If Christmas always seems to end up on a card, or follows you into January, this one's for you. I used to be the person at the bank extending overdrafts at this time of year. This is how I'd pay for Christmas before it arrives, even if you're starting late, and set it up so next Christmas, and every birthday and holiday after it, is already paid for.

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Want the maths done for you? Make the Memories is my holiday and celebration budget planner: your Real Number, every big event in your year on one page, the gift list, the hidden costs, the conversation scripts and the review page → https://mariecowgill.com/0021-planner-podcast

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💛 FREE UK DEBT SUPPORT

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If you're struggling to cover essentials or keep up with repayments, you don't have to figure it out alone—or wait until things get worse.

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StepChange — free debt advice:

https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice.aspx

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MoneyHelper — find free, confidential debt advice:

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debt/debt-advice-locator

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📚 SOURCES

One in five UK adults borrowed to cover Christmas 2025 (YouGov, January 2026):

https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/53851-one-in-five-uk-adults-borrowed-to-cover-christmas-holiday-spending-in-2025

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What makes for a merry Christmas? Kasser & Sheldon (2002), Journal of Happiness Studies 3, 313–329:

https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v3y2002i4p313-329.html

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Still carrying a bit of last Christmas? The system I use for paying off debt → https://youtu.be/sT4KCwi3WA8

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This video shares my personal experience and general information. The right route depends on your circumstances.

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MORE FROM ME

Start here → https://mariecowgill.com/starthere

All free resources → https://mariecowgill.com/resources

The Freedom Playbook → https://mariecowgill.com/playbook

Work with me → https://mariecowgill.com/workwithmarie

Everything else → https://mariecowgill.com/start