If she is saving $30,000 in a year then her income must be rather large. My household income is $31,000 and there is no way i could save $30,000 of it.
I live very frugally as is. I love Christmas and buy all my things like christmas napkins and wrapping paper in the after Christmas sales when everything is super cheap. I buy gifts throughout the year when items are on sale and I spread the grocery shop over 4 weeks. I do surveys during the year and use my points for gift cards to spend on groceries or gifts.

I love to see my friends and families faces light up when they open presents. Especially ones I’ve been keeping a secret about because I made or purchased something I knew they’re would love or always wanted. Christmas is about loved ones and showing them you care.

I don’t feel pressured, but just like to give.

I buy all my Christmas wrap, Christmas cards etc., in the New Year sales. Its saves so much money.

Start early, have a list and shop around, I research first online then hit the stores

This year for the adults in my family I made chocolate truffles and in Turkish delight and toblerone flavours I used macona coffee jars from the year I had saved. These were a hit very time consuming but my family loved them and I did save a lot of money. We have decided next Xmas we will all bake our presents for adults it will be wonderful to see what yummy treats I end up with!

I haven’t done it myself yet as I only read about last week. So I will be doing next year. You buy a $20 or $50 gift card each fortnight through the whole year (or how ever much you can afford) and should enough money saved for presents, food etc for Christmas.

• • 
  • • Mum2archer replied
    • 23 Dec 2018 , 1:47 pm

  ---

  This is a good idea isn’t it! I agree with doing something like this. We save our left over shopping money and at the end of the week anything left in the budget for that week goes into a jar. We also save all our woolworths dollars and this adds up heaps so we save alot when we really need it!

I love giving presents, but more often than not they are fresh fruit and veg from the garden and my neighbours always know that this is my way of giving them something they really cannot buy. Home grown always tastes so much better and they all appreciate it along with a small bought gift for each of their children. Keeps the costs down too.

• • 
  • • Ellen replied
    • 02 Jan 2019 , 7:17 am

  ---

  

  These are beautiful gifts indeed !

I only and always buy items that are on sale. I make a list and with so many sales this year (more than I’ve ever seen), I’ve waited and bought everything cheaper. It’s all about the list, too. Otherwise I could feel the temptation to go crazy.

With 4 kids and some gifts to friends, $1000 is easily spent.

That’s how it used to be once – about time it came back to that again.

We make and stick to a budget and have cut out any items and food and drinks that are not essential or on the list. There is no impulse purchasing.

You have to earn enough to do that. Pretty hard if you’re a widow with a disabled child who is also allergic to some medications and can only have the very expensive ones.

• • 
  • • Ellen replied
    • 10 Dec 2018 , 7:37 am

  ---

  

  Aw bless, that must be hard indeed.

She saved $30k? Thats half our income. She must have been spending quite a bit on stuff she didn’t need to find that much to cut back.

• • 
  • • mom93821 replied
    • 09 Dec 2018 , 5:59 am

  ---

  Good point – seems like a lot of money I agree. I write everything I spend down – it is good accountability and a visual of where money is going.

  ---

  • • 
    • • Mum2archer replied
      • 22 Dec 2018 , 11:05 pm

    ---

    I thought the same thing, that’s a huge amount of cash to have saved!

We are sensible at Xmas. One present from us, one from the grandparents (and we try to liaise on them combining with the other set of grandparents for larger items) and one from Santa. We have been finding it lovely to gift experiences rather than plastic toys too. A special outing to the aquarium or a fun day at the movies is pretty special for our kids.

I like to spend a little during Christmas

I like to keep a Christmas budget.

These are some good ideas. Thank you for sharing them

If you can buy before Christmas on items reduced but you know they love is always good!

we buy for our kids and our parents, no one else. The kids have a list each and I ask for it as early as possible so I can shop around but we have the added pain of two birthdays in mid december and one in January