Last-minute planning can be energy sapping, especially with just hours to Christmas Day. This is coupled by pressure to travel, buy gifts, shop and plan parties. 

Monitoring Christmas spending and sticking to a budget is something everyone should consider this festive season, given the prevailing hard economic times.

Here are a few tips on how to enjoy Christmas without breaking the bank.

Have a financial plan: Waithaka Gatumia, CEO of financial advisory firm Centonomy, says you should make a plan before making spending decisions.“For example, instead of going to expensive shopping malls and restaurants, plan a picnic in a public park,” he says.

He adds that one should always accept fliers and coupons, which give discounts and buy-one-get-one-free deals during this Christmas season.

Fill tank

Make a feast without overspending: Chef Rubia, who is passionate about food, says that you should always plan what to cook before heading for shopping. Also, he proposes that you confirm whether you have some ingredients in the house so that you don’t spend money on the same. 

Rubia advocates the use of left-over food before preparing fresh meals.

Save on fuel and unnecessary trips: Brent Muema the founder of ‘Parts R US’, an online accessories and spare parts shop,says the first way to save on fuel is to carpool. He adds that you should always fill your tank. “The further you are from Nairobi, the higher the fuel prices,” he says.

Give homemade gifts: Showing up at a party with a costly bottle of wine might seem like the perfect gift but giving something homemade can still show your gratitude and enable you to save money during the holidays. Cookies, cakes and other baked goodies can be a fantastic option.