Tips to ease the stress of Christmas from Australia’s top shop-and-save expert Jo Munro.
The Christmas decorations are in store and shopfronts laced with tinsel and snowflakes. But for a lot of Australians under financial pressure because of the increased cost of living, the leadup to December 25 is feeling more naughty than nice.
“I think particularly this year Christmas is going to be stressful for a lot of people feeling the pressure of mortgages that just keep going up and prices at the supermarket and petrol pump,” says Jo Munro, TV & Radio presenter, columnist, and author of The Savvy Shopaholic which is filled with savvy shopping expertise and business wisdom.
Start Now:
“For 2023, you need to get into action early. Start Now! Some retailers have kept the October Click Frenzy sales going and we’ve got Black Friday sales in November which are a great way to buy more and spend less,” says Jo.
Shop Online:
“By shopping online and letting your fingers do the hard work, you’re not only avoiding having to lug around heavy items and endure the stress of fighting for a carpark in shopping centres, you also can find ½ priced specials and sales which are so easily accessible on the APPs.”
Jo says it’s time NOW to:
- Shop the 1/2 price grocery sales – check out the big retailers’ Tuesday lists with thousands of discounted items. Fill your trolley now and you’ll bag the bargains for Christmas Day festivities
- Shop for a couple of presents a week to spread the cost
- Shop at the markets (such as Sydney Markets, Paddy’s Markets, Queen Victoria Markets plus local community markets) – and utilise late in the day discounts when prices are slashed to offload stock
- Wrap presents to start to get into the spirit
The Savvy Shopaholic’s 7 Christmas Hacks to ease the Christmas stress
- Make Your List & Allocate a Budget For Each Item
Think detail and factor in presents for everyone from Grandma to the kids’ teachers, food, decorations and booze.
- Presents for Beyond the Xmas Tree
Remember to have some additional gifts like chocolates/wine for teachers, friends, neighbours & the unexpected
- Savvy and Smart Catering
Shop the half price grocery sales (every Tuesday until Xmas) and not just for Christmas day but for the whole holiday celebration season. Much of our entertainment cost is not just Christmas day!
- Smart Purchasing
Purchase items on sale that don’t date (cheeses, minced tarts, fruit puddings, snacks, chips, pavlova bases). They sell out or prices go up closer to Christmas Day.
- Bubbly and Booze
Check the sales from today with discount wine merchants i.e., Dan Murphy for celebration wine specials both entertaining and gifts/Kris Kringle.
- Get real, Avoid Waste
Be realistic about the amount of food needed (especially ordering hams) most households have excess food at the Christmas table.
- Frozen and Fabulous
Check Aldis frozen seafood area for lobster tails, prawns, turkey and even turducken if you are so inclined. Go to the markets (BIG YES FROM JO!), your butcher or fishmonger NOW and get quality discounted produce and freeze until you’re ready to cook closer to Christmas day.
- Thrifty and Creative Gifts
D-I-Y a hamper of goodies. If you or the kids cook, home-made goodies are a perfect addition with chocolates, shortbreads, snacks, tarts and preserves. Or consider a pamper-hamper with manicure items and hand creams etc. Hampers are a great gift especially when times are tough.
“There's so much you can do in advance to take the stress out but also erase the financial stress. The festive season doesn't always have to be expensive and with some smarts and savvy, you can make it look luxe without having to attach the dollars to it,” says Jo.
Jo Munro is best known as The Savvy Shopaholic with the tag line 'Shop More, Save More'. She’s a resident shopping expert for a number of TV programs and a columnist in several magazines.
In Jo's book The Savvy Shopaholic, she shares over 20 years of savvy shopping expertise, business wisdom and luxe for less shopping tips with those who want to get the most out of their dollar.
Jo’s available for immediate TV and Radio appearances, interviews and editorials.
Please contact:
Robyn Foyster
InProfile
0408 651219
Giulia Sirignani
InProfile
0452 192690
Key Facts:
Jo Munro is best known as The Savvy Shopaholic with the tag line 'Shop More, Save More'. She’s a resident shopping expert for a number of TV programs and a columnist in several magazines.
In Jo's book The Savvy Shopaholic, she shares over 20 years of savvy shopping expertise, business wisdom and luxe for less shopping tips with those who want to get the most out of their dollar.
Jo’s available for immediate TV and Radio appearances, interviews and editorials.
Contact details:
Robyn Foyster
0408651219
Or, Jo Munro
