DON'T SPEND MORE THAN YOUR BUDGET

There is some form of magic about every December, it is full of christmas lights dance across the streets, buses are covered with glittery garlands, stores playing loud music and the air is filled with the smell of fried chicken which emanates from nearly every compound.

We are fond of celebrating Christmas even during the rough state of the economy. It is part of our joy, laughter and being together with the people we love. However, in the current economic times, celebrating recklessly may make one spend January with regrets, bills to pay and unneeded stress.

To me, this year is not a year of flaunting, it is a year to party moderately and cheerfully within a budget that will not disperse my future.

I always believed that celebration requires a lot of money. Growing up I watched my parents purchase new clothes for us, fill the house with supplies and prepare plenty of food to give to neighbours and visitors.

However, through the years, having been through the cruel reality of earning my own living I have come to learn that it is not the amount of money spent that determines the celebration but the memories that are made.

My plan is to do nothing too complicated this year, I just want to have a good time during the season and not to find myself in the snare of spending too much. I am determined not to give in to such a pressure.

The first budget friendly tip that I would use to celebrate this year is focusing on what is important because December is loaded with entertainments like concerts on the weekend, flashy sales and seductive advertisements. However, not all is worth my money. I simply need rest, family time, good food and gratitude. All these do not need the lavish expenditure.

Therefore, rather than following all the activities going on in Lagos or acquiring a new dress every time, I am simply attending a certain event and I am keeping it down to the bare minimum.

The other area that expenses can get out of hand is food. December food is our favorite and I am not an exception. The assortment of it is sufficient to exhaust a wallet like chicken, rice, stew, snacks, drinks, fruits, and much more. However, rather than my normal practice of purchasing all at once, I have made myself a strict food list. The basket will only have what is necessary, no impulse buying, no emotional buying.

Transport is also another significant point in my December budget. The behaviour of transport fare around the festive period in Nigeria is a consistent one, annually the fare increases. Travelling is an expensive task, whether it is drivers who charge twice the usual amount, or additional chaos brought about by fuel shortages. In the course of my year I will be in my city most of the time, so I will be limiting my unneeded movement. The schedules of visiting friends will be planned correctly to avoid spending money on transportation since I'm not travelling out of my state.

I also love to give gifts, however, I have learnt that I cannot afford to give gifts to everyone. I have decided to present valuable yet affordable gifts rather than costly gifts especially to my mum. A plain hand written note, a framed picture, a little hamper of home made snacks or even a jar of chin chin will go a long way. Gifts must be in the form of thoughtfulness and not financial pressure.

Clothes is another thing we should budget. The urge to shine on Christmas day or crossover night may lead some people spending money that they do not have. However, I have concluded that it is not that my old clothes that have offended anyone. I will just wash them, iron it and put it on beautifully. Whenever I purchase anything new, it will be something I not something I want just because it is December.

I have learnt that you do not need to spend a lot of money to be happy. This year, my actual celebration will be on simple but memorable things like laughing with my siblings, watching movies at home, taking evening walks, going to church service, and looking back at how much I have come. No money is needed on these items but they bring the heart at peace.

Celebrating on a budget does not imply that you limit your happiness, it is just making a decision wiser than pressure. The economy of Nigeria is hard but with proper planning, discipline, and emphasis on the things that really matter, this festival season may be full of warmth, laughter and love.

I would like to bring January with honor. I do not want to enter the new year with my head down, battling with loan applications, or regretting my thoughtless decisions in December. I plan to achieve a soft landing, peaceful beginning of 2026, financially and emotionally.