30 Tips to reduce holiday stress and enjoy Christmas

From Christmas shopping to social gatherings, here are ways you can reduce stress this holiday season.

30 Tips to reduce holiday stress and enjoy Christmas

Christmas is a joyful time with family and friends coming together to celebrate. However, it can also be a stressful time trying to manage social events, coordinating with your family, and let’s not forget working full-time.

To help prevent getting burnt out this holiday season, we have a few practical suggestions you can do now to help you stress less this Christmas.

On managing Christmas expenses

1. Set a budget for everything

Set your budgets for social events, gift purchases, and Christmas feasts now. This way, you can manage your income with the expected costs this December.

2. Prepare emergency funds

Keep a bit of extra money on the side for those surprise expenses you haven’t thought of.

3. Save up for next Christmas

inserting coin in piggy bank

Perhaps too late for this year, but set up a savings account for birthdays and Christmas time after this Christmas. You can add funds to this account every payday. You’ll be able to get a headstart on your savings and have that cushioning for the expensive times of the year.

On Christmas shopping

4. Stock up on non-perishable food

Start buying the non-perishables now. By stocking up on items ahead of time, you’ll lighten the load in the coming weeks and have everything you need. You can hire someone to run to the grocery store for you and deliver your groceries to your doorstep.

5. Make a master gift list

Picking out gifts on the fly while you shop can be overwhelming. A master gift list can automate your shopping decisions. Or, at the very least, this list can be a good starting point when you’re deciding which store to visit. Compile a master gift list for all your nearest and dearest. If you can, build out this list throughout the year as gift ideas come up.

6. Do your Christmas shopping on a weekday

person walking inside mall

It’s obvious but try to do your shopping on weekdays during your lunch break rather than on weekends with everyone in the neighbourhood.

7. Shop late at night or early in the morning

At Christmas time, all the major retailers have longer opening hours so wait till late at night or first thing in the morning to get what you need. Plus, you should get a great car park as well.

8. Shop for Christmas gifts online

Avoid the crowds entirely and stay safe at home. Online shopping is popular nowadays, and you have loads of options for buying Christmas gifts online. You can often find great bargains, and many online stores gift wrap for you as well.

9. Organise a Secret Santa

Organising a Secret Santa can take the pressure off overspending and buying a gift for everyone. There are plenty of Secret Santa apps that can help you organise the gift exchange online.

10. Book a gift delivery service

For a personal touch, you can book a gift delivery service. Our platform can connect you with local Taskers who can head to the store, pick up your gift, and deliver it straight to your loved one. From festive cakes to beautiful wooden toys, you can get any gift you need.

11. Get customised gifts

Make it extra personal with gifts specially made for your loved ones. Taskers on our platform have various skills, such as illustration, graphic design, and baking. Now you can easily get a beautiful hand-drawn portrait or bespoke cupcakes for your family and friends.

12. Make sure you have enough wrapping supplies

Purchase all gifting needs such as wrapping paper and ribbons, and don’t forget the extra sticky tape. For more cost effective options, try discount stores of Officeworks.

13. Buy extra gifts

It’s good to have extra gifts on hand for those people you forget. Extra gifts like chocolates, funky condiments, and hand lotion make great stocking fillers, too! With extra gifts ready at any time, you’ll always have something to give out to your guests.

On preparing Christmas meals

14. Make a meal plan while it’s early

Plan your Christmas menu ahead of time and list down all the ingredients you need. Also, buy as many non-perishables as you can now. You can always outsource these tasks and hire someone else to plan your menu and even prepare the food.

15. Delegate

We love the idea of wanting to do it all. But sometimes, you have to delegate tasks to your party guests, even if it’s just picking up ice and drinks. Just let them know ahead of time. Chances are they wouldn’t mind helping out.

16. Write down the cooking schedule

As Christmas day draws nearer, write a detailed timeline of everything you need to do and at what time. Doing so can ensure you’ve covered all your bases, and you’ll be less frantic come Christmas day. For example, write down what time to put the turkey in the oven and baste the ham.

17. Order food before the holiday rush

croissants on trays

Avoid running to the store at the last minute, only to find empty shelves. By ordering food ahead of time, you get better chances of getting the best quality ham or that coveted pavlova from your local bakery.

On preparing the home

18. Declutter your home

Take time to dispose of things you no longer need or that don’t spark joy. Clutter can often add to feelings of overwhelm and stress. If you’ve been meaning to get rid of an old TV or stack of magazines, now’s the perfect time. Once you’ve freed up some space in your home, it’ll be easier to put up the decorations and go about your daily activities.

19. Book a house cleaner

Even if you’re not hosting the festivities this year, you’ll still be running around a lot, and clutter can pile up in your home. Fortunately, you can hire a house cleaner to come by every once in a while to tidy up your home.

house cleaner cleaning table using rag and diffuser

20. Go for minimal decorations

Festive doesn’t have to mean extravagant. So if you’re on a budget or simply don’t have the time to go all-out, minimal Christmas decorations are the way to go. After all, Christmas parties during these times may not be as big as the ones you’ve had before. Focus on the most used rooms in your home, like the living room and dining room. By scaling back with mindful decorations, you can maximise impact and elegance.

