Tips and tricks for an easy, breezy season

Ensure your festive season is as organised and cost-effective as possible with our 25 tips and tricks

1

SHOPPING “I shop throughout the year: when I see something good, I grab it, especially when it’s on sale! But it can be easy to forget so I keep lists: one for present ideas and one for presents I have bought. That way nothing gets lost in the depths of the present cupboard.” Debbie Harrison,

YHG contributor

2

STYLING “Pot your own Christmas tree seedling and watch it grow over the years. It saves money and time spent on getting a new tree each year and is a more sustainable option – just bring the pot inside each December.” Fiona Ralph,

YHG features editor

3

GIFTING “For my daughters, I’m doing ‘want, need, wear, read’ for their Christmas presents. It limits the number of presents they get and also makes me think harder about what to get them.” Rachel Robertson,

YHG reader

4

SHOPPING “I completely avoid shops in December – I either buy all my presents in November or hit the online stores. And apart from fruit and veg, I have all my Christmas groceries

delivered to avoid supermarket madness.” Tina Stephen, YHG contributor

5

GIFTING “I usually buy practical gifts that people may not buy for themselves such as nice tea towels or paper napkins. For family and grandparents I tend to give them a nice framed family photo taken during the year and some handmade treats.” Vanessa Nouwens,

YHG contributor

6

BUDGETING “We figure out how much

money we’ll need for Christmas then do weekly payments from January to December into an account. All gifts, food and so on come from that so there is no stress.”

Gill Weavers, YHG reader

7

CATERING “Our extended family splits the

food so we all contribute. I make the German gingerbread dough in early December and freeze it, then bake it a week before Christmas and decorate and assemble the gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. This isn’t too much to manage and means I have the patience to work with the kids on the task.” Megan Kingston-Burke,

YHG reader

8

STYLING “Spend money on styling one major area and keep everything else simple: eg the tree, the

table or the wrapping.” Sally Conor, YHG sub editor

9

WRAPPING

“Use wallpaper from op-shops as wrapping paper. Or use kids’ artwork – the

grandparents love it!” Helen Bankers, YHG contributor

10

GIFTING “Give experiences instead of stuff: make a card for Nana containing a promise to spend

the day helping her in the garden. Give your under-10 a booklet of homemade vouchers for things like half an hour of goal-kicking practice, a trip to the beach or a day at the art gallery.” Sally Conor,

YHG sub editor

11

WRAPPING

“I cut up Christmas cards to make gift tags for the following year’s presents. Result – a cool variety of gift tags and a good feeling that I’m upcycling.” Adele O’Leary, YHG reader

12

CATERING “I add a couple of items to the weekly shopping from Labour Day onwards. It beats doing a big shop during Christmas week.” Peggie Tobin-Joines,

YHG reader

13

GIFTING “Once I have bought my kids’ presents, I lay them out and take a photo. That way I can see at a glance what holes I can fill when I’m shopping. It’s also a helpful way to make sure I have an even number of gifts for each kid.” Debbie Harrison,

YHG contributor

14

DECORATING “We reuse decorations, except

for a new one for the kids each year. Our Christmas tree is more of a ‘memory tree’

because we remember when we made or bought

different decorations.” Michelle Smith, YHG reader

15

GIFTING “I believe in giving living gifts rather than stuff that will go into the landfill. You can start cuttings, sow seeds or divide up plants in spring when plants are on special and, if you re-pot into a larger container, within a couple of months they will grow a lot.” Carol Bucknell, YHG

gardens editor

16

WRAPPING “I have a huge roll of brown paper (from George & Willy) that I use for all my wrapping. I love that it’s a blank canvas which allows me to get creative, as well as being cost-effective and kind to the environment. I have my three children draw or paint on the paper.” Annick Larkin,

YHG contributor

17

CATERING “Making your own drinks is a great way to keep costs down. We’ve been making limoncello and lemon syrup which we use for cocktails or with sparkling water. You can put both in the freezer until Christmas Day.” Carol Bucknell, YHG

gardens editor

18

GIFTING

“Being from a larger family, Christmas can get expensive. Now that my three siblings and I are adults we all do a Secret Santa rather than buying each person a gift. That way we all get something special and save some money.” Imogen Temm, YHG

designer + stylist

19

WRAPPING “The Warehouse has a great selection of tree ornaments ($2 each) that are a fun twist on the traditional bauble. I like

to tie them onto gifts much like a gift tag – they add colour and can be reused by the recipient.” Annick Larkin,

YHG contributor

20

WRAPPING “Gift wrap is always recycled in our family. You need to be quick to hustle away the best stuff for next year! It’s funny seeing the same piece of wrap coming back year after year.” Debbie Harrison,

YHG contributor

21

STYLING

“Get rid of some extras: Christmas crackers are a laugh but most of them end up in the bin. Instead, make paper hats as a craft project and ask family members to share their best jokes.” Sally Conor,

YHG sub editor

22

SHOPPING “I buy secondhand gifts from op-shops during the year if I see items that I know friends or family members will appreciate – it’s eco-friendly and more affordable.” Fiona Ralph, YHG

features editor

23

SHOPPING “I buy extras in the grocery

shop to make up ‘the flat pack’. Shampoos, deodorants, razors, aspirin, plasters… all the expensive stuff boys never buy while flatting.” Theresa Gaye Hall, YHG reader

24

DECORATING

“Look at the foliage in your area. We wrap long cuttings of ivy around the house to make things festive. Try foraging – you will be surprised at what your neighbour might provide if you ask!” Helen Bankers,

YHG contributor

25

FEASTING “Start Christmas Day with an easy breakfast platter. Keep it quick and simple – Turkish pide, feta, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, boiled eggs, fig jam and, of course, Champagne.” Tina Stephen, YHG contributor