Every month comes with its usual set of expenses. Subscriptions, auto-renewals, and instalments are part of the routine and usually stay steady through the year. What changes during the festive season is everything layered on top of this. Gifting, travel, outfits, home upgrades, food deliveries, and impulse buys push spending far beyond the normal monthly pattern.

So when the celebrations end, many people realise that the real pressure comes not from routine charges but from the sudden spike that festivals trigger. The season brings joy, but it also brings a noticeable surge in credit usage and short-term spending.

Why this matters now

Payment and credit activity tends to surge during festivals. For example, credit-card spending in October 2024 reached ₹2.02 trillion, marking a ~14.5 % rise from September. That spike in spending is followed by a shift in behavior in November, as households often begin to recalibrate.

The common culprits of financial clutter

1. Subscriptions that stay hidden
Many consumers struggle to track or cancel unused services. Once a subscription renews automatically, it usually continues without drawing attention.

2. Small recurring fees that pile up
Auto-debits for apps, cloud storage, memberships, or wellness plans seem harmless when viewed individually. Together, they add up faster than expected.

3. Instalments and flexible credit cycles
BNPL and EMI options are helpful for spreading payments. During festivals, multiple purchases often overlap, and instalments get concentrated in the following month. If these timings are not aligned with your income cycle, they add to the post-festive load.

A clear and simple wallet check that actually works

1. Pull one month of statements from all cards, bank accounts, UPI apps. Sort by merchant and look for repeated charges.
   
   
2. Flag every recurring charge. Mark subscriptions, auto-pays, cloud services, wellness apps, membership fees.
   
   
3. Include installment/BNPL schedules. Note when payments start, their amounts, and whether multiple are due in the same month. With BNPL expanding rapidly in India (from ~₹363 billion to a projected ~₹3,191 billion by FY 25–26) this has become a mainstream tool.
4. Estimate your monthly leakage. Add recurring amounts. Even small services, say ₹300–₹500/month each, can total thousands annually.
   
   

Simple ways to clean up and recover faster

• Cancel or pause unused subscriptions.
  
  
• Consolidate plans. One bundle may replace three individual services.
  
  
• Use a dedicated payment method for subscriptions and schedule a monthly check-in.
  
  
• Set your BNPL/instalment budget ahead. Use your brand’s tools or budgeting features to ensure instalments align with your inflow—not just your purchase moment.
  
  

A smarter rhythm for the new year

Treat November as a natural pause after the festive spike. It is a moment when energy dips, clarity rises, and financial decisions feel easier. With a lighter, clearer wallet, you move into the coming months with confidence and better control over your cash flow.

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