At Urban List, we're always tempted to go full monty when celebrating life’s significant milestones, such as engagements, a long line-up of Capricorns and Aquarius’ getting another year older and never-ending summer parties.
Enter American Express® Plan It Instalments—American Express’ readily set up feature* that gives members the option to pay off their Credit Cards with a fixed monthly fee in regular instalments with 0% interest.*
Sail through the slew of New Year birthdays and anniversaries with these tips for budget-friendly celebrating for 2024.
Host At Home And Ask Your Pals To Bring A Plate
While throwing a dinner party at home can be significantly cheaper than dining out, your budget can still take a hit when you add up the grocery bills. Don’t sacrifice your savings when entertaining for those big occasions. As firm believers in adding a bit of variety to your banqueting, we recommend getting your guests to bring a dish each and getting different folks on entrees, mains, salads and desserts. As an extra tip, set a theme for the night and allow your guests to bring a plate to fit the occasion. Hello, Amalfi-themed long lunching.
Pack A Picnic And Party In The Park
When the sun is shining, picnics are a surefire way to save a pretty penny while still getting out and about with your mates. The beauty of the humble picnic is that they can be a choose-your-own-adventure kind of occasion—go all out with all the bells and whistles, or keep it low key with a picnic rug and some nibbles.
We’re currently deep in the depths of picnic season and there are a few things you can do to make your park party stand out from the rest.
Treat yourself to a basket filled with your favourite gourmet grocer goodies, sweet treats from the bakery and local brews—the caffeinated or hoppy variety—and you’ve got the perfect spread for any milestone. With your American Express® Credit Card, you can use Plan It Instalments for a minimum of $150 to pop eligible transactions or a portion of your balance into an instalment plan.
Be The Bartender At A BYO Venue
Instead of adding those eye-watering wine mark-ups to the bill, save some extra cash at the next celebration and treat the table to a bottle brought from home. Whether it’s a bottle fit for an anniversary toasting or a locally brewed tipple, sacrifice those leftover Christmas bottles collecting dust in the pantry while saving a bit of cash. Plus, with Plan It Instalments, you can cover your meals with payment plans to help break down the costs.
If you’re stuck on where to book, luckily Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have countless restaurants that’ll let you bring your favourite sips for a small corkage fee.
Raise A Glass Or Fork At These Elevated Hotspots
Next time you're in charge of scheduling those celebratory after-work drinks, we’ve got you covered.
In Sydney, Hunter Barrel is dishing up a selection of steak, chicken and seafood cooked over an open coal grill. Melbourne’s Café Di Stasio has an extensive menu that will impress all your guests, while Brisbane’s Southside Restaurant will wine and dine your guests on a mix of dishes and flavours from across Asia.
Treat Yourself At Your Favourite Venue
There’s no denying that some extra special occasions require a glitzy grand gesture and what better way than treating the group to a fine-dining celebration. When that instance arises, you can pay for the transaction in three, six or twelve-month instalments using your American Express® Credit Card and Plan It Instalments. If you’re like us and require structure when it comes to finances, Plan It Instalments is an existing feature on American Express® Credit Cards, so no extra applications are required.
If you’re stumped on places to book, settle in for some afro-centric fine dining at Meat And Wine Co in Sydney, top-tier wood-fired bistro at Brissie’s Agnes or exquisite Italian at Grossi Florentino in Melbourne.
Explore American Express Plan It® Instalments and celebrate responsibly without compromising on the fun.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by American Express® and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Urban List and Supplied.
American Express® income and credit approval criteria applies. Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express® Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313. *Plan It Terms and Conditions: You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may withdraw this offer, prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions. The minimum Plan amount is AUD$150. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24-48 hours to process (“Processing Time”), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date.
View the full Plan It ® Instalment Terms and Conditions here.