Enjoying a cost-of-living Christmas
Don’t let the festive season leave you out of pocket
CHRISTMAS IS undoubtedly one of the most expensive times of year. It’s the season of spending, and the excitement and anticipation surrounding the festive months could leave you spending more than expected.
With the right planning and these tips, you can avoid spending a fortune over the festive period and start 2022 with a greater sense of control over your financial situation.
Makala Green, the UK’s first Black female chartered financial planner, has put together some
solutions which can help you save money without taking the ‘merry’ out of your Christmas. Four years later this advice is still as timely as ever.
• Make a Christmas budget: List names of everyone who needs a present. If you are struggling financially, try to make this as streamlined as possible.
Your loved ones would much rather you feel comfortable with your financial situation than spend money you don’t have.
It’s okay to be honest about what you can afford. Create a Christmas menu to help work out the food expenses and stick to it!
You can also note other festive miscellaneous costs, such as decorations, wrapping paper, etc. Try setting a budget you do not wish to exceed.
• Prioritise your Christmas purchases: If you have found your Christmas budget will leave you in the red, you may need to prioritise purchases.
• Try to decide what the most important things are to you at Christmas time: What are your essentials? Your Christmas can still be a wonderful time, even if it’s stripped back a little. Perhaps cut down on the alcohol you’d usually buy? Or recycle last year’s Christmas decorations?
• Spend less on your Christmas dinner: You may share the shopping list with family or friends to reduce the expense, or each Christmas dinner attendee could bring a dish or contribute a certain amount of money.
Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love, so asking for a monetary or edible contribution is totally reasonable. Alternatively, you can shop around to source supermarkets with the cheapest costs and best offers.
• Beware of Christmas ‘deals’: As we get closer to Christmas, the sale season begins, but not all
90 Minutes as a Football Parent
As a football parent, you want to see your child grow, both on and off the pitch. But navigating the world of youth football can be challenging, especially with the pressures, expectations, and choices that come with it. 90 Minutes as a Football Parent is here to help you every step of the way.
Written by Carl Dixon, a coach with experience at top UK football academies like Chelsea and Tottenham, this book offers practical advice on how to support your child’s football journey. Whether they dream of turning pro or just want to enjoy the game, Carl gives you the tools to help manage expectations, balance pressure, and ensure the focus stays on enjoyment and growth. Inside, you’ll learn how to
work with coaches, understand regional and cultural influences, and navigate the sometimes-overwhelming world of youth football. With Carl’s expert insights and relatable stories from parents who’ve been there, this book will show you how to be a positive force in your child’s football experience.
The Audience
For Parents: This book offers a first-hand view of the significant challenges faced by many parents who are often forced to learn on the go. It cuts through the “clutter” of competitive youth sports, providing clear insights into demystifying the balance between athletic ambition and well-rounded personal development. Parents will learn to foster a nurturing environment where their child’s talent can thrive without
losing sight of essential life virtues.
For Coaches, Administrators, and Players: This book provides valuable insight into the broader development ecosystem. It champions the idea that “Football isn’t just about developing talent; it’s about nurturing character.”
This perspective helps those involved understand their role in ensuring young players emerge not only as skilled technicians but also as principled individuals ready to face life’s challenges head-on.
items are authentic offers, so be sure to do your research before buying.
• Try to avoid temptations by sticking to your wish list without too much deviation.
Buy gift cards: You can spend excess amounts because you can’t think about what to buy your loved ones.
Try a gift card instead; it may work out cheaper, and you allow them to buy what they really want. The best things always come in small packages!
• Get creative: Christmas doesn’t have to be costly; get creative with presents and try hand-making to save money.
Making soap, pressing flowers and sticking them in a frame, creating a collage of your favourite memories all make for wonderful gifts which will last.
(first published on Voice website Dec, 2021)
Makala Green is the UK’s first Black female chartered financial planner
TRUE MEANING: Christmas is about spending quality time with loved ones, not spending money
Overwhelmed? Here’s how to survive the festive season
Christmas is a busy time with lots of obligations and things to do. But if you plan, you can still make time to enjoy one of the happiest times of year, says Sinai Fleary
CAN YOU believe it is that time again? The festive season is fast approaching and it can be stressful with so much to do and so much happening. So at The Voice, we have put together a few tips on how you can not only survive this festive season, but really thrive this Christmas and have enough time to pamper yourself, too.
