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A debt-free New Year: how to plan a budget and avoid unnecessary expenses on holidays
With the onset of the winter holidays, many are faced with increased costs, especially on the eve of the New Year. Spending on gifts, New Year's table, and home decoration can cause debt in January if you don't plan your budget in advance. To avoid financial problems, it is important to allocate money for the holidays wisely. What measures should be taken to avoid going into negative territory, Izvestia reports.
Calculating the budget and postponing it for January
The first step to successful financial planning is to determine the total amount that can be spent for the New Year. This includes expenses for gifts, a New Year's table, and home decoration.
According to Peter Shcherbachenko, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, it is important to allocate not only the amount for the holidays in advance, but also to leave funds for January.
— It is necessary to set aside 20-30% of the salary in order to cover the mandatory expenses for groceries and utilities in January, — the expert emphasizes.
This step will provide a financial safety cushion and allow you to safely survive the month until your next paycheck.
How to save money on the New Year's table
The New Year's table is one of the largest items of expenditure for the holidays. In December 2025, the ORO agency conducted a survey among 1,000 respondents from large cities between the ages of 18 and 65. The results showed that expenses increased the most among single households — from 9,106 to 13,669 rubles, and in families without children — from 12,627 to 18,118 rubles. On average, young people spend more than the older generation on New Year's Eve — about 24 thousand rubles. The largest expenses were recorded in the Central District.
In order not to spend too much, you can use several savings methods. Petr Shcherbachenko recommends organizing joint cooking with the guests.
— If relatives or friends gather, you can arrange for everyone to bring one dish. This will reduce overall costs, create an atmosphere of joint participation and allow everyone to demonstrate their culinary skills," says the expert.
How to save on gifts
Gifts are another item of expenditure for the New Year, which can significantly affect the overall budget. To avoid overspending, it is recommended to use the "Secret Santa" method, which will help significantly reduce the cost of gifts.
— Participants determine the amount they can spend on a gift, then a draw is held. This allows you to reduce costs, because everyone buys a gift for only one person," explained Peter Shcherbachenko.
You can also use identical gift packages, which will help save money.
How to avoid impulse purchases
To avoid impulsive spending, the expert advises making a shopping list with limits on each product.
— If you really like the product, postpone its purchase for -2 days. If you still want to buy it after this time, then you really need it," advised Peter Shcherbachenko.
In addition, you should not use a loan for New Year's purchases, as this may lead to unforeseen expenses in the future.
— Buying on credit for the New Year holidays is not the best option, as the joy of gifts will be overshadowed by the need to pay the loan and interest, — emphasizes the interlocutor of Izvestia.
Price comparison and discount usage
Another way to save money is to buy discounted products. The expert recommends that you closely monitor promotions in stores and compare product prices.
— It is better to buy an item with a 20-30% discount than to get a 10% cashback. Compare prices in online and offline stores to find the best deals," he concludes.
Budget allocation for the New Year
Once the overall budget is determined, it is important to properly allocate it between different categories of expenses. Petr Shcherbachenko suggests the following distribution:
— gifts: up to 40% of all expenses;
— products for the New Year's table: up to 30%;
— decor: 15%;
— unforeseen expenses: 15%.
These proportions can be adjusted depending on priorities, but it is important to keep a balance so as not to overspend funds in one category.
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