Merry budgeting!

With Christmas and school holidays fast approaching, are your feeling anxious about the financial outlay? Imagine stress-free Christmas and work to make that happen. It’s difficult to pay for Christmas out of December’s pay packet alone, so make a plan to save throughout the year. With a bit of planning you can also save enough for a family getaway during the school holidays. Whether it's snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef or going on safari in Abu Dhabi, your next holiday will cost money. You don't want to rely entirely on your credit card and spend the next year paying off trip debts. Here are some simple tips to help you get through this season. I Budget budget budget! To begin, make a list of family and friends and allocate a present budget per person. Don’t leave it to the very last week — start putting items away each week to ease the burden on your bank account.

I If hosting Christmas consider how many people and budget meals accordingly by setting aside funds each week in the lead up. I also believe that most people are happy to contribute even if they are guests, such as dessert or nibbles to ease the burden.

I Cut back on spending before you go and you'll have more money to spend on your trip. Use a budget planner to see where your money goes and find ways to spend less on non-essential items. For example, to save money look for savings in your entertainment costs, meals, clothes, takeaway lunches and coffees.

Aside from saving, a couple of different options are home loan redraw, personal loans or a credit card.

Talk to a financial adviser today to consider your options.