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JOIN THE CLUB! HERE’S HOW TO NAVIGATE THE FESTIVE SEASON ON A SHOESTRING.
How to navigate the festive season on a shoestring budget
The festive season, with all its excitement, joy and indulgence, is around the corner. Shops are buzzing, menus are being planned and the pressure is on to make sure that everything is just perfect. But it might not be all moonshine and roses in your corner of the world. Many of us are still struggling to get through one of the toughest years in living memory, with no extra cash for lavish festivities. In fact you might be battling just to cover day-to-day expenses. So how do you make magical memories with family and friends without adding to your financial stress? We’ve got you covered.
GENERATE SOME MAD MONEY
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, they say. Selling what you don’t need or use is a great way to generate some extra cash, which you can then put to good use over this time. Start at one side of your home and work your way through, room by room. Everything you haven’t used in the past six months is probably unnecessary and can be sold. You might want to keep some sentimental items, but err on the side of ruthlessness. The extra cash will come in very handy.
PLAN YOUR SPENDING
Know what you’re in for and make sure you don’t go over the amount you’ve set. One of the worst festive season traditions is to incur debt, which can take months to pay back. Divide your expenses into three categories: decorations, gifts and food, and set a budget for each one. Stick to it like glue.
USE YOUR LOYALTY POINTS
Used wisely, loyalty points can be a great bonus at the end of the year. If those points have built up during the year, use them over the festive season. This will save you having to fork out hard cash.
GET CREATIVE WITH DECORATIONS
If you’re in the habit of carefully packing and storing your decorations each year, then this should be the least of your expenses. Avoid a costly themed festive table (such as a red and gold colour scheme, for instance) if it means you’ll need to buy new decorations. Work with what you have. Your family and friends will remember the experience, not the specifics. Here are a few thrifty décor ideas that won’t cost an arm andaleg:
• Glass jar candles are inexpensive. Half-fill them with sand or Epsom salts (to look like snow), and add a tea light candle for ambience.
• Make a pretty festive wreath by twisting twigs and decorating it with dried flowers and a few tree decorations. You can even tie some small chocolates to the wreath with string.
• Create your own rustic wrapping paper by using inexpensive brown paper and a potato stamp. Kids love it too: slice a potato in half and score a festive motif on one half. Cut away the potato flesh around the motif to create a stamp. Dip this in ink, or a thin layer of paint, and stamp the design onto the brown paper.
• If you can get hold of pine cones, spray-paint them and use these as part of your table décor.
• Make your own crackers using toilet rolls and tissue paper: choose small, inexpensive gifts to put inside – that way, you know people
Work wit h what you have. Your family and friends wi remember t he experience, not t he specifics.
will actually use them and you won’t be contributing to the flood of festive plastic and other junk.
RETHINK GIFT-GIVING
Save your budget – and your stress levels – by planning your gift shopping well in advance. And don’t buy a gift just for the sake of giving something, because it will be discarded or not valued. According to the website finder. com, 62% of Americans expect to receive unwanted gifts, and in the UK, each person receives three unwanted gifts on average. If you really don’t know what to give someone, opt for something edible or drinkable – at least you know it will be used! And it’s often cheaper. Make sure that every rand spent is on something of value.
• If you’re struggling to buy a gift for that one person who has everything, how about buying an experience instead? There are so many options to suit all budgets, from vouchers for pampering to meals, classes and courses. Check out buyagiftexperience.co.za or celestialgifts.co.za for some imaginative ideas.
• A homemade gift is really special and a real budget beater. A beautifully presented jar of homemade biscuits, fudge or chocolate will come from the heart and offers so much more value than a shop-bought gift.
• Keep it practical and affordable by putting together a pamper hamper, which can include shower or bath products, some chocolate and perhaps a candle. For men, include shaving cream and a good body wash.
