Holiday shopping and gifts: tips to avoid running out of money after the festive season.

The fundamental principles for saving on New Year’s purchases are quite standard: determine in advance the budget you are willing to spend on gifts, food, decorations, and other expenses, and categorize it accordingly. Personal and corporate finance expert Venera Zhanalina advises that you should identify in advance who you will be gifting and what you will give them, as this will help avoid hasty purchases and save time.

Of course, it’s best to buy gifts early to avoid the rush and not end up buying something at the last minute for an inflated price.

"Following trends when choosing gifts is only worthwhile if you are sure that the gift aligns with the recipient's interests. However, durable and useful items, such as books, gadgets, or gift certificates, are always a more universal and safer option," - Venera Zhanalina.

Popular online platforms also offer pre-New Year discounts on various categories of goods. However, it’s important to order gifts in advance to ensure they arrive before the New Year.

"To avoid emotional traps during New Year’s shopping, keep a budget in mind and refer to it while shopping, or use a shopping checklist. You can also use an expense tracking app. If possible, avoid crowded stores, as the atmosphere of excitement often leads to impulsive spending. When making a purchase, don’t remove tags immediately and don’t throw away receipts: if you realize that the purchase is unnecessary, you can return it to the store and get your money back," - added Venera Zhanalina.

Personal finance expert Akzhunis Brasylova believes that one should not succumb too much to the New Year’s hype and remember that life continues after the New Year celebrations.

"The New Year is not an excuse to spend all your money, as this period is typically characterized by high demand and high consumer index," - Akzhunis Brasylova.

Creating a festive and cozy atmosphere can be achieved without excessive spending, according to the speaker. Additionally, it’s important to consider that prices may rise due to currency fluctuations. If some items purchased before the New Year may remain stable in price, after the holiday, it’s more likely that prices will increase.

"At the moment, I don’t expect the exchange rate to drop back to 480 tenge as it was before. Accordingly, this will inevitably lead to an increase in prices for everything, including food, no matter how much the government tries to control them. Therefore, it’s essential to understand that price hikes can happen after the New Year. Thus, there’s no sense in spending everything in one month or just before the holiday," - Akzhunis Brasylova.

The expert added that, for the sake of savings, some gifts can be made by hand, involving children in the process.

How to Save on Food and Decorations

It’s advisable to start purchasing food for the New Year’s table in advance, buying non-perishable items such as alcohol, sweets, and grains early in December, while fresh products should be bought 2-3 days before the holiday, recommends Venera Zhanalina.

To save money, you can also plan the menu in advance to avoid buying unnecessary items. Additionally, buying in bulk and keeping an eye on promotions and discounts in supermarket apps can help reduce costs.

According to Akzhunis Brasylova, it’s not necessary to create a New Year’s table overflowing with dishes, half of which will go uneaten. A small, delicious dinner for family and guests will be quite sufficient.

To save on New Year’s decorations, you can make ornaments by hand using paper, fabric, or natural materials such as pine cones and branches. You can also repurpose last year’s decorations by adding new elements for a fresh look, suggests Venera Zhanalina.

Akzhunis Brasylova added that high-quality New Year decorations and decor can be purchased once and used for several years, significantly saving on annual New Year purchases. Overall, the expert recommends conducting an inventory before heading to the store for New Year’s items.

"In the pre-New Year rush, many unnecessary emotional purchases can be made. To avoid this, it’s advisable to plan and approach the issue systematically. You can set a budget in advance for the New Year’s table, gifts, and other expenses, and stick to a specific amount to clearly understand how much you can spend," - added Akzhunis Brasylova.

However, if the budget is tight but there’s a strong desire to buy a certain product or item, this can serve as a good motivation to earn extra money. At the same time, Akzhunis Brasylova strongly advises against taking loans or installment plans for gifts, as these are expenses that lead nowhere and lack significant meaning. You will have to pay for them for at least several months, and starting the new year with new debts is not the best idea.