A Christmas spread for less! Savvy mum shares the budget tricks she's using to create an epic hamper by December 25 - and it costs her just $20 a week

  • Christmas is expensive for most families but this doesn't have to be the case 
  • One family have started preparing a Christmas hamper 10 weeks in advance 
  • Jypsie Cronan, 24, from Our Thrifty Family is only buying during specials 
  • She is spending $20 a week on groceries so all up the hamper will cost her $200 

By Billie Schwab Dunn For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:16 EDT, 31 October 2018 | Updated: 22:17 EDT, 31 October 2018

The Christmas season can be a very expensive time for families, with many paying off their festive spreads and generous gifts for months afterwards. 

But one savvy mother-of-two has come up with a clever way to slash the cost of her spend over the course of 10 weeks.

Photographer Jypsie Cronan, 24, from Lockhart, New South Wales, is behind Our Thrifty Family and started collecting food and drinks for a Christmas hamper 10 weeks before Christmas.

'I've just started this year after seeing how much the major Christmas hamper companies cost and wanting to make it more affordable for our family,' Ms Cronan told FEMAIL.

'Instead of spending hundreds on Crisco, Castle and Hamper King, set a budget that works for you.' 

Photographer Jypsie Cronan, 24, from Lockhart NSW is behind Our Thrifty Family and started collecting food and drinks for a Christmas hamper ten weeks before the big day (pictured with her family Beajey, 36, Malakye, 4 and Matylda, 3

Photographer Jypsie Cronan, 24, from Lockhart NSW is behind Our Thrifty Family and started collecting food and drinks for a Christmas hamper ten weeks before the big day (pictured with her family Beajey, 36, Malakye, 4 and Matylda, 3

Their budget in total is $200 which means they aim to spend $20 a week unless there is change from a week previously. 

The hamper is meant to be enjoyed over the Christmas season so that the family doesn't find themselves unable to afford the costs that come with the festive time of year. 

'This year I'm making it and then splitting it in so we can donate half to the local food bank the week of Christmas,' she said.

'This means they can distribute as needed to families who do struggle during this time.' 

The budget in total is $200 which means they aim to spend $20 a week unless there is change from a previous week (everything they've bought so far pictured)

The budget in total is $200 which means they aim to spend $20 a week unless there is change from a previous week (everything they've bought so far pictured)

WEEK ONE 

Budget: $20

Spent: $11

Rollover: $9

Purchased:

Tiny Teddies 8pk

Sugar free lollies x4

Vegemite 10pk x2

Instant desserts butterscotch x2

Seafood Sauce x1

Wizz fizz x1

Ms Cronan said she isn't preparing a list before each shop and is simply 'winging it'. 

This being said there is some method as she is only shopping markdowns and items that have been reduced to clearance. 

'People need to shop around to find the best bargains, being store or brand loyal doesn't always work,' Ms Cronan said.

'I find markdowns in my area are often late afternoon or early morning.'

The busy mother has been buying things that she knows the family will use, such as snacks and pantry staple items.  

Everything she bought were on clearance or marked down. 

Week one consisted of items like Vegemite, Tiny Teddy's and Wizz Fizz
Week two was made up of juice, chocolate and soft drink

Week one consisted of items like Vegemite, Tiny Teddy's and Wizz Fizz (left) and week two was made up of juice, chocolate and soft drink (right)

Week three's shop consisted of Sakata Spinach Crackers, popcorn and beetroot slices

Week three's shop consisted of Sakata Spinach Crackers, popcorn and beetroot slices

EXAMPLES OF HER WEEKLY SHOP

WEEK TWO 

Budget: $29 ($9 rollover)

Spent: $27.20

Rollover: $1.80

Purchased:

Solo 24pk

Celebrations chocolates x2

Juice boxes 6pk x2

WEEK THREE

Budget: $21.80 ($1.80 rollover)

Spent: $11.50

Rollover: $10.30

Purchased:

6x Sakata Spinach Crackers

3x Kettle Salted Caramel Popcorn

1x Kettle Sweet & Salty Popcorn 

1x Golden Circle Beetroot Slices

'This is everything except for the juices, which were still on special. My four year old asked for them so I grabbed them,' she explained. 

So far she has been able to buy items that her family uses every day, such as Vegemite, crackers, beetroot slices and juice boxes.

Ms Cronan has also bought a variety of special treats such as Tiny Teddy's, Wizz Fizz, popcorn and chocolates.

She is ensuring that all of their expiry dates are early next year so that there is no chance that they go off before the family consumes them. 

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Mother-of-two using savvy tricks and supermarket deals to create an EPIC Christmas hamper

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