5 ways to budget for your remaining Christmas gifts
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Christmas is fast approaching, but even Santa is not immune from the rising cost of living. Here are five ways to enter the Christmas shopping fray and not hurt your wallet in the process!
1. Figure out unnecessary expenses
Yes, it’s a routine move. But make that list of your income and expenses and check it twice for anything that needs cutting. For example:
- Try skipping a month of streaming services. The costs add up!
- Cut back from dining out or ordering in and cook more at home.
- Especially with higher fuel prices, try taking public transport over driving.
- Cut back on energy and water usage—the lower the bills, the better!
Check out our budget calculator for a quick, easy way of calculating your expenses.
2. Set a Christmas savings goal
With your budget figured out and extra cash in your pocket, set aside your weekly savings into a wishlist fund or ‘savings bucket’. Most savings accounts allow you to separate your funds and label them for different savings goals.
3. Take advantage of pre-Christmas sales
Black Friday is great for buying things for yourself, but don’t let the timing stop you from taking advantage of those awesome deals for others. Buying gifts before Christmas is a simple way to get ahead of the mob—just make sure you find a good hiding place for the presents!
4. Look for the best discounts
A lot of us are quick to make purchases without a second thought. But chances are the gift you want is sold in multiple retail outlets – and possibly for less! Instead of jumping straight into the nearest shopping centre, look online at the catalogues and compare for the best price on your chosen gift.
5. Set spending boundaries
No matter how much you want to give, or how much you want a gift, set limits on what you’re willing to spend. Christmas time abounds with temptations from all kinds of deals and new releases. Look at your Christmas savings and divide it in a way that puts a cap on what you’re willing to spend.
With the year coming to a close, are you looking to start saving money a bit more carefully? If you’re unsure which savings account to use, a high interest rate savings account might be just the ticket. You can also check out the 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Savings Award winners for some of the best savings accounts around.
Savings account comparisons on Mozo
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- High Interest Savings - 2024
Savings Maximiser
5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
0.55% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Deposit $1,000 into a personal ING account, make 5 eligible transactions with a linked Orange Everyday account and grow the balance each month.
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
CompareCompareSavings Maximiser
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
- Maximum rate
- 5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.55% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- For customers who deposit $1000 from an external source into a personal ING account (excluding Orange One and Living Super), make 5 eligible transactions and grow their nominated Savings Maximiser account each month so there is more in the account at the end of the month than there was at the start of each month (excluding interest). The total bonus interest rate is available on balances up to $100,000 on one Savings Maximiser the next month after meeting eligibility.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must be linked to an Orange Everyday transaction account to receive the bonus rate. Where multiple Savings Maximiser Accounts are held, the bonus rate is only applied to one nominated account.
Read reviews and learn more about ING savings accounts
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Bonus Saver
5.00% p.a. (for $0 and over)
0.50% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus interest for the first four months from the account opened date. No minimum balance required. No monthly or ongoing fees or withdrawal penalties. Manage your money easily via phone or online banking or via the BCU Bank app.
CompareCompareBonus Saver
Bonus interest for the first four months from the account opened date. No minimum balance required. No monthly or ongoing fees or withdrawal penalties. Manage your money easily via phone or online banking or via the BCU Bank app.
- Maximum rate
- 5.00% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.50% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read reviews and learn more about BCU Bank savings accounts
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Bonus Saver Account
5.00% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Deposit at least $20 each month and make 5 Visa Debit transactions with a linked Glide account.
Open a Bonus Saver Account in under 5 minutes. There are no fees to pay or penalties for withdrawing money. Get a seamless personalised insights and online statements via the My State Bank app.
CompareCompareBonus Saver Account
Open a Bonus Saver Account in under 5 minutes. There are no fees to pay or penalties for withdrawing money. Get a seamless personalised insights and online statements via the My State Bank app.
- Maximum rate
- 5.00% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Glide transaction account.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read reviews and learn more about MyState Bank savings accounts
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MoneyMAX Account
No Current Offer
4.70% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Unlimited access 24/7 via Banking App, Phone & Internet Banking. Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. No transaction fees or monthly service fees. No minimum balance or withdrawal restrictions. Online access only.
CompareCompareMoneyMAX Account
Unlimited access 24/7 via Banking App, Phone & Internet Banking. Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. No transaction fees or monthly service fees. No minimum balance or withdrawal restrictions. Online access only.
- Maximum rate
- No Current Offer
- standard interest rate
- 4.70% p.a.(for $1 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- n/a
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Branch access for deposits only.
Read reviews and learn more about Unity Bank savings accounts
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Smart Saver Account
4.50% p.a. (for $0 and over)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Increase account balance by any amount and make no more than two withdrawals
Work towards your savings goals with this account. Earn bonus interest when you grow your balance and make no more than 2 withdrawals each month. Earn a guaranteed standard rate of interest each month on your savings. No monthly account keeping fees to pay. Use the app or internet banking to manage your account 24/7.
CompareCompareSmart Saver Account
Work towards your savings goals with this account. Earn bonus interest when you grow your balance and make no more than 2 withdrawals each month. Earn a guaranteed standard rate of interest each month on your savings. No monthly account keeping fees to pay. Use the app or internet banking to manage your account 24/7.
- Maximum rate
- 4.50% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Increase account balance by any amount (excluding interest) and make no more than two withdrawals in the month
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read reviews and learn more about Newcastle Permanent savings accounts
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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