11 expert-approved hacks for a 'cozzie-livs' Christmas. 

We're all tempted to throw budgeting out the window as 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' comes on the radio (if that were true, Christmas would be a lot cheaper). 

Who wants to be a penny-pinching Grinch, after all?

However, it's getting harder to justify festive spending alongside rising budgets, grocery prices, insurance premiums, mortgage repayments and rent. It's not surprising that more and more Australians are reconsidering presents and lavish celebrations this year. 

The truth is that the cost-of-living-crisis, affectionately known as the 'Cozzie-Livs' has us all tightening the belt buckle and metaphorically super-gluing our wallets shut. 

So, what do we do when Christmas comes around? The 'Cozzie-Chris' if you will?

Recent research from Fifth Quadrant shows Australians are tightening their Christmas budgets considerably. In 2024, the average planned expenditure on gifts has dropped by 11 per cent from $621 in 2023 to $552. 

This cautious approach is reflected in budgeting behaviour, with 32 per cent of Australians now setting strict holiday budgets up from 23 per cent last year. 

The financial strain is also pushing many Australians to work additional hours to afford the festive season, with over half of working age Australians taking on or are considering taking on additional work. 93 per cent of those say the cost of living crisis is the key reason, according to job site Indeed. 

So how do we manage our budgets when we really want to celebrate but also need to be mindful of money? 

We spoke to the experts, who have learnt how to restrain gift giving urges and cook up a delicious Chrissy meal without going broke. 

How to have a decadent cost-of-living Christmas. 

Listen to the intricacies of a cost-of-living Christmas on The Quicky. Post continues below.

Shop in the Black Friday sales.

Roy Morgan, data shows that 53 per cent of shoppers have already purchased the bulk of their Christmas gifts by mid-October, indicating a more planned approach to Christmas spending this year, and that's what Jodie Allen, the woman behind the website Stay At Home Mum, does. She says she gets in early with the sales and ensures any big ticket items are squared away

"This year, I did all the Black Friday sales, and I also purchased gifts all the way through the year so that I don't have that big bill just before going into Christmas," she told Mamamia's twice daily news podcast The Quicky. 

"I have two boys… and I must admit, as they get older, their gifts are more expensive, because that just seems to be the way it goes. 

"So for Christmas, they always get a book each. They get socks and jocks each, and then they get one big-ish present. 

"So this year, I got them a Garmin watch each. They need it for their mountain bike riding. I got it 50 per cent off, so both of them get exactly the same. And we try and keep it just minimal. They don't need 30 presents."

While the Black Friday sales are technically supposed to be from November 29, they've already started for many retailers, especially online, and our Mamamia team have put together an incredible lists of things, like the best Secret Santa gifts for under 50 bucks, budget ideas for teacher gifts and if you have a tween into skincare. 

Don't over cater, especially on expensive proteins.

Aside from gifts, food is another big dollar drainer this time of year, with hams in the hundreds and all the trimmings adding up. 

Steph D'Souza is an author and content creator known as The Frugal Foodie, and she says that while we all want to see a giant ham and spectacular turkey, we don't always need it. 

"I think this is what we need to remember this year. Like, things are tough. People don't have as much money. You need to really remember who you are catering for, how many people you're catering for, and, like, bring it right back. You don't need leftovers for a week. It's one meal on one day," she says. 

"Pare it right back and think about when you go to a restaurant, most chefs would think about 250 to 300 grams of protein per person. If you're thinking in terms of that. If you're buying a five kilo ham for 10 people, it's a little over the top."

Opt for more affordable proteins. 

Turkey might be the more traditional choice at Christmas, but let's not lie, it can get pretty dry and is also pretty expensive. 

According to D'Souza, "You don't need to eat a turkey. You can eat a chicken.

"One of my tricks for Christmas is, instead of buying one big turkey or one massive chicken, I'll buy two or three little ones. 

"That way, you get all the legs, you get all the wings, you get all the good bits, and you get more of them because, you know, everybody fights over the legs and the wings, right?"

Watch this video on when it's appropriate to put up your Christmas tree. Post continues below.

Think frozen. 

According to D'Souza, being aware of how long foods last can help you to really plan your menu in advance. 

"[Christmas food can] have really long used by dates, particularly the frozen items," she says.

"All prawns are frozen on prawn trawlers, before they even come in, they have to be snap frozen in order to meet food safety regulations. 

