You told yourself you’d behave this December. You even said it out loud. “I’m not overspending this year. I’m saving. I will be disciplined.”
You might have set a budget in a spreadsheet or your notes app with confidence and holy determination. You probably even mapped out what you would and wouldn’t spend on. But December has a way of humbling even the most organised person. Prices were high, transport was unpredictable, every outing came with one unexpected cost, and the festive “outside” energy was louder than your self-control. Before you knew it, the money you were protecting so tightly started evaporating one small payment at a time.
And that’s the thing about Detty December. It’s fun, it’s chaotic, and it pulls you in without warning. Even if you created a holiday spending plan and followed it for the most part, unexpected costs pile up quickly. A brunch here, a last-minute gift there, one surge-priced ride, one “let’s just enter somewhere briefly,” and suddenly your account balance is giving…silence.
So now you’re here: the holidays are over, January is stretching into 60 days, and you’re feeling panicky, guilty, and annoyed with yourself. Don’t, Seriously. You are not starting the year with self-blame energy. Overspending happens to responsible people, including the best of us. What matters now is recovery. So let’s rebuild things in a way that is realistic and kind, not dramatic and miserable.
1. Start by facing the numbers (yes, it’s painful, I’m sorry)
The first step to getting back on track is clarity. Open your banking apps. Look at your balance. Check any pending charges. Write down what you owe and what’s coming up. This is not about beating yourself up. It’s simply about knowing precisely what you’re working with so you can make a proper plan.
Remember, money anxiety becomes ten times louder when you’re avoiding the whole picture.
2. Return to your normal, everyday budget, not your aspirational one
Forget the hyper-strict budget you wrote when you were feeling financially inspired. Go back to the realistic monthly budget that actually supports your life. The one you normally use. The one that accounts for food, transport, bills, basic enjoyment, and your typical spending pattern. Stability comes from familiarity. Re-ground yourself in a budget that makes sense for your real life, not an idealised version of it.
Read also: Budgeting for the Girl Who Hates Budgeting
3. Create a simple 4 to 6-week recovery plan that won’t make you miserable
This is where you gently guide your finances back to balance. Think small, sustainable adjustments: cut back slightly on eating out, pause a few non-essential subscriptions, delay any big purchases, cook more at home, reduce impulsive Uber trips, and prioritise paying off small debts first. You don’t need a financial detox. You just need a temporary reset that helps your account breathe again.
4. Consider small ways to make extra money this month
Everyone is broke right now. So think smart, not stressful.
You don’t need a side hustle that drains your soul. Sometimes all you need is a slight income boost to close the gap. Think: selling clothes or wigs you don’t use, offering quick services (editing, makeup, hair, design), freelance gigs, digital micro-jobs, or taking on a one-off weekend task. Even a little extra money can significantly speed up the recovery process.
5. Audit what made you overspend so you don’t repeat it next year
You need to reflect on what made you overspend, not to shame yourself but to prepare for next time.
Was it transport? Food? Gifts? Social expectations? Pressure to be outside? Emotional spending? Or simply the reality that everything is expensive? Understanding the triggers helps you make better decisions later, not punish yourself now.
6. Make “January Lite” a thing.
This is where you return to soft living without spending heavily. Choose cheaper hangouts, enjoy staying home more, use what’s already in your pantry, find free fun, and ease your way back into routine. Recovery doesn’t mean you stop enjoying life. It just means you enjoy it more intentionally.
And finally, be kind to yourself.
Overspending is not a character flaw. You’re not irresponsible or unserious. You survived the year, you showed up for the people around you, and you navigated an expensive country during the busiest season of the year. You overspent. It is fine. You are human. And you will recover.
Don’t worry, this year will be everything you ever desired and more. Happy New Year, again.
