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Saving tips over the silly season

Date: Nov 18th, 2014

With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, it’s more important than ever to manage your expenses and keep within your means. 

Here are 20 great savings tips to help your dollar go further during the silly season!

  1. Use AMP’s online budget planner to help you sort out your budget and find out how much money you have left to spend on holidays and gifts. Simply go to www.amp.com.au and click on the ‘Advice & Guidance’ tab and then click on ‘Find out more’ to locate the budget planners towards the bottom of the Calculator page.
  2. If you don’t feel your current credit card is the best for you, do a credit card check at www.infochoice.com.au or www.canstar.com.au to find out if there are better offers.  Make sure you read the fine print carefully, as there could be entry and exit costs and other charges to watch out for.
  3. Sign up to Skype (at www.skype.com) and get free phone and video calls to your loved ones.
  4. Check out www.christmaswarehouse.com.au for great discounts on Christmas decorations and gifts.
  5. Buy Christmas presents early to get better deals.
  6. Make your own lunch during the working week. You can save hundreds of dollars doing this, rather than buying lunch at your local take-away shop.
  7. Use supermarket petrol discount coupons.
  8. Check out shopping coupons and vouchers like www.hotdockets.com.au   www.clevercoupons.com.au; www.whypayfullprice.com.au.
  9. If you’re over the age of 60, where possible, ask for a seniors discount or call Senior Shopper offers on 1300 366 265, if you live in Qld, NSW, the ACT or Vic.
  10. Instead of splurging on hotels and other holiday accommodation, why not go camping? This is one of the cheapest forms of holidaying.
  11. Switch off your hot water and all unnecessary electrical appliances (except fridges, freezers etc.) when you go on holidays.
  12. Replace all your conventional light bulbs with energy-saving light bulbs. This will help to reduce your electricity intake and save hundreds of dollars for years to come.
  13. Sign up to discount airline newsletters like Jetstar’s JetMail or Virgin Blue’s V-mail to find out about the latest special offers, promotions and sale fares.
  14. Check out booking sites like www.wotif.com.au and www.lastminute.com for great flight and hotel accommodation deals.
  15. Get travel, shopping and restaurant deals at sites like  www.scoopon.com.au and  www.groupon.com.au and  www.livingsocial.com 
  16. If you’re planning to travel overseas during the Christmas and New Year’s break, make sure you get travel insurance. The benefits and peace of mind could far outweigh the cost.
  17. Cut-back on your alcohol intake for a month. This could save you hundreds of dollars and can also improve your health.
  18. A great cost-effective way to entertain your family for a night is to take a drive around your suburb or another nearby suburb to see the Christmas lights.  It can become a family tradition.
  19. Shave your head throughout the year and save hundreds of dollars on haircutting costs. You can also raise much needed funds for the Leukaemia Foundation by signing up to www.worldsgreatestshave.com!
  20. If you’re a man, save on the cost of shaving blades by letting your moustache grow during Movember. You can also raise much needed funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, beyondblue and the Movember foundationby signing up at www.movember.com.au!

For more ways to save money and budget effectively, please call us today.

 

What you need to know

Information current as at  November 2014. This article contains general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the appropriateness of the information in light of your personal circumstances.  If you decide to purchase or vary a financial product, your financial planner, our practice, AMP Financial Planning and other companies within the AMP Group will receive fees and other benefits, which will be a percentage of the premium you pay and/or the advice fee you agree with us.  Further details are available from your planner or AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited, telephone 1300 157 173

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