The silly season has arrived in true Aussie fashion; the thongs are on and the heat waves have begun. It's that time of the year where we find ourselves scrolling through Insta on a hot summers evening looking for the perfect gift for that person who already has everything.

We don't know about you guys, but this year seems to have crept up on us real quick! With only two weeks to go, we've put together some tips to help you get through the silly season without breaking the piggy bank.

Set a plan and budget

As the years go on, finding the perfect Christmas gift only gets more difficult for your loved ones. The problem, there are so many options - arguably too many options to choose from. There is nothing worse than heading to a busy shopping mall and frantically making an irrational purchase that just blew your budget for the day.

Take the time to think of everyone you want to spoil, make a list, and set a budget that you are willing to spend on everyone. It is never too late to budget for the silly season and include everything; from decorations, to food, and Chrissy celebrations with friends - right down to that girl's lunch, or, beers with the boys that you said you couldn't make that is suddenly back on.

Secret Santa is another great way to keep costs down. One gift to buy for the whole family and next minute you've got some extra coin to treat yourself too!

Put some thought into it

Your family and friends would agree, the best Christmas gifts come straight from the heart. Add small thoughtful touches to your gifts by purchasing it in their favourite colour or with their initials monogrammed. There's nothing better than opening a gift and thinking ‘wow they really pay attention to me'. Think of conversations you've had and don't discount the option of their favourite snacks! Even better, a personal joke between the two of you that creates a big cackle when seeing the surprise of what's inside! The best part? These gifts often don't come at a steep price.

Stocking staples

If you're still lost for ideas, you can never go wrong with a Christmas stocking. The benefit? There are more presents to open (who doesn't love that?!) and essential every day needs never go astray – we can't be the only one whose washing machine seems to eat every other sock?!

Here is a list of stocking staples that everyone will love:

• Metal straws
• Socks
• Disposable camera
• Beach towel and/or tote
• Keep cup
• Phone case
• Cocktail shaker
• BBQ utensils
• JENGA (a fun game everyone will enjoy)
• Facemasks, nail polish, any makeup product take your pick!