"So every prawn in Australia has already been frozen. So if you're buying a box of beautiful, fresh Australian tiger prawns in the freezer now and popping them in there and pulling them out a day before Christmas and defrosting them, they are going to be just as delicious as they are if you're buying them from the seafood section the day before Christmas. 

"So just remember that you don't have to buy them necessarily there and then."

Buy over time.

Rather than have that financially devastating food shop bill the same week of Christmas, consider spreading out your spending in the two months leading up to it. 

This could include grabbing your mint jelly, Yorkshire pudding mix or Panko breadcrumbs early and storing them in the pantry. 

"Five weeks out from Christmas, I think we could be buying some of those things once a week and popping them in the freezer, and so when we come to the week before, we're not having that massive big grocery bill, it doesn't hurt quite so much," says D'Souza. 

Get decadent with the sides. 

If you're saving a little money on protein, D'Souza says you can get more creative and elevated with your sides. 

"If you're going to go over the top with anything, the sides are the key, because they're the least expensive things that are going to be more affordable for you, so things like potatoes. "Potatoes are really inexpensive. Make a heap of them, and potatoes are fantastic. Heat up the next day. You can put them in a frittata. You can heat them up in the air fryer."

Consider the longevity of what you make. 

It's lovely to have fresh salads and vegetable dishes on the table at Christmas, but they won't keep as well as your proteins and roasted vegetables. 

If you're going to make a big salad, consider only dressing half of it. 

"Keep little dressing on the side. That way, if there's too much, you can actually reuse that the next day," she suggests. 

Buy what's in season. 

When curating your Christmas menu, make sure you're opting for produce that is affordable right now. 

"This time of year, you've got all this beautiful stone fruit. You've got beautiful berries. They're at their peak right now. 

"They're the most delicious and they are the cheapest they are ever going to be this time of year. So use those things, and use a lot of them, because they're going to be more beautiful and they're going to save you money."

In terms of what to do with them, opting for a pavlova is one of the most cost-effective deserts to top them with, considering you only need sugar, eggs, vanilla essence and vinegar. 

Consider doing a 'no presents' or 'Secret Santa' Christmas. 

If buying presents in your large family or amongst your friendship group feels like a lot to deal with, then consider having an open conversation with them. 

Mel Brown is a former accountant and financial advisor who has previously been on very tight budgets. 

"We just made the decision not to buy Christmas presents for each other, and instead to bring a plate to cook Christmas lunch together," she tells The Quicky. 

"I've got to be honest, it was one of the best Christmases. I had nothing to unwrap, but just that camaraderie was just amazing."

After this experience, she went to her family and said that they should try doing Kris Kringle than individual present gifting. 

Don't be afraid to re-gift. 

When things start to get really hard, think about what you already have in your home, says Mel. 

"I am such a fan of free gifting. I have a cupboard full of stuff that I've been given. This is your opportunity to pass that on," she said. "I know people look at that a bit, 'Oh, you know, you're a cheapskate.' I look at it as being frugal, and you're recycling, and it's a really sustainable way of thinking about Christmas."

Prepare for next Christmas. 

While you're in the financial hellhole of the holiday season, it's hard to consider what you'll do next year. 

However, taking time to put money aside towards Christmas every year will stop it feeling so draining and financially disheartening in the moment. 

"Set up a bank account, call it Christmas, and automatically transfer that $5 or $10, bucks a week," suggests Brown. 

"That way you're not seeing it. You are not going to miss $10 a week, or even $20 a week, but $20 a week is $1000 at Christmastime. 

"The second thing you could do is use a 'cash rewards' site and then choose not to use or download that money from that site until Christmas. 

"That might be $100 or a few hundred that just ticks away, and that acts as a bank account for you."

If money is tight, double down on love. 

While the holiday season has become a commodity over the years, what is central to it is the love we have for one another. 

Brown says many parents worry about giving their children the most extravagant Christmases, but what they'll truly remember is the energy you bring to the end of year break. 

"What your child will carry with them for the rest of their life is the vibe of your home, the energy, the happiness, the love and care," she says. 

"So if you are struggling for money this year and you are worrying that somehow it's going to impact your child in a negative way, the best thing you can do for your child is to make yourself as calm and as happy a parent as possible. 

"Give them your time, love and attention, play a ball game with them, or play a console game with them. Letting them do a makeover on you, reading to them… all of that stuff is so much more valuable than any sort of materialistic stuff."

Feature image: Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.