6 ways to save on your Christmas shopping

As anyone who’s big on secret santas and festive dinners knows, Christmas celebrations don’t come cheap. But the good news is that tightening your budget this December doesn’t have to come at the expense of nice gifts.
Whether you’re doing your shopping online or in-store, here are six tactics to help you cut the cost of Christmas and keep your savings account intact.
Missed out on Black Friday? Keep your eyes peeled
While some say to purchase all your gifts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don’t worry if you’ve missed out this time round. Given that we’re three weeks away from Christmas Day, there are still windows of opportunity to snag your presents at a discount.
The trick is to shop smarter, not harder:
- Sign up with your loved ones’ favourite retailers, so you’ll be the first to hear about any price drops in the lead-up to Christmas, including any early Boxing Day sales. Some retailers may also email through vouchers like $10 off your first purchase, which you can take advantage of to shave off a few extra bucks. Hot tip: If you’re worried about flooding your existing inbox, create a separate email account just for those newsletters.
- Go on discount sites like OzBargain, where a whole community of Australians are sharing the best discounts they spot online or in-store. In particular, look out for posts with more upvotes, as popularity is a good indicator of whether something is a noteworthy deal. But don’t take their word for it: do your own price comparison online before checking out.
Map out your spending
Ever fallen for the ‘buy two, get one free’ trap and bought an extra item you didn’t even need? While it can be hard to overlook what seems like a good deal, the golden rule to avoid overspending is - if you don’t need it, don’t buy it! Budgeting is a great way to keep yourself focused:
- Set yourself a spending limit - make sure it fits with your existing budget
- Write up your ‘nice’ list - whom you’re buying gifts for and what gifts you’re planning to buy
- Allocate funds to each person.
Who? | What? | Budget |
---|---|---|
Mum | Skincare | $45 |
Dad | Wine | $40 |
Grandma | Floral tea set | $50 |
Grandpa | Custom wallet | $50 |
Sister | Necklace | $45 |
Jane | Board game | $25 |
Mark | Novel | $25 |
Secret Santa | Office desk pot plant | $20 |
Total: $300 |
If you aren’t too savvy with pen and paper or spreadsheet budgeting, there are a range of free apps like Santa’s Bag (iOS) and Christmas Gift List (Android) that can help you plan and track all your gift purchases.
Cash in on the cashbacks
When it comes to saving money, every bit counts. On top of any discounts you’ve already found is the opportunity to put even more dollars back into your pocket with cashbacks.
There are a few ways to earn cashback, and the method that suits you will depend on your shopping and payment preferences:
- Cashback sites: Ever heard of CashRewards or ShopBack? By using these platforms you can get cash back from a range of different online retailers, which can then be withdrawn and deposited into your bank account. A few caveats though: the cashbacks could take up to three months to get approved, and you’ll usually need to hit a minimum amount (say, $10) before you can make a withdrawal.
- Bank account with extra bang: Imagine a bank account that gives you money as you spend. That’s exactly what cards like HSBC’s Everyday Global Account do - customers can earn 2% cashback on all ‘tap and go’ purchases under $100 (capped at $50/month), given they also deposit at least $2,000 in their HSBC account every month.
- Buy Now Pay Later: Or perhaps you’re one of the 30% of Australian adults who have a Buy Now Pay Later account. If that’s the case and you’re using BNPL service Zip Pay, then for a limited time you’ll receive a 3% cashback on all transactions (max. $30 per transaction) when you use ‘Tap and Zip’ at any online or physical store that accepts Visa.
- Rewards credit card: Finally, if you love the flexibility of choosing how to redeem your rewards points - whether for cashback or something else like discounted domestic flights - a rewards credit card may be up your ally instead. Some offers like ANZ’s Frequent Flyer Black card and Westpac’s Low Rate card are even giving $200 back to new customers who sign up and spend a minimum amount during a certain period of time. Just be mindful that as with any credit card, it’s vital to keep your spending in check and make all your monthly repayments on time so you don’t get hit by late fees and high interest charges.