1. WRITE THINGS DOWN
First things first, to avoid feeling overwhelmed, get a notebook and a pen and start making all your lists. Write down everything you will need over the holidays and use each page for different categories. Have a gift list, a food list, a card list – and tick them off as you buy them. That way, you will easily see the progress you are making and won’t forget anybody. Create a list of the all-important food ingredients and items you will need for your Christmas dinner – and, of course, don’t forget the drinks! By having lists, it will inspire you to start preparations early and this will save those last-minute dashes to the shops.
2. LET TECHNOLOGY
HELP
We are now living in the technology age, so take advantage of it. There are so many bargains to be found while shopping online. It’s often less stressful, less stressful, as you avoid the big crowds and long queues.
Plus, you can compare prices and save some money on your shopping. So grab your tablet, phone or laptop and shop from the comfort of your sofa – with a glass of Sorrel or egg nog.
3. DECLUTTER AND TIDY UP
Having a good pre-holiday declutter and tidy up can make more space in your home and will help you feel more organised. In addition, the extra space will come in handy for all those parties
and family sleepovers. Plus, you will have somewhere to put all those gifts that will be arriving.
4. MAKE TIME FOR ELDERLY RELATIVES
The past 18 months or so have been tough for everyone. Make sure you set aside some time to check in on vulnerable members of your family. It will do wonders for your mood and will help spread some Christmas cheer.
If you are lucky enough to still have elderly relatives, pay them a visit and do something that they enjoy.
Play dominoes or cards or simply listen to them tell stories about when they were young. Tomorrow isn’t promised, and you will be glad you did. Don’t be afraid to get in the kitchen with them and do some cooking. After all, Grandpa and Grandma always have the best family recipes!
5. STICK TO YOUR BUDGET
Whatever your budget is for spending during the festive season, make sure you stick to it. So many of us overspend at Christmas and start the new year with massive credit card bills, which causes unnecessary stress and arguments. Just imagine how great you will feel in January, when you don’t have to fear the letters from the postman and can begin your new year debt-free.
6.
CHECK YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
The festive season can be a difficult time for so many people. Make sure you check in on those around you who may be struggling with their mental health. Offer a helping hand and a listening ear and let them know they are not alone. Perhaps visit some mental health websites, so you are aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for if you are worried about a loved one. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are struggling, as very often, early intervention can make all the difference to how well someone recovers.
7.
REST
We spend so much time working, studying and looking after our families and friends, we often forget to look after ourselves. Set aside a day during the holidays that is dedicated to just you. On this day, make sure you pamper yourself. Have a long bath, have a nap, bingewatch that TV series series you haven’t had a chance to watch or curl up on the sofa with a good book. Whatever makes you relax, do that on your special day. You deserve it!
8.
AND FINALLY… LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!
It will work wonders for your bank balance and you can begin planning your new year without worrying.
Dance, smile, laugh loud and enjoy cuddles with those you love and take loads of pictures to capture your memories. But most importantly, make sure you have the best festive season ever. The Voice wishes all of our readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.
9 Golden Rules for Online Safety
Here are simple tips from RKY Careers to help you stay protected:
• Never share your PIN, OTP, passwords, card details, or any other personal information.
• Be wary of emails, calls or messages asking you to verify your account.
• Do not click on unknown links.
• Confirm you are on our official websites before making payments.
• Use strong passwords and keep your devices updated.
• Stop any transaction that feels unusual and contact us immediately.
• We will never email you asking for gift cards.
• We will never claim we are stranded or need urgent financial help.
• We will never request your passwords, one-time-password (OTP) or sensitive details.
• Any email from us will always come from our official domains.
Holiday Spending, Holiday Scams Staying Safe This Festive Season
by Rukayat Alabi, CEO, RKY Careers
THE YEAR has come full circle again. Streets are lighting up, the air feels softer, and everyone is preparing for the celebrations that only arrive once every twelve months.
Like many people across the country, you may already be thinking about gifts for the people who carried you through the year.
The festive season brings warmth, generosity, and a familiar rush to make loved ones feel seen.
Unfortunately, it also brings something far less cheerful. Across the UK, fraudsters are preparing for their busiest period.
In 2024, UK Finance reported that fraudsters stole £1.17 billion through both unauthorised and authorised fraud.
Unauthorised fraud refers to criminals making transactions without your consent, often by using stolen card details, and there were more than 3.13 million cases.
Authorised Push Payment fraud, where victims are tricked into transferring money themselves, resulted in £450.7 million in losses, including £144.4 mil-
lion linked to fake investment schemes.
During the last Christmas to New Year period, Santander recorded 596 scams and close to £2 million in losses, many of them triggered by emails or messages pretending to be banks or delivery companies.
This season, scammers rely heavily on fake emails to impersonate trusted organisations, install harmful software, or lure people into paying for fraudulent offers.
