Get prepared to make tax-time easier

There are always lots of tax-related tasks to complete every EOFY, but as we move into the upcoming financial year, it is also worth getting to grips with new tax changes the Government’s election promises will usher in on 1 July, which we’ve outlined below.

New 2025-2026 tax changes

During the election campaign, the Labor government announced a number of tax changes.

These include the introduction of a standard $1,000 deduction for work-related expenses for taxpayers with labour income, a 20 per cent reduction in HECS-HELPS debts, and an extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off until 30 June 2026.

Legislation has already been passed to cut the tax rate for individuals and is effective from 1 July 2026. The rate for income between $18,201 and $45,000 will be reduced from 16 per cent to 15 per cent, with a further reduction to 14 per cent in the following financial year.i

The government has also made it clear it intends to proceed with its draft legislation (Division 296) reducing the tax concessions for super accounts with a balance exceeding $3 million. This legislation will double the tax rate on earnings related to the portion of the balance over $3 million from 15 per cent to 30 per cent.

Now, let’s look at a few ways you can get prepared in the lead up to 30 June.

Start your tax preparations now

The ATO has announced its tax time hitlist, so it’s also important to check your current tax arrangements are not going to leave you vulnerable to an audit or significant penalties. The main focus for the ATO this year is work-related expense claims, investment properties and holiday home claims, and sharing economy income and cryptocurrency.i

With the ATO taking a much tougher stance on both tax reporting and payments, make sure you lodge and pay on time, or you could face penalties and interest charges. From 1 July 2025, interest paid to the ATO will no longer be tax-deductible.

Tips for businesses

Review and update all of your financial records and identify expenses that could be deductible.

You may want to make some deductible purchases prior to EOFY to help reduce your taxable income for the financial year. The small business instant asset write-off limit for 2024-25 is $20,000.ii

Also check your debtors, inventory and fixed assets, and ensure you write-off any debts that are not recoverable. Review any capital gains and losses and consider offsetting the gains with capital losses.

Check all required super contributions for employees have been made, plus any additional contributions for business owners. Ensure these contributions are received by the funds specified cut-off date to qualify for any tax deduction.iii

To-do list for personal tax

Getting your personal tax information prepared is also important, particularly given the ATO’s focus on personal deduction claims.

If you have regular deductible expenses (such as interest on investment loans and annual payments), consider prepaying them before 30 June so you can claim a deduction this financial year.

If you are likely to have personal capital gains tax obligations from the sale of assets, consider whether you should try to offset them against capital losses.

Time for some super contributions

Consider making extra personal super contributions before the financial year ends if you can.

Before making any contributions, check the total amount of both your concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions across all your super accounts to ensure you do not exceed the annual cap limits.iv

Other super contributions to consider include personal tax-deductible contributions, contributions on behalf of your spouse and eligible contributions that could earn you a co-contribution from the government.v

If you would like to discuss EOFY preparations for either your personal tax or business, please call our office today.

i ATO unveils ‘wild’ tax deduction attempts and priorities for 2025 | Australian Taxation Office

ii Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses | Australian Taxation Office

iii Missed and late super guarantee payments | Australian Taxation Office

iv, v Caps, limits and tax on super contributions | Australian Taxation Office

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Tax update June 2025

ATO individual and business priorities

The Australian Tax Office will be cracking down on work-related expenses in personal tax returns this year after recently revealing some of the claims that have been submitted in the past.

The ATO is also reminding businesses of this year’s limit for the popular instant asset write-off and its ongoing focus on GST fraud.

Here’s a roundup of the latest tax news.

‘Wild’ deduction claims

The tax office caused some raised eyebrows with its revelations about ‘wild’ work-related expense claims made by some taxpayers, including a mechanic claiming an air fryer, TV, gaming console and microwave.i

Other claims deemed to be personal rather than work-related included a truck driver claiming swimwear so he could go for a swim when stopped for a break, and a fashion industry manager claiming over $10,000 in luxury-branded clothing that was purchased to wear to work functions.

