Five tips to enjoy Christmas on a budget
December should be a month where you can unwind from a busy 2017 and enjoy time with your loved ones without worrying about money.
The festive season is here… and many of us tend to overspend on Christmas gifts at the last hour.
Therefore, planing in advance is essential.
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Matthys Potgieter, spokesperson and debt expert at DebtSafe, offers five pre-planning tips to help you enjoy your budget-friendly Christmas this year:
1. Plan beforehand
“If you’re a fan of making lists, then this is your moment,” said Potgieter. Create a December to-do list (for example: holiday accommodation, Christmas presents, travelling costs, Christmas dinner etc.). Then list your budget for each item.
2. Shop smarter
Do all your Christmas shopping during September and October. Not only will you save some cash with end-of-season sales, but you will also avoid the madness of Christmas shopping in November and December.
3. Fill your Christmas jar
Now is a great time to start saving your loose change for December. Adding loose change to a ‘savings jar’ is a fun activity for the whole family (remember, every bit helps). “Another mid-year tip is to get rid of your smaller debt with your extra income (like your 13th cheque, a bonus or tax return money),” said Potgieter. Having less debt means you have more cash to save for December expenses.
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4. Keep it simple this year
If you want to avoid debt because your budget is already stretched, keep it simple by having a slow-spending Christmas. Slow down; remember what Christmas is really about. And instead of spending money, spend time with your loved-ones.
5. Share the joy
If you are hosting Christmas day this year, assign some tasks to friends or family members. For example, granny will bring the pudding; each household will bring their own meat and you can budget and prepare for all the salads. This will certainly put you in the right direction to save money.
December should be a month where you can unwind from a busy 2017 and enjoy time with your loved ones without worrying about money. However, if you feel that you will not enjoy Christmas on a budget, DebtSafe’s friendly debt advisors are available to lend a helping hand and get your finances in check. Call 0861 100 999; email: info@debtsafe.co.za or SMS your name and information to 30898 (free of charge).
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