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By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The festivity of December is replaced all too quickly by the due dates of January, when the bills from holiday spending and travel arrive. This kind of financial hangover can make the start of the year a little less joyful, but there are ways to prevent it. “People often go into the holiday season without a plan. They might know who they want to give gifts to, but may not put numbers to it or think of what they want to spend overall, and that’s where people get into trouble,” says Rob Wurzburg, a Chicago, Illinois-based financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, a registered investment adviser. To counteract the tendency to overspend, financial experts recommend the following six strategies: Wurzburg urges people to start planning for holiday spending as soon as possible. Related Articles Business | The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees Business | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people Business | How long does it take to buy a house? Business | Survey: Impulse buys may be ruining some Americans’ finances Business | Growth of sports betting may be linked to financial woes, new studies find “The earlier you start planning, the better. Some people do a yearly budget in January,” he says. While it’s too late for 2024, you can start planning for the 2025 holidays soon. Setting aside money each month for the big end-of-year celebrations can reduce the risk of overspending or turning to debt, he adds. Giving yourself a goal for the amount you want to save in time for the holiday season can help you stay on track, says Tiffany Murray, managing director at the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development, a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Virginia. “Make sure it’s achievable and realistic within your budget,” she says. Then, when you see an item on your list go on sale , you’ll have the money ready to make the purchase, even if it’s well before the start of the holiday shopping season. Starting with the total amount you want to spend for the holidays — perhaps based on those previous savings and inclusive of gifts, travel, meals and any other costs — makes it easier to develop a game plan, says Brian Gawthrop, a certified financial planner in Kirkland, Washington and founder of Five Cedars Financial. “Set a total spending budget before you make the list of people,” he says. Then you can prioritize and cut back on recipients, if needed. “Almost everyone needs to revise the gifting list,” he says, because once you write it out in full, it is often pricier than anticipated. Gawthrop suggests downsizing to more modest gifts or reducing the number of gifts per person. Often, making the gift more personal — such as framing a photo — makes it easier to spend less because it still feels special, he says. Some people might be happy with a card and handwritten note, perhaps paired with a modest charitable contribution. “People want to express their love and how much they care for someone with a gift, and in today’s culture that can feel like a dollar amount translates to how much they care about you,” Gawthrop says. “But I think a heartfelt card and something simple like, ‘I know you like fidgets and found this one,’ or ‘I’m glad I have you in my life,’ can show how much you mean to someone,” he says. Gawthrop adds that recipients might be relieved to know you spent less. “The last thing you want is to have someone open your expensive gift and then they feel awkward because it’s so expensive.” The frenzy of sales and advertising during the holiday season, combined with the strong emotions the season evokes, can easily lead to overspending, Wurzburg says. “Anything you can do to get yourself in a calmer state helps,” he says. Calming techniques can include taking a break from shopping, going for a walk or reviewing your original spending plan. Wurzburg also recommends simply staying home. “Stick with online shopping so you don’t get sucked in,” he says. Using cash to buy gifts helps minimize debt , since financing purchases with credit cards or other forms of debt can be expensive, says Tim Bauer, a CFP and founder of Evergreen Financial Group in Billings, Montana. “It sounds old-fashioned, but if you don’t have it, don’t spend it,” he says, adding that many friends and family would rather not receive a gift than know it caused financial strain. If you need to finance essential purchases, Wurzburg recommends a low- or no-interest method such as buy now, pay later , where shoppers can spread out their purchases over installments. That often means avoiding fees and interest, as long as you make the installment payments on time. Still, he cautions against overcommitting yourself to future installment payments. He suggests scaling back instead. “If you don’t have the funds today, are you hampering yourself in the future by overspending at the holidays?” Connecting with a friend who is also aiming to stick to a budget this season can help keep you on track, Gawthrop says. “Both of you can commit to sticking with your budget,” he says. You can check in with each other and