Stay informed! Visit the SA Department of Health's website for COVID-19 updates: www.sacoronavirus.co.za

Tips to make your moolah last this festive season

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Deck the halls with sanitizer fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la.

‘Tis the season to practise social distancing, and wear a mask fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!

Fam, while you’re preparing to be responsible during the festive season, don’t forget to be responsible with your moolah too. There would be nothing worse than starting January off broke or even in debt. Unlocked.Me ain’t about those January blues, ya’ll!

Here are some top tips to help you make your moolah last this festive season.

Set a realistic budget. If you’re one of those overachievers, you’ve probably been saving money over the last couple of months for the festive season using your Nedbank MyPocket. Give yourself a high-5! If not, let’s get real for a second. When it comes to planning your budget, you have to be smart and come to terms with the fact that no matter how much you plan, not everything will go according to your plan. That’s why it’s so important to set a budget that won’t leave you high and dry for the new year and will also give you some ‘wiggle’ room for that extra gift, personal treat or outing. Remember that in the spirit of the festive season, the thought counts more than getting your friends and family superexpensive gifts that will leave you looking for extra change in the couch cushions for the next month. They wouldn’t want that for you, and we wouldn’t want that either.

Create a list of whom you need to shop for and stick to it. You’re not Santa; you don’t need to get gifts for all the girls and boys across the land. You just need to get gifts for the people who are important to you – Sbu from HR won’t be offended if you don’t get him anything! After you have created a list of your ride or dies, write down ideas of what you’d like to get for them, physical and online stores (like Unlocked.Me, hint, hint) you’d like to visit or browse through, and how much money you’re planning to spend on each person. This will allow you to make a quick and hassle-free shopping trip with fewer crowds and sanitizer!

Get in touch with your inner foodie and opt for home-cooked meals. As we all know, eating out is very expensive. And while we are all about treating yo’self, this time of the year can get stressful for everyone. This is the perfect time to get onto your socials and search the #Foodie, #TikTokFoodie tags to see what creations you can whip up in your own kitchen using items you already have at home.

Do some research and find the best bargains. Take out that notebook or open up your Notes app and start comparing the prices each store charges for the stuff you want to buy for your loved ones. It’s also important to check the normal retail prices of the items you want, so that you can see if the deals are really worth it or not. Preparing yourself like this will allow you to plan your day and not waste time going to websites unnecessarily. Popup and sponsored ads can be superannoying because it sometimes feels like they know what you want before you do. But they might just be useful this time of year, because they are catering specifically for you and your interests. Take note and research the deals that interest you!

Stay home and stay safe. With the pandemic still being an issue and the chance of spreading the virus to other people still a risk, try to keep the celebrations close to home this year with just the people you’ve been isolating with. This will save you money and peace of mind. Your health and well-being are very important to us – way more important than getting a good deal on anything. If you or anyone in your household are unwell or have any underlying conditions, please stay safe and practise good social distancing, mask-wearing and sanitizing. Be safe and purchase your goods online, wherever possible.

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Stay informed! Visit the SA Department of Health's website for COVID-19 updates: www.sacoronavirus.co.za