Get creative for a cheaper Christmas

EMMA ALLEN/FAIRFAX NZ

MADE WITH CARE: Sarah Jane Barnett has a lot of gift ideas for people wanting to do Christmas on the cheap. "Everyone can make fudge.''

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Christmas 2011

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While many people will be stressing about debt while shopping for Christmas presents this week, Wellington mum Sarah Jane Barnett is debt-free and has already begun wrapping presents for her friend's birthday in May.

The writer, reviewer and craft buff spent most of winter making her Christmas presents and decorations and said the key to saving money was to be organised, buy materials early in the year, and to make presents rather than buy them.

"One year I gave my mother a set of wine glasses but put a note in each one telling her why I respected and loved her.

"People need an experience, people don't need the stuff. Everyone can make fudge, or even things like origami could be good presents."

Ms Barnett, who has a young son, said it was not hard to find the time to make something simple like a cushion as a present. She often browsed Trade Me for materials while feeding her baby or "messing about", and kept a spreadsheet to keep track.

She also recommended giving recipes along with the ingredients to someone looking to get into cooking, packing a homemade picnic in a second-hand hamper, or making jam with seasonal fruit.

"I think people should learn. I started out awful.

"I have friends who make me things that aren't as practised as I am and I appreciate those gifts more than if they had bought me things."

The young family kept things low-key at Christmas and she never spent more than $25 or so on a present.

This year she would visit her mother for Christmas dinner but she and her husband have already thrown a Christmas barbecue. Guests were each given a gift of a jar of pear and vanilla jam and courgette chutney, all made from scratch.

Experts agree with Ms Barnett's tips, recommending baking gifts and making homemade cards to save money. Auction websites such as Trade Me can be cheaper than buying new, and discount voucher websites might offer cheaper options as well.

- © Fairfax NZ News