even share what you’re buying. Raising the topic with family members and encouraging everyone to stick with a budget — or the same spending limit per gift — can also help, Bauer says. “People are scared and don’t want to talk about money, but defining how much to spend helps set expectations.” More From NerdWallet Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article 6 Ways to Avoid a Financial Hangover originally appeared on NerdWallet .SWITCH Mobility to redefine urban across India, Europe, GCC with launch of two new low floor electric city buses – EiV12 and E1 Nitin Gadkari officially unveils new line up of SWITCH electric buses for India and world SRINAGAR: SWITCH Mobility Ltd, subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and part of the Hinduja Group, and a leading manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles today unveiled its contemporary electric bus platform SWITCH EiV12 – the low floor electric city bus for the Indian market. It is India’s First Low-Floor City Bus with Chassis-mounted batteries, featuring a scalable battery capacity of over 400+ kWh. The vehicle was launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari Hon’ble Minister for Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, in the presence of Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group Companies (India), other dignitaries, and industry leaders. On the occasion, SWITCH E1, engineered for the European Market, was flagged off virtually. Both these buses share common design philosophies and EV architecture. The purpose-built SWITCH EiV12 platform is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured for urban city commutes, offering global standards in performance, safety, reliability, and comfort. With seating for up to 39 passengers, the SWITCH EiV12 leads its segment, offering maximum revenue potential for operators. Mr Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies (India) observed while launching these vehicles “These buses are a tribute to the PM’s Make in India vision: made in India, for India and the World. Switch Mobility is inspired to launch newer vehicles with cutting-edge technology and zero carbon emissions, only because of the wonderful road infrastructure that is coming up in India, owing to visionaries like Modi Ji and implementers like Gadkari Ji.” Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of SWITCH Mobility, said, “The launch of the SWITCH EiV12 and the flagging off of the SWITCH E1 for Spain is a proud milestone for the Hinduja Group and Ashok Leyland, underscoring our commitment to sustainable mobility. In addition to the EiV12 and E1, SWITCH is developing a range of new products to expand our global offerings. At SWITCH Mobility, we are driving a greener future and advancing our long-term vision to democratize electric mobility worldwide.” Mr. Mahesh Babu, Chief Executive Officer, SWITCH Mobility, said, ” At SWITCH Mobility, we’re excited to unveil two new products for India and Europe, both built on our Global EV architecture. These innovations harness cutting-edge EV technology to deliver superior efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort. Our low-floor electric city bus, designed for optimal energy performance and accessibility, has garnered an overwhelming 1,800 orders—proof of the market’s confidence in SWITCH Mobility’s vision for a sustainable urban transport future.” The India electric city bus market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% by 2030 with an EV penetration of 70%. The total parc for electric city buses is likely to cross 70,000 units by 2030. The SWITCH EiV12 sets a new benchmark in passenger comfort, safety, and technology, reshaping the EV landscape. Its low-floor entry with a kneeling mechanism ensures easy ingress and egress, while the automated wheelchair ramp and dedicated spaces make it accessible for differently abled passengers. Designed with women’s safety in mind, it is equipped with 5 CCTV cameras with no blind spots and includes 5 dedicated seats for women. The expansive panoramic glass area, the largest in its segment, offers superior visibility, naturally lit interiors, and enhanced safety. Powered by SWITCH iON, our proprietary telematics system, the SWITCH EiV12 offers real-time vehicle health monitoring, ITMS and efficient fleet management. Its efficient rear-end dual-gun charging interface not only ensures rapid recharging but also optimizes depot spaces, while an IP67 rated battery lets the bus deal with flooded roads with ease. The SWITCH E1, our latest innovation designed specifically for the European market, showcases cutting-edge engineering with a lightweight monocoque construction, ensuring optimal efficiency and performance. The SWITCH E1 features in-wheel motors and a flat gangway layout throughout the bus, providing seamless movement and accessibility for passengers. With its triple-door configuration (front, center, and rear), the bus offers unmatched convenience for quick boarding and alighting, perfectly suited for urban transit systems. Capable of accommodating up to 93 passengers, including standees, the SWITCH E1 sets a new benchmark in sustainable, passenger-centric public transportation.