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The festive season is upon us, a time for joy, celebration, and spending time with loved ones.

However, the allure of overindulging in holiday merrymaking will easily lead to overspending, leaving many financially drained for the new year.

A survey released by Infotrack Research has shown that six in every 10 Kenyans don’t intend to participate in Christmas festivities, with a majority citing financial constraints as the number one reason for shunning an otherwise highly regarded fanfare.

For Kenyans, who face the additional burden of upcoming school fees and other post-holiday expenses, wise spending this Christmas is not just a choice but a necessity.

That underscores the reason the public is deviating from the tradition associated with the Christmas season previously characterised by unending partying, gift exchanges and sumptuous meals.

For town and city residents, the season offers an opportunity to break away from the stress of urban life.

Towards the end of last week, there was a mass exodus of city dwellers, with their vehicles clogging major roads, especially the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, where major traffic snarl-ups were witnessed.

Despite the significant toll on finances that such road trips cause during festive seasons, Kenyans always throw their caution to the wind only to start complaining about how they incurred losses.

Spending large sums of money on transport just to visit friends and family upcountry eats significantly into their yearly income, yet such expenses could be avoided.

The reason is that the arrival of the new year brings with it a myriad of new expenses, including school fees, back-to-school shopping, and potential rent increases, adding further strain to already stretched budgets.

Similarly, January is usually a long month that can be agonising because many people receive their December salaries early, leading to an extended period before the next payday. This can create a financial strain if funds are not managed wisely during the holiday season.

Prudent spending during the festivities is therefore advisable to ensure that people have enough money to cover their essential expenses in January.

Those experiencing financial difficulties can turn to low-cost celebrations by just staying at home and spending within their means.

Merry Christmas to you all.