WEBVTT - The Cost Of Christmas 0:00:01.110 --> 0:00:04.380 Hey, it's Kia and welcome to A Little Bit Richer's very 0:00:04.380 --> 0:00:07.680 own Christmas special. I know, I know it's still November 0:00:07.680 --> 0:00:10.170 and I'm mentioning the C word, but part of the 0:00:10.170 --> 0:00:13.499 secret to a cost- effective Christmas or Hanukkah or just 0:00:13.500 --> 0:00:17.039 December in general is starting to plan early. It can 0:00:17.039 --> 0:00:19.050 be the most expensive month of the year. So how 0:00:19.050 --> 0:00:21.360 do we have a great December while still getting a 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:24.329 little bit richer? With me to unpack it all is 0:00:24.329 --> 0:00:28.319 Megan Micklewright. Megan was recently named Financial Influencer of the 0:00:28.320 --> 0:00:31.619 Year 2023, and is the founder of The Savvy Spender, 0:00:31.830 --> 0:00:38.460 a platform dedicated to financial positivity. Megan, traditionally there's been 0:00:38.460 --> 0:00:40.019 a lot of pressure to spend at this time of 0:00:40.019 --> 0:00:43.409 the year, but we are starting to see people approach 0:00:43.440 --> 0:00:45.418 this differently. How's that? 0:00:45.750 --> 0:00:48.719 I think a lot of people are approaching it differently, 0:00:48.719 --> 0:00:52.409 especially with the cost of living now, being more open 0:00:52.409 --> 0:00:55.740 with their boundaries, setting limits, thinking outside the box, getting 0:00:55.740 --> 0:01:00.390 creative with presents, making things homemade, doing more Secret Santa. 0:01:00.660 --> 0:01:04.438 Instead of buying everybody a gift in the family, they're 0:01:04.440 --> 0:01:08.069 passing it forward to charities instead. I was recently just 0:01:08.069 --> 0:01:11.399 having, well, say recently, earlier, about an hour ago having 0:01:11.400 --> 0:01:14.340 a conversation with someone about how my partner's family is 0:01:14.340 --> 0:01:17.310 so big that they don't end up doing presents because 0:01:17.310 --> 0:01:20.459 it will cost them an absolute fortune. There's about 30, 40 0:01:20.459 --> 0:01:24.420 of them and instead they just do a Secret Santa. 0:01:24.420 --> 0:01:27.360 So instead of one person buying 39 presents, it's one 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:30.390 person buying one present and it's just so much easier 0:01:30.450 --> 0:01:33.300 on the pocket, isn't it, getting creative with the way 0:01:33.300 --> 0:01:36.030 you're doing presents instead of just that generic buy- in 0:01:36.030 --> 0:01:36.780 for everybody? 0:01:37.020 --> 0:01:41.250 Absolutely. I think, especially with me and my friends, I 0:01:41.250 --> 0:01:43.469 think for the past five years we do our own 0:01:43.469 --> 0:01:46.920 separate Christmas celebrations, but we also do Secret Santa because 0:01:47.250 --> 0:01:48.809 I think when we were younger we used to think, " 0:01:48.809 --> 0:01:50.221 Okay, got to buy this person, that person." That list just gets longer and longer. 0:01:50.221 --> 0:01:50.311 The list goes on. 0:01:50.311 --> 0:01:55.890 And the price just keeps increasing. But now we decide, right, we're 0:01:55.890 --> 0:01:58.680 going to do the Secret Santa and you get whoever you get 0:01:59.010 --> 0:02:01.500 and we have a budget, which is very key because 0:02:01.590 --> 0:02:03.839 you never know who's earning what. So we just all 0:02:03.839 --> 0:02:07.140 agree a budget and we all stick to that budget and I think it makes things 0:02:07.170 --> 0:02:10.559 a lot easier and that way you're almost forced to 0:02:10.560 --> 0:02:13.530 think more about the gift that you're giving. Especially we've 0:02:13.530 --> 0:02:15.149 done it where it's only £ 10 pounds is the budget. 