Don’t blow the budget on Christmas gift giving

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Hate to say it but Christmas is not that far away, and it’s time to start thinking about buying presents! Here are some smart tips for Christmas spending.

Make a list (and check it twice!)Having a list helps plan spending and keep you on track.

List who you’re buying for, what you want to buy, and how much money you’ve allocated.

Buy in advance where possible to take advantage of specials, especially if the items long shelf life.

Hunt for Christmas bargains by scouring advertising catalogues and checking for any online offers. Remember, some stores match or beat competitors’ deals.

Gift Hacking 101 tips:

– Give the gift of food – create a personal, tasty gift!
– Give an experience – organise a picnic, a driving tour, or plan a dinner date at home.
– DIY – Get crafty and make a personalised gift.
– Save on wrapping – Buy brown paper to wrap your gifts instead of pricey Christmas wrapping.
– Shop like Santa – Santa always does his shopping on time, so why don’t you?
– Take advantage of sales in October by lay-bying now and gradually paying the bill off.
– Take advantage of extended trading hours and go when it’s less crowded so you can choose carefully without the rush.
– Set a shopping time limit, so you’re not impulse buying.

Things to avoid:

– Afterpay – since you get the goods immediately, it’s easy to forget that the debt will automatically be debited from your account every fortnight.
– Credit cards and impulse purchases
– Going overboard – after all, it is just one day of the year!