Sentry Page Protection

 Tip Store: Christmas: Planning and Saving

STAYING LOYAL CERTAINLY HELPS MY CHRISTMAS GROCERY SAVINGS!

​Staying loyal helped me save an enormous amount this year. Yesterday I went to Woolworths to do my main December AND Christmas grocery shop. My total savings for my grocery shop was a whopping $310.47! I hold a Woolworths Everyday Rewards Card and last year I decided that instead of taking $10 off my shopping after it had accrued, I would save it for my Christmas groceries. So… with shopping predominantly at my local Woollies, at the Big W next door and buying most of my alcohol at BWS, I put away an amazing $170! Plus, I also have my mobile phone pre-paid account through Woolworths. Yesterday, coming grocery shopping, I bought up big, including the extra gifts you need to have under the tree for unexpected people (I bought chocolates – half price!), the extra chocolates I put into my son’s Christmas sack and some extra bits and pieces I was running low on (that were on sale, knowing I had the banked money to count on). My total grocery shop came to $374.14 and with the weekly specials I had already saved $120.00. I then receive a 10% discount on my groceries (due to having the Woolworths mobile account) once per month at a time of my choosing – naturally I took it yesterday (-$37.41), less my “banked” money of $170, and my total grocery cost came to $166.72, instead of $374.13, a saving of $207.41! Yippee! I had also banked a number of credits for the glassware promotion Woolworths are currently running – I received two containers (with a retail cost of $55.00) for nothing/zip/zero and I still have credits to spend. On top of all of that, I was also getting reward points on my groceries towards next year’s Christmas shopping! I was so excited. Staying loyal certainly works out well for me. I need to purchase groceries, and whilst I do purchase the odd groceries from Coles and IGA, the majority of my shopping is from Woollies and the benefits do add up. Merry Christmas everyone.
Contributed by Michelle Everingham

Christmas Saving is Easy with 13 Months in a Year

When working out my annual budget, I divide the year into 13 months. Christmas and New Year count as an extra 'month' in the year, when you think of the entertaining, gift giving, wrappings etc.
Contributed by Meri Fricker

Christmas Shopping Tip

If hosting Christmas you can purchase non perishable items months in advance. I usually buy 2 or 3 items each visit and store. Come Christmas time you won't have as much to purchase and the shopping budget won't look so bad.
​Contributed by Monica Coysh

​Building a Christmas Cash Stash

My husband and I are both paid on the same day each fortnight (he used to be paid monthly...nightmare!!), so at the end of each fortnightly budget cycle, any cash(notes) we have left over is immediately placed somewhere safe as savings for Christmas, this can be banked if you feel that would be a safer choice. Any coins are placed in a large money box and banked at a later stage also. We started a little late this year, but it is the first Christmas that I can remember feeling totally stress free about money! We also paid for both our work Christmas party functions out of our stash of cash!
​Contributed by Karyn Jansen

​Cashed up for Christmas

​To prevent a Christmas debt hangover, I have started to buy gift cards each time I get paid. I buy what I can afford, one week it may be a $20 card, the next it may be $100. I put them away and by Christmas I have hundreds of dollars available for presents, food, alcohol and anything else I need to buy for the festive season. There is a wide range of cards available now, from store specific cards to VISA and MasterCard, so your not limited to certain stores. I find it's an alternative to savings accounts and if I have a lean week where I'm a bit short for groceries, I can quickly use a card to make up the shortfall.
​Contributed by Angie Perea

​Money for Sales and Christmas

​Approximate $ Savings: $500

Talking of Christmas in July reminded me of what I do to have money when sales or Christmas comes along. I buy a gift card when I do my weekly shopping, or when I go to a major hardware store. I don't miss the $20 each week. Then I use these cards when sales are on and last Christmas the cards helped us through two very expensive weeks without touching our savings. Twenty dollars in a purse disappears very quickly, the cards tend not to be used except in an 'emergency'. Any cards left over can be used as Christmas gifts.
​Contributed by Iva Steinke

The Forty Percent Christmas Club

Approximate $ Savings: 40% off Groceries

Each week in our grocery catalogues we see lots of items on special at half price, so my best friend and I came up with an idea to capitalise on those special prices. We each put aside $10 a week towards our own Christmas grocery shopping club. For the first few months or so we just bank the money. Then, towards the middle of the year, when we see a half price special we purchase those items and put them aside for Christmas. We start by purchasing the items which have the longest shelf life first: tinned food, deodorants, washing powder, shampoos, oil etc. As Christmas gets closer we start buying items that have a shorter self life e.g. chips, biscuits, sweets etc. We take it in turns to shop each week and there is only one rule we follow - find the best bargains from our weekly catalogues and try to save at least on average 40% off the original price. We are lucky that we share the same interest and likes, so if we see for example red wine on special, and then a further 30% off catalogue special, plus my friend's daughter works for a leading store so she gets a further 5% off - that's when we buy it. We worked out that if we put $10 aside each week for forty-five weeks a year (allowing for a break over Christmas) we would have $450 to spend on our Christmas period groceries. And if we could save close to 40% on average off our Christmas shopping that's around $180 saved. The best part is that it is a lot of fun. The kids get in on it too, they keep an eye out for the best specials, and let us know about them.
​Contributed by Fiona, West Haven

​IGA Christmas Club Beats Hamper Companies Hands Down

Approximate $ Savings: $500
I wanted to tell you a wonderful way of saving up for Christmas through the IGA Christmas Club where they deduct money from your account weekly/fortnightly/monthly and then at Christmas you can spend it at an IGA store. You have up to twelve months to spend the money and it is a much better alternative to these hamper clubs where I feel the goods are very overpriced especially when a lot of the Christmas food comes on special in December. Also IGA have a voucher system where you buy vouchers for $10/$20/$50 or whatever you can afford and then in December you can buy your Christmas goodies using the vouchers and you get 5% off your purchases. I have used the voucher system the last couple of years and when I do my shopping each week I buy a $10 voucher so that at Christmas when I go to buy my hams or whatever I don't notice much of an increase in my grocery spending.
​Contributed by Michelle, Algester

​Grocery Change Pays for Christmas Shopping

Each time you shop at your regular store for groceries and you have extra grocery money left over save it until you have $10.00 and then buy a gift card. Keep saving these throughout the year and by the end of the year you will have extra $$$ to complete that additional Christmas shopping.
​Contributed by Karen, Marsden

​Saving for Holidays and Celebrations All Year Long

​I've been planning ahead for next Christmas. How? Well, Christmas is always expensive no matter how you try to get around it right? I've been saving all of my loose change, whatever I have spare at the end of the week. Last year I saved $200 and used this to buy my husband's Christmas presents with. Definitely takes the stress out of coming up with the extra money. I'm also putting away $2 per week in a separate jar, as last Easter we spent $100 on Easter eggs. You won't even notice it, but you'll appreciate it when the occasion pops up as you'll already have the money put aside! By the time Easter comes around again I'll have the money ready to use, and won't need to use my general savings! Also, save all your cans and bottles because last time I cashed mine in I got $40 back! Good for the environment too!
​Contributed by Judith, Greenwith

​Saving with Gift Cards

Well with Christmas over now is the time to start to think ahead. Just think of gifts, all the extra food, drinks etc, way too much. This year I am going to buy gift cards ($20.00 a fortnight) from places I would shop, such as Coles, and keep them till the end of the year. You can get gift cards from everywhere these days so not only saving for food but gifts too.
​Contributed by Maryann, Blue Haven

Editors Note: Just be sure that you are buying from well known, reputable retailers and check the expiry date on the cards. Then when you put them away, make it somewhere you'll remember. There's nothing worse than faithfully buying gift cards only to have the retailer go out of business or change the terms and conditions or forget where you've put them. Cath

​Six Months Until Christmas and the Shopping Frenzy

Approximate $ Savings: $400.00

​ I know Christmas is still 6 months away but I have nearly finished my Christmas shopping and have saved myself over 50% off the cost. This is what I do. 1)I buy my cards and Christmas wrap after Christmas when they are up to 60% off. Same with Christmas decorations such as tinsel and ornaments. 2)I have a list of names and ages of people we buy for as well as items they may like to receive. 3)I read all junk mail and circle any ideas for gifts. Target have just had a big toy sale and I saved a fortune with most toys nearly half price. Best and Less had rugby league apparel marked down. I bought a Titans jumper for my nephew (in the next size up)for $15.00. 4)I often go to garage sales and find brand name clothes in new condition for next to nothing or other items still in packaging that would make great gifts. 5) Then I wrap them and put them away until Christmas. The savings are fantastic but best of all I don't have to contend with hundreds of desperate shoppers rushing around before Christmas.
- Contributed by Sherril, Ballina