This time the ATO says it intends to focus on common taxpayer errors, such as work-related expenses, working from home deductions, and income from multiple sources (including side hustles like ride sourcing services or selling services via an app).

Instant asset write-off limit

The ATO is reminding taxpayers who purchased business assets during the financial year that the instant asset write-off limit in 2024-25 is $20,000.ii

The instant write-off (which allows you to immediately deduct the business part of the cost of eligible assets) is available to businesses with an aggregate annual turnover of less than $10 million who use the simplified depreciation rules.iii

The full cost of eligible depreciating assets (both new and second-hand) costing less than $20,000 on a per asset basis, may qualify for the deduction.

Focus on business GST fraud continues

A Melbourne man has been sentenced to 2 years and 11 months’ imprisonment after obtaining over $390,000 in fraudulent GST refunds and attempting to obtain a further $330,000.

The sentence reflects the continued ATO focus on stamping out GST fraud, with the acting deputy commissioner Kath Anderson noting there were “no ifs, ands or buts here – if you don’t run a business, you don’t need an ABN and you cannot claim GST refunds”.

The ATO-led Serious Financial Crime Taskforce remains on the lookout for potentially fraudulent GST activities, with information sharing identifying businesses using complex financial arrangements (such as false invoicing, misaligned GST accounting methods and claims for fake purchases) to obtain larger GST refunds.

New small business benchmarks released

Small business owners keen to take the ‘pulse’ of their business can now use updated financial benchmarks covering 100 different industries produced by the ATO.

Updated annually, the benchmarks are designed to help business owners compare their performance against other businesses in the same industry.

Owners can use the information to identify if their performance is within the normal range for their industry, which mean it is less likely to attract ATO attention.iv

Paperless SMSF reporting

The ATO has emailed trustees of SMSFs still completing and lodging paper activity statements encouraging them to move to paperless reporting for improved security and convenience.

The regulator says benefits of paperless reporting include an additional two weeks on the fund’s lodgment deadline, reduced errors, faster refunds and easier recordkeeping.

In line with the push for greater digital SMSF reporting, the ATO recently noted non-lodgment of SMSF annual returns remains a concern and this can result in trustee penalties and removal of a fund’s compliance status.v

Estimates of illegal early access in SMSFs is also worrying the regulator, with prohibited loans from funds increasing.

Help with compromised TFNs

With identity theft continuing to increase, the ATO has updated its information for taxpayers who find their tax file number (TFN) has been compromised.

TFNs can be comprised through a number of different channels like email or phishing scams, or through data breaches at legitimate organisations as well as ID theft by criminals.

Anyone who believes their TFN has been compromised or used illegally should contact the ATO immediately on 1800 467 033.

i ATO unveils ‘wild’ tax deduction attempts and priorities for 2025 | Australian Taxation Office

ii Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses | Australian Taxation Office

iii Simpler depreciation rules for small business | Australian Taxation Office

iv ATO releases new small business benchmarks for 100 industries | Australian Taxation Office

v Highlights from the 2025 SMSFA conference | Australian Taxation Office

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ATO watchlist for small business breaches

Pandemic-era leniency is a thing of the past and the regulator is warning small and medium enterprises (SMEs) it is keeping an eye on them.

Information is now published quarterly on the ATO’s SME focus areas webpage. The focus areas currently include – deductions and concessions, personal use of business income, operating outside the system and poor reporting habits.i

Business not personal income

Incorrect use of business money and assets is a perennial issue for the ATO, but it is reporting an increased use of business money and assets for personal purposes.

The ATO says the main area where SMEs are making errors relates to the integrity rules in Division 7A of the Income Tax Assessment Act. These rules apply when a private company attempts to provide money or other benefits to its shareholders or their associates tax-free.

According to the ATO, common errors in this area are caused by shareholders (both owners and associates) failing to understand the company is a separate legal entity and its money and assets do not belong to them and cannot be used for private purposes.

