The Cost of Celebration: December Expenses, January Consequences

January is a month associated with clarity, it displays clearly the wise or impulsive spending. During December some even go as far as borrowing, to make it lit beyond the new year resolutions , January can also be named “billing month” it’s a period where rents are due for renewal, payment of school fees and other expenses.

Stop allowing December to dictate January for you as an individual or household, instead adopt smarter financial habits. The goal here isn’t to eliminate celebration but to make it enjoyable without the fear of paying emotionally or financially in the new year. It’s also to guide you and help you question every purchase you make whether it’s worth buying or even borrowing for.

I love movies that don’t just entertain but make the audiences aware and educated. From the Movie “Where Love Lives”; We saw two important lessons there:The danger of being unable to support a partner in their challenging seasons and how even seemingly simple things like bags can become valuable assets. This raises a bigger question as a young woman or man, what investment plans do you have for yourself?

Even if you don’t earn that much, Faith teaches us that God multiplies seeds and not emptiness, what matters is taking a step to start by:

1. Investing in yourself: One of the best and greatest investments of a lifetime you can make is in your mind and skills. Prov 24: 3 “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established”. This scripture emphasizes growth, wisdom and excellence as the right foundations you can build on. You can also attend conferences, take courses, join communities that stretch you and show you how possible it is to become the woman you desire to be.

2. Build a debt free and secure life: A powerful woman is one who is financially stable not because of pride but independence allows her to make clear decisions. It’s important to avoid debt plans and if you have one, work on a plan to pay off immediately, learn how money works. A great place to start is by reading books, I recommend “Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu”, it is relatable and educative, it teaches simple finance language

3.Empowerment is your responsibility: Empowering yourself is beyond you, it’s becoming a whole, capable and God backed woman who brings value to her home, workplace and community

“To laugh without fear you must plan without fear” this is what makes you stand out and grow into a Proverbs 31 woman, one who trades, invests, builds and secures her household with insights.

It’s 2026, let’s break the pattern of December spending and January panics. Let’s be women who build, multiply, support not women who panic when bills arrive.

Favour Abubakar

Writer, Giantability Media Network