How to enjoy the holidays without the financial hangover
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The festive season is fast approaching, lights are up, invitations are rolling in, and Mariah Carey has officially thawed. But with all the fun comes the pressure to spend, and for many Canberra households, December can be the most financially stressful month of the year.
The good news? A memorable Christmas doesn’t have to come with a maxed-out credit card.
Here is how to enjoy the holidays AND look after your future self.
Budget with a bigger picture in mind
The festive season has a way of loosening our grip on the wallet. Suddenly, everything feels urgent, sparkly and worth saying “yes” to. But before you dive too deep into Christmas spending mode, it’s worth zooming out and looking at what’s coming up financially after the holidays.
Take stock of your regular household costs, any tax payments you’ll need to plan for, upcoming insurance renewals, and those bills that always seem to land the moment you’ve packed away the tinsel. Laying all of this out early gives you a clear idea of how much room you actually have to spend in December.
It’s not about dampening the fun. It’s about making sure the celebrations don’t turn into a financial hangover. A little forward planning now can save you from a stressful January and help you start the new year on the right foot.
Embrace meaningful gifting
The pressure to find the “perfect” present can make December feel like a whirlwind of shopping bags and late-night scrolling, but memorable gifts don’t have to blow the budget. Experiences like a dinner-out, a spa session or tickets to a local event often create the kinds of memories that last far longer than anything wrapped under the tree. And homemade gifts like baked treats, candles, or personalised ornaments bring a thoughtful, heartfelt touch without the price tag.
Intentional gifting is really about meaning over money. A thoughtful experience or something handmade often feels far more personal, and far less stressful, for both the giver and the receiver.
Make the most of financial gifts
Financial gifts are becoming increasingly common. For instance, parents helping with a home deposit, grandparents transferring money for a child’s future, or partners pooling funds for shared goals. And while they may not be as pretty under the tree, they can have a long-lasting impact if used wisely.
Before you tuck the money into your everyday account or unintentionally spend it on holiday-season impulse buys, pause and think: How can this support my bigger financial picture?
Here are some smart ways to put a financial gift to work:
Clear high-interest debt
If you have credit cards, Afterpay balances or personal loans, directing part of the gift toward them gives you an immediate, guaranteed return. It also frees up your future cash flow and that’s a gift that keeps giving.
Use goal-based savings buckets
If you’re working toward something bigger—a renovation, travel, future children or a new car—parking the money in a dedicated savings bucket helps protect it from accidental swipes. Separating the funds gives you clarity and keeps your goals on track.
Top up your superannuation
If you’re eligible and looking long-term, contributing to super can quietly grow your future balance over time in a tax-effective way. A single contribution made early will have more time to grow, thanks to the power of compounding.
Invest with intention
If you’ve already got your basics covered, a sizeable gift doesn’t have to sit in super. You could use it to start an investment portfolio instead. Low-cost, well-diversified investments like ETFs are easy to manage and give your money a chance to grow, rather than quietly disappearing on holiday splurges. And over time, they can offer stronger growth than simply parking the money in a savings account. For example, investing $5,000 in a growth-focused diversified ETF and adding $100 every fortnight could grow to around $50,000 in 10 years. That’s assuming an average return of 8% per year which is the kind of long-term annual returns often seen in diversified growth-focused ETFs over the past decade. This shows how a small, regular contribution can turn a one-off gift into serious long-term wealth.
Financial gifts don’t have to feel formal or complicated. With a little intention, they can turn into long-term stability, opportunity and freedom—well beyond the festive season.
Invest in your financial literacy
The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect, reset and get a little smarter with your money. The holiday slowdown gives you space to dive into the things we often push aside—like investing, superannuation, and future planning. Even spending half an hour reading, listening to a podcast or checking in on your goals can help future-you make better decisions.
And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: financial conversations should be normal. They should be comfortable. And honestly? They should feel empowering.
So instead of letting money chat be something that only comes up in stressful moments, use the relaxed holiday pace to make it part of everyday conversation with your family or partner. Talk about goals, share what you’re learning, compare strategies, laugh about past mistakes. The more you normalise it, the easier it becomes to make smart, proactive decisions all year round.
Remember what really matters
At its heart, Christmas isn’t about extravagant gifts or picture-perfect tablescapes. It’s about connection, rest, and celebration. The most memorable moments come from time spent with family and friends, not from how much you spend. This year, give yourself permission to enjoy a simpler, more intentional Christmas. Your wallet (and New-Year-you) will thank you.
The best gifts aren’t wrapped in paper, they’re wrapped in time, love, and laughter….