0:02:15.330 --> 0:02:16.860 So now I'm thinking about the person I've got, what 0:02:16.860 --> 0:02:19.950 would they love that I can buy for them that is 0:02:19.950 --> 0:02:21.870 within budget or I can make? My friend made me 0:02:21.870 --> 0:02:24.029 a lovely notebook that I still use to this day. 0:02:24.029 --> 0:02:26.820 So I think it really does get you thinking whilst 0:02:26.850 --> 0:02:30.180 also not breaking the bank, which is really important. So 0:02:30.180 --> 0:02:32.099 I want to ask you then, Megan, do you have 0:02:32.099 --> 0:02:36.418 any advice for those who are having a difficult conversations 0:02:36.419 --> 0:02:39.480 with friends and family and if those people may have 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:41.219 different approaches to the holiday season? 0:02:42.119 --> 0:02:44.940 I think that a conversation doesn't have to be difficult unless 0:02:44.940 --> 0:02:48.120 you make it difficult. If you go in and feel 0:02:48.120 --> 0:02:52.020 awkward about it, it's automatically going to be awkward. Tell people, " 0:02:52.020 --> 0:02:54.750 I've only got this much to spend," or, " I don't 0:02:54.750 --> 0:02:56.880 want to spend a lot this Christmas, I've got other 0:02:56.880 --> 0:02:59.759 priorities." At the end of the day, nobody can tell 0:02:59.760 --> 0:03:02.730 you what your priorities should or shouldn't be. So being 0:03:02.730 --> 0:03:05.190 clear about it, make sure everyone is on the same 0:03:05.190 --> 0:03:09.660 page and everyone can respect each other's decisions really. I 0:03:09.660 --> 0:03:13.049 was speaking to somebody the other day about Christmas and 0:03:13.049 --> 0:03:15.659 just saying that even with family members that are very 0:03:15.660 --> 0:03:19.050 traditional in setting their ways, this is how we do 0:03:19.050 --> 0:03:21.780 things, it's good to open their mind up to new 0:03:21.780 --> 0:03:24.150 ways and it's not about saying this is the way 0:03:24.150 --> 0:03:26.040 it's done and that's the way we're doing it this 0:03:26.040 --> 0:03:28.590 year. Have a discussion, what do you want to do? 0:03:28.860 --> 0:03:31.530 What do I want to do? And come into compromises 0:03:31.530 --> 0:03:33.268 and that way you're all happy. 0:03:33.780 --> 0:03:35.459 I love that. I think this has been a running 0:03:35.459 --> 0:03:39.300 theme on the podcast about having conversations. I think that's 0:03:39.300 --> 0:03:42.750 the big thing. We don't always talk about money, so 0:03:42.750 --> 0:03:45.750 sometimes it can feel as though it's hard to tell people, " 0:03:45.750 --> 0:03:47.730 You know what? I haven't got the money this year. 0:03:47.730 --> 0:03:49.320 Or actually, can we change what we do this year?" 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:51.960 But I think, like you said, open, honest conversations and 0:03:51.960 --> 0:03:54.750 it's not as hard as you think it is. It's just as hard as 0:03:54.750 --> 0:03:55.290 you make it. 0:03:55.350 --> 0:03:55.980 Absolutely. 0:03:55.980 --> 0:03:56.641 I love that when you said that. 0:03:56.641 --> 0:03:59.520 I think with the cost of living as well, the 0:03:59.520 --> 0:04:03.240 stigma around money conversations is slowly dying because people that 0:04:03.240 --> 0:04:06.030 never thought they'd be struggling are actually struggling and that's 0:04:06.030 --> 0:04:08.759 where the stigma's being lost because more and more people 0:04:08.759 --> 0:04:11.520 are talking about money, which is brilliant really because there 0:04:11.520 --> 0:04:13.140 should never be a stigma around it. 0:04:13.260 --> 0:04:16.680 Exactly. I completely agree with you. Is there a way 0:04:16.920 --> 0:04:19.260 to have the best of both worlds? So when I 0:04:19.260 --> 0:04:20.639 say that, I mean is there a way to have 0:04:20.639 --> 0:04:24.089 a great Christmas while still sticking to your financial goals? 