• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Align Financial

Helping you make smart decisions about your money

  • Your Financial Future
    • Financial Goals
    • Financial Planning
    • Financial Literacy
  • Financial Services
    • Financial Advice
    • Suddenly single
    • Retirement Planning
    • SMSF Advice
    • Estate Planning
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Case Studies
    • Community
    • Media Appearances
    • Align Financial Reviews
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • T: 02 9913 9995

News · December 13, 2018

Tips on Beating Christmas Financial Stress

Tips on Beating Christmas Financial Stress
Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

We all know Christmas is generally the most expensive time of the year. And it’s easy to get rattled at the thought of all the costs associated with the festive season. Buying appropriate presents for every member of the family, as well as the person next to you in the office (who you think is Jason, but could be Jeff?), beating the crowds and queues, buying food and preparing lunches and dinners, and all whilst trying to keep up the usual household expenses can be daunting and stressful.

It’s a day that should be about coming together to spend time with family and friends but instead it can be a financially stressful time trying to keep up with all the costs for the festive season.

So here are a few tips on how to keep cool this Christmas and enjoy the season for what it should be.

Make a list and check it twice

Planning is the key to mitigate any unexpected expenses. Make a prioritised list of people you need to buy presents or send cards for. Make another list of any lunch or dinner gatherings where you’re hosting or bringing food. And finally, make a third list of any other expenditure you might face, e.g. decorations, kids outfits, etc.

If you have a budget in mind then allocate how much you want to spend from those at the top of the list to the bottom. If you have no clue how much this will all cost you, then put in some numbers of how much you’d like to spend for each person or event, total it up and adjust as necessary.

Check the list when you’re shopping and stick to it.

Do a family Kris Kringle

Instead of having to buy presents for every single person, setup a family Kris Kringle. There are apps and websites that can organise your Kris Kringle and you only need to enter each person’s email address for it to send notification on who they’re buying for. Everyone can also set wish-lists (items they want) so you don’t have to scratch your head trying to think of what to buy them.

Shop online

The internet can be a wonderful resource when it comes to buying gifts. Not only can you browse multiple stores at once, but you can have it shipped to you or the receiver all nicely gift wrapped so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

If you don’t like the idea of paying for freight costs, try online retailers who offer an in-store collection service. This is good for ensuring you don’t impulsively purchase when you’re in the store.

Lastly, when shopping online, remember to look for any online coupons available before checking-out. And if you’re after something specific, make sure you check multiple retailers for a competitive price.

Ask your guests to bring food

If you’re hosting a Christmas lunch or dinner, remember you don’t need to prepare everything yourself. Guests are often more than happy to bring a plate or help out in some way, so don’t be afraid to ask.

DIY cards and wrapping

Making your own Christmas cards and using plain or brown paper can help lower the cost of your Christmas shopping. Remember most people will simply recycle their Christmas cards the next day, so it’s worthwhile making a simple yet personal card. If you have kids, ask them to paint or colour-in the cover of the card, it can add a nice personal touch that makes the card worth keeping.

Handmade gifts

Handmade gifts are a practical and affordable solution if you are worried about overspending on presents. Most people tend to appreciate something which you’ve spent time and effort making, which is an added bonus. If you have a particular hobby, turn it into a gift. Some examples might be homemade jams, crochet, pottery, jewellery, etc.

Christmas shouldn’t leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Instead, take a step back and remember it’s the thought that counts, not the amount of dollars you spend.

What Can Align Financial Do For You? Visit our homepage to learn more about our service. If you would like to speak to us about your financial circumstance, please feel free to give us a call on 02 9913 9995. We are located in Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.


Disclaimer: This post has been prepared for general information purposes only. It is not specific advice to any particular person. You should consult an authorised Align Financial adviser before making financial decisions. Align Financial | Financial Planner Northern Beaches | Servicing North Narrabeen, Narrabeen, Mona Vale, Elanora Heights, Newport, Avalon, Palm Beach | Enquire with us online.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: budgeting, financial advice, financial planning

Align Financial

Primary Sidebar

Search our blog

RSS Align Financial Blog

  • The Difference Between Investing and Gambling
  • Have you entered our Stock Picking Charity Challenge?
  • 10 actions that bring happiness
  • 2020-21 Federal Budget: 3 Key Take-Aways
  • To hedge or not to hedge?

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • July 2015

Categories

  • Case Studies
  • Financial Literacy
  • Media
  • News

Sign up for our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Get in touch

Contact Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Your Financial Future

  • Financial Goals
  • Financial Planning
  • Financial Literacy

Financial Services

  • Financial Advice
  • Suddenly single
  • Retirement Planning
  • SMSF Advice
  • Estate Planning

Resources

  • 60 seconds with…
  • Case Studies
  • Community
  • Align Financial Reviews
  • FSG
  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2021 Align Financial Pty Ltd   ·   ABN 81 105 999 602   ·   AFSL 287347