Staying safe begins with small habits. Never share your PIN, OTP, passwords, or card details. Be cautious of emails or messages
asking you to verify your account. Use secure websites when paying for anything.
Keep strong passwords and updated devices. If a transaction feels off, pause and contact your bank.
To verify that an email is genuine, open the three dots in the corner of the message, select Show original, and confirm that the sender address is correctly spelled and that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC all show PASS.
If any of these fail, delete the email immediately.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) confirms the sender is using an approved server. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) verifies that the message has not been altered.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) tells email servers how to treat suspicious messages. Together, they help block impersonation and fraud.
Protect yourself this season. If an offer looks too perfect, trust your instincts and walk away. Enjoy the season, but stay alert
A Christmas Message from Gary Phillips at JP Logistics Solutions
I would normally start a Christmas message to you, our customers, by saying what a wonderful year it has been and how thankful I am for your continued support.
However, this year is slightly different. We are aware of the devastating impact of hurricane Melissa. JP Logistics immediately mobilized their expertise and support services during this time of need.
We hope your family has not been hit too hard and has remained safe and secure.
We have committed to shipping containers containing approved critical aid free of charge to support our Jamaica friends and have received vast amounts of aid that we have already shipped to Jamaica.
Our teams in the UK, USA and Jamaica are here to support you and your family and continue to manage these relief efforts.
JPLS have continued to support the wider Caribbean communities across the UK and Europe shipping your personal effects, cars, electrical goods, building products and more during this challenging time.
We are incredibly grateful to you, our loyal customer base, for your continued support, and to the new customers who have joined us this year to enjoy the customer-driven services JPLS offer.
January will see the launch of our new personal effects shipping app. The app will allow you to manage your entire shipping process, providing pricing, updates and tracking information. It is easy to use, powerful and we think you will like it.
We thank you for your continued support (40 years and counting) and look forward to supporting you again next year. Have a great Christmas and we wish you joy and prosperity in 2026.
brixtonvillage.com/christmas-2025
A SOUTH LONDON CHRISTMAS IN BRIXTON VILLAGE
LAUNCHING NOVEMBER 2025
EAT, DRINK, SHOP SMALL – ALL UNDER ONE SPARKLING ROOF
This festive season, Brixton Village is where Christmas comes to life From cosy dinners and late-night cocktails to one-of-a-kind gifts from independent traders, discover a winter wonderland of food, culture, and community in the heart of South London.
WHAT'S ON THIS FESTIVE SEASON
Join us for a season of festive delights, music, magic, and community celebrations. Here’s a little taste...
NOVEMBER 29TH – THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN
ROAMING BRASS BAND
The Brixton Chamber Orchestra’s brass band and carollers will roam the Village, delighting with an acoustic range of Christmas carols and traditional tunes, and offering their own arrangements of Christmas pop classics such as Slade, Mariah Carey, the Pogues, and many more.
WHEN?
6th December 13th December
WHERE?
Roaming Market Row and Granville Arcade
Five festive side hustles to boost your income this christmas
By Vanessa Brown
EVERY YEAR the Caribbean community finds creative ways to keep traditions alive, support one another and celebrate with style. With the cost of living stretching many of us a little thinner, and many still doing a bit extra for family back home after the recent storm, this Christmas is a good moment to use your creativity and earn some additional income. Even small ideas can make a real difference when they are rooted in culture, community and entrepreneurial flair.
Here are five festive and affordable side hustles to help boost your income this season.
1. Bottle Your Own Sorrel
Sorrel is the ultimate Jamaican Christmas drink. Rich in colour and full of ginger, it is inexpensive to make in large batches and ideal for selling in gift-ready bottles. Add extra ginger for winter warmth and people will be asking for more.
2. Bake and Sell Jamaican Rum Cake
Rum cake is a Christmas essential. If you enjoy baking, this is a reliable favourite and a strong money-maker. One large cake can be portioned into smaller servings that are easy to
sell to friends, colleagues or neighbours. Nostalgic and delicious, it always moves quickly.
3. Make Traditional Jamaican Sweets
If baking feels like too much work, try classic Jamaican sweets instead. Coconut drops; grater cake and peanut brittle require only a few ingredients and always bring back childhood memories. These treats sell well at community events, workplaces or through word of mouth.
4. Create Homemade Festive Candles
Nothing sets the Christmas mood like a warm, cosy scent. Making candles is simple and cost-effective. Use soy wax, wicks, and festive fragrances such as cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla. With neat packaging, they become beautiful, giftworthy products.