Failing to meet Division 7A requirements when making, repaying or managing loans to shareholders and associates is also attracting the ATO’s attention.

A private company making these types of loans must meet a number of requirements, including – entering into a complying loan agreement, charging interest at the benchmark interest rate, declaring the interest in the shareholders’ assessable income, and making repayments by 30 June (see Case Study).ii

Incorrect deductions and concessions

The ATO has also turned the spotlight onto those who incorrectly claim and offset business losses against other income sources.

Some taxpayers are claiming losses from a business activity (as either a sole trader or an individual in a partnership) where the activity is not related to their primary source of income.

Non-commercial business losses (NCL) cannot be offset against assessable income earnt from other activities in the year in which the losses are made.iii

Operating outside the tax system

Although taxi, limousine and ride-sourcing services have been on the ATO’s hitlist for some time, there is a continuing focus on businesses operating outside the tax system.

Operators in this area must register for GST regardless of their annual turnover and ensure they collect and pay GST and income tax on all rides and other business income.

The ATO is using a range of data sources to check that all drivers register for a Tax File Number (TFN), Australian Business Number (ABN) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Drivers choosing not to register or comply with GST and income tax obligations may find the ATO itself registers them for GST and backdates their registration.

Contractor income and TPRS

The ATO is also checking on contractors who incorrectly report or omit contractor income.iv

The taxable payments reporting system (TPRS) now covers building and construction, courier, cleaning, IT, road freight and security services. These businesses must now lodge a taxable payments annual report covering contractor payments.v

Building good habits

The final area of current focus is changing small business GST reporting from quarterly to monthly.

From March 2025, those with a history of failing to comply with their reporting obligations will receive written communications from the ATO notifying them their reporting cycle has changed to monthly.

Targets of this action will be businesses who failed to respond to previous ATO communications and who have demonstrated a poor compliance history (such as paying late or the incorrect amount, failing to lodge or lodging late, and reporting their tax obligations incorrectly).

The shorter monthly reporting cycle change is designed to embed good business habits into the targeted business by better aligning reporting with their reconciliation process. According to the ATO, some SMEs have voluntarily moved to monthly GST reporting to improve cash flow management and keep their recordkeeping accurate.vi

Please give us a call if you are concerned about any of these issues so that we can help you decide on the best course of action.

i Small business focus areas | Australian Taxation Office

ii Loans by private companies | Australian Taxation Office

iii What is a non-commercial loss? | Australian Taxation Office

iv Contractors omitting income | Australian Taxation Office

v Taxable payments annual report (TPAR) | Australian Taxation Office

vi Good business habits | Australian Taxation Office

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Market movements and review video – May 2025

Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month.

The month of April was marked by economic uncertainty and global trade tensions that drove market declines and volatility.

These events are anticipated to influence the RBA’s cash rate decisions, as will the recent decline in core inflation to within the target range.

Click the video below to view our update.

Please get in touch if you’d like assistance with your personal financial situation.

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Federal Budget 2025-26: Spotlight on tax

In the shadow of an upcoming election, Jim Chalmers’ fourth Budget delivered small but unexpected tax cuts for all Australian taxpayers.

The modest cuts were delivered against a backdrop of growing economic uncertainty, with the treasurer emphasising the need for national resilience in the face of rapid global change.

Tax cuts for everyone

In a surprise revelation, the treasurer announced two new tax cuts in the 2025 Budget.

The first is a cut in the lowest personal income tax rate, which covers every dollar of a taxpayer’s income between $18,201 and $45,000. The current 16 per cent rate will reduce to 15 per cent in 2026-27 and be lowered again to 14 per cent from 1 July 2027.

According to the government, the reduction will take the first tax rate down to its lowest level in more than half a century. Combined with the 2024 tax cuts, an average earner will be paying $2,190 less in 2027-28 compared with 2023-24.

