December is the month in which spending control definitely fails. Between dinners, endless aperitifs, gifts for friends, relatives, colleagues, babysitters, children and various “little thoughts”, the current account begins to suffer seriously. And often the problem is not the big expenses, but all those small expenses put together without thinking about it.
If you haven’t saved during the year or haven’t set a clear budget for Christmas gifts, there is only one risk: spend too much in a few days and start January with financial anxiety.
According to Laura Linden, chief financial officer and author of the book UnFck Your Business Finances*, however, there are simple and concrete rules to avoid wasting money without appearing stingy. Two, in particular, really work.
The “return of joy” test
Before buying a gift, stop and ask yourself a very simple question:
Will this thing really make the person who receives it happy?
Not “it will cause a scene”, not “it costs enough”, but precisely: will it bring joy?
If the answer is vague or uncertain, you’re probably just spending out of habit or social pressure. This test helps eliminate useless gifts, those that end up forgotten in a drawer or given to someone else the following year.
The five minute rule (the one that saves you the most)
It’s the most effective trick ever.
- If you are buying online: add the product to the cart and then do something else for five minutes.
- If you’re in the store: take a photo of the item and the price, then walk away.
After those five minutes, ask yourself:
- Is there a cheaper alternative?
- Am I paying too much just because it’s Christmas?
- Am I buying it to please someone or to feel like a “good person”?
Many people fall into the trap of “Shopping like a kind person”: spending more than expected for fear of appearing stingy or ungenerous. It’s a shame that they pay the bill in January. Being generous is a quality, but not when it causes you financial problems.
If after the break you are still convinced that the price is right and that the gift makes sense, then buy it with peace of mind.
The challenge of the 5 euro gift (which doesn’t seem like 5 euros)
A good gift doesn’t have to cost a lot. Often they are enough 5 euros well spent to make a better impression than an expensive but impersonal object.
Designer William Morris said: “Have nothing in your home that is not useful or beautiful.”
Apply this to gifts: choose something that seems thoughtful, useful or pleasant to use, not yet another useless item destined to end up in a charity bag the following year.
Candles, small household items, specialty food products, notebooks, plants, quality tea or coffee: spend little, but wisely.
Christmas is not a competition to see who spends the most. With a little self-control, a five-minute break and a clear budget in mind, you can give sensible gifts, appear generous and Don’t ruin your budget.
And yes, in the end it really is the thought that counts. The price is only of interest to the bank.
