News | Personal Finance
13 Oct 2025 13:05
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Business > Features > Personal Finance

    Stay in charge of your Christmas spending

    Christmas is fast approaching, but if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping, there’s no need to panic. A few simple strategies can help you get through Christmas with your wallet and your stress levels intact.


    Last minute gift buying can lead to impulse purchases and Christmas costs becoming higher than they need to be. So before you go shopping make a plan. Think about who you still need to buy for, what they might like and set a spending limit for each person. Remember it’s the thought that counts, not how much you spend.

    Making a shopping list and taking it with you is a good way to avoid making impulse purchases. This goes for the Christmas grocery shop as well. Think about how many people are coming for dinner and what you’ll have. Invite family members to contribute. People love bringing their special dish and it’s a great way to share costs.

    Make the most of shops offering free Christmas gift-wrapping, this will save buying wrapping paper and is one less thing to think about as Christmas Day approaches.

    If you can’t find the time to get to the shops, think about buying online. It can save time and makes it easy to compare prices and get the best deal.

    Avoid putting too much on your credit card. Unless you can pay it off in full when the bill arrives, Christmas will cost you more than you budgeted for.

    Try using the Christmas spendometer on Sorted.org.nz. It compares the costs of different payment methods so you can decide on the best way to pay for your Christmas purchases.

    © 2025 sorted.org.nz, NZCity

     Other Personal Finance News
     10 Sep: Spring clean your finances
     13 Aug: Plan ahead to give yourself a debt-free Christmas!
     10 Jul: Wise up to clear credit card debt
     07 May: Ways to prepare for the unexpected
     30 Mar: Time for a financial progress check
     10 Feb: Studying up on NZ Super
     10 Jan: Managing the back-to-school bills
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A sporting clash has emerged in Christchurch this Saturday, after Canterbury's extra-time NPC quarter-final triumph over Counties-Manukau More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The prices of New Zealanders' favourite food items are continuing to jump More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Diane Keaton's death shocked many. US media says family kept her sudden decline private 12:57

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Aniston feels "married" to Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow 12:41

    Auckland:
    A Coroner's found wearing a life jacket and proper boat repairs - might have prevented a 51-year-old's death in the Hauraki Gulf 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift became obsessed with Dame Elizabeth Taylor after she was compared to actress by the late movie legend's son 12:11

    Law and Order:
    Invercargill's Aurora College remains in lockdown, after reports of an assault at the school 11:57

    National:
    How László Krasznahorkai’s Nobel-prize winning genius slowly spread around Europe 11:17

    Rugby League:
    Mixed emotions for Kiwi Nelson Asofa-Solomona as he parts ways with the Storm in league's NRL 11:07

    Rugby:
    A sporting clash has emerged in Christchurch this Saturday, after Canterbury's extra-time NPC quarter-final triumph over Counties-Manukau 10:47

    National:
    Will Trump’s ceasefire plan really lead to lasting peace in the Middle East? There’s still a long way to go 10:37

    National:
    Since 2020, 4 of Australia’s natural World Heritage properties have deteriorated 10:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd