Christmas may well be the most wonderful time of the year but it’s also got to be the most expensive. With the cost of living only heading one way, there are plenty of people looking for a cheaper Christmas this time around.

Even those who are used to going all out at this time of the year are exploring ways to cut back where they can. The problem though is that people worry that a frugal Christmas means a second-rate one. We’re here to show you that’s not the case. Here are 10 ways where you can have a fantastic Christmas without the cost of living spoiling your fun.

💸According to the Bank of England (2020), "a typical UK household spends over £700 more in December compared to other months".⁠ Considering that this year is financially tough on so many families, the pressure to spend money on countless presents, Christmas decorations and mountains of festive food can feel especially difficult.

Inflation is at a 40-year high, the cost of everything is rapidly rising, and households are increasingly worried about the current economic and political environment. So how do we best navigate the cost of living crisis?

We live in a day and age whereby everyone posts their amazing, glamorous lives on social media, and we can start to feel like our lives pale in comparison. Of course, people exaggerate and portray themselves in the best possible light. However, it can still make us feel like we’re missing out.

💸One in six UK women will experience economic abuse, which exists in 95% of domestic abuse cases.

And this is worsening for victims since the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

On today’s episode, I speak to Marisa Bate, a freelance journalist, author and commentator on feminist issues. She covers stories that impact the lives of women. Marisa is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, and today we discuss how to recognise economic abuse, where to find help and the long term impact on survivors.

Thank you! Make sure you visit the Money Matters page for recording of the talks and main takeaways!

And we can’t wait to see you next year!

Welcome to Money Matters. Before we start I have one rule for you: today, I want you to set an intention for yourself about money and share it with someone in the room before we say goodbye tonight. We gave you these friendship bracelets as a reminder of this. Enjoy our day because MONEY MATTERS.

💸 Our relationship with money is emotional. It can trigger a range of emotions, from fear, and excitement to guilt or shame. In this talk, we will explore how we can see money as a tool, build a purpose and make our way towards financial independence.

Vicky Spratt is a journalist and author of Tenants. Her 2016 campaign ‘Make Renting Fair’ led to letting fees in England and Wales being banned. In this talk, Vicky explains why the British dream of homeownership has faded and the social consequences. But she’s also fighting for radical steps to give everyone the chance of ownership.

💸 There are many challenges when it comes to managing finances as women. We’ll try to understand what the current economy is like, and what can be changed. From pension to wealth gaps, to the structural issues and what women are tirelessly doing to try to and change the game.

Aja Barber is interviewed by Meera Kumar, our The Wallet podcast producer. Aja holding those in power to account by campaigning for a sustainable, inclusive fashion industry that doesn’t exploit workers and our planet.

💸 The cost of living crisis is impacting everyone's wallets, our income is not growing, and many households feel the pressure. So how do we continue to fund our lifestyle, pay for our essentials and also build our future funds? How do we balance personal and work life, whether that’s running a business, freelancing or being an employee? Where can we find support?

💸 Anna has been advocating for flexible working since 2015 with her campaign 'Flex Appeal', and has a goal to make it the norm. Emilie talks to Anna about the journey, how to become an activist, what she would ask our new PM and what her manifesto is all about.

💸 Investing helps us grow our savings, build wealth, and support projects we believe in. But the gender wage gap and other barriers often put women at an investing disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. We also have a £15 billion gender investment gap in the UK. I strongly believe that we can change these stats.

💸 What is it about self-promotion that feels so awkward for so many of us? Why are we sometimes scared to self-promote in the workplace or with our clients? How can we ask for more? How can we be more of our own cheerleader?

🎃 Let’s face it: one of the most common reasons we hear about why someone isn’t investing is because it all seems a bit ‘scary’.On top of it all, the market has been quite frightening to watch in recent months, even the most seasoned investor would get the creeps! So what can we do about this fear?

On today’s episode, we unpack some of the freakiest financial jargon and the key issues that tend to scare new investors.

We live in a day and age whereby everyone posts their amazing, glamorous lives on social media, and we can start to feel like our lives pale in comparison. Of course, people exaggerate and portray themselves in the best possible light. However, it can still make us feel like we’re missing out.

It’s easy to fall into the rat race mentality, and we’re programmed to think that the more we work, the more money we’ll earn. Today, we answer Anna’s question on the relationship between work and financial independence.