Who can resist a Christmas theme this time of year? While this episode of The Fat Wallet Show is technically about what happens to ETFs when there is a share event, Simon and I spend quite a bit of time trying to navigate the tricky landscape of gifting.

If you’re not very careful, Christmas can become be fraught with crushed expectations and financial ruin. In addition to the gifts for family, friends, colleagues and Christmas party gifting rituals, there is the dreaded Christmas lunch. The turkey stuffed with chicken stuffed with rabbit stuffed with a smaller rabbit is not going to pay for itself.

I’ve found myself emotionally exhausted and financially tapped out by the time the new year rolls around more than once. If a more meaningful life resulted from all that drama, it might have been worth it. Unfortunately, I am yet to come out of a holiday season a better human being.

I’ve realised that automatic opt-in events like Christmas can be murder on the finances. We tend to do what we think is expected and then struggle for months to regain financial equilibrium. This year, I am doing things differently. If the season ends in fraught relationships anyway, I might as well save money on the gifts. And I’m the nice one about this.

This is our last episode of the year. We’ve been surprised and humbled by your support over the past 29 weeks. Being able to admit my ignorance, learn, swear and crack terrible jokes with my friend and have other people be excited about it has been the true gift of 2016. Thank you. And thank you again.

Kris

P.S. If you want to give the gift that keeps on giving this year, please review us on iTunes (if you have something sweet to say).