Christmas Survival Guide
Plan ahead for a stress-free holiday season with these helpful tips. Hit the buttons to scroll through our guide.
Get Started
$250 Christmas Savings Tracker

1

Set a Goal and Start Early
Aim to save $250 to use for Christmas. You could use this money for food, gifts or travel costs.

2

Start Saving & Track Progress
Begin saving $25 a week in October. Colour in a bauble on your FamilyCare Christmas Savings Tracker each week that you put aside $25.

3

Achieve Your Goal
After 10 weeks, you will have saved $250, with a fortnight to go before Christmas!
Christmas Food Planning
Buy Gradually
Purchase snack food and soft drinks each week leading up to Christmas to spread out the cost. Items such as Tim Tams, potato chips, chocolates and soft drink are regularly on half price sales.
Store Safely
Keep your Christmas food supplies hidden from curious kids until the big day. Store everything out of sight - perhaps high in a cupboard where the children don't look (and where you won't be tempted yourself).
Plan Ahead
Building up your supplies gradually helps you budget and prepare for the holidays. If you start buying a few snacks each week from October onward, you'll end up with a nice stash for Christmas and the holiday season.
Christmas Gifts
It's important to set realistic budgets for gifts during the holiday season. Look at your finances and decide how much you can reasonably spend on each person. This will prevent overspending and keep your finances stable.
Remember, your gift budget may be different from others. That's okay. Focus on what works for you, not what your friends or neighbors are doing. The most meaningful gifts often don't cost a lot - it really is the thought that counts.
Be Cautious with Buy Now Pay Later
1
Short-Term Fix
Buy Now Pay Later may feel like it helps in a pinch today. It can also be tempting to overspend when you use Afterpay or Zip.
2
Future Consequences
Buy Now Pay Later can create a bigger financial problem in the long run. Will you be able to afford the repayments that come later?
3
Consider Alternatives
Explore all other options before using Buy Now Pay Later. We don't want a "financial hangover" going into the New Year.
Final Reminder
Stay Focused
It's crucial to remember your budget and stick to it. The festive season can lead to overspending, so staying disciplined with your spending limits is best in the long term.
Enjoy the Moment
Remember that Christmas is about more than just gifts and spending.
What your family wants most is to spend time with you.