0:04:24.870 --> 0:04:28.559 100%, absolutely. You can always have the best of both 0:04:28.559 --> 0:04:32.370 worlds when it comes to spending money and Christmas. Make 0:04:32.370 --> 0:04:35.010 sure you've got them budgets in place and stick to 0:04:35.010 --> 0:04:37.500 them. Talk to yourself, write down in your notes, your 0:04:37.500 --> 0:04:40.919 notebook, wherever. What's important to you this Christmas? What do 0:04:40.920 --> 0:04:42.659 you want to tick off? What do you want to 0:04:42.900 --> 0:04:45.120 do? Do you really need to go out to eat once 0:04:45.120 --> 0:04:47.430 a week? Make sure that you're doing what you want 0:04:47.430 --> 0:04:49.529 to do, ticking them off and your money's going to 0:04:49.529 --> 0:04:52.440 the important places. That way you are having the best 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:55.140 of both worlds. And you can also make sure you're 0:04:55.140 --> 0:04:57.779 saving money when you are doing those things. Make sure 0:04:57.779 --> 0:05:00.570 you're using cash back. Make sure you're budgeting for them, 0:05:00.809 --> 0:05:03.420 book in advance, schedule what you're doing so you can 0:05:03.420 --> 0:05:04.740 get the most for your money. 0:05:05.100 --> 0:05:08.820 I love that. And I especially love when you said reviewing how 0:05:08.820 --> 0:05:10.289 you're spending. So do you need to go out and 0:05:10.290 --> 0:05:13.020 eat every week? Because it's something that my friends and 0:05:13.020 --> 0:05:16.200 I have also been fully aware of because I think you 0:05:16.200 --> 0:05:18.779 find when you go to meet people, quite often you 0:05:18.779 --> 0:05:20.849 meet up with friends and then you're going out and 0:05:20.849 --> 0:05:22.920 before you know it you've spent £ 40 on your bill. 0:05:23.400 --> 0:05:25.290 Whereas if you're more aware of it because you want 0:05:25.290 --> 0:05:27.029 to stick to your financial goals, maybe you say, " You 0:05:27.029 --> 0:05:28.050 know what? I want to meet up with you, but 0:05:28.050 --> 0:05:29.339 let's go for a coffee or let's go for a 0:05:29.339 --> 0:05:31.289 walk instead." And I think that's some of the changes 0:05:31.290 --> 0:05:33.029 that a lot of people are making. So it's like 0:05:33.240 --> 0:05:34.980 you don't have to compromise. You can still have, like 0:05:34.980 --> 0:05:37.650 you said, the good Christmas, but we can also still 0:05:37.710 --> 0:05:40.678 100% stick to our financial goals. You don't have to compromise anything. 0:05:40.678 --> 0:05:44.220 Definitely. And when you're going out, you don't always have to 0:05:44.220 --> 0:05:47.400 go to these fancy places. You can go to somewhere 0:05:47.460 --> 0:05:50.820 that's cheap, that's cheerful, it's good for everybody. And if 0:05:50.820 --> 0:05:53.849 people are drinking and you're not or they want to 0:05:53.849 --> 0:05:57.360 have a starter, main, dessert, just open up your separate 0:05:57.360 --> 0:05:59.699 tab. You don't have to split the bill. And it 0:05:59.699 --> 0:06:02.370 doesn't have to be an awkward conversation about splitting the 0:06:02.370 --> 0:06:05.460 bill. Just say, " Look, I'm not drinking today or I'm 0:06:05.460 --> 0:06:07.859 only having a small starter so I'm going to open 0:06:07.860 --> 0:06:09.659 up my own tab." It doesn't have to be a 0:06:09.660 --> 0:06:11.580 big thing at the end of the meal where you're like, " 0:06:11.580 --> 0:06:16.020 Oh, someone's getting out the calculator." That bit that everybody 0:06:16.020 --> 0:06:18.900 dreads. Say at the beginning of the meal, " Right, I'm 0:06:18.900 --> 0:06:20.670 going to open up my own tab because I'm not 0:06:20.670 --> 0:06:24.270 drinking tonight." It doesn't have to be an awkward conversation. 0:06:24.270 --> 0:06:27.059 It can be really easy, really simple, and that's the 0:06:27.059 --> 0:06:28.049 best way to keep it. 0:06:28.170 --> 0:06:31.649 Yep. I'm 100% behind you on that because I'm someone 0:06:31.650 --> 0:06:34.169 very much so sometimes we go out and I'm happy to 0:06:34.199 --> 0:06:37.020 split. Sometimes I'm not hungry and I'll tell my friends 0:06:37.020 --> 0:06:39.000 or whoever I'm with, " Guys, I'm just going to pay 0:06:39.000 --> 0:06:40.710 for my one thing because I'm only getting one thing." 0:06:41.100 --> 0:06:44.070 And I don't feel bad about having that conversation. At least 0:06:44.070 --> 0:06:45.839 people know now, okay, that's how we're going to split 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:47.520 the bill. Kia's not a part of that. So whatever 0:06:47.520 --> 0:06:49.919 I get now, I split between whoever's agreed upon it and 0:06:50.160 --> 0:06:51.238 it makes things easier. 