Some great ideas here – Xmas can be SO expensive if you don’t budget and plan.

I really like point 2. Crafty decos are a lot of fun to do with kids and cost a fraction of anything you get from a shop. With things like paying in instalments, I’m very careful not to make it a routine.. otherwise you start spending in advance of getting paid and that becomes the norm.

Thank you for sharing your tips.

I write lists, set a budget per person, and shop when the good sales are on. Every little bit helps. Oh, and I redeem Fly Buys points for gift cards and shopping.

Thanks for the tips – it’s so easy to go overboard at this time of the year.

Christmas is so stressful because it involves so much money when you don’t always have it,thanks for your article!

Cool! Really good knowledge to know! Thanks for sharing this!

regifting is also a helpful hint.

Thank you so much for your helpful tips even though its past christmas i’m still having trouble with finances. These will come in handy thank you.

these are good tips. i just got through christmas alright though

I like the interest free card, it sounds awesome.

I love making decorations with my kids! Not cheesy at all.

I try to buy gifts throughout the year when I see something special for someone or if on sale. I hate the last minute rush.

Loving the tips, we can all do with having that extra to splurge at xmas time.

Some good ideas. For the last 2 years I’ve signed up to the Christmas Club at the local supermarket. If nothing else I end up with a nice cash bonus to get all my Christmas grocery shopping done.

All great ideas to take the financial stress out of Christmas.

Christmas is a rip off, prices of certain food goes through the roof, so over the years we’ve slowly weaned ourselves off the Christmas merry go round and cut right back.

I couldn’t imagine buying gifts on interest free and then have to pay it back throughout the New Year, my thinking is if I can’t afford to pay cash for gifts then I shouldn’t be buying them.

One thing that strikes me as sad about the festive season is the fact that people are being advised to stick to a budget, while it’s good advice – it paints a picture of out of control spending.

I did enjoy the article, thank you.

We have a secret Santa for the adults so you only buy one adult gift, within a set amount.

Great advice, thanks for sharing

I love this, it will come in so handy when next Christmas comes