By Chris Schulz
Investigative Journalist | Kaipūrongo Whakatewhatewha
About 10 years ago, my family experimented with a new Christmas tradition. It was something we hoped might save us some money – and make us feel good at the same time.
We organised a secret Santa – one present only from each person to the value of $20. Then we pooled some of the money we might otherwise have spent on presents and donated it to a charity.
No more stressing out spending a whole lot of money on buying each member of the family a present. No more heartache searching for the perfect gift and ending up with a bunch of stuff you don’t like. No more sending a whole bunch of wrapping paper and packaging to the bin.
Instead, a place we know could really use it receives some Christmas money, and we cap our gift-buying at $20.
That experiment worked, and we’ve stayed with it ever since.
That’s just one way to save a few dollars, avoid the Christmas frenzy and save your sanity at the craziest time of year.
Here are some others...
1. Regift the things you’ve never used
We all get given things we’ve never wanted, can’t use, and don’t need.
Instead of putting them in the bin, see if you can find a new home for them.
Right now, I have a jar of home-made pickles I know I won’t eat and a book about rugby I won’t read. But I also know my dad will love them.
Likewise, my daughter got a coffee mug for her birthday. She’s 12 and hates coffee – but it’s the perfect gift for her uncle.
This suggestion gives new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfill – and it saves you money too.
But don’t perpetuate the junk. You’ll need to think carefully about whether that item really suits the person you’re regifting it to.
2. Organise a secret Santa
An office and school favourite, this is an easy way to make sure everyone gets a gift, but no one blows their budget.
Our family set the limits at $20. We use one of the free online tools to help randomise the selections. (a good one is drawnames.co.nz).
For Consumer NZ’s Christmas party, even stricter rules are in place: the limit is $0, and the item has to be second-hand or home-made.
3. Get crafty and make stuff
This is time consuming, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and you’ll still need to buy the raw materials to make it work.
But, a commercial Christmas card with a lame joke on the front can cost around $7.99. That’s when you realise it can be much cheaper and more satisfying to make your own. All you need is a piece of card and some coloured markers.
Other things you might be able to consider making include:
Christmas crackers
candles
soap
chocolates.
Baking, jams or preserves can also be nifty ways to make cheap, personalised gifts.
Plus, they can be far more tasty for the receiver than another pair of socks.
4. Buy second-hand
Everyone loves a bargain, and buying second-hand has become far more accepted in our age of fast fashion and over consumption.
Facebook Marketplace and Trade Me remain great sources of second-hand goods, especially if you’re after books, records, toys or clothing.
Remember, scammers can operate on those sites, so learn about staying safe online from our article How our scam expert stays safe using online marketplaces.
5. Save on the Christmas dinner
Perhaps the most stressful part of Christmas is putting together dinner for the entire family.
Planning and shopping in advance can help you take advantage of specials. And you won’t need to rely on getting everything in the final week, when prices could be higher.
Grocery comparison apps like Grosave, Grocer or Price Pulse can help you compare prices across different supermarkets.
Meal-kit services like My Food Bag and Hello Fresh say they will help you take the pain out of Christmas dinner. However, it’s almost certainly cheaper to source your own ingredients and cook the food yourself. Discover what we found when we tracked the supermarket prices of Christmas treats.
And here are our tips on how to prepare a stress-free Christmas dinner.
6. Start saving for next Christmas
If your bank balance is a little lean heading into Christmas, think about opening a savings account for next Christmas. Setting up a small weekly automatic payment into the account can help take the pressure off next year.
Or you could consider joining a supermarket Christmas club. It’s basically the same thing but can offer decent rewards and bonuses closer to Christmas.
Find out more in our article How to start saving for Christmas.
7. Be cautious about taking on debt
Given the current cost-of-living pressures, you may feel you have to go into debt to get through.
However, there are steps you can take so Christmas debt doesn’t blight your New Year.
If you feel your debt is spiralling out of control, read our article Tips to keep your Christmas debt under control.
The Consumer guide to Christmas and holidays
Alternative gift ideas, getting the best out of your festive food, staying safe in the sun and refund rights – it's our gift to you.