0:06:51.570 --> 0:06:54.599 I went for a meal once and I don't drink and 0:06:54.630 --> 0:06:57.480 everybody was ordering cocktails and it was in a really nice 0:06:57.480 --> 0:07:02.969 restaurant. They were like £ 12 each. And someone ordered lobster, 0:07:03.029 --> 0:07:07.110 which of course is very expensive. And I was thinking, 0:07:07.320 --> 0:07:10.469 I'm not drinking. I had a really cheap main. I am not 0:07:10.469 --> 0:07:12.179 splitting this bill. And I just said, " I'm going to 0:07:12.180 --> 0:07:14.640 open up my own tab because I've had a really 0:07:14.640 --> 0:07:17.160 cheap main, I'm not drinking." It was like fine. And 0:07:17.160 --> 0:07:19.560 I think as long as you keep it simple, don't 0:07:19.560 --> 0:07:22.230 beat around the bush with it. It's absolutely fine, but 0:07:22.230 --> 0:07:24.749 it's about the conversations you're having and the people you're around. 0:07:24.750 --> 0:07:27.240 You don't need to spend loads to have a good time. 0:07:27.330 --> 0:07:29.639 Exactly. I love Christmas. It brings the spirit. You get 0:07:29.639 --> 0:07:30.359 to be with your loved ones. 0:07:30.359 --> 0:07:30.960 That's it. 0:07:31.050 --> 0:07:31.711 My favorite time of the year. Not lying. I love it. 0:07:31.711 --> 0:07:33.541 Get out the games, that's what I love. 0:07:33.541 --> 0:07:35.670 Yeah. I love the games and the food. 0:07:35.940 --> 0:07:36.090 And the food. 0:07:36.091 --> 0:07:38.130 All of that. I'm getting excited now. See, I'm getting 0:07:38.130 --> 0:07:41.009 ahead of myself. Okay, so let's talk about the environment. 0:07:41.429 --> 0:07:44.790 What is the environmental impact of all of this? How 0:07:44.790 --> 0:07:47.640 does pulling back on consumerism help? 0:07:48.359 --> 0:07:51.960 It helps in so many different ways. The sustainability aspect 0:07:51.960 --> 0:07:53.850 of it, the amount of things that end up in 0:07:53.850 --> 0:07:57.389 landfill, the amount of things that end up just cluttering 0:07:57.389 --> 0:08:01.049 your own house without talking about the environmental impact. We 0:08:01.049 --> 0:08:04.289 all end up with so much stuff and we say, " 0:08:04.379 --> 0:08:06.329 We haven't used that," or, " Why did they buy me 0:08:06.360 --> 0:08:08.370 that?" I think we've all got a present where we're like, " 0:08:08.490 --> 0:08:11.130 What am I going to do with this?" And it's being 0:08:11.130 --> 0:08:13.920 more mindful and thoughtful about the things that you're buying 0:08:13.920 --> 0:08:16.469 people as well, like you mentioned. If you've got them 0:08:16.469 --> 0:08:19.950 budgets, thinking about what does that person really want? And 0:08:19.950 --> 0:08:22.770 if we're more mindful about it, then we end up 0:08:22.770 --> 0:08:24.930 buying things that are actually going to be used, which 0:08:24.930 --> 0:08:28.380 has an impact on our wallets, on the environment, on 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:33.059 other people's clutter and decluttering. So it has major impacts 0:08:33.059 --> 0:08:34.500 in so many different areas. 0:08:34.679 --> 0:08:39.059 Absolutely. I think one thing that I also do is 0:08:39.059 --> 0:08:42.960 I ask people, " What is it that you actually want?" Because 0:08:43.350 --> 0:08:45.120 think of how many times, I'm sure you've had it, 0:08:45.120 --> 0:08:47.340 I definitely have had it, where you've received the gift 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:50.280 and you're like, " I cannot stand this. What am I 0:08:50.280 --> 0:08:52.709 going to do with this?" The person didn't even think about 0:08:52.710 --> 0:08:54.089 what this gift is, and now you're probably thinking about 0:08:54.090 --> 0:08:56.520 regifting it or you never use it and it does 0:08:56.520 --> 0:08:58.440 just kind of clutter up. But I think when you 0:08:58.440 --> 0:09:00.210 do have that conversation with someone, I mean it's not 0:09:00.240 --> 0:09:02.340 spoiling it. You can get people to write on a list. You 0:09:02.340 --> 0:09:04.080 can pick from that list, so it's still got an 0:09:04.080 --> 0:09:06.210 air of surprise to it, but then at least you're 0:09:06.210 --> 0:09:09.540 buying something that that person's going to use or value. Let's 0:09:09.540 --> 0:09:15.449 talk about gifting then. Does expensive always mean better or 0:09:15.450 --> 0:09:17.699 are there other approaches that people can take when it 0:09:17.699 --> 0:09:18.749 comes to gift giving? 