The festive season is with us once again and as characteristic, most retailers are capitalizing on the season to embark on massive clearance sales.  Prominent among these massive sales pitches on specific Fridays set aside for customers and patrons to purchase goods and services at highly discounted prices, christened ‘’black Friday’’.

Even as we all get immersed in this shopping frenzy, it is crucial that we bear in mind that January and the year 2020 for that matter, beckons and with it comes financial obligations and uncertainties for which provision would have to be made for.  Below are a few points to set us thinking.

• ITF Investments for your kids: January mark the start on a new school term and with it comes the need to pay tuition fees, feeding fees, books for the term and even for some parents clearing of outstanding balances owed by their wards. Bearing all these in mind, it would be a good time to put some money down in the form of ‘’in-trust’’ investments for the kids and other dependents such as distant family members who rely on you for support.
• Save for your mortgage deposit, piece of land or building foundation: Rather than taking advantage of black Friday deals from retail outlets, one should look out for similar discounts offered by real estate companies selling either land or landed property.
• Take advantage of the current downtown on the stock market to buy equities: Depending on which side of the glass one looks, the current market downturn provides a very good opportunity for investors to take advantage of falling stock prices to purchase some equities as long term investment

In as much as there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas and the end of the year per se, it must be done meaningfully and prudently. As the saying goes, let us make hay while the sun shines.