Pause the gym, cut down on booze and make your bosses pay: surviving silly season on a shoestring

It’s not worth starting 2025 with a financial hangover. Here’s how to save cash without missing out on the fun

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’Tis the season to drain your bank account. The back end of December is an expensive time – and not just because of Christmas Day.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s just food and gifts [you have to budget for]’. It’s not,” says Canna Campbell, a financial planner and author. “It’s travel. It’s babysitters. It’s alcohol. It’s taking a plate. It’s a new outfit. It’s so many other things. It can really add up.”

Topics

Raise a glass: A lot of top-shelf booze is more affordable this holiday season

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