St Benedict's Catholic School Shaw
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890 Dalrymple Road
Shaw QLD 4818
Subscribe: https://sbcsshaw.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: jswanson1@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 07 4413 2400

Christmas Budget Tips

Smart Money Tips for the Silly Season  

With Christmas just around the corner, you may be wondering how to squeeze more from your budget and make the holiday special without going overboard. Here are some useful tips and strategies to help you create a magical Christmas for less:

  • Plan: Set your budget for presents, food, decorating, and miscellaneous (like wrapping paper and cards).
  • Track: Keep track of what you’re spending so the dollars don’t feel like they’re slipping through your fingers.
    • The free Australian app GoodBudget is really helpful for this, and easy to use.
  • Presents: Think outside the box for meaningful gifts that don’t cost the earth.
    • What can you make yourself? Personalised hampers, candles or soaps, jars of lollies/chocolates, baked goods or treats
    • What skill can you share by gifting them personal lessons with you? E.g. teach to play guitar, teach how to knit
    • Sentimental gifts can be free/low-cost but priceless in value. E.g. put together a family history, create a photobook or family recipe book, frame an important quote, create a music playlist, fill a jar with notes of memories/inspirational quotes/things you love about the person.
  • Find extra cash: If your budget needs a boost, consider:
    • Decluttering your home and selling any items in good condition that you no longer want or need
    • Pausing, cancelling or downgrading subscriptions temporarily (or permanently) – think gym membership, TV or music streaming services.
    • Using loyalty points and old gift cards
  • Final tips:
    • Avoid the credit trap if you can. Your Christmas Day will feel more special if you’re not worried about how you’ll be able to pay it all off in the future. Budget for what you can afford and give yourself a stress-free Christmas!
    • Remember, “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving” (Mother Teresa). Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be valuable to the recipient. Be thoughtful and get creative to fit in with your budget.
    • After school returns in the New Year, start saving for next Christmas! $12.50 put aside each week from early February to early December will add up to $550 for your next Christmas budget!

 

Saver Plus is a program offering free money training and matched savings for eligible families or individuals to put towards their educational needs. You can find more information at https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/programs/financial/saver-plus. Saver Plus has helped 50,000 participants nationally to save over $26 million for educational goals in the past 18 years. Enquire through our website if you feel we can also help you.

Jodie Coey-Braddon
Saver Plus Coordinator - Townsville

Mobile: 0418 201 533

Jodie.Coey-Braddon@thesmithfamily.com.au