9 Tips for Having a Luxury Christmas on a Budget

Ah, Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time to live well, enjoy friends and family, and all-around round out the year in style. It’s not hard to see the appeal of a luxury Christmas.

The problem? Without having a plan in place, a luxury Christmas can have a pretty detrimental impact on the bank balance. With the average family spending around $1000 during the holiday season, you can imagine that having a luxury Christmas would be considerably more.

But that’s only true if you don’t have a plan. By taking on board some smart tips, you can have a luxury Christmas without breaking the bank. After all, luxury doesn’t have to mean spending the earth. Taking a sophisticated approach, as well as using some handy hacks, can ensure that it’s a luxury-tinged holiday season while also being good for your bank balance.

When it comes to luxury decor, less is more, and that’s good news for your bank balance. Not only do you not need to spend a small fortune buying a bounty’s worth of Christmas decorations, but you actually shouldn’t.

A classy, minimalist approach will do the trick. Choose two of three colors (gold, red, and green work well) and opt for classic decorative touches. With greenery, candles, and some fairy lights, you’ll have a space that’s both luxury-looking and affordable.

While you can do Christmas on a budget, the fact is that you’ll need to spend some money. The biggest expense is usually gifts, which typically account for around 50% of the whole holiday budget.

It’s OK to limit the number of gifts (or at least avoid going overboard), but it’s always nice when there are some presents under the Christmas tree, especially if they’re thoughtful, quality gifts. Those gifts will obviously require a financial outlay, but there are ways to buy them in a budget-friendly way. Putting away money throughout the year, such as by signing up for Park Christmas Savings, can be a highly effective strategy for making sure you have all the money you need to buy gifts at Christmas without it impacting your bank balance. You’ll slowly build your Christmas warchest throughout the year, rather than having to spend a small fortune all at once. 

Plus, this approach will also increase the amount of spending money you have once December rolls around, which is perfect for treating yourself to other luxuries, such as a lovely cocktail at a classy bar.

Many people see wrapping paper as purely functional, since it’s designed to conceal the present until it’s opened. But actually, for gifts placed under the Christmas tree, wrapping paper also functions as decoration. Choosing a classy, cohesive color palette will make your wrapping look expensive without having to spend any extra cash. Deep red wrapping paper tied with a gold bow, for example, will always look good.

On too much of a budget to buy expensive gifts? Then consider making your own gifts. There are plenty of different things you can make with minimal effort that can make a big impression. Also, this approach can just be fun — there’s a lot of pride that can come from making a quality gift using your own hands. Throw in the fact that the recipient will likely love the extra effort that you put into their gift, and it’s not hard to see why DIY gifts are on the rise.

Looking for some inspiration? Here are some of the easiest DIY gifts that virtually anyone can make that also feel pretty luxe:

• Carved wood bowls

• Homemade candle

• DIY jewelry

• Homemade bath salts

For many people, Christmas dinner is the highlight of the holiday season. And thankfully, this is one of those things that can feel luxurious without having to break the bank. Remember, when it comes to making food at home, it’s not about how much money you spend, but how you do it. We’d recommend looking up some new recipes for your Christmas lunch — you’d be amazed by the deliciousness of some of the recipes that you can find online. This whisky-glazed ham recipe, for instance, has received rave reviews.

It’s easy to forget, but Christmas should also be about relaxation. Many of us spend so much time frantically getting everything ready that we’re normally more tired once Christmas is over than when it began.

As such, you could argue that genuinely relaxing during this time of year is actually the most luxurious thing you can do. Investing in spa-worthy products for your home will allow you to sink into deep relaxation at a time when you deserve it the most. Bath or shower bombs, a new robe, incense, and calming music will give you an hour of luxury, relaxing awesomeness.

Looking for a quick way to make your Christmas lunch feel much more luxurious? Have everyone get all dressed up. You likely already have a suit or a cocktail dress, so why not wear it? Most people don’t even think to wear this type of clothing at home, but it can really set the tone for the meal.

The lighting of the dinner can also go a long way towards creating a sense of luxury. Low lighting and candles can create a wonderfully warm and inviting atmosphere. Round it off with a centrepiece decor on the table and some soft Christmas jazz, and you’ll have an atmosphere that’s worthy of a five-star hotel. And talking of which…

Looking to do something different at Christmas? Consider staying at a 5-star hotel in your local area. Prices tend to be much cheaper on Christmas Day, to the point where you can snag yourself a luxury room for essentially the same cost as you’d spend on other Christmas-related costs. You’ll be bathed in luxury all day, and hey, it’s a different type of experience!