​Christmas Club

​We've formally or informally done a Christmas Club the last several years. I love it. It beats having regular bills and extra Christmas bills to pay in January or longer and possible emergencies like major car repairs hitting all at once. It gets the new year off to a great start. I write out what I'm taking out of my pay every two weeks and do that consistently all year. I have a list of all our Christmas expenses, from gifts to immediate and extended family, friends, teachers when applicable, the Christmas tree, work Christmas party, extra food, Christmas cards if I'm mailing out that year, possible kids' friends' gifts/parties and charity. I wouldn't have it any other way.
​Contributed by Sharon, Dapto

​DIY Christmas Savings Plan

Approximate $ Savings: $500

​ Each week when I go grocery shopping I purchase a gift voucher to the value of $10. At Christmas I cash in all my vouchers (approximately $500) to purchase all the food I need to see my family over the holidays. I also buy meat throughout the year at a local butcher because I can get the exact quantity I want (instead of six steaks when I only want four), the quality is better and they have a Christmas Club.
​Contributed by Lorna, Fairview Park

​DIY Christmas Club

To help with the cost of Christmas food, my mum and I each put away $2 a week in a money box. At the end of the year we have $208 to spend on the Christmas lunch, a nice ham, turkey and all the extras. $2 a week is not missed but makes a huge difference come December and it's simpler than the hamper companies and we can buy exactly what we want!
​- Contributed by Janene, Quakers Hill

​Christmas 2009 "Bring It On"

We have a large family and Christmas time can be difficult especially if we have not managed to save through the year and even if we do there always seems to be something that comes up that needs money spent on. So this year we have decided to do something a little different. Starting now January every time I go grocery shopping I buy a $20 gift card and put the card away at home in a shoe box so come December I would have saved approx $1000 in gift cards which can be then spent on presents or food. We will also put away an extra $10 a week for a few months to get the children's school books so we are not stressed over that. And if we see something during the year that someone wants we can get it then and put it away. That way there is no dipping into other bill money to get it and no dishonour fees when we have to close the Christmas account early. This will take away so much of the Christmas and New Year stress and actually enjoy it all. We have started already and we really don't notice the $20 each week.
​- Contributed by Rebekah, Jimboomba

​Santa Gives Vouchers to Save the Budget During the Holidays

Approximate $ Savings: $200-$300

Every month I buy a $20 gift voucher from the supermarket so in December I can pay for one whole weeks groceries and free up $200 of cash which is always needed at that time of year. I also buy entertainment vouchers for the kids during the year eg movie vouchers, Hard Rock ice cream, McDonalds etc and Santa gives them in their Christmas stockings. Then during the school holidays paid entertainment is already there waiting to use and it doesn't strain the budget.
​Contributed by Liz, Gladstone

​Start Putting Money Aside for Christmas Early in the Year

Start putting money aside for Christmas. If you haven't already started doing this, there are several simple measures you can take that will make a big difference to your festive bank balance. Set up an automatic payment, to be deducted from your weekly wages to go into a Christmas savings club with your bank. No matter how small the amount, it will add up nicely by the time Christmas comes. Otherwise, save all your loose change in a tin and don't touch it until December! If rent bills are usually hanging over your head along with all your other Christmas expenses try this: throughout the year I pay an extra $5.00 on my rent every week. While I don't notice the extra $5.00 going out, they add up through the months so that when Christmas week arrives, I am in credit and do not have to worry about paying rent over the Christmas season!
​Contributed by Kaye, Dianella

​Weekly Gift Voucher Helps at Christmas time

Every time I go shopping I include a voucher for $10 or $20 in my purchase. These are normally supermarket vouchers, department store vouchers, etc. I don't notice the extra purchase when I shop, but when December approaches I either use the vouchers to stock up for Christmas food and goodies, or give them as gifts. Woolworths, in particular, have vouchers which can be redeemed at a wide variety of outlets.
​Contributed by Kaye, Dianella