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All the end-of-year parties may tempt you to try and keep up with the Kunenes by buying lavish gifts and splurging on pricey champagne, leaving you somewhat broke behind-closed-doors. So instead of keeping up appearances this festive season, discover the many creative ways to have a jolly party season with all the trimmings at half the cost. Here are the top tips on how to do it:
Boost your Christmas bonus
Festive parties usually involve a couple of great aunts, distant cousins and Gogo from up-county for good measure. But unless you can convince your guests to come along for a food-less affair, you’ll need some sure-fire ways to feed them all while keeping your bank balance in check.
Start by giving your bonus a boost by being smart in the lead-up to the parties: Sign-up for Pick ‘n Pay’s Smart Shopper Card or Clicks Club Card. Both offer accumulative points that can be used when you need that little bit of extra cash to spoil the family with.
Another good tip is to re-use gift cards as savvy saving tools. Instead of throwing the card away once you’ve splurged on a new item; load a few rands onto it every time you buy from the store again. Come Christmas, you could have a tidy sum to spend on gifts for your guests.
Come dine with me
Prepare your festive meal ahead of time and take advantage of any specials that may be on offer in the lead-up to the holidays. Buy no-name brands where possible – no one will even notice, especially if used in dishes like salads, trifles or stews!
If you have many mouths to feed, consider making a potjie instead of cooking a roast. Not only are there plenty of delicious variations to try, you’ll need fewer side dishes to accompany it. Visit www.potjiekosworld.com for some inspiration.
Keen on lots of greens with your gammon? Visit a farmer’s market to buy fresh-from-the-ground veggies instead of ready packed varieties that are super convenient but all cost.
Capitalise on the fact that most mothers-in-law or great aunts have a secret recipe they love showing off at parties. Indulge them a little and include their dish in your menu. They’ll be delighted to be involved.
All that sparkles - for a fraction of the cost
Decorations add pizzazz to a festive table or party but once the last champagne bottle has been popped, your pricey ambience is about as useful as yesterday’s newspaper. Instead, go natural and use things like pine cones from a nearby forest and dried berries and place them artfully in a large crystal bowl as a simple, yet appealing centre piece. Finish with some sprigs of green for a colour burst. Also try using smooth stones or small pieces of driftwood as place settings – just add guests’ names!
For a more classic effect, create striking centre pieces with artificial flower bouquets you no longer use by spraying them white to create a frosty effect. Or gather a range of artificial fruit, cover them in craft glue followed by Epsom salts and white glitter. You could even create paper frames with family pictures as decor for the tree. For more ideas visit www.allthingschristmas.com
Avoid the night-before-Christmas gift hunt
The parking alone is enough to turn anyone away from last-minute gift shopping. So to avoid sending your blood pressure through the roof, entertain the kids by making your own gifts this year for family members and friends. Some smart ideas include making herb garden markers from wine corks for mom or growing herbs in a tin for an aunt. Or what about a homemade recipe book for an aspirant Jamie Oliver friend and framing your kids’ artwork for a visiting granny? You could even customise bespoke jewellery pieces by visiting local bead shops and creating your own range. For more great ideas visit www.lesliecreations.com
Wrap it up right
A bit like the decor, wrapping paper and Christmas cards become a bit superfluous once the party is over. So instead of buying new ones, use the comic section of a newspaper to wrap kids’ gifts or the pages of a decor mag for small trinkets. Your children’s artwork could also make a personal gift wrapper for a family member and can be used as a keepsake too.
Cut up last year’s Christmas cards and use as tags. Personal photographs also make great cards or gifts and double-up as a little memento. And if you’re sending Christmas cards to far-away friends, then don’t buy new; instead cut an old card in half and use the pretty side as a postcard. For more creative ideas on how to wrap it up right visit: www.papercraftsmag.com
Everyone looks forward to the festive season but less so to the hefty cost implications. By being smart about how you entertain, what you serve your guests and give as gifts, you can save a fair bit of money. This can help prevent the common New Year’s financial hangover that is often the flip side to an over-the-top Christmas.
