Phew, it’s been a roller-coaster of a year with an extraordinary General Election just when most of us are trying to get our heads around Christmas shopping and finishing off work for the holidays. Thank goodness we are finally at Christmas and at least a couple of days of quiet!

So, now that the results of the election are clear and the MPs have even started deliberating in Parliament, for the moment we have a bit more political – and therefore economic – certainty in the country. But it’s not going to last. There are too many unknowns coming up: Might there be a hard Brexit? Will Scotland and Northern Ireland leave the Union? Will we be able to make those famous trade deals with countries around the world that we’ve been promised? Those are just a few of them.

So although I’m expecting some robust business activity next year, at least for a while, I think we should all run our finances ‘defensively’ over the next twelve months. Don’t assume the money is going to be rolling in through the year.

What does ‘defensively’ mean?

Nothing complicated. It’s basically doing what you’ve been doing (or know you ought to be doing) day by day. It’s doing things like…

1. Setting up standing orders from your current account to go out at the beginning of the month into at least one savings account to build up a savings safety net. This is money you do not touch unless things go pear-shaped and you can’t earn. It will stop you having to borrow to keep yourself going.
    
2. Thinking long-term rather than short-term – cutting back on some unnecessary spending now in order to invest and create big money for the future. There’s a lot about this way of thinking in the book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ which is worth a read if you’d like to get rich!
    
3. Using up as much as you can of what you already have rather than going out and buying more. This means doing things like keeping away from fast fashion, which is as harmful to the planet as it is to your wallet, and only buying food you know will get eaten rather than being thrown away. If we don’t waste, the planet won’t want. Find out more ways to get rich by using things up here.
    
4. Sharing. I keep saying it but it’s true: the only way we are going to prosper personally and countrywide is if we share more. Get into ride-sharing, house-swapping, sharing food with neighbours that you don’t need, swapping clothes, sharing childcare and more. It makes sense. The more we share and swap, the less, individually, we have to buy. We’ve got more ways to save by sharing and generally being green here.

And on that theme, let’s make 2020 the year when we all look after at least one more person than usual. If we all did that – even just one extra person to think about – can you imagine how great the country would feel?

It doesn’t have to be a burden, either. It could just involve popping in on a lonely neighbour once a week, ringing up an elderly relative for a chat, giving food and clothes (in an unobtrusive way) to a family that needs them, for example.

I always think this when it comes to Christmas and I see so many people on my Christmas list that I haven’t been in contact with all year. It’s daft. Everyone needs a bit of help here and there, even if it’s a phone call to show they’re thinking of you. 

So I’m off to make some phone calls I should have made months ago, but I’ll see you in the new year. Stay in touch J

Have a great break!

Love Jasmine x

P.S. Don't forget to enter our Christmas competitions! You can already win a Gourmet Gin Hamper worth £47.99 and a Trussardi Donna Gift Set worth £89.99, and there are plenty more on the way.

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