How to enjoy Christmas on a lean budget

Christmas is a time for merriment, a time to socialize with family, friends, and loved ones. Gifts, decorations, nights out and much more are all part of the festive period. To make it lively and enjoyable, it requires money. However, in light of the harsh economic condition of the country, many will be out to […]

Christmas is a time for merriment, a time to socialize with family, friends, and loved ones. Gifts, decorations, nights out and much more are all part of the festive period. To make it lively and enjoyable, it requires money.

However, in light of the harsh economic condition of the country, many will be out to spend their Christmas on a budget that fits into their modest financial capacity.

With a sprinkling of smart budget decisions and an added dash of creativity, you can have a memorable Christmas celebration.

Daily Trust highlights five ways you could spend your Christmas on a lean budget.

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Plan Ahead

When doing Christmas on a lean budget, you will have to plan ahead. If you need extra money at Christmas, maybe consider cutting back on a few luxuries to make room for more important things.

When you plan ahead on how you want to spend your Christmas, you get to cut down on impulsive and un-budgeted spending that could be beyond your financial capacity.

Planning ahead also makes you consider your finances and ensure that you are not getting things or doing things out of impulse.

Buy locally-made products

Your choice of products, whether clothing or decoration materials, can matter very much in the cause of your spending.

Usually, foreign-made goods tend to be more expensive due to import duties and other factors, even if they have the same quality as locally-made ones.

Choose products that are cheaper but of manageably good quality to celebrate your festive period.

Prioritise your Christmas purchases

When you are celebrating Christmas on a small budget, you are never going to be able to fulfil absolutely everything in your ideal festive list.

So you may have to pen down what is really important to you this year.

Cook at home, forget eateries

When you operate on a small budget for Christmas, the idea of eating out should be jettisoned as it is not cost-friendly. The price of eating out tends to be on the high side, especially when compared to cooking at home.

Buying foodstuff and cooking at home go a long way to minimising your spending.

Prioritize the memories

Instead of obsessing over the material things to have during the Christmas period, it can be more fulfilling to concentrate more on the memories that will be created.

This is usually achieved through the quality time spent with family and loved ones, as well as the feelings and bonds shared and created.