buy six or more bottles of wine from Safeway and get 20% off, bake your own cookies, chocolates and small Christmas puddings. I find that I spend about $15 per family for Christmas and there is enough in the hampers to keep everyone happy throughout the holiday period.
​Contributed by Kirsty, Melbourne

​Homemade Hampers

Our parents are in their 70's and so for Christmas this year I bought at the op shop 2 baskets for $1 each which I painted red and made a bow for each one with gold ribbon I bought at the cheap shop. Each fortnight as I shop I buy a little jar of jam, little packets of tea, and little jars of pickles etc and put them in the baskets. The baskets are filling up nicely, we don't notice the cost of the few extras and I think by the time we fill the bottom of the baskets with shredded paper from work which I have spray painted gold and add a few homemade sweets and mini plum puddings it will be like a lucky dip for them all when they join us for Christmas Day.
​Contributed by Lyn

Save Money on Christmas Hampers by Not Buying From Catalogues

I just had a brainwave. lol :) I have been contemplating about whether to sign up with various companies that send out catalogues offering hampers and other gifts. I have talked about it with my partner and he says not to. That's easy for him to say as he's not the one that has to buy birthday gifts and Christmas presents for his family with no input at all as to what they might like as they all live in another state. Each birthday, Easter, Christmas and other gift giving times, I rack my brain so hard trying to think of what to buy each person in his family for a present. I am thinking this year that I might have a look at the various hampers and gifts that are available and then make up my own. I'm certain that I could buy the products more cheaply than some of the businesses that offer to deliver them. I know it's probably an easy way for some people to make a forced saving each week by giving the various companies a certain amount each week. In the end it's not really saving you any money when that money could easily be in your own bank account and earning you money with the interest that it would earn, instead of being in the companies accounts and earning them money. I've had a look at the various catalogues and most of the electrical items are very over priced. As I have said, I have had a look at the various catalogues and have seen how much each hamper or gift would cost per week. Say, for instance one hamper or gift is a total of $50.00 all up. I plan on putting aside say, $5.00 each shopping trip and buying a few items for the hampers. I have got some baskets that I have bought from Red Dot, Crazy Clarks, WA Salvage and other cheap shops like those ones. Each time I do the shopping I then only have to put the products into the baskets. When Christmas time comes, all I have to do is to wrap them up, make a card and give them to the people.
​Contributed by Kaye, Dianella

​Order Hampers

​I have found saving for Christmas easier when I order hampers in February and pay for them weekly. When Christmas comes around I have spare cash for anything I need to buy.
​Contributed by Jo

​Green Bag Hampers

​Approximate $ Savings: $2-3 I'm giving my four families Christmas hampers I have made my self and instead of buying baskets or Christmas bags, I have used coloured shopping bags and that way they will be able to use the bags at the supermarket after Christmas for shopping.
​Contributed by June, Mooroopna