How to have a thrifty Christmas

There’s no shame in turning your party into a potluck event. Potluck is a gathering where each guest contributes a different dish of food that other party-goers at the event can share.

If you’re providing the drinks, consider giving the event a theme, for example a cheese and wine evening or German beerfest, so that you’re not buying all manner of drinks at the liquor store to try and appease everyone’s taste.

3. Get crafty and make your own gifts

If you’re really serious about giving gifts, you could save money by making your own. Bake brownies, fudge or cookies or, if the giftee enjoys spending time in the kitchen, consider making them homemade flavoured salt or oils.

“You’ll need beautiful bottles, good-quality salt or olive oil and flavourings,” points out monthly subscription service My Chocolate Box.

“Choose, say, lemon. If you are infusing it in oil, cut up slices and add it to the bottle, then let it sit for a couple of days so that the oil can absorb the flavour. If you are making salt, add the zest and a couple of drops of lemon juice to the sea salt (remember to break it apart), and dry it out in a preheated oven (90°C) for about 20 min. Once it’s cooled off, break it all up and place it in a container. The internet is full of ideas; you just need to look.”

4. Consider renting goods instead of buying

If you’re uncertain about a product that you want to buy because you think the novelty may wear off, why not rent it first? Teljoy, for example, lets you rent to own everything from blenders and Xboxes to plasma-screen TVs and furniture. Teljoy offers a month-to-month contract that allows consumers to rent goods with the option to take ownership when the pre-determined rental period ends. You can shop and apply online and Teljoy will deliver and set up the unit in your home at no additional cost. You can upgrade or cancel their agreement within the first six months of the contract, but there will be a collection charge of R500. After six months, there will be no cost implications if the account is up to date.

5. Don’t waste food you buy for Christmas

Cook a bulky, hearty meal by all means but make sure that the food doesn’t go to waste. Celebrity chef Sarah Graham recommends including a strategy for how to use the leftovers when you are planning your festive menus. “You can conserve food and budget, as well as your own time and energy, by intending to ‘cook once to eat twice’ every time you are preparing for a mealtime gathering,” she says.

6. Try having a greener Christmas this year

By being kinder to the environment you could also save yourself some money. Zero-waste advocate Shannon Skye Goodman suggests getting everyone involved in creatively using eco-friendlier options. Decorate gifts using brown paper and newspaper, and use spare boxes or pretty scraps of fabric. “Use only paper tape or string and ribbons that can be reused. Consider making the wrapping part of the gift by using locally made scarves, décor cloths or sarongs,” says Goodman.

7. Don’t plan the perfect, pricy Christmas

Don’t create a list of things you need for your festivities to run smoothly and to please everyone. Rather, first establish what you can afford. If you’re not good with numbers, consider using a budget tool. Most of the major South African banks have online budget calculators for you to calculate your spending – so make use of them.

8. Redeem vouchers/points you may have earned

Don’t forget about all those points you’ve racked up in the year with your loyalty schemes.

Redeem any Pick n Pay Smart Shopper points or Clicks Clubcard rewards, for example.

If you belong to a rewards scheme with a bank, make sure you buy your gifts from participating retailers to get the benefits.