Detty December is here and upon us, and there’s already a lot of excitement. While it might be tempting to overcompensate for the work you put in this year, you don’t necessarily have to blow through your 13th-month salary and end-of-the-year bonus to enjoy the holidays.

So, in this blog post, we’ll share some practical tips on how to celebrate the holidays on a budget.‍

Run away from peer pressure:

If there’s ever a time to not be intimidated, it’s now. You have to be honest about your financial situation, especially since every January seems like it’s made up of 60 and not 31 days. So, to reduce the stress you’ll get from poor financial decisions and start the new year on a high note, be upfront about your limitations.

Also read: Practical Tips to Make Your Salary Last Longer in 2023

Budget religiously:

The one thing a detty December encourages is impulse buying, especially with the discounts and “sales” that flood social media. And while you should take advantage of some of these offers, you have to be careful not to spend on things you’ll regret later. Hence, you should make a budget for the holidays and even for January and stick to it.

Also read: A List of Budget-Friendly Holiday Destinations for Nigerians

Embrace Secret Santas:

Gift buying, especially this season, can be a major source of financial stress, especially when determining a suitable budget. However, a simple solution can be found in the Secret Santa tradition. This way, there’s a cap on the amount to be spent, and it adds an element of surprise to the gifts.

Try low-cost activities:

You don’t have to go bar-hopping every night to enjoy your December because this will quickly burn a hole in your pocket, especially considering the surge in the cost of transportation and drinks. It would help if you considered other ways to have have fun with budget-friendly festive activities, such as game nights with friends and family or visiting the beach or galleries.

Try potluck dining:

The holidays are renowned for one thing — the food. And you don’t necessarily have to bear the cost of cooking alone because with potluck dining, also called a feast, everyone brings a different meal. This way, you have a variety of food, and it’s easier to take everyone’s preferences into account. Also, this captures the essence of the holiday season and cultivates a sense of community and unity.

Wrapping up

We’re not trying to discourage you from enjoying your December to the fullest; we are, however, trying to remind you to make financially wise decisions. To help you out with this, you can track your cash inflow and outflow with our expense insights feature on the Grey app.