By David AMARTEY
Christmas tradition emphasises on values such as generosity, family togetherness and the joy of giving and receiving. In the modern era, while Christmas retains its religious significance for many, it has also become a cultural celebration observed by people of various faiths and backgrounds. Christmas embodies the values of love, compassion and goodwill toward all. The act of gift-giving symbolises selflessness and the joy of giving.
Acts of kindness and generosity are emphasised during the holiday season, promoting a sense of community and caring for one another. The economics of Christmas are significant because Christmas is typically a high-volume selling for goods suppliers around the world.
Sales increase dramatically as people purchase gifts, decorations and supplies to celebrate. Although Christmas brings business opportunities, kindly note that it is also a time to blow our cash away if we do not manage our finances appropriately.
Historically, the holiday season, including Christmas Eve, has resulted in increased activity and volatility in stock markets. However, overall market performance during this period could vary from year to year. The data differs from year to year, but you should always do your research before investing in this period. Constant contact’s study indicates that the holiday season is more vital to small businesses than most shoppers realise.
Half of SMBs say holiday sales account for, at least, 25 percent of their annual revenue; but only one-third of consumers realise the substantial impact their seasonal spending has on these businesses. Christmas stimulates the economy from all facets. The supply and demand of both goods and services increase around Christmas. This is due to the over-consumption and commercialisation of Christmas, oftentimes causing demand to exceed supply. Retail has utilised Christmas to generate additional sales.
For a mindful approach to Christmas spending, I suggest you start by creating a detailed budget with realistic limits for gifts, decorations and meals. Research has revealed that it is key to shop early in order to take advantage of sales and discounts and avoid last-minute splurges. Research and plan activities that embrace the holiday spirit.
Whether it is attending local Christmas markets, participating in festive events or enjoying traditional holiday meals, having a schedule in place would help you make the most of your time and create cherished memories. Make a list of everyone you need to buy presents for, note down their interests and hobbies and try to set a realistic budget. Kindly note that planning for Christmas in July means you have more time equating to less stress.
Try not to build your plans on the hope of a bonus or overtime payment. Only include income that you are absolutely certain you would get before the Christmas holiday. If you could, try to put some money aside for January too, so you have enough to pay your regular bills in the New Year. After the fun of Christmas is over, many of us could be left facing a hefty hill in the new year. It could be hard to avoid using credit to pay for the festive season, but saving in the run-up would help soften the blow in January.
Among the many advantages of saving is the long-term security it provides you. The future is unpredictable, and financial emergencies could crop up anytime. Saving money allows you to create a safety net for your future expenses as well as unplanned financial needs. It is difficult to pay for Christmas out of December’s pay packet alone, so it make sense to save up as much as you could beforehand. The earlier you start saving, the less you need to put aside each month. Even a small amount over a few months could make a big difference.
Many believe that if you have money in your wallet at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s eve, money would keep flowing smoothly throughout the year to come. The midnight kiss is a well known tradition throughout the world. When starting out, set a few financial goals that are doable, like buying something to reward yourself or saving for a vacation.
Then, use your budget as a spending or savings plan to achieve those goals. Make sure to reward yourself for small successes reached throughout the year. You could only achieve this if you plan effectively from the new year till Christmas is approaching. Enjoy yourself, but do not forget to plan for the next Christmas celebration.
This is also a time to dream while ending the year. Dreams and intentions are the beginning of everything, so dare to dream. Self-development and striving is the key to achieving a bright future. If you are confident in yourself, then you would dare to try new things or challenges.
According to some experts, it all comes down to our deepest desires and fears. When we are fixated on something or someone, our sub-conscious mind may create a dream that reflects those feelings; and if that dream happens to align with reality, it could feel like a premonition. But wandering through your thoughts, when it is based on a particular goal, lies the very essence of what future-thinking is all about. You have a goal, you set up a simulation of what it would be like to achieve that goal, you work out probabilities of different things happening along the way.
Dream big, visualise your goals, take breaks when you need them, stop comparing yourself to others, do not be discouraged by small setbacks, and use your community or network appropriately. Dreams may help you learn more about your feelings, beliefs and values. Images and symbols that appear in dreams would have meanings and connections that are specific to each person. People looking to make sense of their dreams should think about what each part of the dreams mean to them as individuals.
As the year is coming to an end, relax and recharge. Believe in yourself, think about what you want to achieve in detail, then picture yourself accomplishing those goals. Do not wait till the new year begins before making new resolutions. The time is now. Break down your dream into small, measurable steps and take action to achieve them. Immediately we enter into the new year, action begins.
This is the time to clarify your dream, set deadline, take committed action daily. Plan for fear, doubt and anxiety to show up; be willing to sacrifice and feel all the negative stuff that goes with it. But kindly remember to always think positive because you are most likely to become how you think.
We all have dreams, but it takes some efforts to come true. Dream actualisation begins when we gather all the resources, ideas, information and allow what is within our heart to emerge into our thinking to where we are visualising our desires. Engage with your team, customers and mentors to get diverse perspectives on what went wrong and how to improve.
Develop a corrective plan based on your analysis, create a plan to address the root causes of the mistakes you made during the year, then institute corrective measures for the new year. This might involve training, changing processes or tweaking your business strategy.
Consider alternative options and take action to address the failure you experienced. Working to correct a mistake rather than dwelling could often help you get motivated and achieve success faster than continually thinking about what went wrong. Take a break and then set new goals.
As soon as you wake up, write down everything you could recall about your dream, aspirations and expectations. Record as many objects, people and locations as possible. Write down the association each detail carries for you and the emotions the dream sparked. Think through and set your goal, then break it down into days or weeks.
Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART). This strategic approach enhances clarity and provides a structured framework for goal accomplishment. Refine your goals using SMART criteria, making them tangible and achievable.
What is realistic for one person may not be realistic for another, but you should still think of realistic goals as something attainable. A realistic goal is one you could achieve, given your skills, time-frame and level of motivation.
You are much more likely to achieve your goals if they are realistic. Realistic goals also help to boost your focus, improve your time management, reduce stress and ramp up your chances of success. If your goals are unrealistic, you are less likely to feel motivated to pursue them.
Go for a goal that is achievable and manageable within your current circumstances. Do not be afraid to adjust your goals as needed. Life is dynamic, and sometimes your priorities or circumstances may change. Use this coming holiday to celebrate your progress, no matter how small, while reviewing your dream plan. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.
