It's often said here in Nigeria that January is the longest month of the year. I don't know about other countries, but it's really popular due to the fact that people would have most of their financial resources spent on Christmas celebrations, and there will not be much money left until it's time for January salary to be paid especially for the salary earners.
This has always been the trend for the longest time for most people around me. When I started to work, I made up my mind that it wouldn't be the same story for me. Also, since I left university, I have been a prudent spender, so it was quite easy for me when I got to that part.
People tend to spend lavishly during the festive season, forgetting or not thinking that it is for a period of time, and they won't think ahead of time; some people even tend to enter into debts and all sorts of financial stress, thus leading to a rough start of a new year for them (financially and mentally).
The first thing I did to avoid starting the new year rough is planning. This is a very solid foundation for financial prudence. I set structures around my finances by budgeting from the previous month before Christmas; I set an amount aside for January, and I kept it in a place where I don't have access to it. If you're wondering where, I kept the money in an online savings app, and I locked it ahead of time.
I also advise that people should go for free or low-cost activities, and this differs for people due to their pocket capacity. As much as it's a celebration where some people get to reunite with their family and loved ones and can't wait to spend quality time with them participating in various fun activities, you have to be conscious of the way we spend our money.
Last year, I knew I had to cut my coat according to my size. lol. I cooked and shared fried rice, peppered chicken, and cold drinks with my roommate and a few friends around me. Afterwards, my friend and I went to the movies. In whichever way you want to go about your activities, you can still have fun without straining your finances.
Image is mine
My darling friend and I.
Image is mine.
Furthermore, if you're the type of person that loves aesthetically pleasing Christmas decorations to enhance the season, you can opt for DIY (Do It Yourself) decorations; you can learn how to do the decorations by yourself, which can save some cost, and if you can't do the decorations yourself, you can pay for an affordable decorations that will enhance your home.
The Christmas season is also a season where we give gifts to our loved ones, and that can be done according to our financial capacity. For someone like me, I really love to give gifts to people, so during my planning, I listed out the people that I want to share gifts with, I got the cost of the gift, and I included it in my budget. I eventually got the gifts for my loved ones, and they were really happy. Sometimes it's not about the size of the gift or how much you got the gift; it is also in the act, which shows that you have them in mind. I eventually gave them the gifts; they were happy to receive the gifts, and I was really happy, and I didn't regret it.
In conclusion, how we choose to celebrate our Christmas determines if you will escape the January blues, so I encourage you my friends to adopt budget-friendly habits and live within your means so that you will commence the new year on a good note (financially and in other areas of your life).
Thank you for always reading and engaging with my post.