Christmas in April

Yes, really. Why? Because when the festive season rolls around, many of us end up treating it like it’s some kind of financial emergency. Of course it isn’t – we know the date already and it’s absolutely no surprise – so let’s not get caught out for Christmas 2014.

April is a good time to get started. Honest. And stop rolling those pretty eyes at me, I know you haven’t even had your Easter eggs yet…

So, April is a good time to get started. Chances are you’ve had time to clear the worst of last year’s festive hangover? Hope so, anyway. By getting started, I mean putting a little cash aside every month from April until November, so the entirely predictable arrival of December’s festivities could also coincide with you having a nice lump sum to spend instead of going overdrawn / running up a credit card bill / being tempted to take out a loan.

It doesn’t have to be much, any amount you can spare is helpful. I’m planning on putting away £25 a month for eight months, so I’ll have £200 set by. That’ll be plenty because we don’t go over the top here, and I won’t miss an amount like that as it’s not going to wreck my monthly budgets. I know it’s the last thing most of us want to think about at this time of year but a tiny amount of organisation and planning can go a long way.

Less stress, no debt. Isn’t that a lovely gift to give yourself and your household?

Are you saving up for Christmas this year? Or are you putting your hands over your ears right now and saying “la, la, la, la, la, la, Penny I can’t hear you, la, la, la”?