21. Prepare your outdoor area

Outdoor gatherings are a safer way to socialise nowadays. Before the festivities come into full swing, clear out your garden or set up a table on your patio. With a tidy outdoor area, you’ll be ready to host guests at any time and avoid cramming everyone indoors.

22. Polish the silver

If you’re hosting Christmas meals, get your home ready by polishing the silverware, dusting your expensive China, and ironing the tablecloths and napkins.

23. Get your Christmas tree delivered

Picking out a Christmas tree and hauling it to your home can take up an entire day. Instead, book a Christmas tree delivery service to save yourself the time and heavy lifting. Get your Christmas tree delivered to your doorstep, ready for you and your kids to decorate together. Or, if you’re too busy, you can ask a Tasker to handle everything, from Christmas tree pickup to decorations.

24. Decorate room by room

You can decorate as early as you want, so why not get the boxes out now and go room by room, so it’s not a big task? If you have extra funds, you could even consider hiring a local decorator to transform your home into a winter wonderland.

On celebrating during the pandemic

Virtual gatherings may not be as good as face-to-face interactions. But there are many ways to make virtual gatherings more fun. Here are creative ways to celebrate Christmas during the pandemic.

25. Host a virtual party

Gather your friends and family online for a virtual Christmas dinner or holiday movie marathon. Teleparty lets you synchronise Netflix streaming while on a video call or group chat. What’s more, you can unwrap gifts together over Zoom.

26. Cook together via video call

The holiday preparations can be a party in itself! Go ahead and call up your loved ones while you prepare your Christmas dishes. You can chat away while chopping the vegetables and decorating the cake.

27. Spread some holiday cheer

Thinking about other people can be a great way to step away from everyday stress. Drop off meals or send care packages to elders or sick people who may be alone during the holidays. A little act of kindness can go a long way in brightening up everyone’s Christmas.

On self-care

Last but certainly not least don’t forget about yourself! These are your holidays too, so don’t forget to sit back and take some time out for yourself.

28. Say no to invitations if you need to

While it’s tempting to make the most of social gatherings, it’s okay to step back and stay home. You wouldn’t want to stretch yourself too thin with holiday obligations.

29. Unplug from social media

woman holding a cup of coffee and reading a book

Put away your phone and carve out time to catch up on your reading or go for a walk. Slowing down and taking in the holiday atmosphere can do wonders for your mental health.

30. Keep your health in check

Your physical health affects your overall well-being. For this reason, make sure to get plenty of sleep and try to keep up with your workout routine. You can book a quick yoga session over a video call to reduce stress and boost your mood. Also, feel free to savour all the food and drinks this season, but remember—moderation is key.

By applying a tip or two from this list, your holidays can be less stressful. Plan ahead, ask for help when you need it, and take time for yourself.

Avoid the parcel pirates: Tips for getting parcels delivered safely

Some simple tips to make sure you receive your next delivery

Avoid the parcel pirates: Tips for getting parcels delivered safely

It’s one thing to have your parcel lost in delivery, but it’s a whole other level of frustration to have it swiped right off your doorstep.

The rise of delivery services has also seen a marked increase in parcel piracy. It’s most common when you order an item and have it delivered to your home while your at work or overseas.

So how can you keep the parcel pirates at bay? We asked expert Airtasker courier Donna C for some tips.

Overseas? Get a neighbour to accept your deliveries

Ideally, you shouldn’t be ordering deliveries while you aren’t around to accept them. But you could be delayed in transit, or that delivery you were expecting landed a little early.

The easiest way to protect your parcel in this case is to ask your neighbour to hold onto it.

There’s two ways you can do this. You can have the parcel delivered to your neighbour or you can ask them to keep an eye on your doorstep and hold any parcels that come your way.

Just be sure to get them a souvenir to say thanks.

Get your items delivered to your work

Donna says it’s increasingly common for people to have all of their online shopping delivered to their workplace.

It makes sense, you are there during work hours, which are also the most common delivery hours. It’s best practice to double check with your manager that this is OK before ordering your items.

Some bigger workplaces have a high volume of parcels and a central delivery point, meaning your items could get lost in the mix if you order without asking.

Also, be wary of ordering too much if you have to cart it all home on public transport.

Invest in a parcel locker or have it delivered to your local Australia Post

Are your receiving parcels almost every day?

Well, then it may be worth using a parcel locker. These lockers – run by Australia Post and located at major supermarkets and petrol stations – allow you secure 24/7 access to your parcels.

They’re free to use, but there’s a few caveats.

Once the parcel hits the locker, you have 48 hours to collect it. If you can’t get there, it’s transferred to a local Australia Post branch where it’s held for a further 10 days. You’ll get SMS alert through this process so you know where your package is.