For further information on Capitec Bank, click here.
Boost your Christmas bonus
Festive parties usually involve a couple of great aunts, distant cousins and Gogo from up-county for good measure. But unless you can convince your guests to come along for a food-less affair, you’ll need some sure-fire ways to feed them all while keeping your bank balance in check.
Start by giving your bonus a boost by being smart in the lead-up to the parties: Sign-up for Pick ‘n Pay’s Smart Shopper Card or Clicks Club Card. Both offer accumulative points that can be used when you need that little bit of extra cash to spoil the family with.
Another good tip is to re-use gift cards as savvy saving tools. Instead of throwing the card away once you’ve splurged on a new item; load a few rands onto it every time you buy from the store again. Come Christmas, you could have a tidy sum to spend on gifts for your guests.
Come dine with me
Prepare your festive meal ahead of time and take advantage of any specials that may be on offer in the lead-up to the holidays. Buy no-name brands where possible – no one will even notice, especially if used in dishes like salads, trifles or stews!
If you have many mouths to feed, consider making a potjie instead of cooking a roast. Not only are there plenty of delicious variations to try, you’ll need fewer side dishes to accompany it. Visit www.potjiekosworld.com for some inspiration.
Keen on lots of greens with your gammon? Visit a farmer’s market to buy fresh-from-the-ground veggies instead of ready packed varieties that are super convenient but all cost.
Capitalise on the fact that most mothers-in-law or great aunts have a secret recipe they love showing off at parties. Indulge them a little and include their dish in your menu. They’ll be delighted to be involved.
All that sparkles - for a fraction of the cost
Decorations add pizzazz to a festive table or party but once the last champagne bottle has been popped, your pricey ambience is about as useful as yesterday’s newspaper. Instead, go natural and use things like pine cones from a nearby forest and dried berries and place them artfully in a large crystal bowl as a simple, yet appealing centre piece. Finish with some sprigs of green for a colour burst. Also try using smooth stones or small pieces of driftwood as place settings – just add guests’ names!
For a more classic effect, create striking centre pieces with artificial flower bouquets you no longer use by spraying them white to create a frosty effect. Or gather a range of artificial fruit, cover them in craft glue followed by Epsom salts and white glitter. You could even create paper frames with family pictures as decor for the tree. For more ideas visit www.allthingschristmas.com
Avoid the night-before-Christmas gift hunt
The parking alone is enough to turn anyone away from last-minute gift shopping. So to avoid sending your blood pressure through the roof, entertain the kids by making your own gifts this year for family members and friends. Some smart ideas include making herb garden markers from wine corks for mom or growing herbs in a tin for an aunt. Or what about a homemade recipe book for an aspirant Jamie Oliver friend and framing your kids’ artwork for a visiting granny? You could even customise bespoke jewellery pieces by visiting local bead shops and creating your own range. For more great ideas visit www.lesliecreations.com
Wrap it up right
A bit like the decor, wrapping paper and Christmas cards become a bit superfluous once the party is over. So instead of buying new ones, use the comic section of a newspaper to wrap kids’ gifts or the pages of a decor mag for small trinkets. Your children’s artwork could also make a personal gift wrapper for a family member and can be used as a keepsake too.
Cut up last year’s Christmas cards and use as tags. Personal photographs also make great cards or gifts and double-up as a little memento. And if you’re sending Christmas cards to far-away friends, then don’t buy new; instead cut an old card in half and use the pretty side as a postcard. For more creative ideas on how to wrap it up right visit: www.papercraftsmag.com
Everyone looks forward to the festive season but less so to the hefty cost implications. By being smart about how you entertain, what you serve your guests and give as gifts, you can save a fair bit of money. This can help prevent the common New Year’s financial hangover that is often the flip side to an over-the-top Christmas.
For further information on Capitec Bank, click here.
