Celebrate now, stress less later: smart spending tips for the festive season

While South African households enjoyed more readily available cash in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, the reality of rising living costs means a thoughtful approach to budgeting is still essential. And, as the festive season draws near, South Africans are approaching holiday spending with a bit more caution than in previous years.

More customers are planning their purchases with an eye on the months ahead, rather than spending in the moment: It’s about celebrating the season without creating a financial hangover in January.

Here are Hyde’s top tips for navigating the festive season’s additional financial considerations:

Be practical with experiences: While holidays are a time for fun and spontaneity, preparation goes a long way to maintaining good financial management. Decide beforehand what you can spend on dining out or excursions, and stick to it. If your accommodation is self-catering, plan meals ahead of time and look for deals on groceries – just like you would if you were cooking at home. And always take just-in-case items, like first-aid supplies, with you to avoid unnecessary spending while you’re away.

Plan travel and transport wisely: We introduced Intercape online in the second half of this year, and November saw over 1,200 South Africans splitting their long-distance travel into more manageable repayments. It shows that being able to plan and manage payments enables holidays that might otherwise not have been possible. PayJustNow data also shows that consumers are using BNPL options to better manage the cost of car maintenance and tyres, with over 5000 transactions in the automotive category in the month of November, with users spending on average more than R3000 to prepare for the travel season ahead. 

Get school essentials sorted early: Back-to-school expenses can add up quickly, especially when purchasing a year’s worth of stationery, uniforms, and textbooks for multiple-child households. Using longer-term instalment options gives many parents breathing room, reducing immediate pressure on the wallet. Retailers like Ackerman’s are popular with their school uniform basics and stationery, while users often make use of their flexible payment options to spread the load. 

Spread the bigger payments out: For higher-ticket items such as electronics or appliance replacements, consider breaking the cost into smaller chunks. Flexible BNPL solutions let you pay over 3 pay days, interest-free, helping you to get what you need for the long term without sacrificing seasonal treats.

Keep essentials and emergencies in mind: Always prioritise essential purchases like prescription glasses or household repairs, and try to save for unexpected costs. Signing up for a BNPL or flexible payments provider will give you an indication of your spend limit aligned to your affordability, which you can use as a smart safety net. 

The holiday season should be about enjoying moments, not worrying about how you’ll afford them. By planning, focusing on what matters most, and using payment tools responsibly, South Africans can celebrate fully and still step into January prepared and confident. With a little foresight, festive cheer doesn’t have to come with financial stress.

* Hyde is the COO at payment platform PayJustNow.

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