The second tax cut is an increase of 4.7 per cent to the Medicare low-income threshold for singles and families. This means the Medicare Levy will not kick in until singles earn $27,222, rather than the current $26,000 level. The threshold for families will rise from $43,846 to $45,907, while single seniors and pensioners will have their threshold increase from $41,089 to $43,020.

Energy relief for small business and households

The Budget also provided small businesses and households with a welcome additional energy bill rebate to cope with the burden of high energy costs.

Around one million eligible small businesses will receive an additional $150 directly off their energy bills from 1 July 2025. This will extend the government’s energy bill relief until the end of 2025, as the previous rebate scheme was due to end on 30 June.

Abolition of non-compete clauses and licensing reform

Some businesses may be less pleased with the Budget announcement of a planned ban on non-compete clauses covering low- and middle-income employees leaving for another business or to start their own.

Competition law will be tightened to prevent businesses making arrangements that cap workers’ pay and conditions without their knowledge or agreement, or that block them from being hired by competitors. The government claims this will increase affected employees’ wages by up to 4 per cent as they will be able to move to more productive, higher-paying jobs.

Work will also begin on a national occupational licence for electrical trades, which is intended to provide a template for other industries where employees are currently restricted from working across state and territory borders.

Beer excise freeze

Government support for the hospitality sector and alcohol producers was also announced in the Budget.

Indexation of the draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates will be paused in a measure costing about $165 million over five years.

Strengthening competition law

Small business will benefit from the government’s decision to work with the states and territories to extending unfair trading practices protections to small businesses.

Over $7 million will be provided over two years to strengthen the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s enforcement of the Franchising Code.

Subject to consultation, protections from unfair contract terms and unfair trading practices will be extended to all businesses regulated by the Franchising Code.

Supporting Australian businesses

Local companies will also benefit from $20 million in additional support for the Buy Australian Campaign, which encourages consumers to buy Australian-made products.

The Budget further supported local businesses with $16 million in funding for a new Australia-India Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund.

Additional ATO tax compliance funding

The ATO will be happy, with the 2025 Budget providing $999 million over the next four years to extend and expand its tax compliance activities.

This includes additional funding for the shadow economy and personal income tax compliance programs, together with $50 million from 1 July 2026 to ensure the timely payment of tax and unpaid super liabilities by businesses and wealthy groups.

Information in this article has been sourced from the Budget Speech 2025-26 and Federal Budget Support documents.  


It is important to note that the policies outlined in this article are yet to be passed as legislation and therefore may be subject to change. 

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How to master FBT compliance

Preparing for the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year-end is never a walk in the park and, with the ATO now using increasingly sophisticated data matching programs, it is more important than ever to get your return right.

As part of the ATO’s post-pandemic campaign to improve taxpayer compliance and payment of tax debts, the ATO is using data matching tools to check whether businesses should be reporting employee fringe benefits and paying tax on them.i

As a small business owner, you shoulder full responsibility for accurately calculating the taxable value of all fringe benefits, lodging the FBT return, paying any required tax, and reporting fringe benefits on an employee’s payment summary if the individual benefits exceed $2,000.ii

Areas to check in your FBT return

Vehicle benefits are a continuing source of mistakes when it comes to FBT returns. The ATO is particularly interested in commercial vehicles (mainly dual cab utes) provided to employees. Many employers wrongly believe these vehicles are fully FBT-exempt. But an exemption only applies where private use of the vehicle is minor and infrequent.

FBT rules about the use of employee car parking have also been tightened. FBT usually applies if you provide your employees with parking in a commercial car park, although many small businesses are eligible for an FBT exemption under specific conditions.iii

Dining and EV benefit rules

Entertainment and in-house dining fringe benefits are another area where it’s easy to be caught out.

Ensure you have detailed records related to these types of benefits (including any contributions made by employees) and check the benefits provided have met the ‘minor and infrequent‘ rule.

Also keep an eye on the implications of new rules covering electric vehicle (EV) benefits.

Getting employees to play their part

To simplify the process of putting your FBT return together, it helps if your employees play their part.

