There is no how you will be in Nigeria and not overspend in this period, things are extremely on the high side now compared to the previous years, most times we budget things and when we get to the market we will be hearing another price, prices do change overnight here and there is no how you will budget and spend an exact amount that you budget for in this period.
I went to the market to get some foodstuff yesterday with my list inside my bag, I had already penned down everything I would be buying with their prices when I got to the first shop to get semolina of 1kg I budgeted #800 I entered the first shop the owner said #1200 I angrily left the place, went to another shop same price, I entered more than three shops all are the same then I know that things are now expensive.
This period will be cut your coat according to your size now, everyone will have to do thorough calculations on what to buy for Christmas, it is not like before when we bought things and still had some changes that would last us for weeks, now the money is not enough for anything.
For this Christmas, the way I budget myself is to purchase a half bag of rice instead of buying the full one, the price of a half bag of rice now was the price we were buying the full one last year, everything has now doubled so this is where I will adopt the wisdom of Solomon in the bible.
No more buying Christmas clothes, the price of fashion designers now can make someone go back to the village, well I don't blame them because things are expensive and they are gaining little out of the money we are paying them, I commend their efforts because the stress they pass through while making dresses can not be comprehended, I will do with the clothes I have at home so that I can save more for the coming year.
Talking about the coming year, January is the longest month in the month, it is so long it is tiring and everyone tends to complain in January because there will be no money left to run the finances for the month. So I need to cut myself some sack when planning for the season, it is not that I won't enjoy myself but everything must be minimal and moderation must set in.
I believe that some people will go the extra mile to celebrate this Christmas, the celebration is not compulsory in my opinion, I just think Christmas is different from the other months because it is a season of love and not a season of overdo, I have so Christmas lights at home, I will bring it out and use it to decorate my office in other to welcome my customers and celebrate the season with them.
I planned to get souvenirs for my best customers for the year, but it is now I will have to reduce what I want to get, I was planning to get a bucket, dustbin, and tray but I will have to cut it down to get either one of the three but not that three anymore, I just want to appreciate them for patronizing my brands over the year and show them that they are the best customers.
This is how I plan to spend this festive season, I will not overspend so that I will not be in debt and I will celebrate the season in moderation.
This is my entry for this episode of #hivelearners community prompt #hl-w92e2 which is tagged "BUDGETING IN DECEMBER"