You can also post items through parcel lockers too.

Credit: Australia Post

Last resort: Instruct the courier to hide your parcel and take a photo of it

Perhaps you’re around the corner and just missed the delivery. In this case, you can ask the courier to hide your package out of view and collect it when you’re home.

Donna suggests you ask the courier to take a photo and send it to you as – and so you’re 100% clear on where your package is.

Thanks to all the other options out there, a bit of pre-planning should help you avoid this. But it does work well in a pinch.

Chasing a courier for your delivery? Find a trusted delivery expert on Airtasker now.

How to get same-day delivery in Australia

Why wait for the stores to roll it out?

How to get same-day delivery in Australia

Same day delivery is all the rage in the US and soon it may be a happening thing in Australia too.

But why wait for companies to bring the concept across the Pacific when for a little bit of extra money you too can enjoy same day delivery for most of your online purchases.

How’s that possible? We came up with this step by step guide with the help of two Airtasker delivery gurus Donna C and Kat Y.

Step 1: Buy your item online and opt for an in-store pickup

Most major stores now offer an online purchase but local pick-up system for items. It’s typically called Click & Collect. Select this option and set the pickup location.

Step 2: Hire a courier service

This is just a Google away. There’s plenty of delivery and courier services around (and you can find couriers on Airtasker too). Donna and Kat assure us that a same day delivery is possible with the services currently out there.

Be sure to stress that you’re looking for a same-day delivery, to help the courier prioritise their workload. Also, be sure to grab the courier’s full name. You’ll need that for the next step.

Costs can vary depending on the delivery service you use, the distance of the delivery and what exactly you need delivered. Same-day delivery may also impact the cost, but it typically starts at $28.

Step 3: Pass the receipt to the courier

Pass the courier your digital receipt – you more than likely got this in an email from the store.

Also, give the store a call, quote your order number and let them know the name of courier picking up your item.

Step 4: Stay in communication and receive your purchase!

Almost there. To ensure they pick-up the right item, ask the Courier to take a photo of it before they leave the store.

From there, just stay in touch until they arrive.

Too hard? Try this to skip some steps

If the item isn’t too expensive and the courier is willing, ask them to buy the item and you will pay them in cash when they arrive.

You skip a lot of the steps above. But this may be difficult with more expensive items.

If you do this, be specific. Kat suggests you send photos of it just to be safe.

Need any type of products delivered ASAP? Find a range of delivery service providers on Airtasker today.

Valentine’s Day Tasks on Airtasker

From flowers to chicken nugget deliveries on February 14th - we see plenty of lovely tasks posted at this time of year...

Valentine’s Day Tasks on Airtasker

It’s that time of year again when the price of roses triple (or maybe even more), teddy bears take over shop windows and delicious chocolates are the norm. But on Airtasker we see people thinking outside of the box with romantic dates set up, musicians are the hot ticket and favourite food deliveries are far superior.

Here are some other creative ideas for Valentine’s Day that you could easily get done with Airtasker:

Picnic Set Up

A picnic is nothing new, however, you can add an extra special touch by hiring an Airtasker to pick up everything and set it up for you. They won’t even have an inkling of what you have planned.

Picnic set up

I’m looking for someone to set up a picnic for me at kangaroo point on the big V day, I’ll supply everything I just need you set it up in a particular spot and mind it until we arrive. We will get there around 6:30/7pm. Need to be able to make it look pretty and presentable 🙂
Price: $60
View on Airtasker

 

Borrow a Puppy

If you’re a renter it probably means you can’t have a pet at home. So if you’re coupled-up with a someone who tends to squeal at the sight of one, you could borrow one for an hour or so as a special treat.

Let me borrow your pup on valentines day morning

Dear airtaskers,
I saw a post on here a couple of days ago from a guy looking to borrow a dog for his girlfriend, and I thought it was an awesome idea.
I’m looking to do the same for my partner on valentines day morning. I’m located in Rushcutters Bay, and you’d need to pick up and drop off. We’d just take it for a walk around Rushcutters and hang out with it in the grass and stuff.
Preferred breeds are:
1. French Bulldog
2. Pug
3. Kaboodle
After that, it’s pretty much free game.
*this is because we live in apartments and, therefore, can’t have our own dogs
Price: $60
View on Airtasker

Want some more original Valentine’s Day ideas? Read our quirky Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

Favourite Foods

Now, this one is a bit different, however, if your partner loves a certain type of food (think pizza, doughnuts or even baguettes) – you can get their favourite food delivered straight to their doorstep for a yummy surprise. This is great for guys and girls because let’s face it, the way to anyone’s heart is their stomach.

