Shopping
Christmas Hacks ‘Tis the season to be shopping! The big question is online or instore? Written by Jo Munro from The Savvy Shopaholic
H
ere are my top tips for shopping and bagging a bargain too. What if I could give you Christmas shortcuts to zipping through your shopping tasks in record time? Free postage and a one stop visit to shop for all of your presents. MASSIVE SAVINGS If you are shopping online, save a mint on postage by taking up the latest offer by our friends at Australia Post. They have a fabulous initiative called Shipster which is currently free (https://auspost.com.au/shipster) and then subscribe for $6.95 a month and get free shipping from the top Aussie online stores. Just another way to save this Christmas. WHERE TO ‘ONE STOP SHOP’ What if you could go shopping where you are guaranteed to get amazing pricing on quality brands with unique items you don’t see in every store you walk into? Add fresh stock of thousands of new items weekly and huge range of homewares, fashion, pets costumes
and even gorgeous wrapping paper all in one store. Can you guess my new ‘go to’ store for amazing gifts and Christmas supplies? TK Maxx is my new shopping crush! I found so many wonderful presents including quality items for $10 - $20 for some of those obligatory gifts required this time of year; School teacher, the swimming coach or the office Kris Kringle.
NEED TO SPREAD YOUR PURCHASE PAYMENTS? Consider downloading the Afterpay app. Afterpay will help you budget by spreading your purchase payments over four installments. Afterpay is available online and in store at good retailers. Very savvy shopping! I have some more to buy for Christmas. You know my shopping motto - ‘Tis the season to be shopping and some of those presents might just be for me. Have a very savvy, safe and fun filled Christmas and holiday season.
Relationships
HOW TO
Christmas is a highly emotional time of year. There’s much excitement, anticipation and, unfortunately, stress.
Avoid Conflict Christmas C Time AT
ouples and relatives often spend a lot more time together than usual too. It’s no wonder it’s also the most popular time of year for relationships to break up, and fall-outs with family members and friends to occur. So how do you avoid this conflict and keep your holiday season as happy and harmonious as possible? Try these simple tips. 1
Local Expert Melissa Ferrari Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert
BE KIND
Understand that people might be more stressed than usual and give them a bit more allowance for this. When people are busy or anxious they might come across the wrong way and unintentionally instigate conflict, so recognise it for what it is and don’t take the bait. 2 SET EXPECTATIONS (ESPECIALLY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY)
Clarity creates calm so discuss beforehand where you’ll be, what you’ll be doing, who’s driving, who’s cooking and how many presents everyone will be getting. This way there’ll be no mixed messages between couples, and children will also know what to expect from the day. 36
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3 SHARE THE LOAD
Don’t just let one person be responsible for all tasks. Allocate jobs and get everyone involved in the planning and organisation (even kids). It’s much more fun this way, and a whole lot fairer! 4 SUPPORT
If your partner or a family member is anxious about seeing a relative, be there for them and let them know you’ve got their back. This alone can be extremely reassuring. After all, Christmas is a time for people to come together. 5 COMMUNICATE
Remember to bring up any concerns you have around the holiday before they become an issue. Don’t forget to let your loved ones know how excited and happy you feel and how much you love them – good vibes are contagious! 6 APPRECIATE
Acknowledging those less fortunate is an easy way to feel gratitude for your own relationships and circumstances, which will make you less likely to argue or become upset. This is particularly beneficial for children too with activities such as donating gifts and volunteering at shelters. So don’t forget to holiday-proof your relationships this Christmas for a fantastic festive break, with memories that are unforgettable for all the right reasons.