Festive cheer today, financial fear tomorrow—don’t let holiday spending steal your January peace. It is safe to say 'celebrate smart!' because joy doesn't have to come with a price tag of debt.
It's no hush-hush that Filipinos start celebrating Christmas as early as September! Christmas carols linger in the air as the wind shifts to Amihan. The 'ber' months are not only a prelude to the country's love for Christmas but also the season of endless sales. From malls blaring "70% off" signs to e-commerce platforms holding flash sales like 12.12, the Filipino Christmas spirit seems to have a twin obsession: shopping.
Christmas sales are as much a tradition as simbang gabi, and they’ve become a staple of the Filipino holiday experience. They provide a chance to put an ‘x’ on everyone’s checklist—from hoarding gifts to buying Noche Buena packages. Filipinos grin widely as expensive items on regular days somehow magically drop prices. It’s safe to say these sales stimulate the economy, but at what cost to individual households?
While most pockets are blessed with bonuses like the 13th-month pay and cash incentives, the spending frenzy often leads to overspending. A report from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reveals that over half of Filipino households lack savings—a situation that becomes even more precarious during holidays. Filipinos tend to overspend to meet the expectations of such a festive season—the raising brow from Tita Marites and the family’s yearly comparison yap, only to face January burdened by debts and financial strain.
No doubt, Filipinos have gift-giving as their love language; this act is deep-rooted, as many would equate love and thoughtfulness to the grandeur of gifts. We are a society longing for appreciation and driven by pride. As many ‘nakakaangat’ or breadwinners of the family bear the responsibility of carrying the party and giving ‘impressive’ gifts, and the pressure to give becomes too much, we also become a society with increasing debt. This crosses out probably everyone’s resolution of ‘new year, no debt’ and makes holidays synonymous with stress.
However, need holidays always turn into excess and indulgence? Can one experience Christmas without a financial hangover? The key lies in a transition from holiday rush to holiday hush—the latter where conscious control of one's purse rules over the craze for consumerism.
Gone should be the days we spent so much on Tita Marites’ crude comments. One’s list should be cutting off impulsive purchases. The Filipino spirit and Bayanihan go beyond materialism. Aren’t filled stomachs worth more than filled stockings? Aren’t healthy finances worth thousands more than one unhealthy gathering? Why should the holidays be worth long receipts and long-filled tables? Rather than gift-giving extravaganzas, why not pause and reflect? Christmas should capture the very spirit of Christmas-togetherness, compassion, and joy—not enslave us of financial problems. Let us redefine Christmas for Filipinos; let it be smarter decisions, controlled spending, and welcoming the New Year in good health, especially financial health. After all, the best gifts come from the heart—not the wallet.
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