Chrisco

[Crazy Kay]

Did you all see the show on Tv yesterday regarding the chrisco/castle hampers. They did comparative pricing for them and suggested other options on putting money away for xmas to alleviate the one off expense.

How may of you do chrisco/castle?
Kaye

[Barbara]

I've got a few friends that get them. I've never bothered though as most of the stuff they have in them, we don't eat so it would be a waste of money. I prefer to put money aside and get the things we do eat IYKWIM

Not sure if they have them anymore, but some of the banks used to have Christmas clubs where you could put money into them but you were not able to take the money out until December.

[Lea]

Yeah, I think most banks still have the Christmas club accounts you mentioned Barbara.

And a couple of years ago Woolies used to have little $2.00 stamps that you could buy and then stick in a little booklet. When the booklet was full you could then use it on food or grog. Mum used to buy them & save them for Christmas, to avoid the extra strain on the budget.

I've never had a hamper from Chrisco or Castle. They don't really seem all that cheap to me, especially seeing as how I don't eat half the stuff that are in them.

[yomamma]

No I have never got one, costs more in the end. Heritage bank has a chrissie club. Check out your own bank, they all have soem sort of savings plan. When growing up the butcher used to do christmas club, he started in June/july and by the time chrissie came round mum had paid for all the meat we needed.

[Barbara]

Those stamps sound like they would have been a great idea :yes:

[jens]

I've got Chrisco for the last two years, but my sister has talked me into putting the weekly cost away each week and then go out at the end of the year and buy what I need.

We checked the prices against theirs to buying the same items ourselves and some of the things were double the price. :O I hadn't really taken much notice before she pointed it out.

It was mainly for convenience and I think that's why most people buy it.

With what I save, I can get the same amount of food AND buy a new freezer!

[Teeka]

I have never used chrisco as I have always thought they are too expensive. What I tried last year which was great and i am going to do it again this year is to but $10-$20 coles/myer gift cards weekly and put them away for christmas so not only was the food taken care of I could also but some presents as well.

[djmastermum]

I would never even contemplate getting Chriso. Too much wouldn't be used.

[Heather]

Years ago, I contemplated doing a Chrisco hamper, but when I compared prices..........noooooo way.
I usually start Xmas grocery shopping in November and get one or two items each week (leaving things I like to eat to last...just in case).
I like the idea of the Coles/Myer cards......I often get a couple of those during the year for market research.......and they have a 12 month expiry. Thankyou Cassie.

[Crazy Kay]

Yes, the best concept is to purchase coles or woolies cards each week/month. At checkout when you do your shop, purchase a card for $10,20 whatever then come time you have the cards to use.
Great for gifts as well so you can food or gift buy and heaps more flexible than chrisco. I am started it this week so $20 pw will be $1000 for me or close to it anyway.
Kaye

[Naomi]

That's such a good idea, to get the cards instead. I'll have to start doing that, just need to find somewhere to keep them where I won't forget/lose them.

[mumof2boys]

I've always thought about getting a Chrisco hamper but never got around to ordering one. My dad and I were discussing them today and we both agreed that if you just put the money aside each week and spent it at the end would be better. Him and DF were looking at Hamper king or something and one of the hampers had 6 packets of gravy WTF!!!!LMAO
I really like the idea about getting gift cards though, that's so great!
Laura:waves:

[mummanic]

Hey Jens, I never got anything like Chrisco because I thought that was the case and now I'm glad that I didn't

[drdolly]

i worked for a company who staffed the phone lines for Chrisco. i conducted the training for the phone operators.

the margin Chrisco, Castle etc work on is similar to what you would pay for an item at 7 11. you do pay for the ease of getting the hamper delivered to your door.

based on the mark up, it would be the equivilent of doing your weekly shop at 7 11
that said, Chrisco always add in extras to what ever hamper you have ordered.