Don't stress your December to regret your January

As soon as we stepped into December 1st, everything changed. People suddenly forgot the economy and jumped straight into celebration mode. Hmm… December for a reason! We won't say celebrating the festive season is not good, but we don't have to break the bank. I even learned that some people borrow to buy clothes, shoes, bags, and other things to hang out, but my question is: to what purpose is that necessary? December is a month or season that naturally comes with excitement, celebrations, family gatherings, church activities, exchange of gifts, and plenty more.

Last year, people were shouting that the economy was bad, yet believe me, the whole city was filled to the brim. Shopping malls were jampacked, cinemas were overflowing, and everywhere you turned, someone was spending. However, the economy was bad and is still bad, but people will go out of bounds to celebrate. This is okay and good, but don't overspend beyond your budget.

But for my household and me, we had to think differently if we didn’t want to break the bank this year. We started by rearing some fowls and turkeys as far back as October just to avoid the outrageous price of chicken every December. To buy a live chicken in Nigeria now is between ₦25,000 and ₦30,000, and honestly, it is exhausting for many families.

How the growth started in my house in June

How is it now in December

The truth is, we can enjoy this season without overspending. We all know what January looks like, for instance, fees and bills everywhere, and that month can be unusually long for salary earners. 🤣🤣
I don’t spend to impress anybody. I don’t enjoy my December only to regret it in January. Wisdom is profitable to direct.

Another thing that helps us is our annual work as well as ebi clothes. In my school, we usually get clothes every year for the end-of-year celebrations. That means we have technically been saving all year for our aso ebi. So, I simply use one stone to kill two birds, get matching outfits for my husband and kids, and that becomes our Christmas wear. Then we only buy one or two casual outfits for the New Year and other outings. This way, the money is already saved ahead because bringing out such an amount in December is not easy. Savings are a lifesaver if you want to enjoy the festive season.

Broilers growing peacefully

As teachers, we work strictly with a budget. We don’t just spend anyhow that is where discipline comes in. 🤣 Recently, we also discovered that travelling costs us far more than hostinisitors. So we cut that off, too, and focused on what truly brings us joy. Celebrating at home has helped us stay within a low budget and still enjoy the season fully.

December is truly a time to celebrate, catch up, and reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a long while, which naturally comes with the month, but it doesn’t have to put anyone in financial stress. Do all things minimal👌

May we all enjoy this festive season wisely and joyfully. ❤️✨

This is my response to the #hivelearners writing edition on the topic: Celebrating on a low budget.

All images are mine.