Big Celebration, Small Budget?

Join the club! Here’s how to navigate the festive season on a shoestring.

- Sylvia Walker

The festive season, with all its excitement, joy and indulgence, is around the corner. Shops are buzzing, menus are being planned and the pressure is on to make sure that everything is just perfect. But it might not be all moonshine and roses in your corner of the world. Many of us are still struggling to get through one of the toughest years in living memory, with no extra cash for lavish festivities. In fact you might be battling just to cover day-to-day expenses. So how do you make magical memories with family and friends without adding to your financial stress? We’ve got you covered.

GENERATE SOME MAD MONEY

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, they say. Selling what you don’t need or use is a great way to generate some extra cash, which you can then put to good use over this time. Start at one side of your home and work your way through, room by room. Everything you haven’t used in the past six months is probably unnecessary and can be sold. You might want to keep some sentimental items, but err on the side of ruthlessness. The extra cash will come in very handy.

PLAN YOUR SPENDING

Know what you’re in for and make sure you don’t go over the amount you’ve set. One of the worst festive season traditions is to incur debt, which can take months to pay back. Divide your expenses into three categories: decorations, gifts and food, and set a budget for each one. Stick to it like glue.

USE YOUR LOYALTY POINTS

Used wisely, loyalty points can be a great bonus at the end of the year. If those points have built up during the year, use them over the festive season. This will save you having to fork out hard cash.

GET CREATIVE WITH DECORATIONS