Everything Counts | Episode 37: How to avoid overspending during the festive season

Loading player...
Feeling like your December budget melts faster than an ice cream in the sun?
You’re not alone; even the most disciplined savers lose control when the festive season hits.

In this episode of Everything Counts, Motheo Khoaripe sits down with Investec financial advisor Nirvashni Rajkumar to unpack why we overspend in December, how festive marketing and emotions cloud our judgment, and the practical steps you can take right now to avoid a financial hangover in January.

From understanding the psychology behind “DeZemba,” to making your 13th cheque last, and setting a realistic December budget the whole family can get behind. This conversation is packed with real-world strategies to help you celebrate without regret.

If you want to end the year with clarity, avoid holiday overspending, and start the next one strong, you’re in the right place.

00:00 Introduction
01:30 Why are we prone to overspending during the holiday season?
03:00 How festive marketing drives holiday season spending
04:00 The psychology of holiday spending
06:00 When should we start budgeting for December?
07:00 Planning for holiday season spending isn’t a one-person job
08:15 How your financial advisor can help with your December budget
10:00 How to make your 13th cheque last: Confronting financial vulnerabilities
14:00 Top tips to avoid blowing your December budget
15:00 Setting a realistic December budget
18:00 Teaching children about delayed gratification
19:00 Hacks to getting the most out of your holiday season spending
23:00 How to plan and budget for the year ahead
26:30 How to end the year with financial clarity
27:30 Conclusion
15 Dec 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep103: Precious metals’ dramatic fall

Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, makes sense of a busy few days on financial markets, which saw sharp falls in precious metals prices. Despite the dramatic drop in gold, platinum and silver prices, precious metals prices are back to where they were in early January.
2 Feb 8 min

Art in Focus Series 2 | Ep 2: Women leading the way in art

From discovering and nurturing emerging artists, to building trust-based relationships with collectors, Emma van der Merwe of Everard Read, Shona van der Merwe of RESERVOIR Projects and Anelisa Mangcu of Under the Aegis, discuss the increasing prominence and role of women in the art ecosystem. These three gallerists open up…
28 Jan 40 min

Everything Counts | Episode 40: Debt management for young professionals

Starting your first real job with a decent pay check should feel exciting but what if it mostly feels confusing, stressful and a little scary? If you’ve made money mistakes before, missed payments or taken on debt you didn’t fully understand, you’re not alone… and you’re not out of options…
26 Jan 16 min

Macro Monday ep102 | Are US consumers living beyond their means?

Standing in for Chris Holdsworth this week, investment strategist Osagyefo Mazwai looks at the latest US growth numbers. While GDP growth at a headline level looks robust, it reveals some concerns about personal income, which has been lagging expenditure. The US labour market has also been softening, so while the…
26 Jan 7 min

NOW Ep119: Davos 2026 | Navigating the new disorder

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos offered fewer illusions, and more realism. The rules-based order is no longer assumed. Geopolitics is now embedded in balance sheets. Scale matters. Delivery matters more. In the final episode of our Davos Debrief podcast series, Investec Group Chief Executive Fani Titi argues…
22 Jan 17 min