5. Start a Natural Skincare Mini Line
DIY skincare is booming. Body oils with essential oils, whipped shea and cocoa butter and energising coffee scrubs feel luxurious, cost little to produce and make perfect stocking fillers.
Use simple strategies to help your products sell, including WhatsApp broadcasts, sample sizes, pre-orders, and tidy packaging. When we lean into our talents, we create opportunity, joy, and abundance.
CHRISTMAS
Sip, Shop, Sail, and Create Your Festive Christmas Memories
Festive memories are truly made of magical moments — and this season, Chigwell Tours is inviting you to create yours with an exclusive 10% Black Friday discount across all tours on our website.
From enchanting performances of the Nutcracker to vibrant Christmas markets and festive dining. Our Christmas tours and dining create great memories for all. Shop early, save money and bag in the bargains! Save your money as you bag in the bargains when you shop early!
Step into the spirit of Christmas with our unforgettable seasonal highlights. Enjoy a Magical Night of Christmas Delight at the London Coliseum, complete with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, a glass of prosecco, and the breathtaking architecture of this historic theatre.
Wander through Rochester and the Dickensian Christmas Market, the perfect spot for early Christmas shopping, and delicious hot mulled wine and mince pies as you shop for bargains and that elusive treat for special friends and
families.
Join us for our Victorian time adventure at the Dickensian Christmas Festival and be charmed by characters in Dickens novels. End your bargain hunting day with a magical candle lit snow falling carol singing outside Rochester Cathedral. Great memories are made of this!!
We invite you to raise the bar and join us for festive African cuisine at the elegant Stork Restaurant, Mayfair where you will be served with tantalizing pan African cuisine selected from the best of east, north west and south Africa... Indulge in a luxurious 3-course festive dining where African-inspired flavours meet contemporary elegance — a truly sensory Christmas experience.
There’s even more magic waiting in the new year, including our Spectacular Mother’s Day Blackwater Estuary Barge Sail with Cream Tea. Visit our website today and let Chigwell Tours make this festive season a memorable one.
www.chigwelltours.co.uk
‘Breaking Through Racist Clouds’ 37 Caribbean people talk about ‘how it was for them’ arriving and living in the UK and in the USA. They tell their truths.
• Paperback - £6.99 +PP from https://www.rembvoices.com
Windrush Women of Courage, Stories of Struggle, Resilience and Power’ 4 amazing elders share their life journeys from their island homes into new lives in the strange land of the UK Motherland.
• Paperback - £8.99 +PP from https://www.rembvoices.com
‘British Caribbean Veterans Serving Queen and Country’ This book recognises and celebrates the contribution made by brave Caribbean men and women to the British Armed Forces and therefore to the Monarch and to the country after the 1960s. They are British and are proud of the service they have provided to their country, the United Kingdom.
• Paperback - £10.99 +PP. Hardback - £19.99 from https://www.rembvoices.com
Job Searching During the Christmas Season
JOB SEARCHING over the holidays can feel challenging. However, while the focus of the season is very much on relaxation and merriment, if you are actively job hunting this period can be full of opportunities if you approach it strategically.
Here’s some points to consider:
Use the downtime productively- Ensure that your CV is up to date, optimise your LinkedIn profile, research companies, and prepare for interviews. Stay visible and active - Keep applying and networking while others take breaks. Even if responses are slower, your application will be there when recruiters return.
Less competition - Many candidates pause their search assuming companies aren’t hiring, which means less competition for active opportunities. Companies often have end-of-year budgets to use and new year positions opening in January, so they’re actively planning and sometimes hiring over the Christmas season.
Networking opportunities - Holiday parties, year-end events, industry and alumni events are all fertile ground for finding out about possible job opportunities. As environments are often
more relaxed, people are more open to sharing about roles and provide introduction to contacts that you can follow up at a later time. A timely introduction to a key person is valuable and always helps.
The key to using this time well is to maintain your job search momentum while being realistic about response timelines and any offers. Stay patient but persistent. Many great hires happen because someone kept pushing forward while others waited for January!
Don’t forget to enjoy the holiday season too!!
Denise Meade-Hill, Career Transition Coach is a Registered Career Development Professional with the Career Development Institute and an accredited coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. She specialises in coaching and consultancy to facilitate mid-career change, personal and professional development
Contact: Transitions Career Management and Training Ltd email: info@careertransitionsdmh.co.uk www.careertransitionsdmh.co.uk
15%
OFF MAIN MEALS
Until 22nd December, enjoy 15% off our main meals at the Brixton Farmshop. From 11am–9pm, we’re serving delicious, soul-filled dishes that celebrate Black British heritage and support local communities this Christmas.
SCAN TO GET 15% OFF
