The festive season is upon us, the time for barbecues on the deck and fish and chips at the beach.

While getting the family together for a Christmas dinner or heading to the bach with friends at New Year might be something you look forward to, it can also be a tough time financially.

Here are a few things to consider to help you enjoy the holidays while staying in control of your personal finances.

Your budget matters

It’s always great to have a household budget, to keep track of where your money is going.

When it comes to the holidays, though, it can become extra important.

Particularly when it comes to things like shopping for presents. Having an idea at the outset of what you would like to spend, and a purchasing plan, can help avoid a blowout.

Your holiday spending plan

Deciding what is top of your priority list may help when you are setting your spending plan.

You might know you want to set aside a bit more money to spend on food, for example, and are willing to skimp a little on another item to make it happen.

It might help to start by setting an appropriate spending limit, then breaking it down to the various expenses you know are coming.

You can then track your progress against it.

It may be appropriate to set up a system to monitor what you are spending so you know you’re still on budget. This could be a spreadsheet or even just a note in your phone.

Whether you need to travel for the holidays, or are planning to host family at home, getting on to booking travel early can help to cut costs.

Sometimes fares booked early are cheaper, or you might coordinate with others to carpool or travel at cheaper times.

For those hosting at home, you may be able to keep an eye out for specials on items you want for your celebration and purchase them over a period of weeks, rather than all in one last-minute shopping frenzy.

Smart gifting

Great gifts don’t have to be expensive. Your recipients may value meaningful presents over lavish displays of expense. Sometimes homemade gifts can have the most impact.

If you have family or friends who share your goal of keeping spending under control, you might be able to save money with a Secret Santa system where you each buy for only one other person.

If you have skills that others might value, you could offer those rather than a present. Some parents value a babysitting voucher most of all!

Avoid debt

You’ll thank yourself if you head into the new year without a debt hangover. If possible, aim not to cover your Christmas expenses by using debt.

Keep track of your ‘buy now pay later’ purchases and check that you can afford to make all the repayments. Many people try not to put more on their credit cards than they can afford to clear in a month, to benefit from the interest-free period and potential rewards, without the cost.

Take stock

The end of the year may be an appropriate time to have a look at your finances more generally.

Have your bills been what you expected over the year? Are there ways you could save heading into 2026? Are you on track for your savings goals?

You could use some of your time off work over the summer to work on a new budget for the new year, and maybe set some goals or resolutions for the coming 12 months.

If you share finances with a partner or family, you might see if you can get them involved, too, both to keep you accountable and get everyone working in the same direction.

We are here to help

At SHARE, our expert team of financial advisers can help you work out your financial strategy and get a plan in place to help you reach your goals. Whether you need advice on insurance, help with a home loan or some guidance for your investments, one of our expert team will be able to assist, leaving you free to get on with enjoying what the holidays has to offer.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.