• Giving a ‘recipe in a jar’ is also a great idea. Add the dry ingredients for biscuits, cake or even a special soup to a pretty glass jar, decorate with a piece of ribbon, and attach the instructions to bake or cook. There are hundreds of ideas around this on the internet.
• There are great bargains to be found at charity shops, especially if you’re shopping for someone with a particular interest. You’re sure to find lots of wonderful items for sale and many will cost a fraction of the price they would new. Plus this is the way the world is heading: towards conscientious consumerism. It’s all about upcycling, reinventing and repurposing.
GIFT SHOPPING DOS:
• Decide upfront who you’re going to buy gifts for and stick to it.
• Come to an agreement with your family about the rules: are only the kids receiving gifts, or should you do a Secret Santa, so that each person receives one special gift instead of loads of little ones? Also agree on a budget per gift.
• Compare prices online before making your purchases.
• If a family member really wants an expensive gift, get a few people to club together to buy it.
GIFT SHOPPING DON’TS:
• Don’t buy a gift out of guilt, or because someone has given you a gift unexpectedly.
• Avoid last-minute shopping.
• Do not exceed your budget.
• Buying stocking fillers is a waste of money as these trifles are often simply discarded.
START NEW MEAL TRADITIONS
Considering your menu we in advance means you can get most of your shopping done by early December.
Family traditions are wonderful, but they can be hugely expensive and leave you saddled with a high grocery bill. Good food doesn’t have to break the bank! How about starting some new traditions that are innovative and save money at the same time? Start by making your festive menu a family affair – get everyone involved in suggesting menu options, as well as helping to prepare the food.
PLAN AND BUDGET
Considering your menu well in advance means you can get most of your shopping done by early December. When it comes to vegetables, use what’s in season and buy fresh produce as close
to the day as possible as this is far cheaper than frozen or processed food. Planning ahead and cooking from scratch ahead of time means you won’t end up buying readymade items at the last minute. Shops abound with tempting festive treats – and they can add up to a small fortune if you aren’t careful.
TRY NEW (CHEAPER) DISHES
Replace expensive traditional meats with less expensive cuts, and experiment with new recipes. Look for cheaper alternatives (tuna as opposed to shrimp or salmon for starters, for example). Opt for chicken instead of turkey or turducken – it’s way more delicious anyway! Buy and freeze your gammon now; it’s just as good as when it’s freshly bought. And if lamb’s your thing, go for the more affordable shoulder instead of the leg. Also, look at vegetarian options: again, right on trend and often cheaper (and healthier).
LESS IS MORE
Don’t over-cater. It’s easy to fall into the trap of having three meats, three or more desserts and numerous side dishes. Think of how much is inevitably left over: there’s always too much food and it’s tough to store. And, if you’re not at home, it can be difficult to give away. According to the African Climate Reality Project, between 30 and 40% of the food prepared over the festive season will end up in the bin, and in the UK, it’s estimated that about 4,2 million festive dinners are tossed away each year. It’s shocking – both in terms of the people who go hungry and also to think that that’s your hardearned cash landing up in a landfill.
MIX AND MATCH
Consider going potluck, with each family member bringing one or two items per category: appetiser, starter, main, side dish and dessert. People like to feel that they’re contributing – it makes the occasion much more of a communal effort. Just make sure you decide beforehand who’s bringing what, so you don’t end up with 10 puddings and no side dishes on the day…
DRINKS WITH A DIFFERENCE
Alcohol is expensive, so choose wisely. You don’t have to have the absolute best tipple to enjoy yourself. Most people barely notice what they’re drinking after the first drink anyway; they’re too busy talking and having fun. Start with a good punch or cocktail – a punchbowl of Pimm’s, for example, is beautiful to look at and can stretch quite a long way.
Also consider providing soft drinks and asking guests to bring their own alcohol; people often don’t mind.
CUT BACK ON THE CANAPÉS
These nibbles can really push your costs up. Plus they fill everyone up before the main event. Look for cheaper and lighter options, like popcorn or simple chips and dips, and make your festive meal the star of the show.