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Gaya

You’ve known Christmas was coming since January, but somehow it’s December 18 and you’re suddenly remembering that you need a Christmas outfit, gifts for your family, new shoes, hair, nails, a trip home, something for your office Secret Santa and possibly a gift for a child whose name you don't even know.

Then you check the price. “Wasn't this ₦25,000 last month?”

Yes. It was, but now it's December, and December does not care about your budget. Everything is booked. Everything is more expensive. Everybody is outside. Everybody is travelling. Everybody suddenly needs the same things you need, and you're left wondering why you didn't just buy them when you first thought about them.

So, before December fully starts doing what December does, here are a few things worth sorting out early.

Let's start with the obvious one. If you already know you're going to need something nice for Christmas Day, an end-of-year party, a family event or one of the many outings that will somehow appear between December 15 and January 2, start looking now.

You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe. Just don't wait until the week of Christmas to announce that you have nothing to wear. You know yourself. You will reject everything in your wardrobe, decide you suddenly need a new outfit and then spend three hours scrolling through Instagram boutiques while every seller is posting “LAST SLOTS AVAILABLE.”

Buy the outfit early. Or at least know what you're wearing.

This one is especially important if you're travelling home. There is always that one pair of shoes you have been managing since February. The sole is doing something strange. The strap has become unreliable. But you've been telling yourself, “It can still work.”

Please don't let Christmas be the day you find out it cannot. If you need new shoes, get them early, and if you're buying something specifically for December, wear it before the actual event, because finding out your new shoes are trying to murder your feet while you're already standing at somebody's wedding is not character development.

This is where Christmas money disappears quietly. You start with your parents. Then your siblings. Then your partner. Then your best friend. Then somebody at work says you're doing Secret Santa. Then you remember the children. Then somebody gives you a gift and now you feel morally obligated to give them one too.

Before you know it, you've bought 11 gifts, and you're wondering why your account balance looks offended. Make the list now. Not just the names. The budget too.

You don't have to spend the same amount on everybody, and you definitely don't have to buy an expensive gift for every human being you've interacted with this year.

Nobody remembers this until the gifts are already sitting in their room. Then suddenly you're searching for gift bags on December 24, and because it is December 24, the one shop that still has them is charging ₦3,500 for a bag that was ₦800 in October.

Buy the boring things early. Gift bags. Wrapping paper. Tape. Ribbons. Cards. They're small things, but they are exactly the kind of small things that become unnecessarily annoying when you're already rushing.

If you know you want your hair done before Christmas, please don't enter December with the mindset of, “I'll book when I'm ready.” Ready for what? Everybody else is also getting ready.

December hair appointments disappear fast, especially if you want a particular stylist. And by the time you finally message them, you'll get: “Sorry babe, fully booked.”

Now you're negotiating with somebody's cousin's friend's hairdresser because your original plan has collapsed. Book the appointment.

Same thing. If you're doing the full December maintenance, don't leave everything until December 22.

You don't need to look like you're attending the Met Gala. But if there are things you know you like to get done before the holidays, put them in the calendar and sort them out.

Future You will appreciate not having to spend Christmas Eve moving from one salon to another.

If you're travelling for Christmas, please don't make December the month you start figuring out transportation. Especially if you're going to another city. Know when you're going. Know when you're coming back. Book what needs to be booked, because there is always a point in December when everyone suddenly wants to travel on the exact same day.

The earlier you sort it out, the less likely you are to be making desperate travel decisions two days before Christmas.

This is where people remember they don't have a decent travel bag. Or their power bank has stopped charging. Or they can't find their charger. Or they have somehow been using the same tiny toiletry bag since university. If you're travelling, start checking these things now.

You don't need to pack yet. Just make sure you actually have what you need, because buying a power bank at a motor park because you forgot yours at home is not part of the Christmas budget.

You know that one colleague who will announce Secret Santa at the worst possible time?&nbsp;Don't be that person who receives the name and immediately starts panicking.

If your office, church, friend group or family does Secret Santa, find out the date, budget and who you're buying for. Then buy the thing, and please hide it somewhere you will actually remember.

If you're going home, there will probably be children. You know this. There will be nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours' children, your auntie's friend's children and children you are still trying to figure out how you're related to.

You don't have to buy everyone a PlayStation, but if you know you'll want to give the children something, budget for it now. Small toys, books, clothes, sweets or games can work. Just don't arrive with one gift and suddenly have six children looking at you. That's pressure.

Something to take when you're visiting people

If you're spending Christmas at someone's house, you may want to take something with you. It doesn't have to be extravagant. Maybe it's a bottle of wine. Maybe it's dessert. Maybe it's something for the children. Maybe it's just something you know the host likes.

The point is to decide before you're already on the way, because “I'll buy something on the road” has a funny way of becoming “Ah, sorry, I forgot.”

If you're hosting, start buying the boring things

If people are coming to your house, there are always those random things you don't think about until people have arrived. Enough cups, plates, napkins, drinks, ice, toilet paper, serving spoons, extra chairs, snacks, and somehow, despite having planned the entire Christmas menu, nobody remembered to buy enough onions.

Start stocking up on the non-perishable things early. Your future self will not enjoy running around the neighbourhood on Christmas morning looking for a supermarket that is still open.

This is the one nobody can properly plan for. Someone gets married. Someone is having a birthday. Your friend is back from abroad. Your office wants to go out. Your family has planned a dinner. Someone's child needs a Christmas gift. You see something cute and decide somebody needs it.

You will spend money. That is fine. Just leave room for it, because the fastest way to ruin your Christmas is to spend every kobo of your December budget before December has even properly started.

Most importantly, decide what you're actually spending

Christmas shopping is easier when you know what you're working with. Give yourself a number. Gifts: this much. Travel: this much. Clothes and beauty: this much. Going out: this much. And please leave something for January, because January will come. It doesn't care that you had a good time in December.It will still bring rent, transport, food, bills and that subscription you forgot to cancel.

So yes, enjoy yourself.&nbsp;Buy the outfit. Get your hair done. Buy your mother something nice. Go home if you can. Eat the Christmas food. Take the pictures.&nbsp;Just don't let December convince you that financial irresponsibility is part of the Christmas spirit.

You don't have to become one of those people who finishes Christmas shopping in October.&nbsp;Just deal with the things you already know are coming.

Buy the gifts you can buy now. Book the appointments. Sort out the travel. Check your wardrobe. Replace the shoes that are already dying. Buy the boring supplies. Put some money aside for all the random things December will throw at you.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying December.&nbsp;The goal is simply to avoid reaching December 22, opening your banking app, looking at your balance and thinking: “So how exactly are we going to do Christmas?”

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to wait until December. Here’s what to buy, book and sort out early so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

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