Buy 5 baguettes from sydney’s best bakeries

my bf gets baguettes in the mail from his mum in france. need i say more? he hasn’t found a decent baguette in sydney he claims.
for valentine’s day i want to him to have a good baguette! we’ll need to try a few though. here’s where you come in:
i want you to go to 5 different bakeries and pick up one baguette from each. they need to be ranked within the best 10 bakeries in sydney. happy to have you suggest a list beforehand. i googled the ten best and it’s pretty obvious, heres a few:
bourke street bakery
sonoma
la renaissance in the rocks

please deliver fresh on valentine’s day between 1pm and 4pm to CBD location. will confirm details.
pls expense out of pocket.
Price: $40
View on Airtasker

Deliver Messina

I would like Messina delivered to west Ryde ?
Price: $49
View on Airtasker

Sing a Tune

Do you have a special couple song? Or maybe you would just like to organise the ultimate surprise by getting someone to go to their home, workplace or even show up over a bite of lunch and sing a song.
From an Al Green classic to Top Gun – there are endless options!

Musician to play Ed Sheeran songs for valentines

Guitar preferable, next Wednesday night about 6 in Quinn’s Rocks WA
Price: $100
View on Airtasker

Sing my GF the Top Gun song

I’m looking for a guy to sing the Top Gun bar song to my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day.
Price: $5
View on Airtasker

Flowers

If sticking to something original is more you, no one ever said no to flowers – especially roses. They can be a tricky item to find on the day if you’ve left it last minute. An Airtasker can help you pick the flowers and also some chocolates on the way.

Deliver a dozen red roses on Valentines Day

Need a dozen red roses delivered to Yugumbir State School on Valentines Day 14th February between 9am and 3pm.
Deliver to the office.
Should be wrapped in a ribbon/paper and look nice, and be labeled with the recipients name
Price: $30
View on Airtasker

Have you got any other romantic ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

Airtasker Stories: A barking good time on Airtasker

Fancy a drive across the countryside with cute dog in the backseat? Want to get paid for it? Airtasker could "Airtasker Stories: A barking good time on Airtasker"

Airtasker Stories: A barking good time on Airtasker
Minnie the dog
Minnie the dog enjoyed a ride with Tori Kelly from Woolongong to Bondi.

Fancy a drive across the countryside with cute dog in the backseat? Want to get paid for it?

Airtasker could be for you!

Airtasker user Tori K. did exactly that, acting as “Dog Taxi” for Minnie, the super-shy and lovable rescue dog.

“I’ve got a little Ford Fiesta and she took up the whole backseat!” Tori says.

“The dog was staying with a family friend while the owner redecorated.”

Minnie was well behaved the whole trip and enjoyed a pat or two when Tori stopped at lights.

“She seemed very happy when she saw her owner at Bondi,” she said.

If that’s not a enough Tori has been paid – actually paid – to go to the movies several times.

“And I got to watch a movie I wanted to see!” She says.

The only catches: she had to watch the movie at particular cinema and she had to write a list of the advertisements before it started.

For task poster and Proactive Media marketing specialist, David Krynauw, people like Tori are “hugely valuable”.

“It’s the only way we can see what’s screening and check that our client’s ad is screening,” David says.

“It’s also the only way to see what our competition is up to.”

It’s a win-win situation, where David gets marketing data and Tori gets paid to see a free movie, in this case made possible by Airtasker.

David says – not surprisingly- that there are plenty of people like Tori who are happy to get paid to watch a movie.

“I used Airtasker because it’s got people all over the country and it’s a quick and easy way to somebody to do a task, at a specific time and place,” David says.

“Tori did a great job and I would happily use her again if I needed her.”

Valentine’s Day Tasks on Airtasker

Whether you love or hate Valentine’s Day, it’s important to let your significant other know that you appreciate them. Sure "Valentine’s Day Tasks on Airtasker"

Valentine’s Day Tasks on Airtasker

Whether you love or hate Valentine’s Day, it’s important to let your significant other know that you appreciate them. Sure you could buy a card and exorbitantly priced roses, but why not do something different this year with a little help from Airtaskers.

Believe it or not, we’ve had plenty of people or organise romantic surprises via Airtasker over the years, such as borrowing a puppy or singing a special song. Here are some other creative ideas for Valentine’s Day that you could easily get done.

Picnic Set Up

A picnic is nothing new, however, you can add an extra special touch by hiring an Airtasker to pick up everything and set it up for you. They won’t even have an inkling of what you have planned.

valentines-day-picnic
Source: Pinterest

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 2.48.46 pm

Borrow a Puppy

If you’re a renter it probably means you can’t have a pet at home. So if you’re coupled-up with a someone who tends to squeal at the sight of one, you could borrow one for an hour or so as a special treat.

8915975033_b9fe3fa483_o (1)

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.30.16 pm

Want some more original Valentine’s Day ideas? Read our quirky Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

Favourite Foods

Now this one is a bit different, however if your partner loves a certain type of food (think pizza, donuts or even baguettes) – you can get their favourite food delivered straight to their doorstep for a yummy surprise. This is great for guys and girls because let’s face it, the way to anyone’s heart is their stomach.