0:09:19.170 --> 0:09:22.858 Expensive doesn't always mean better. I guess it depends what 0:09:22.860 --> 0:09:26.699 you're buying, but there's so many alternatives out there now. 0:09:27.210 --> 0:09:29.639 There's never just one of one product. There's so many 0:09:29.639 --> 0:09:33.420 different jewelry brands, phone brands, that sort of thing. And 0:09:33.420 --> 0:09:35.429 there's dupes as well out there now. You can always 0:09:35.429 --> 0:09:39.540 get a cheaper alternative. So expensive doesn't always mean better. 0:09:40.170 --> 0:09:42.929 It's different if someone's asked for a specific brand or 0:09:42.929 --> 0:09:46.230 something like that. But always make sure you're shopping around, 0:09:46.260 --> 0:09:49.199 never just take the first price you see because nine 0:09:49.200 --> 0:09:51.509 times out of 10 it's not the best. And making 0:09:51.509 --> 0:09:54.900 sure you're looking for discount codes and that sort of 0:09:54.900 --> 0:09:59.309 stuff, using cashback where possible because if you are making 0:09:59.309 --> 0:10:02.130 an expensive purchase, you can still get some money back 0:10:02.130 --> 0:10:02.669 that way. 0:10:02.849 --> 0:10:06.150 I love that. Cashback, discount codes, all of those things. 0:10:06.509 --> 0:10:09.718 So, Megan, it's Black Friday this week and that's a 0:10:09.719 --> 0:10:12.360 time where some people may be thinking, " I'm going to 0:10:12.630 --> 0:10:16.078 get all of my Christmas presents on that day because 0:10:16.080 --> 0:10:18.510 so many deals coming out." So I want to ask 0:10:18.510 --> 0:10:21.540 you, is it actually a good deal? Should people spend 0:10:21.540 --> 0:10:24.328 their money and use Black Friday as an opportunity or 0:10:24.330 --> 0:10:25.860 should people maybe hold back a bit? 0:10:26.759 --> 0:10:28.889 I don't think you should hold back, but I also 0:10:28.889 --> 0:10:31.170 don't think you should rely on it. You've got to 0:10:31.170 --> 0:10:34.078 remember that these days are put out there for people 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:36.660 to spend. They're not there for people to save. They're 0:10:36.660 --> 0:10:39.660 there for people to spend and it is a good 0:10:39.660 --> 0:10:43.320 day to check deals, but purely to check deals and 0:10:43.320 --> 0:10:46.289 make sure you actually are getting a good deal because 0:10:46.289 --> 0:10:50.640 sometimes the prices are hiked up in the weeks upcoming 0:10:50.880 --> 0:10:54.540 so they can be pulled down on that day and 0:10:54.570 --> 0:10:57.000 actually everyone thinks they're getting a good deal, but it's 0:10:57.000 --> 0:10:59.550 not a good deal. So make sure you are shopping 0:10:59.550 --> 0:11:02.939 around, look and see if you are actually getting a 0:11:02.940 --> 0:11:06.119 good deal. And also remember it's not a saving if 0:11:06.119 --> 0:11:09.330 you didn't need it anyway. You're actually just spending. So 0:11:09.330 --> 0:11:12.510 make sure you stick to your list. Don't just get 0:11:12.510 --> 0:11:15.509 pulled in to all of these good deals and offers 0:11:15.510 --> 0:11:17.759 that you're seeing. Get rid of the triggers if you 0:11:17.759 --> 0:11:22.498 need to, unsubscribe from them emails, unfollow people on Instagram if you need 0:11:22.500 --> 0:11:25.440 to. If you're struggling for money especially and you know 0:11:25.440 --> 0:11:27.809 that you're going to be triggered by Black Friday, get 0:11:27.809 --> 0:11:30.360 rid of any triggers. You don't need to spend if 0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:31.740 there's something that you don't need. 0:11:31.950 --> 0:11:33.899 I absolutely agree with you. When it comes to Black 0:11:33.900 --> 0:11:36.419 Friday, I mean, I very rarely shop on