For example, encourage employees who use salary packaging to spend all of their available annual balance before 31 March to avoid the headache of unspent or claimed benefits rolling over into the next FBT year.

If employees do not use their unspent balance, it still needs to be reported and deducted from their cap limit in the new FBT year, which can create additional paperwork.

Employee declarations

If you plan to use the FBT exemptions and concessions on offer, you may also need to obtain detailed records from your employees (such as travel diaries, logbooks, declarations and odometer records).iv

Any change in car usage due to a new work role needs to be noted and the business use percentage adjusted, or a new logbook started.

Start collating this information as early as possible to simplify the calculation and lodgement process.

Meeting the lodgement deadline

Unlike the normal tax year, the FBT year ends on 31 March, with the 21 May lodgement and payment deadline giving you only a short window to get your paperwork in order. If you lodge with an accountant the deadline is 25 June.

You need to determine the taxable value of the different fringe benefits your employees have received during the year, calculate the tax you need to pay and collect any required employee declarations.

All employee declarations must be obtained by the time your FBT return is due to be lodged. Even if you do not have to lodge a return, you must have the declarations by 21 May.

We can help with any questions you may have and assist you with preparing your FBT return.

 i Addressing collectable tax debt – Tax Institute’s Tax Summit 2023 | Australian Taxation Office

ii Reportable fringe benefits | Australian Taxation Office

iii Fringe benefits tax – a guide for employers | Legal database

iv Employee declarations | Australian Taxation Office

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Market movements and review video – March 2025

Stay up to date with what’s happened in the Australian economy and markets over the past month.

The RBA dropped the cash rate to 4.10%, the first reduction since November 2020, however the RBA remains cautious regarding further cash rate cuts.

While tension continues between Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East, and a trade war looms due to Trump’s proposed tariffs, the global economic outlook remains unpredictable and markets are volatile.

Click the video below to view our update.

Please get in touch if you’d like assistance with your personal financial situation.

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The benefits of automating your personal finances

In today’s fast-paced world, where every minute counts, managing personal finances can feel like another tedious task. However, thanks to the rise of personal finance automation, managing these tasks, can now be handled with minimal effort on your part.

Whether you’re a professional, a business owner or someone who is busy and looking to streamline your personal financial life, it makes sense to automate.

Save time

One of the biggest advantages of automating your finances is the time it saves you. Instead of manually paying bills, tracking spending, or worrying about due dates, automation takes care of these tasks for you.

Prevent late payments and penalties – and mistakes!

One of the most common pitfalls of personal finance management is missing the due date of your bill payments. Whether it’s your rent, mortgage, or utility bills, setting up automatic payments ensures that deadlines are always met, and penalties or late fees are avoided.

Managing your finances manually can often lead to mistakes, whether it’s miscalculating a bill, forgetting to budget for a specific expense, or accidentally double paying an invoice. Automation helps eliminate human errors, ensuring that all your financial tasks are completed accurately.

Keep your finances on track

Automated tools can also track your spending habits, categorise your expenses, and provide insights into your financial behaviour. This can be particularly helpful for budgeting, allowing you to see where your money is going and make informed decisions about your spending habits and saving. 

Getting started

The good news is that personal finance automation doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple tips to help you get started:

Automate your bill payments

Start by setting up automatic payments for your regular bills; such as utilities, rent or mortgage and credit cards. Most service providers offer online payment portals where you can link your bank account, debit, or credit card and set up recurring payments. You can schedule them to occur on specific dates each month, ensuring that everything is paid on time.

You can also use apps like GetReminded to receive reminders when contracts are set to expire such as utility bills and insurance and some even enable comparisons with providers, making it easier to shop around.

Make it easier to get ahead

Budgeting apps like Mint, YNAB, or PocketGuard can enable you to create a spending plan. These apps automatically sync with your bank and credit card accounts, categorising your spending and tracking your progress against your financial goals. Once your budget is set, automate your savings by scheduling regular transfers to a savings account or investment portfolio.

