December is in full swing, and you are already doing the mental maths: new uniform, gifts, groceries, petrol to visit family, and somehow still have enough money left for January.

You know what’s coming. The stationery list is already sitting in your school WhatsApp group. 

By the second week of January, every shop will be packed with parents’ panic-buying the same things, and half of what you need will be out of stock.

Uniform prices will be higher. Your daughter will need new school shoes because the previous pair is too tight. Your salary? Still three weeks away.

Here’s the thing: you cannot avoid January. But you can take some of the eina out of it. 

Not with a perfect budget or by skipping Christmas, but by making a few smart moves now, while you still have breathing room.

Cover the non-negotiables first

Buy uniforms and shoes now. Stock is good, prices have not increased yet, and kids can try things on without fighting the January crowds. If your child has grown (and they always do), size up. That blazer might be a bit big in January, but it will fit by March – and you will not be buying another one in six months.

Deal with December realistically

December is expensive. You want to spoil your kids, see family, and maybe take a few days off. But if you go all in, January becomes a nightmare.

Your December salary has to last longer. If you are paid mid-month in December (as many Namibians are), remember that this is not a bonus; it is just your regular salary arriving early. Spend it all in December, and you are staring down a six-week gap until the end of January, with nothing left. 

Once January begins, school fees, groceries, and transport costs resume, and the funds need to be available.

Make Christmas work with what you have

Let school supplies double up as gifts – shoes, stationery, a lunch bag, or a backpack they will love. 

Wrap them up and make them special. This shows them that gifts do not always have to be toys or treats, and that getting what they need is also something to appreciate.

For everyone else: 

Thoughtful gifts go further than you think. Baked goods, a photo album, or time – a night of babysitting for tired parents – all mean more than overspending.

Set a limit, and stick to it

Sit down this week and decide what you can actually afford for gifts and celebrations. If it is N$2 000 instead of N$5 000, that is fine. Write it down, stick to it, and stop comparing what you have available to what others are spending.

Have the conversation early. Not a lecture, just honesty: “We’re keeping gifts smaller this year, so we’re not stressed in January.” 

Most people get it (kids included). If extended family is involved, set expectations now so no one is caught off guard on Christmas Day.

Do not wait for the January scramble

Shop sales now. Festive season sales are not just for TVs and phones. School shoes, stationery, lunchboxes … they are all on sale, too. 

Spread the cost by buying a few items each week in December, rather than shopping largely in January, when everything is back to full price.

Stick to what really matters and skip the extras that do not add value, like fancy pencil cases, character backpacks, or new lunchboxes. 

Instead, focus your budget on the essentials your children actually need, such as uniforms, shoes, and textbooks.

The reality check

January’s always going to be expensive – that is just the reality of back-to-school season. Set a realistic budget, buy now while stock and money are available, and protect your January salary.

Planning ahead is the best gift you can give yourself. 

December is a time for family and celebration, but it is also the perfect opportunity to make small, intentional choices that ease the financial pressure in January. 

Start early, use rewards where you can, and remember – it is not about skipping joy, it is about spreading it wisely.

*Elzita Beukes is the senior manager: public relations and communication at Standard Bank Namibia.