those days 0:11:36.420 --> 0:11:39.149 anyway. Cyber Monday, those kind of days. But when it 0:11:39.150 --> 0:11:41.728 comes to Black Friday or the lead- up to it, 0:11:42.270 --> 0:11:45.030 I use price trackers. So certain websites will have a 0:11:45.030 --> 0:11:48.059 tracker, the big websites, and you can actually say, right, 0:11:48.059 --> 0:11:50.429 I'm looking at this product and it will track the 0:11:50.429 --> 0:11:52.530 price of it. And you can also look at historical 0:11:52.530 --> 0:11:54.300 prices so you can see was it hiked up like 0:11:54.300 --> 0:11:55.679 you said the week before and now it's just come 0:11:55.679 --> 0:11:58.109 back to the original price or is there actually a 0:11:58.109 --> 0:12:00.208 saving if I wanted to buy it? If you get 0:12:00.208 --> 0:12:02.338 into that habit, you can definitely make sure you're getting 0:12:02.400 --> 0:12:06.510 the best price for anything you're buying, 100%. Finally, Megan, 0:12:07.230 --> 0:12:10.020 what three tips do you have for our listeners as 0:12:10.020 --> 0:12:12.330 they look ahead to Christmas to help them get a 0:12:12.330 --> 0:12:13.020 little bit richer. 0:12:13.259 --> 0:12:16.049 I've mentioned it so many times, but the first one 0:12:16.049 --> 0:12:19.708 is definitely being open and honest. Having them conversations with 0:12:19.710 --> 0:12:22.439 people around you. Nobody's going to know unless you tell 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:24.929 them. You've got to be open and honest. The second 0:12:24.929 --> 0:12:27.330 one will be never take that first price you see, 0:12:27.360 --> 0:12:31.169 shop around, make it a habit. Get into the habit 0:12:31.170 --> 0:12:35.069 of looking for cashback, looking for discount codes, having a 0:12:35.070 --> 0:12:37.920 look on even Facebook groups and things like that. And 0:12:37.920 --> 0:12:40.950 the third one is get a little bit creative. Mine 0:12:40.950 --> 0:12:44.670 Nan, for example, she's got everything that she needs, absolutely 0:12:44.670 --> 0:12:47.608 everything that she needs. And I know that whatever I 0:12:47.610 --> 0:12:50.160 buy her, she's not going to use. So I get creative. 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:53.940 I make her hampers. I buy her experiences instead. And 0:12:53.940 --> 0:12:56.280 that can be a lot more thoughtful for the person 0:12:56.280 --> 0:12:58.290 that you're buying for, but also be a bit easier 0:12:58.290 --> 0:12:59.340 on your pocket as well. 0:12:59.460 --> 0:13:02.819 I love that. That is so thoughtful. Yeah, it makes you really 0:13:02.820 --> 0:13:05.520 think about what the person would value. Megan, thank you 0:13:05.520 --> 0:13:07.889 so much. This has been a great episode and really 0:13:07.889 --> 0:13:09.179 gotten us into the Christmas spirit. 0:13:09.240 --> 0:13:10.350 I'm feeling Christmassy. 0:13:10.350 --> 0:13:12.809 I'm feeling Christmassy. I'm ready. I'm ready for Christmas. 0:13:12.809 --> 0:13:14.670 I'm ready to go Christmas shopping now. 0:13:15.030 --> 0:13:16.410 I'm ready for everything. I'm ready to look at the 0:13:16.410 --> 0:13:17.070 food, everything. 0:13:17.070 --> 0:13:18.030 I'm ready for the food. 0:13:18.840 --> 0:13:20.099 We're getting too excited. We're getting too excited. 0:13:20.099 --> 0:13:21.719 Let's not buy presents and let's just buy food. 0:13:21.719 --> 0:13:24.689 Buy food. I'm with you on that, honestly. Thank you 0:13:24.689 --> 0:13:25.348 so much. 0:13:25.349 --> 0:13:25.588 Thank you. 0:13:25.589 --> 0:13:29.578 This has been a great episode. Next week I'm returning to a 0:13:29.580 --> 0:13:32.670 topic we looked at earlier in the series, house buying. 0:13:33.090 --> 0:13:35.520 I want to focus specifically on the cost of buying 0:13:35.520 --> 0:13:38.580 your first home and how to save. And don't worry, 0:13:38.790 --> 0:13:41.670 the words avocado on toast are officially banned. I promise. 0:13:42.179 --> 0:13:44.520 But while you wait, you know the drill, hit follow 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:46.349 and leave a review. Happy Christmas.