THIS CHRISTMAS

It’s Christmastime!!!! This sure is one of the things that makes December a really pleasurable month for me. The sheer thought of chill air and relaxation and an overwhelming sense of peace hmm!! With Christmas in a couple days’ time, I have a couple words for you. You probably are busy prepping for the celebration so, I’d try keeping this simple and sweet *winks*.
   Christmas often meets us with numerous expenses, from wears, to food, family or personal outings, gifts and even travel expenses, just to mention a few. It sure could go without dispute that, we tend to spend more during the yuletide than the two preceding months. I would be talking about curbing excess expenses during this season. Recall the saying; failing to plan is planning to fail? Well, well, there’s every tendency for you to overspend on a regular day not to talk of the festive period/ year’s end. I deem it wise to have a budget, set a threshold amount, the max you’d spend on certain things and be sure to stick to it. It most definitely would help limiting the expenses.
Sometimes, against our better judgement we desire things that go beyond our budgets, the difference could be little or massive, it all depends. This season is definitely one of the busiest, not just on the family scene but the entertainment scene as well. It’s the end of the year and many shows would be held this period. Let me just cut to the chase, if there’s any of these shows or any other thing you may love to do this season but it just happens to be well above your means, just drop it. No matter how much you’d love to do any of the aforementioned, just remember there are still more months to come. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t get the well deserved break, fun or breath of relaxation but be wise about it when it comes down to your finances. In order words, cut your coat according to your cloth especially this season.

SEE ALSO: CHRISTMAS: THE ESSENCE

   It’s popular notion and a well traveled perspective that January is a really slow month, perhaps feels like the slowest. I believe this feeling arises from the spending associated with Christmas and new year celebrations. Christmas, despite being tagged a christian holiday still sees everyone relishing the air of festivity, probably because it’s the time of the year when businesses and companies start rounding up for the fiscal year. December goes, then, January comes, businesses have to be rebooted, schools (at different levels) resume new terms or semesters and there’s serious need for money again, this time around, not for enjoyment. Whereas, some may be lucky enough to get 13th month salary (salary bonus), some would end up spending on the aforementioned and other basic spending that sustain existence and literally just survive and hang on till the month’s end when salaries are typically due to be paid. All I’m saying is, spend on the year’s end and the activities that follow but don’t forget about the months to come, and the needs that accompany them. Spend but save as well. Another thing to help with your expenses would be offering services to a client base this period--if you can--, it can be services required by the season such as personal shopping, catering, events, need for pastries and cakes and whatever is in demand this season. Finding clients may not be that easy but when you eventually do, you’d discover that you won’t just spend on things this period but cash would flow in too, balancing the scale a bit and that is better than cash flowing out only. As a side note, I can’t help but emphasize that whatever service you want to offer should be a legit one and, you shouldn’t exploit the need or desperation of fellow humans in the course of doing that….It’s not cool

Credit

   All in all, spend wisely, budget and don’t go beyond it, say no if the need arises and you really have to. And most importantly, it is a season that would come and go--regardless the euphoria that tags along with it--and how you spend this season determines your comfort or discomfort in the prime of the next year. Don’t outdo yourself because of how others may decide to celebrate this period, it is not a crime to live within your means. Even the simple things can be special at times it all depends on the execution.

Remember January,
‘Mina.

How else do you save during this season? What are your tips for expenses this season? I’d love to hear that and more in the comments section.