5 ways to avoid budget blowout during the festive season

Christmas is just around the corner and for many families, this can be an expensive time of year. But, it doesn’t have to be. If you follow our tips you can avoid a budget blowout and still have an enjoyable and memorable festive season.

Do some Christmas budget planning

If you’re well-prepared for the festive season, you will be unlikely to overspend on last-minute rush purchases. For this, you need to make a few lists that will include everything that you’re going to need.

Make a list of the food you’re going to be preparing for Christmas and then list all the ingredients that you’re going to need. It can be useful to keep an eye out for specials and purchase a few staples well beforehand.
Create a Christmas shopping list for each person who you’ll be buying for. Then, list the type of gifts that may be appropriate. You can take this list with you every time you go shopping and keep an eye out for special deals on the items you want to buy.

Don’t waste your money on expensive wrapping paper

Fancy wrapping paper can be expensive and it usually just ends up in the recycling bin. This year, consider using just brown paper and ribbon or string to wrap your gifts. Alternatively, use things like tea towels, scarves, or even pretty fabric sarongs to wrap your presents.

How to spend less money on Christmas gifts

Shopping for Christmas gifts doesn’t have to break the budget if you’re savvy and plan ahead. With the cost of living already high, it’s not necessary to buy expensive gifts if you’re prepared to shop around a little.

Shop online for bargains. Many online retailers will have special deals for the gifts you want to buy. If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save.
Agree to only buy gifts for the kids. This will require some communication with your extended family to ensure that everyone understands to only buy gifts for the kids and not the adults.
Create DIY vouchers as gifts. Giving a little of your time to your family and friends is often more appreciated than the gifts you buy them. You can create some fun redeemable vouchers for things like babysitting, a couple of hours weeding the garden, providing a few home-cooked meals, or doing a little housework.
Go retro with your gifts. These days, shopping in op shops and other secondhand stores is all the rage and you’ll be surprised what you can find if you spend a little time browsing. 

Do your Christmas shopping on a budget

If you’re entertaining the family this year, you can do your Christmas shopping on a budget by incorporating these tips.

Share the load. To make entertaining more affordable, ask each of your guests to bring just one dish that can be shared with everyone.
Don’t over-cater. When estimating how much food you’re going to need, calculate quantities carefully so that you don’t end up with food that will be thrown out.
Check the catalogues for specials. There’s no reason why you can’t spread your shopping across different shops. If you get things on special by visiting two or three different supermarkets, the savings will definitely add up. And, don’t forget to check out your local smaller retailers too.

Get creative with your Christmas gifts

Handmade, home-grown, and home-baked gifts are often much more appreciated than mass-produced and store-bought ones. So, if you can spare the time and can get the family involved, consider making all your gifts this year.

Set aside a weekend for some baking fun. If you’re a whizz in the kitchen, gather some ingredients and spend the weekend making delicious baked goods such as biscuits, cupcakes, or mince pies for your family members and friends.
Make up some pretty baskets for home-grown produce. If you’re a vegetable gardener and you have plenty of fresh produce growing, make up some nice baskets beforehand and then fill them with fresh home-grown goods to gift.
Get out the knitting needles. If you love to knit or crochet, why not buy some pretty wool and make a variety of colourful beanies or soft toys. 
Make jams, chutneys, or tomato sauce. Dig out your time-tested recipes to make some delicious jams or chutneys for your family and friends. If you don’t grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can often visit farmers' markets or large produce stores and buy these in bulk. Then, scour your local op shops or discount stores for pretty jars to put them in. 

There’s no need to blow the budget this Christmas if you use some of these savvy tips to get well-prepared ahead of time.