Compare rewards credit cards - rates updated daily
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Amex Card Members only. Receive $450 annual Qantas Travel Credit.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$450100,0001.25 points uncappedQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Amex Card Members only. Receive $450 annual Qantas Travel Credit.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 110,400 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 19,010 points
- Card Benefits
- Account alerts by SMS,
Card Purchase Cover ,
Travel Inconvenience Cover
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
Westpac Altitude Platinum
Earn up to 75,000 bonus Qantas Points ($4k min. spend in the first 90 days on eligible purchases). 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 1% BT fee applies. $49 First Year Annual fee and Rewards fee. New cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$200 $99 in the first year75,0000.5 points up to $100,000/yearAltitude Platinum
Earn up to 75,000 bonus Qantas Points ($4k min. spend in the first 90 days on eligible purchases). 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 1% BT fee applies. $49 First Year Annual fee and Rewards fee. New cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 45
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 0.5 points per dollar on Mastercard, up to $100,000 per year
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 75,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 110,400 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 19,010 points
- Card Benefits
- Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Altitude Platinum
St.George Amplify Rewards Platinum + Kayo Offer
100,000 bonus Amplify Points, (min $3,000 spend within 90 days). 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application (1% BT fee). $29 First Year Card Fee ($99 2nd year card fee) + Score up to $27.50 per month cashback on Kayo access for 12 months. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Rewards$99 $29 in the first year100,0001 point uncappedAmplify Rewards Platinum + Kayo Offer
100,000 bonus Amplify Points, (min $3,000 spend within 90 days). 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application (1% BT fee). $29 First Year Card Fee ($99 2nd year card fee) + Score up to $27.50 per month cashback on Kayo access for 12 months. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.49% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 15,600 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 212,000 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 22,200 points
- Card Benefits
- Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Rewards Platinum + Kayo Offer
American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
Receive a $200 credit on your Card when you spend $200 or more at Amazon.com.au within the first 3 months plus get 30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online by 27 July 2022, are approved and spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Membership Rewards$19530,0001 point uncappedPlatinum Edge Credit Card
Receive a $200 credit on your Card when you spend $200 or more at Amazon.com.au within the first 3 months plus get 30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online by 27 July 2022, are approved and spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 30,000
- Rewards
- Points
- N/A (excluding taxes and charges)
- 212,000 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 20,000 points
- Card Benefits
- Extended Warranty,
Account alerts by SMS,
Card Purchase Cover ,
Travel Inconvenience Cover
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Platinum Edge Credit Card
American Express Qantas Premium Card
Receive 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2021^.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$24930,0001 point uncappedQantas Premium Card
Receive 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2021^.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 30,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 110,400 points (excluding taxes and charges)
- 19,010 points
- Card Benefits
- Account alerts by SMS,
Card Purchase Cover ,
Travel Inconvenience Cover
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Premium Card
Make price match your pal
As any seasoned haggler would know, never settle for the first offer. For ‘big ticket’ gifts like a TV or a gaming console, price match is your best friend in helping you save potentially hundreds.
Say, for instance, you spotted a laptop on sale for $1,500 at JB Hi Fi and the exact same model at Officeworks at a slightly more expensive price of $1,650. Just by asking an employee in-store or over the phone to beat JB Hi Fi’s price by 5% (as per Officeworks’ price match policy), you could snag that laptop for just $1,425 - or $225 less than if you’d just gone with Officeworks’ initial offer.
Ditch the FX fee
Like many other Aussies, you may be turning to online shopping this holiday season. But watch out for an additional charge that could be hurting your wallet more than you think: foreign exchange or FX fees.
You may not realise this but for every present you purchase on an international website, your debit card or credit card may be charging you FX fees up to 3.65%. For a $120 pair of sneakers that’s a $4.38 surcharge.
Luckily there are plenty of plastics in the market with absolutely zero FX fees - 12 debit cards and 28 credit cards in the Mozo database, to be exact. Check out a few of these low fee cards.
Go DIY
Did staying at home this year inspire the baker or artist inside of you? Well it’s time to get creative and put those quarantine hobbies to use! Rather than spending money, you could spend the day making cookies or origami and assembling them into DIY Christmas hampers for family and friends.
This concept could even be applied to your secret santas. Instead of going with a budget of say $30, everyone could chip in with something handmade, whether that’s a pencil drawing or a knitted scarf.
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