Christmas is definately my favorite time of year, as I think it is for many, with it being a great time for giving, spending time with family and friends, celebrating and relaxing.

It’s also a great time for retailers! You won’t go to far without being bombarded with sales, promotions, catalogues, specials and numerous attempts from retail stores to lure you into spending your hard earned money. It is a time when I know that i’m perhaps a little more relaxed with my purse strings and a time that I’m in a very relaxed frame of mind. For this reason, perhaps from past experiences I also know it’s a great time to review that budget and be wary of the obilgations ahead.

There really is nothing worse than January, for one reason heading back to work and the second reason realising that you’ve stretched every available credit option you have out to the max and have a new round of regular bills/payments awaiting!

One of the first things I look at every christmas period is the budget and my current and foward position. That way I know exactly what ‘play’ money I have available. It can also be a great time to think about the home loan, perhaps a nasty monster that drives you to work long hours without much play but also maybe a good freind that provides a roof over your head, saves for future and may one day end up providing for childrens future.

So don’t forget to think about this freind at christmas too!