HOW TO REMAIN FRUGAL IN DECEMBER

BY NNI DAFI

As a nation, South Africa perennially looks forward to the month of December. Ke Dezemba boss reverberates across the nation on the first of the month. Nearly any justification will be used to exploit this festive month as an opportunity to drink, eat, and party. While it is a time of elation and excitement, it is a period of the year that is heavy on the pocket. Besides the consumption of all the good stuff, laybys and purchases of Christmas clothes and gifts need to be made. It is also a time that is inevitably close to the beginning of a new school year. This is a difficult time to navigate and without a proper plan and budget, many people are left feeling the financial stress.

Prepare Well and Budget

The key to having an enjoyable and stress-free December is properly planning and budgeting how one will spend his money. Make sure what you deem the necessities are purchased without a hitch. While it feels good to go the extra mile and add a few treats for the holidays, cut out some excesses.

Eat and Drink Indoors

A night out at a restaurant or drinking spot on a warm December evening can be an enticing idea. This can be a great opportunity for family and friends to get together to relax and bond but it is also expensive. Food and beverages are costlier in the above-mentioned outlets than in a supermarket or liquor store. A cheaper but similarly fun option would be to buy some meat, snacks, and drinks to simply braai at home.

Christmas Day Teamwork

 Traditionally, on Christmas Day my mother prepares the food for the day on her own. A lot of families do this, preferring to spend their day together. But as a way to cut costs on food, a viable option is spending Christmas Day with extended family, friends, or even neighbors. You can do this by agreeing on what each person should prepare and bring to the table on the day. This will allow delegation and the spreading of the cost of your Christmas lunch. You know what they say, teamwork makes the dream work.

Don’t Forget January

Yes, it is Dezemba and we would all rather live carefreely, forget the hustle and bustle of life while we have a light drink as the kids play outside. But we should not forget that as soon as the festivities of December 31st end, we are knee-deep in January, a month that can be long and painful. Make sure the finances for the month are well sorted. Groceries, fuel, and all related to children returning to school should be in order. When you get that urge to buy that extra gift or unnecessary shopping trip, remember January is coming.

Prepare for December

Now this tip might not apply to this year’s December, but it will help next year. If you want to enjoy that carefree month with a few limits to your spending, you can save up for a December Fund. This will be the fund that will finance all your needs and wants for next year December. Start saving up in January, follow a suitable plan and by the end of November you will have a neat windfall to gift yourself and your entire family.