Words by Tegan

Category: Lifestyle

  • Gift giving made easy this Christmas

    I’m not big on Christmas – I don’t have a tree and Christmas carols were ruined for me after working in a department store. I don’t like the tacky nature of decorations and the sheer volume of stuff that fills the shops. But I do like the food….and gift giving.

    I managed to do about 80% of my Christmas shopping yesterday afternoon – all locally from up the street. I’m lucky to live in walking distance to a high street of eclectic shops making it easy for me to buy nearly everything for those on my list. The rest I’ll probably do online to avoid the crush of big shopping centres.

    I appreciate why many don’t like gift giving at Christmas – the stress, the expense, the time wasted, the waste created… but I like to give, and let’s be honest, I also like to receive gifts.

    Christmas is the one time I truly splash out – I don’t really give presents during the year, only for milestone birthdays or weddings.

    This year my family and I have given each other a list of ideas to help make the process easier. Some think this is pointless and it’d be easier to just give money instead but I like it. I pick a few items from the lists but also throw in a few surprises.

    I find Christmas a great time to get those things you wouldn’t normally buy yourself. Things like perfume, lip gloss or lipstick, jewellery, books, gym bags, or stationary.

    For couples it’s a great time to stock up on bath towels, beach towels, and new sheets.

    I also like to add some edible gifts such as homemade biscuits or granola, spice mixes (easy to make yourself), a bag of fancy coffee or some preserves.

    Experiences are also a winner, especially for those who don’t like things cluttering up their home. Try a voucher for a workshop, cooking class, a restaurant, outdoor cinema, or year’s pass to the movies.

    Have parents or grandparents that have everything? Give them a ‘voucher’ for a day out to the beach, or the hills – wherever they’d like to go for a drive and a meal.

    To top it off why not add in a donation to the charity of your choice such as The Smith Family, Oxfam or the Asylum Seekers Centre.

    Don’t let gift giving overwhelm you – shop locally where you can or online, and think outside the box to keep things on the cheap and easy side.

  • Money-saving tips for life

    I’m by no means the world’s best saver but I (generally) live within my means and have picked up a few money-saving habits along the way. These won’t necessarily help you save for that house deposit, but it might give you a bit of breathing space.

    1. Don’t have a credit card

    This might seem obvious but it still surprises me how many of my friends rack up card debts. I’ve never had a credit card and don’t plan on having one in the future. It’s a good way to limit your spending – you can’t buy that $300 if you don’t physically have the money.

    2. Fridge specials

    I used to be pretty bad at wasting food until I lived with a frugal housemate. She wouldn’t let me go to the supermarket until we’d eaten all the food in the fridge and cupboard. Who knew you could make soup out of pretty much anything? I’ve now adopted this habit and it’s paid off – literally.

    For example, this week we didn’t get time to go to the market to stock up on cheap meat and veg so we’re going to see if we can survive from what we have left.

    3. Do without

    For a long time we didn’t have a washing machine. We don’t have children so that probably makes a big difference but to be honest, there were quite a few families visiting the laundromat when we made the bi-weekly trip. Now we’ve ended up with a washing machine – for free. We also don’t have a microwave and most of our kitchen appliances have been given to us.

    4. Clothes for nix

    I never seriously considered sourcing my wardrobe second-hand until I moved to Katherine in the Northern Territory where retail options were limited. But I fell in love with op-shops there and have continued to be a devotee here in Melbourne. What’s not to love about getting six items for $30? I recently found a Cue dress in mint condition for about $10 – perfect for work.

    As well, I’ve brought back a tradition of clothes swaps. Simply invite your friends around and if they have some they can bring some clothes they no longer want. They’re bound to find a new home – you get a new outfit or two and the unwanted pieces can be dropped off at the local op-shop.

    5. Save $5 notes

    A friend’s mum gave me this tip a few weeks back – don’t spend $5 notes. Save them and put them in an envelope in a drawer and watch them grow. I’ve saved nearly $100 in just a few weeks.

    6. Join a library

    I used to spend a small fortune on buying magazines and books but since joining the local library I’ve tempered my spending on these excess items. It’s free and you’ll get all the books, magazines and DVD’s you’d ever want.

    Adopt these tips and you’ll carry them through life no matter what you’re earning.

    What are your tips to save a few dollars?

  • How to host a swap party

    How to host a swap party

    What do you do with those clothes you can’t quite bring yourself to take to the op shop but know you’ll never wear? Host a swap party that’s what.

    Here are a few steps to ensure you don’t drown in a pile of clothes.

    1. The invitation

    clothes

    Invite people who are likely to have a stash of good clothes in their wardrobe or who aren’t averse to wearing second-hand garments. You want to strike a balance between inviting enough so there is a range of clothes to choose from but not too many that it will take five hours to get through the pile. Give people at least a few weeks’ notice so they can gather up a stash.

    2. Sorting

    As the guests arrive with their loot sort the clothes into piles – skirts, shorts, trousers, dresses etc. This keeps things orderly and anonymous – you don’t want people feeling embarrassed if no one wants their t-shirt with the cat on it.

    3. Show and tell

    Get volunteers to help ‘model’ the clothes. Don’t worry there needn’t be any strutting down the catwalk – just hold up each item and tell the ‘buyers’ the brand and size. First person to put their hand up wins the prize. Make sure you have a spare room and a mirror so people can try the clothes on.

    4. Second time through

    Once all the clothes have been divvied up the rejects go into a pile. Then the scavengers can go through and pick out any items they weren’t sure of the first time around. The aim of the game is to see the clothes go to a new home.

    5. Op shop trip

    But once the pile has been exhausted and nobody wants the neon green mesh tank top, the items left are destined for the op shop of choice. It’s the job of the host to make the drop off.

    6. Don’t forget cake!

    Swap parties are always a good excuse to get people (ok girlfriends) together to enjoy some afternoon tea, or even an evening of wine and cheese.