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.39.34 pm

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.41.27 pm

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.42.42 pm

Are you a romantic? Let us know what’s the most romantic thing you’ve done and you could win an Airtasker Valentine’s Day Gift Box. Enter by leaving a comment on this Facebook post.

Sing a Tune

Do you have a special couple song? Or maybe you would just like to organise the ultimate surprise by getting someone to go to their home, workplace or even show up over a bite of lunch and sing a song.

From an Al Green classic to Top Gun – there are endless options!

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.41.17 pm


Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.47.14 pm

Flowers

If sticking to something original is more you, no one ever said no to flowers – especially roses. They can be a tricky item to find on the day if you’ve left it last minute. An Airtasker can help you pick the flowers and also some chocolates on the way.

LN4O90KQSN

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.52.19 pm

Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 3.51.24 pm

Have you got any other romantic ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

AND don’t forget if you need a great unique Valentine’s Day gift this year – get an Airtasker Valentine’s Day Gift Box.

Pet Tasks On Airtasker

We’re a nation of animal lovers and just about every household has a pet or three. So it’s no surprise "Pet Tasks On Airtasker"

Pet Tasks On Airtasker

paper cranes productions

We’re a nation of animal lovers and just about every household has a pet or three. So it’s no surprise that we’ve seen hundreds of pet owners getting help for their family dog, cat, rabbit or even chickens. From feeding and pet sitting to installing kennels and portraits of your beloved animal.

Feeding

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 12.01.35 pm

Whether you’re interstate for work over night or heading off on holidays, your pets still need to eat as well. As one of the most popular pet chore tasks, more people are relying less on helpful neighbours and family and finding the convenience in Airtasker for pet feeding.

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Pick Up Pet Food

If you don’t have a car it can be difficult to get heavy bags of bulk pet food home or a last minute delivery to your office if you’re running low.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 12.13.33 pm

Home DIY Fixes

When you move or get a new dog you’ll need to install a dog (or cat) door so that your pet can keep going in and out throughout the day.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 2.40.40 pm

Making a rabbit hutch, building a cat scratcher and installing a dog kennel can improve your pets comfort level at home and easy plus affordable via Airtasker.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 2.40.50 pm

Pet Transport

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 2.53.10 pm

Whether it’s a vet visit, taking a lost and found animal to RSPCA, or picking up a new puppy – if you don’t have a set of wheels, there are plenty of people ready to help out.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 2.53.47 pm

Pet Sitting

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.01.02 pm

We’d all love to take our pets on holiday, but more often than not it’s impossible. Regardless of whether you’re well planned or you’ve had to hop on a plane last minute, Airtasker has created another option for people.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 2.57.35 pm

Especially at Christmas when people have to travel all over the state or across the country, pet sitting is a must as boarding can be quite expensive.

Dog Walking

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.19.02 pm

We’re all busy and sometimes there’s just not enough hours in the day to take your dog for a walk, lucky there are plenty of Airtasker Workers who will put up their hand to take care of your dog walking.

Pet Grooming and Washing

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.24.12 pm

Just like us humans, your pets should always look (and smell) great. It’s a messy and time consuming job to undertake, so it’s the perfect solution for someone to come to your home and take care of it.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.24.05 pm

Other

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.45.25 pm

It’s no surprise that we get some quirky tasks on Airtasker and even for pets. Airtasker Workers have completed tasks to draw dog portraits, helping design pet coats, or building assistance steps for older dogs.

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 3.45.19 pm

For dog boarding, here’s a price guide for your reference.

Out Of The Box Ideas To Improve Your Office

On Airtasker there are plenty of office based tasks and you’re right in thinking that majority of them are cleaning "Out Of The Box Ideas To Improve Your Office"

Out Of The Box Ideas To Improve Your Office

On Airtasker there are plenty of office based tasks and you’re right in thinking that majority of them are cleaning and deliveries. But we’ve seen some amazing tasks to improve efficiency and team morale that we simply had to share with you.

Whether it’s a birthday surprise or shaking it up with a paint job here’s how to bring a little bit something extra to your office.

Yoga

Healthy mind, spirit and workplace with a bit of afternoon yoga for your team. It’s a great chance to get people to try something new and also take some time to disconnect. With a bit of help setting up a work event, it won’t take more time out of your already busy day and you’ll reap the rewards.

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 4.50.02 pm

Birthday Surprises

balloon-office
Source: YouTube

Want to make a co-workers birthday extra special? Why not fill up their office with 100 balloons for a great surprise.

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 4.12.15 pm

P.S. This could definitely be a prank as well and if that’s what you’re looking for we’ve got plenty more hilarious office pranks.

Funky Art

IMG_2013
Source: Letters In Ink

If you want to give your office a ‘start-up look’ but without the Google/Facebook interior design price tag try graffiti or chalk artist.

otto-fullwall
Source: Signal v Noise

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 4.24.37 pm

It will impress clients, and provide an uplifting workplace environment.

Team Photos

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 4.35.36 pm

Show people what your office culture is really like with in office photos of your employees.

