Anyone else over indulge this Christmas? 😐 Show of hands… ✋ Yep, me too. Whether it’s food, gifts, social events, or something else, I think we can all agree that Christmas can be a very expensive time of year. And that it’s all too easy to overspend.
Like many people I set myself a budget on Christmas spending but more often than not go over it. I get caught up in impulse buying and picking up little stocking fillers for my family and friends. And I’m not the only one, they do it too! We do this because we love each other and want each other to have the best Christmas possible.
But as the Grinch so rightly said, “What if Christmas, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” So why do so many of us get caught up overspending at Christmas? And what can you do if you did overspend?
Coping with money stress after the Christmas Period
Avoid the January Sales
Of course there is an exception; if you received gift cards as presents then by all means, use them, but leave the credit or debit cards at home. Another idea would be to save those gift cards to use for other purchases throughout the year.
Commit to a No-Spend Month
A month of bare minimum spending can be another good way to get back on track. So, aside from essential expenses, such as rent or groceries, try to keep spending in January to a minimum. That means curbing any frivolous spending such as cinema trips, clothes, or eating out.
In fact, you may even find that your fridge or freezer is still heavily stocked from the Christmas period, so take time to assess your grocery budget for the month and try to use up what you have leftover.
Access your Overspending
Gather all of your receipts, pull up your credit card bill, or bank statements and tally up the damage. This helps you determine exactly how much you’ve spent and will help you reassess your Christmas budget in future.
For example, you may find you over (or under) estimated how much a gift would cost, or there were some people you forgot to budget for (like work friends). Even things like wrapping paper or greetings cards can all mount up. So it’s worth documenting everything for your future self while it’s fresh in your mind. depending on your circumstances it may mean you need to start saving a little earlier next Christmas.
Get back to your budget
You’ll want to get back to your planned budget as quickly as possible after the holiday period is over. And if you don’t have a one, now is the perfect time to set one up. Start my looking at your monthly income and fixed expenses to determine how much money you have left over for food, savings, holidays and miscellaneous items (such as gym memberships).
While you’re looking at your expenses keep an eye out for things you don’t use anymore, like gym/magazine/cinema subscriptions anymore. And think about cancelling them.
Return, Sell, Donate
If you’ve received a gift that doesn’t fit either you or your lifestyle, think about returning it to the store if you know where it was bought. Most stores will have a post Christmas returns policy so you may not need a receipt but keep in mind they may only offer your store credit.
The New Year is also the perfect time to declutter and either donate or sell unwanted items, including gifts. Yes, it can be time consuming, and at times, stressful too. But you’ll feel so much better for getting rid of the clutter in your life, and feel good for giving your belongings a new home too.
Plan ahead
It’s important not to beat yourself up for overspending at Christmas , especially if you’re already experiencing post-holiday blues. Instead take this as an opportunity to plan your finances for the coming year. I’ve already mentioned budgeting but also think about any financial goals you’d like to achieve.
How do you cope with overspending? Is there something you do that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments. 😊
14 Comments
How to Practice Self Care at Christmas – Chimmyville
December 20, 2020 at 10:38
[…] include are family events, work commitments, who you’ll be buying presents for – and a budget for that, Christmas grocery lists, […]
A Cup of Wonderland
January 27, 2020 at 19:32
All really good tips – I always try doing a no spend in January and avoiding the January sales at all costs too!
Savannah
January 27, 2020 at 19:05
Great post and tips! We definitely spent a little more money than we wanted, so we’ve gotten back on track with spending less this month and we’ll do the same in February, too. It’s been nice to slow down and step away from the consumerism of the season and enjoy not spending money. Thanks for sharing!
Brandi
January 27, 2020 at 17:48
Great tips! I often find myself overwhelmed after the holidays. Great job 🙌🏻🥰
Envy Fisher
January 27, 2020 at 17:12
I’m going to use these tips for next month. Ironically, my bank account survived Christmas only to die in January because of all the books I have to buy for my upcoming university courses… I hope I’ll make it till March XD
x Envy
verdwaaldinvertaling.blogspot.com
Ashley
January 23, 2020 at 22:08
I know it’s late Kim but Happy New Year!!!! These are such great tips! I avoided the January Sales this year, I figured out I only spend a fortune on stuff I don’t want or need just because it’s cheap! Budget planning has also been part of my 2020 goals! xxx
Jess
January 23, 2020 at 21:16
This is such a thing for me right now, and January is quickly becoming a no-spend month (unintentionally!). Just done a budget for next month today and hopefully I can stick to that. Thanks for the tips!
Allie Mackin
January 23, 2020 at 19:36
Ah ha good information lady, thanks for posting!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Jenny in Neverland
January 23, 2020 at 18:36
Great post – my boyfriend and I were talking about how bad our wages were because over December, as soon as any money came in, it went straight back out again on presents or Christmas stuff! I’ve spent much more than I’d have liked to this month though – and I still have my NI to pay (as I’m self employed) so I think my no spend month will have to be February! x
Amy
January 23, 2020 at 13:41
This is the first year I’ve actually avoided the January sales and it’s made a huge difference – I was genuinely surprised when I checked my bank account this morning 😂 these are great tips, thanks for sharing!
Lisa
January 22, 2020 at 18:09
I don’t think there are many of us who don’t overspend at Christmas tbh. Impulse buys are the worst, they really do add up! I like your idea of a no spend month, especially as the freezer is pretty well stocked already. And starting to put money aside for a holiday is a must too. Great tips, Kim, thank you 🙂
Soph
January 21, 2020 at 12:58
This is so helpful- I’m usually so good with money but definitely over-indulge around Christmas time! I’m a big planner and love setting myself savings goals!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
January 21, 2020 at 10:52
Great tips, I’m trying to reduce my spending, but I always have big bills coming out so that does not help
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Amy
January 19, 2020 at 16:54
I used to overspend every Christmas, but I’m a bit better at budgeting now. I used to feel like I had to spend a certain amount on presents per person, so I didn’t look like I was being tight, but I soon realised no one’s actually that bothered.
I definitely think going into Christmas with a budget is important, especially when it’s the time of year where unexpected plans always happen. I like to save a bit extra beforehand, so I can enjoy the festive season without having to miss out on events.
Some really great tips here. I’m trying to do a no spend for a few months, because it would be nice to have some money saved up before life gets busy again.
Hope you had an amazing Christmas!