The festive season is often filled with joy, gifts, travel, and celebrations, but it can also leave many people feeling financially drained. As life returns to normal, controlling spending becomes an important step toward financial stability.
The good news? You don’t need extreme measures to get back on track.
Start by reviewing your recent expenses. Looking at what you spent during the holidays helps you understand where your money went and which expenses were necessary and which were not. Awareness is the first step toward better control.
Next, create a simple budget for the month ahead. This doesn’t need to be complicated, just list your essential expenses such as food, transport, rent, and utilities, then decide how much you can comfortably spend on non-essentials.
Another effective step is to avoid impulse buying. After the festive season, sales and discounts can be tempting, but buying things just because they’re cheaper often leads to unnecessary spending. Before purchasing anything, ask yourself if you truly need it.
Consider reducing small daily expenses. Things like frequent takeaways, unnecessary subscriptions, or constant online shopping may seem minor, but they add up quickly over time.
It’s also helpful to set short-term financial goals, such as saving a small amount each week or avoiding unnecessary spending for a certain number of days. Achievable goals make financial discipline easier to maintain.
Finally, remember to be kind to yourself. Overspending during celebrations happens to many people. The goal is not perfection, but progress. Making small, consistent changes can help you regain control and start the year on a stronger financial footing.
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10