Food Delivery

The way to your employees hearts is through their stomach. Providing food in the office will bring everyone together and it’s great if you’re having a long meeting or need a little bit of creativity. For a little something different for your next food delivery, such as:
Krispy Kremes

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Breakfast

breakfast-meeting

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 4.59.53 pm

Or better yet…. Ice cream

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7 Holiday Lifehacks You Need To Know

It’s a crazy time of year with families travelling near and far to get together to celebrate Christmas and New "7 Holiday Lifehacks You Need To Know"

7 Holiday Lifehacks You Need To Know

It’s a crazy time of year with families travelling near and far to get together to celebrate Christmas and New Years. So it’s of little surprise that trying to coordinate travel arrangements, pets, food shopping, delivery services and accommodation can be a little bit of a daunting task. Luckily there are a bunch of startups that can help you out.

Below are some Holiday Lifehacks You Need to Know

1. Take away dinner = Delivery Hero
Whether you’re heading away for a holiday or just had enough of cooking, why not treat yourself with a yummy home delivery via Delivery Hero from your favourite restaurant. Then all you need to do is turn on the TV, put your feet up and relax!

christmas lifehacks delivery hero
Source: You Magazine

2. Taxi = goCatch
Party season is here so don’t waste time trying to flag a taxi down on the street, rather book through favourite taxi booking app goCatch to head home… or to your next party 😉

christmas lifehacks gocatch

3. Travel accommodation = Airbnb
Travelling overseas, interstate or just a overnight drive away? Airbnb has plenty of options for accommodation to suit your needs. You can save even more if you choose a private room or even share a room. You’re guaranteed to meet some great new people too.

airbnb sydney holidays

4. Dog sitter = Airtasker
Your can use Airtasker for just about anything but we can also help look after your pet because we understand how hard it can be travelling with your beloved pet. Animal hotels often aren’t very nice and there are over 200,000 people on Airtasker who would love to look after it.

pet chores and minding on airtasker

5. Borrow a car (or earn some extra money) = Car Next Door
If you’re in a new town or just need to efficiently travel around your city, try Car Next Door instead of an expensive hire car . With Car Next Door you can hire someone’s car in your local neighbor hood and rent it for as little as $5 per hour plus 33 cents per km.

As a car owner you can also benefit by renting out your car when you’re not using it. Depending on how sweet your wheels are, you could earn anywhere from $5,500-$10,000 per year.

christmas lifehacks cnd

6. Food + Wine= The Meat Society & Vinomofo
Let’s face it summer holidays are all about BBQ’s at home, the beach or even on a boat. No BBQ is complete without meat but don’t sacrifice quality for price, instead check out The Meat Society which gives you access to delicious deals on prime cuts.

christmas lifehacks meat

Wine is high on the shopping list for parties, BBQs or even just to enjoy in the backyard with your better half. Vinomofo is another deal-based website known for its ‘epic’ offers on superb wine.

christmas lifehacks vinomofo

Planning a party this holiday season? Make sure you look at our Event Planning Checklist so your party runs smoothly from start to finish.

McDonald’s Home Delivered

Every now and then I get the urge for a McDonald’s food fix, particularly on a Sunday morning. While I "McDonald’s Home Delivered"

McDonald’s Home Delivered

Every now and then I get the urge for a McDonald’s food fix, particularly on a Sunday morning. While I normally eat healthy food, for this blog post it required me to indulge a little more than usual.

Although this was originally about getting McDonald’s home delivered, I decided that I would treat the rest of the Airtasker Team by organising a McDonald’s breakfast delivery in the office. Plus, it also meant I didn’t feel so guilty eating it by myself ☺ .

After receiving everyone’s order, I posted the task on Wednesday at midday for the delivery to take place the following morning around 9:30am in Sydney CBD. However, as the day went on, only one person had made a comment and no offers were made so I was beginning to get a little worried that no one would get his or her McDonald’s delivery the next morning.

When I woke up on Thursday morning there still were no offers on the task, but I knew there were two last minute changes to the task I could make to get some interest. So I edited the task name and put the word URGENT in capitals and also increased the price I would pay the runner from $15 to $20.

Luckily by the time I got into the office, Airtasker Garry W had left a comment saying he’d be able to complete the delivery task drop off the food by 10am. I quickly assigned it to him and he sent his mobile number to me via private message so that I could send him the order.

In less than an hour, I managed to assign someone to the task and get the food delivered to our office, so everyone’s grumbling stomachs were happy.

Garry was also kind enough to get some photos of his Airtasker journey and sent them to me.

McDonalds delivery on Airtasker

McDonalds delivery on Airtasker

McDonalds delivery on Airtasker

Everyone here at Airtasker HQ enjoyed the yummy breakfast, including me with my hash brown. Now their asking me what’s next… Any suggestions?

