Man magazine’s editor submits, for your consideration, the thinking man’s guide to a great festive season.

Let’s get this straight, I’ve had plenty of mindless festive seasons to arrive at a destination such as this piece. So I write with equal measures of humility and authority. 

I mean, I’ve done it all: Spent all my money in one evening (and had nothing but a headache to remember it by), been drawn into going to some impossibly expensive places I could not afford because my (richer) friends were going, spent small amounts at a myriad of different places only to realise I have depleted my savings when it’s too late, credit-carded an entire festive season and made it next year’s problem. Alles. 

I want you to learn from my errors. Here’s how… 

Draw up a budget 
Some of you may have earned a 13th cheque or a bonus, while others will have to rely on their standard earnings. Whatever your circumstances, a budget will be your primary protection against overspending. Start by listing the things you really want to do, whether that’s treating yourself to dinner at a world-class restaurant, or an experience that you’ve been dying to try for some time. From there, establish how much of your budget remains, and start to allocate it to socialising at restaurants, bars, nightclubs or the cost of what you bring to braais with friends. 

Go out with cash 
When you’re going out to socialise, leave your debit and credit cards at home and take only the cash you’ve budgeted for the event. It will save you from getting swept away in the fun and from cringing when you see the texts from the bank the next day.  

Prioritise your experiences over parties 
I’m well past the point of waking up with a hangover and trying to navigate through the day with a two-year-old demon armed with sandpaper and a hammer living inside my head. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for making these types of memories with a dope group of friends, but I’d much rather have the memory of a great experience lingering in the wake of that experience. 

Learn to say ‘No thanks’ 
Okay, ‘FOMO’ is a real affliction, but if it doesn’t fit in your budget, it’s fine to say ‘Guys, I’m out for this one’, and then to resist the protests that might follow. Keeping up with the Joneses will obliterate your budget. They aren’t going to bail you out early January when the debit orders bounce.

Factor in rest days   
Ever arrived at work after the festive season feeling like you need another holiday? I’ve been there. It’s terrible. The season is about having fun and recharging the batteries depleted over a gruelling work year. Plan to get a decent bit of rest. Failure will see you mentally limping into the new work year.