This year Australians are expected to spend a whopping $8.5 billion dollars on Christmas. This is around $500 per head, but many will feel the pressure to spend a great deal more.
However, using credit to pay for Christmas can lead to a year-round financial hangover. Australian Adviser of the Year, Olivia Maragna, has some tips for remaining in control of your finances this year.
- Create a budget so that you only spend what you can afford. Saving some money now will also help to relieve the pressure come Christmas time.
- Start shopping for gifts earlier in the holiday season to avoid the pressure of marketing and the inflated Christmas prices.
- Take cash when you go shopping to ensure that you do not overspend your budget by using your credit card.
- Shop for Christmas gifts online to find lower prices.
- Share the cost of Christmas lunch with your family to ease the financial burden of feeding a large group lavishly.