McDonalds delivery on Airtasker

IKEA Pick Up and Delivery

Whether you go to IKEA for the $1 hot dogs and moreish Swedish meatballs or to actually buy furniture, you’re "IKEA Pick Up and Delivery"

IKEA Pick Up and Delivery

Whether you go to IKEA for the $1 hot dogs and moreish Swedish meatballs or to actually buy furniture, you’re guaranteed to leave with things that weren’t on your shopping list.

ikea shopping

When I say this, I’m speaking from experience. The last time I went to IKEA, I bought a bunch of colourful drinking straws when I really only needed a coffee table. However, this ‘binge buying’, while always exciting, can sometimes present a problem for me. I often purchase more than I can carry and don’t have access to a car that can handle my shopping splurges.

See also: Top 5 Furniture Delivered To Your Home

This exact problem occurred recently when I decided to finally invest in some bigger furniture items in my home. The closest IKEA in my area is the big store at Tempe, Sydney, a good 20 minutes away. I was working on completely refurnishing my place in Bondi, when I realised that I didn’t have the time to go and purchase the furniture, let alone transport it back home.

Now IKEA does offer delivery services such as using a GoGet car or IKEA staff to bring it to your house, but at a starting price of $59AUD, they were asking a premium on the price. I needed to find an alternative option to get my goods home.

The solution? IKEA Delivery on Airtasker.

Using an Airtasker to purchase the goods and deliver them to my door was an option that worked really well and helped me keep the costs down. This is how I did it:

My Airtasker Experience

After finding the furniture I wanted bought in a current IKEA catalogue (I chose a sideboard table and a large mirror), I used the free Airtasker mobile app on my iPhone to post a job on the board to get the goods purchased and delivered to my home. I then went about my day.

Within a couple of hours after posting a task on Airtasker, I had three offers from willing and skilled people, eager to help me out. I decided to choose a guy called Yuqi, who had already completed similar delivery tasks in the past and received great reviews. He also had his own car and tools to make it easier for him.

Yuqi was able to use the description and imagery from the IKEA catalogue to buy the exact side table and mirror I wanted. He even sent photos via text message just to double check that he was buying the right furniture.

ikea table assembly

After picking up the items, he drove to my house and promptly got started putting the table together in record time. He then moved onto the mirror. That was when we were presented with a problem.

A screw loose?

As Yuqi was unpacking the mirror and checking that we had all the parts, he discovered that a bag of washers and screws was missing. I never realised how important it is to check this first before you start assembling the furniture.

I offered Yuqi another $20AUD to go back to IKEA in Tempe and pick up the missing parts, which he was happy to do. He soon returned but had been unable to get the replacement screws on the day as they were out of stock. However, showing real initiative, he had organised them to be mailed to my house once they were back in stock. Yuqi even said he would come back when they arrived to finish off the assembly.

A couple of days later Yuqi came back and finished up the task and other than a slight delay, I was chuffed with my new furniture.

ikea mirror assembly

Need to move IKEA furniture? Find out how to move with ease here.

eBay Pick Up and Delivery

It’s one of the ‘greats’ born in the dot-com bubble era, and these days eBay is still going strong in "eBay Pick Up and Delivery"

eBay Pick Up and Delivery

Airtasker delivering ebay furniture

It’s one of the ‘greats’ born in the dot-com bubble era, and these days eBay is still going strong in the shopping and online auction space.

Personally, I haven’t used eBay before, yes shocking I know, but I’ve just always been a little bit apprehensive about buying used (or new) items off strangers online.

To get some insight and real life experience about eBay I approached a friend, Tom, who had just bought a new fridge on eBay. Tom not only required furniture delivery but a moving service to help remove his old fridge.

In the past, Tom has been able to borrow a friend’s truck for larger items, but couldn’t get access to it this time around. Struggling to find a solution to his problem, I suggested using an Furniture Delivery Airtasker to help him with the moving and delivery of the fridge.

Using Airtasker’s free Android mobile app, Tom was able to post a task and carefully explain to potential Airtaskers that they would need to have their own transport and have all the necessary equipment e.g. ropes and trolleys.

Within a few minutes, an Airtasker named Derek responded to the job. Derek was a bricklayer by trade and had a ute as well as the required ropes. After Tom checked out his profile, he happily assigned Derek to the task for $60p/h. Tom then liaised between the eBay seller and Derek and work out a suitable time for the following weekend.

On the morning of the following Saturday, Derek was ready to help. He maintained open communication throughout the whole process by letting Tom know when he was close by, so that someone could be home to meet him. He even helped Tom move the fridge into the right spot into the kitchen, giving him a full delivery service.

Tom later told me that he was surprised at how easy it was to manage buy a fridge on eBay and then arrange transportation through Airtasker. He said he would definitely be using both services again.

Indeed, a couple of days later, Tom sold his old fridge on eBay and the buyer arranged an Airtasker to come and pick it up. Guess who it was? Derek!

Moving soon? Check out our Top 5 Moving Tips and download your Moving House Checklist here.

