How you can Reduce the cost and make Money with Christmas!

Christmas comes at the same time every year, yet it can still be an expense that kills the budget for many families.

A few times, we managed to make Christmas pay for itself!

With interstate travel, gifts, visiting family etc it adds up but you can make money from Christmas.

How to Reduce Christmas Expenses

Christmas doesn’t need to be expensive. We wrote about ways to make $2,000 by Christmas.

Plan It Out

You’re probably sick of hearing the need for a plan.

It’s repeated so often because it works.

Even if your plan is to write out who you need to buy for, what you need to get and do it all on Christmas Eve, it’s still a plan.

Keep your plan simple.

Write down everything you need (or use an app to track it all).

Who are you buying presents for?

What do you want to buy them, what is your budget and where are you shopping?

Are you providing any food? What recipes and ingredients do you need?

Check wrapping paper, Christmas cards and any other supplies.

Secret Santa or Kris Kringle

Where possible, opt to pick names out of a hat and everyone buys for one person.

This can work well in groups such as workplaces, sports, cousins, adults in the family, groups of friends and so on. Instead of buying for everyone individually, you are only buying a few gifts.

Shop In Sales

Sales are everywhere this time of year. If you know what you are buying, it is easier to find the best deals.

Sign up for Shopback to get cash back with your shopping and know when sales are on.

Check where you can collect points for different reward programs and make the most of it all.

Use our list of freebies/sign-up bonuses and our other list of ways to get discounts on everything to help.

Check all reward programs such as FlyBuys, Everyday Rewards or any listed here as well as online survey sites (such as  Swagbucks or the rest we have listed here).

Consider cashing in points to use over the holidays.

If you want to get prepped for next year, buy wrapping paper, gift bags, Christmas cards, decorations and anything else in the sales after Christmas.

Store them with your Christmas tree or in a spot dedicated to gifts/wrapping etc.

Food, Glorious Food!

Instead of one person catering for everything, have everyone bring something and celebrate with a big potluck buffet.

On Christmas Eve, many shops slash prices on things that have a short use-by date so you can grab a bargain.

Use some for Christmas or save them for later by freezing them.

How to Make Christmas Pay for Itself

Christmas is a wonderful time of year for connecting with family, helping others, reviewing the year and taking a break.

Instead of it being an expense, here are some ways to make it pay for itself.

Rent Out Your House

Christmas is the busiest time of year.

If you are staying somewhere else or able to, you can make thousands in a short period of time with Airbnb or other short term rental options.

Make Seasonal Money

Put up Christmas trees and decorations for a fee, or sell Christmas themed things online during November and December.

Offer your services for cleaning, ironing, mowing lawns, and prepping homes for bushfires and storms (e.g. cleaning out gutters, clearing debris from around homes etc.)

Services like this are in high demand this time of year.

Check regulations in your area before you offer the services.

You can look for jobs through Facebook, Gumtree, Airtasker or simply let friends and family know what you are offering.

Read our guide to selling things online to help.

Get Practical With Gifts

Don’t be shy about asking for what you want when someone asks.

Write a list of things from cheaper items through to more expensive which would save you time or money and benefit you long-term.

Some examples might be apps (or an iTunes gift card), specific books e.g. ones we have listed here, slow cooker, food processor, spiraliser, a gift certificate for the salon you use, appliances etc.

Know what you want so you can ask for it.

Make It Yours

Here are some family traditions which make it special without costing a fortune.

– See Christmas lights. Walk around areas known for amazing Christmas displays.

– Decorate your home. The Christmas tree goes up, along with any other decorations.

– Choose a Christmas ornament.

– Advent calendar.

– Christmas baking.

– See the Myer display.

Pick some Christmas traditions and start doing them every year as something to look forward to and bring your family closer.

What will you be doing this Christmas?

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