Apps like Qapital or Digit can help you set up automated savings that round up your purchases or take a small percentage of your income and save it for you. Even saving just $20 a week automatically can add up over time, and you probably won’t even miss the money!

Set up alerts and track your progress

Most of the major banks also have apps that can be used for a variety of financial services. Use your banking app or personal finance tool to set up alerts for when your balance hits a certain threshold or when you exceed your budget for a specific financial category. This will keep you informed and allow you to adjust as needed. Additionally, tracking your progress over time will give you a clear sense of achievement and motivate you to stick to your financial goals.

Prepare for tax time

Of course, we are always about being as organised as possible for tax time and finance automation can be your friend when it comes to having to substantiate any tax claims.

The ATO app myDeductions can help you keep your tax records organised. It allows you capture information on the go, making tax time easier. The myDeductions app can record work-related expenses for your car travel, uniform, self-education, bank interest, and dividends. You can also email your records to us!

Personal finance automation is one of the easiest ways to simplify your financial life and give you more time to focus on what matters most to you. Start small, and before you know it, you’ll have a financial system that works for you, not the other way around. 

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Gifting for future generations

At this time of year, when giving is particularly on our minds, some might turn their attention to how best share their wealth or an unexpected windfall with their loved ones­.

You might be thinking about handing over a lump sum to help them with a major purchase or business opportunity, or be keen to help reduce or extinguish their student loans. Alternatively, it might be about helping to solve a housing problem.

Whatever the reason there are some rules that it is worth being aware of to ensure both you and they are protected.

Giving a cash gift

You can give anyone, family or not, a gift of cash for any amount and, as long as you don’t materially benefit from the gift or expect anything in return, no tax is paid on the amount by either you or the receiver.i

The same applies if you’re planning to pay out your child’s student loans.

However, be aware that if the beneficiary of your cash gift is receiving a government benefit, such as an unemployment benefit or a student allowance, there is a limit on the size of the gift they can receive without it affecting their payments.

They may receive up to $10,000 in one financial year or $30,000 over five financial years (which can not include more than $10,000 in one financial year).ii

Helping out with housing

Many parents also like to help their children get into the property market, where possible.

It’s been a difficult time for many in the past few years in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living and interest rates, and a housing crisis.

A Productivity Commission report released this year found that while most people born between 1976 and 1982 earn more than their parents did at a similar age, income growth is slower for those born after 1990.iii

With money tight and house prices climbing, three in five renters don’t believe they will ever own a home even though most (78 per cent) want to be homeowners, according data collected by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).iv

Just over half of those surveyed (52 per cent) were renting because they didn’t have enough for a home deposit and 42 per cent said they couldn’t afford to buy anything appropriate, the AHURI survey found.

So, in this climate, help from parents to buy a home isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s becoming a necessity for many.

Moving home

Allowing your adult child, perhaps with a partner and family, to share the family home rent-free is common option, giving them the chance to save up for a deposit.

One Australian survey found that one-in-10 people had moved back in with their parents either to save money or because they could no longer afford to rent.v

If it gets too much living under the same roof, building a granny flat in your backyard may be an option.  Of course there are council regulations to consider, permits to be obtained and the cost of building or buying a kit but on the upside, it may add value to your home.

Becoming a guarantor

Another way to help might be to become a guarantor on your child’s mortgage. This might be the best way into a mortgage for many but before you sign, think it through carefully, understand the loan contract and know the risks.vi

Don’t forget that, as guarantor, you’re responsible for the debt. You will have to step in and repay if the borrower can’t afford to repay, and the loan will be listed as a default on your own credit report.

Any sign that you are being pressured to be a guarantor on a loan may be a sign of financial abuse. There are a number of avenues for advice and support if you’re concerned.

It’s vital that you obtain independent legal advice before signing any loan documents.

