There is nothing as bad as partying hard this festive season only to find yourself in a financial hangover thereafter.
Just to be on the safe side, it is always wise to take precautionary measures by planning way ahead of time before the festive vortex that comes with uncontrolled spending gets you off-guard.
Or isn't lack of planning equivalent to planning to fail? So to avoid being spit out by the festive whirlwind with enormous bills requiring your attention, planning ahead is critical.
But what does this planning really entails you ask? Well, according to a Thika-based financial expert, Peter Wanyoike, there are a number of things that one can do to avoid the biting financial hangover that often shows its ugly face in January.
Here are some of the measures that you need to take as outlined by Wanyoike.
1. Be real
Wanyoike says that being and staying real is vital in avoiding the devastating January financial distress. For instance, instead of digging deep into your pocket just to plan a holiday gateway, why not visit some of the spectacular and cheap tourist attraction sites in Kiambu such as the Fourteen Falls, Mt Kilimambogo National Park and Chania falls.
"Some people have unrealistic expectations about the season which more often than not lead them to spend beyond their financial capabilities. You need to be yourself and only spend to the extent you can afford because after the partying season you have bills to shoulder all by yourself," Wanyoike said.
2. Think about the post-festive season period
The financial expert says that taking time from the partying frenzy to think for instance about your January bills and utilities helps you come up with a Christmas budget that you can easily stick to. He adds that prepaying for some of these bills is even wiser.
3. Set a spending limit
This precautionary measure, Wanyoike notes, ensures that you only end up spending what you have planned for.
"It is even advisable when you are going out only to carry the amount that you are going to spend. You can even leave your ATM cards at home not to be attempted to spend more than your limit during any particular occasion," he added.
4. Avoid impromptu holiday functions
Finally, Wanyoike advises that avoiding such functions ensures that you do not incur expenses that you had not planned for which he says are usually disorganised and costly.
With that you can party as much as you want because you are within your spending limits and you have no 'Njaanuary' worries.
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