How to save $1200 in 12 weeks Start with tiny things now and it will all add up. IT SNEAKS up on you every year. One minute it's the middle of winter and the next you're laying down your credit card in the Apple store racking up a debt hangover you'll regret well past the alcohol-induced kind. So in the spirit of having a happy Christmas, money saving website Mozo has come up with six ways you can save $1200 in 12 weeks, with very little effort at all. Round up some extra savings (Save $360) This is a neat little trick you can do on your own or through certain banks. Simply round up the amount to the nearest dollar every time you buy something and put the cash straight into your savings. Mozo's finance expert Kerry Lotzof said its experiment netted $30 in a week, which over 12 weeks would add up to $360. Most banks now offer a rounding up or automatic sweep function to help boost your savings. So, if your bank doesn't offer you a rounding up or savings sweep function, give the UBank USaver Ultra a try," she said. Stop paying high interest on your credit card (Save $240) Keeping up with the latest gadgets is always tough and if you're prone to whacking them on your credit card, make sure you reduce your interest rate before Christmas comes around. Ms Lotzof said regular cards can have rates of well over 20 per cent, so doing a balance transfer to a zero per cent card could save you around $240 in 12 weeks if you have the average Australian balance of $3600. Stopping high interest is always a good place to start - if you do have an outstanding balance get a low rate. That way, by making the same repayments you'll be eating your way at that debt," she said Swap your high interest rate for a low one and save hundreds. Give up vices (save $260) It might be a hard sell over the silly season to give something up, but siphoning off the money for a few weekly coffees or Friday drinks could save you more than $260 by the end of the year. If you really want to be serious about it, consider taking part in Ocsober. Dodge ATM fees (Save $60) Nobody should pay ATM fees. Why would you pay $2.50 to access your own money? Ms Lotzof said. Even though it's convenient, the charges from ATMs dotted around pubs and shops around Australia will add up if you use them every week. The secret is planning and being disciplined when you're carrying extra cash. "Next time you're in need of cash, keep an eye out for ATMs owned by your bank's network or withdraw cash from supermarkets and other large retailers when you do your shopping," she said. Forget paying to access your own money in ATMs. Stop wasting food (Save $230) Research shows Australians throw out about one in five of every bag of groceries they buy. That's about $1000 a year so smart shopping in the next 12 weeks can help you save money for later in the year. "By getting waste conscious in the lead up to Christmas, the average household will save $230, which should more than cover the turkey," Ms Lotzof said. Open a high interest savings account (Make $55) If you've got savings in the bank, don't just leave them sitting in an everyday account, move them to a high interest account. On a $5000 balance a high interest savings account could be earning you at least 4.77 per cent or $55 over the next 12 weeks for doing nothing (well, except opening the account.) Over 12 months you'd be putting an extra $239 in your pocket," Ms Lotzof said. While it does involve a bit of effort to fill out the form, getting paid $55 for 10 minutes work could be the easiest money you've ever made. Total Savings: $1205 How do you control your spending over the Christmas break?