Top 5 Furniture Delivered to your Home

It’s nearly the end of financial year, which means it’s a great time to buy big household items for an "Top 5 Furniture Delivered to your Home"

Top 5 Furniture Delivered to your Home

It’s nearly the end of financial year, which means it’s a great time to buy big household items for an absolute bargain. Shopping is the easy (and fun) part but it can be a real headache trying to work out how to fit a bedroom suite into your tiny VW Polo.

Furniture moving and delivery done by Airtasker

Getting furniture delivered to your home is great but many places will charge a premium cost to have it dropped off. Some even offer an assembly service as well so that you don’t have to lift a finger.

To help you make the best decision we’re comparing the top 5 furniture stores in terms of costs, hidden charges and timing. However before we get started, did you know that Airtasker could also help you out?

With people loving the flexibility, low-cost and full-service approach, it’s no surprise that furniture pick-up, delivery and assembly all feature in the Top 5 tasks on Airtasker.

To give you an idea, here are some estimates on Airtasker costs:
Furniture assembly
– Most frequent amount $50
– Average amount $78

Furniture Delivery
– Most frequent amount $50
– Average amount $83

Here are the top 5 furniture stores in terms of costs, hidden charges and timing

ikea furniture sydney tempe store

1. IKEA
With thousands of home accessories at a low cost, this Swedish megastore is like the Willy Wonka Factory, only for adults. The maze inspired store structure means you’re guaranteed to arrive at the checkout with items you didn’t intend on purchasing. So how do you get it all home?

IKEA has the most extensive service offerings but for getting things from A to B here’s a round up of what they can do for you:

Book a van
In a partnership with GoGet you can hire a van by the hour, however there are some catches e.g. a $500 security deposit.

Cost depends on membership type but as a starter it’s around $13.90 per hour plus $0.40 per kilometre. In other words, from Ikea Tempe and to Sydney CBD it’s approximately $27.80 + $ $3.72 = $31.52 to drive your items home within 2 hours.

Home Delivery
A delivery via Ikea is a next-day service, available seven days a week. However costs depend on your location. For example from Ikea Tempe to Bondi it’s a minimum $89, with larger deliveries (over 5m2) attracting an additional charge.

If you are moving or have just finished your renovations, check out Airtasker’s Top 5 Moving Tips.

Assembly
To have your furniture assembled Ikea has partnered with Install2u. They have a number of different fees as specified below:

– Call out fee: $35 (regardless of how many items)

– Packaging removal/ disposal: $15

– Cost for putting together items falls into four groups:
Group 1: $20 (e.g. coffee table, office chair, mirror)
Group 2: $45 (e.g. bedside table, bookcase, desk)
Group 3: $70 (e.g. sofa-bed, cot, 6+ drawers)
Group 4: $95 (e.g. bed with storage, bunk beds, L-shaped sofa)

Alternatively, you can check out the Airtasker blog post on How To Move IKEA Furniture

Shopping and delivering
IKEA can buy your products and deliver to your home or business. This service starts at $99.

2. Domayne
Domayne has a passion for design and offers both delivery and assembly services. The good news here is that you’re not likely to need anything assembled as most items sold at Domayne arrive completed.

Delivery
It’s a flat fee of $79 Monday- Saturday.

Assembly
It’s important to note that the assembly service is only on Monday to Friday at $85 but as mentioned you’re not likely to need it. For example a 4-piece bedroom package only needs the bed to be put together as the drawers and bedside tables are all ready to go.

3. Freedom
This national home and garden store has little information on their website, so you will need to call your local Freedom store for more details.

Delivery
Freedom can deliver to your home, however they charge more on weekends. As a rough idea, a three-piece bedroom ensemble is a minimum $90 Mon-Fri and $109 on weekends.

Assembly
Assembly will cost you around $80. This means you’re looking at $170 to get it to your home and set up.

4. Fantastic Furniture
This market-stall turned mega supplier with up to 70 stores nationally, offers a competitive delivery rate but no assembly service.

Delivery
They stay true to their brand name, fantastic, in terms of a low delivery cost at just $65. Items can be dropped off Monday to Saturday.

5. Nick Scali
Nick Scali, one of Australia’s largest importers of lounges, offers both delivery and assembly in metro areas within two days.

Delivery
The biggest downfall is that pricing is ‘per item’, which can add up. For example, a bedroom ensemble will cost $90 but if you want to add accessories it will cost an additional $35.

They also have a minimum delivery fee of $75 with only cash and bank cheque accepted on delivery. Credit cards are accepted 48 hours before but only in store not over the phone.

Assembly
While Nick Scali charges a premium on delivery, there is a silver lining – they will unpack and put the new furniture together for you for free.

However all packaging is left that the premises i.e. you have to clean it up!

With Airtasker you don’t need to worry what (or not) aftersales services are offered by your preferred store. An Airtasker can be there at the right time to make it a stress free experience without the added cost.

If you’re not convinced check out this article on Weekend Notes about a lady who had been to IKEA, see something she liked but wasn’t sure how to get it home and didn’t want to waste a day of her weekend putting it together.