Greetings everyone 🙌
Many times, I've seen people who traveled to the village for the Christmas celebration get stranded in the village due to lack of money for transportation fare to return. Also, I've also seen people who, after the December celebration, start seeking out where to borrow money to foot pending bills or just to use for the main time until the next salary comes.
Why is it always like that? The answer is poor budgeting.
We've heard many cautionary advices on how to budget for December, but oftentimes, we play deaf ear to all of those and let the peak of the merriment have a taunting say on our finances.
As for me, I don't like borrowing or seeking to get money from my parents while returning to my base. Am I not the one who's supposed to give them?
So, I settle down and draft my plans before I go home for celebration or before I send money home. I do things according to my capacity and not to please anyone.
I and my budget for December
- Send money home to support parents in their expenses
My parents are very understanding and always appreciate every token I send to them. They know that things have not really balanced out financially for me, and this gives me so much ease in my budget.
Of course, this is my first priority on my list, and I consider a reasonable amount for it. When I settles that, my mind comes to rest, as does my pocket. I don't feel the urge to spend more once I send that because we have food at home(we farm), and anything I'm sending is just a tip to buy little things needed for the marathon feeding.
- I pull out money to settle my siblings.
I have a lot of younger ones, both direct siblings and nieces and nephews, and all of them are keen on premium billing, but I always have a way to outsmart those outrageous demands.
Just last two weeks, one of my female siblings messaged me on Whatsapp with a photo of a dress she wants for Christmas with a price tag of 8k ($8). I saw it, and I laughed. If I give everyone of them 8k each, what would be left with me? I didn't argue; I just "okayed" her to let peace reign until then.
My usual way of settling them is either give them 1k or 2k each, or take them out on a good treat or the simplest; put on the generator (electricity) 24/7, and I'll be good to go😆. They love electricity!
- Outing with friends and external billings;
For outings with friends, I don't usually go out, but anytime I find myself out, the person who pulled me out is the one footing the bill for what we are taking. I only support a little, so that I don't appear stingy.
- Where the problem lies is with the external billings.
"External billings" here means all those external relatives and friends coming around to demand "breads" and Christmas gifts.
During the Christmas season, my compound doesn't get scanty of people. That's because my dad has a lot of friends, and we are also living in a family house. So my compound is the turning point for all the people from abroad that come for Christmas celebrations.
I budget a reasonable amount to dash out, buying drinks for my dad's friends and relatives, and gifting children that come around. Once my budget finishes, I launch into my room and will be hardly seen outside.
These have always worked for me, and that's what I'm using this Christmas.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry to the Week 92, Edition 02 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community.