Christmas planning will save you time and cash
THE festive season often leaves us feeling out of pocket and like we’ve spent too much time and money jostling in crowds rather than spending time with our family and friends.
There are ways we can simplify this crazy time of year and enjoy it without breaking the bank. MAKE a list and get organised. You are guaranteed to spend more money on gifts if you aimlessly wander the shops and don’t know what you are buying and how much you want to spend. Make a list of who you need to buy for, the dollar limit you want to spend and check them off one at a time. DO your shopping online. You can hunt around a lot quicker for items online to get the best price. Don’t forget to include any shipping costs however as often this can chew up any potential savings. Look for sites that offer free shipping and ideally free returns. Do be vigilant shopping online and always check the terms and conditions to make sure you know what you are buying and that the website is legitimate. TAKE advantage of sales throughout the year to nab some bargains and store them away for Christmas. Even in December there are bargains to be had. You can also check out any clearance outlets near you or sign up to retailers online ‘notifications so that you’ll be in the know when they have a sale. AGREE to set limits with your loved ones. Suggest that you set a limit on how much you spend on each other to keep your budgets under control. In some families a kid present only agreement can also help keep the budget under control. PLAN for next Christmas. I know we all say that we are going to be more organised next year and then before you know it, here we are again! Start saving now. Putting just $20 a week away will give you over $1,000 to spend on gifts come next December easing the burden on your cashflow at the time. You can also shop the post Christmas sales to nab some great bargains to put away. AVOID the credit card if possible. If you absolutely must use credit at this time of year commit to paying it off within your interest free period. If you don’t have this period on your current card, time to renegotiate your facility.
Most importantly, remember Christmas is about spending and enjoying time, not money, with the people we love. — Sam Stevenson, Authorised Representative and credit representative of JSSJ Financial Pty Ltd (ABN 55612605437) trading as Edge Advisory Partners is an authorised representatives of AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited, Australian Financial Services Licensee and Australian Credit Licensee