IEveryone is finding money tight at the moment, so be open and talk to friends and family about how you might want to do things differently this year. This way, you wont suffer from the dreaded Christmas financial hangover.

You don’t need to be the Grinch this Christmas, but a here are a few tips to help take the pressure off your cashflow:

• Allocate a certain amount of cash to gifts and food and eating out and stick to it. Don’t feel pressure to spend the same on gifts as what others spend or the same as last year.
• Consider homemade gifts – food is always a winner – or consider a photo collage.
• Instead of dining out in restaurants or going to bars to catch up, opt for gatherings at home or picnics in the park.
• Agree with family to have a Kris Kringle / Secret Santa, so you buy one good value gift, and not many small gifts. Or split the cost of large presents.
• Avoid using credit cards or afterpay for things you cant afford to pay off immediately.
• If going on holidays, consider camping or house swaps or travelling off peak.

I promise your family and friends will still love you, as they are probably experiencing similar pressures.
We should always be mindful of where our money goes and not just follow the crowd and societal expectations. Christmas time with family and friends can amplify these pressures.

You can still enjoy the festive season and connect and celebrate with family, but you want to avoid the January credit card shock.

I wish you a joyful time over the holiday season filled with connections and fun with family and friends. Hopefully you also find some time to rest and recharge.

Stay tuned for updates on my new coaching offers, which will include some practical tools to make it easy for you to manage your cashflow in line with your goals. Consider your 2024 New Years resolutions about personal finance taken care of.