If you would like more information about how to provide meaningful financial support to your children, we’d be happy to help.

i Tax on gifts and inheritances | ATO Community

ii How much you can gift – Age Pension – Services Australia

iii Fairly equal? Economic mobility in Australia – Commission Research Paper – Productivity Commission

iv Rising proportion of ‘forever renters’ requires tax and policy re-think | AHURI

v Coming home: 662,000 Australian households reunite with adult children – finder.com.au

vi Going guarantor on a loan – Moneysmart.gov.au

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Surviving the silly season

Ah, Christmas! – the time of year when your bank account shrinks, your social calendar explodes, and your family dynamics resemble a poorly scripted soap opera. As we navigate this festive minefield of shopping, social gatherings, and feasting, it’s common to feel a little frazzled.

In fact, research has found that the holiday season is one of the six most stressful life events we go through, in the same category as moving house and divorce.i

But it does not have to be – before you let the silly season get the better of you, here are some ways to not just survive, but thrive, to make it through the festive chaos and bring in 2025 feeling energised and on track to reaching your goals. 

Get organised

Let’s face it, the silly season is a whirlwind. Between work parties, family catch-ups, and obligatory gatherings with distant relatives you only see once a year, it’s enough to make anyone want to retreat to a deserted island.

However, rather than running off to Bora Bora, if you want to survive the silly season relatively unscathed, planning ahead is a must. With the social calendar filling up quicker than you can say cheers, it becomes easy to overcommit and leave yourself feeling a little stretched. Rather than maintaining a constant schedule of parties and social engagements, why not learn the power of saying ‘no’. Choose the events you really want to attend and think about each invitation before you send that RSVP. Remember to allow for some guilt-free ‘down time’ amongst all the festivities.  

Shopping shenanigans

Shopping during the silly season can be akin to a scene from an action movie—chaotic, frenzied, and with a distinct chance of an all-in brawl.

Channel your inner Santa Claus and make a list. And yes, check it twice! A good list keeps you focused and reduces the chances of impulse buys—like that life-sized inflatable Santa that seemed like a good idea at the time. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.)

Consider shopping online, too. You can sip your coffee in your pyjamas while avoiding the chaos of the shops. Just remember: the delivery cut-off dates are real! Don’t be the person frantically searching for gifts at 9 PM on Christmas Eve.

The present predicament

Let’s talk presents. It’s lovely to give and receive gifts, but when did we all agree that every adult needs a new mug or another pair of socks?

To combat the gift-giving madness, consider doing a Secret Santa among adults. Set a reasonable budget and unleash your creativity. Who doesn’t want a mysterious gift that could range from a novelty toilet brush to a box of chocolates? 

Navigating the family dynamics

Family gatherings can be a delightful mix of love, laughter, and the occasional argument that would make for great reality TV. You know the drill—everyone has an opinion, and even the Christmas ham can become a hot topic of debate.

Before the big day, set some ground rules. No politics, no discussing that relative’s questionable life choices, and absolutely no karaoke unless everyone is fully prepared to participate. If tensions start to rise, a little humour can go a long way. Embrace the absurdity of it all. If Uncle Bob starts arguing about the best way to cook prawns, counter with a story about how Auntie Sheila once tried to deep-fry a turkey—because that’s a Christmas classic in its own right.

Don’t try to do it all

If you’re hosting this year, congratulations! You’re officially in charge of managing the chaos. But you don’t have to shoulder the entire load.

Encourage those who are coming to bring their ‘special’ dish. Not only does it lighten your load, but it also allows everyone to show off their culinary skills (or lack thereof). Plus, you might discover that Aunt Margaret’s “special” potato salad is actually a hidden gem—just don’t ask what’s in it. 

Survive and thrive

At the end of the day embrace the chaos, lean into the hilarity of when things don’t go to plan, don’t take it all too seriously and be prepared to step back a little when you need a break from all the festivities.

Here’s to a joyful festive season filled with laughter and the wonderful chaos that is Christmas. We’ll catch you on the other side. Cheers!

i Christmas stress | Relationships Australia

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