The festive season is here already and even though this is a joyful and festive time of year, unchecked shopping cravings and poor preparations can lead to reckless spending and a long January. This is why I am sharing tips and hacks for the festive season.
These tips and hacks will ensure that it does not matter how often you hear those jingle bells or Mariah carey’s number; you won’t always be putting your hands in your wallet.
This post aims to help you put things into perspective and make wise money plans during the holidays.
About your last income…
We are still in the first week of December, and you have probably not finished spending your November income. So before you start getting excited and making plans, it is essential to budget it.
Before you start going to the stores, buying Christmas presents and décor, and attending all the Christmas parties, do well to budget the money.
Put money aside for all the essentials that are not on direct debit so you can sort them out while enjoying the festive season. Your November salary will be responsible for all your Christmas expenses, so you need to budget it. So have a budget for your festive enjoyment.
As you budget that November income, don’t forget to include categories for Christmas food, décor, presents, and shopping.
Budgeting helps you know exactly how much you can afford to spend on another sparkly Christmas dress. So, get a pen and paper and write the November salary budget.
Create memories and Experiences
Christmas should not be all about presents, shopping, and buying things. It should be more about experiences. Think about spending time with your loved ones. Watch a movie together and see places together. Dig out the board games and play them with your kids.
I have realized that children would remember the time you spend with them more than the presents you buy. I tested this on my kids by asking what they got for Christmas two years ago, and they could barely remember.
But when I asked them to share their last year’s Christmas experiences, they could remember the best parts.
As you plan your Christmas presents, think about experiences also.
The thing about food…
Whether you are cooking or ordering your Christmas food, think about the actual number of people that you have invited. Resist the urge to go overboard with food. I am guilty of this as well.
I remember having just ten people in the house but would cook food with many side dishes that could serve more than 20 people. I plan and cook as if I am inviting the whole of Europe. Lol.
I usually end up with waste and leftovers that I try to bully everyone into eating. So as you are planning your Christmas meal, prep for only the number of people in your space on Christmas day.
The thing with the sales…
Remember the popular Next sales? The last one I went for was like a crusade. People were falling over each other, grabbing things, and running up and down without even looking. This kind of sale will still happen this year.
Some of us have outgrown the sales to a large extent, and we ignore it. But if you want to shop the sales because you have needs, go for them. While waiting for the sales, make a list of everything you want to get.
Don’t make the mistake of going there without thinking of your needs. Else, you may end up buying rubbish. If you can, visit the stores before the sales to sight the items and note their prices. Doing this will help you confirm that you are getting a good bargain on sales day.
Also, the sales allow you to shop in some stores you usually would not walk into due to their high prices, but now that their product falls into your price range, you can go for them. So overall, ensure you get a good bargain and need the items you buy.
Budget Your December Income
If you are going to shop the sales after Christmas, you need to budget and plan your December income. The about December income is that it bears the burden of two months.
November income would bear the burden of Christmas shopping, while December income bears the burden of the Christmas sales, a little bit of Christmas expenses, and that of January. January has 90 days, remember?
So you need to budget that December income so you know exactly how much you can afford to spend.
Time To Reflect
This festive period is the perfect time to plan 2023. First, spend time reflecting on your goals and how much you achieved.
Also, reflect on your finances, career, business, dreams, health, and relationships. Reflection will help you build the goals for 2023 and help you plan for the following year.
I have now shared six tips and hacks to help you go through the festive season. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas.
