Puisa Kotha Hunibo? A small but telling moment

A few days ago, at one of our pop-up events, I spoke with someone about what we do at Moneybar. I shared how our budget planner and financial consultations can help manage spending better. It was a simple conversation about being a little more intentional with money.
The person smiled and said, “I’ll try the food and drinks first. If anything is left, I’ll come back.” We both laughed. I didn’t think much of it then. But the more I sat with it, the more it made sense. It reflected, quite honestly, how many of us approach money, especially during festive seasons.
Hornbill festival has just wrapped up, and now we move straight into Christmas and New Year. Our calendars are full. So are our plates, our homes, and often our expenses. As a community, we truly know how to celebrate. We gather, we feast, we eat well, drink well, and make memories. There is nothing wrong with joy. In fact, joy is something worth protecting. But here’s a little observation. . .
For many of us, spending comes first. Saving becomes whatever is left, if anything is left at all. Somewhere along the way, food, drinks, and celebrations have become fixed expenses, while planning feels optional. We are not celebrating too much, but maybe we are planning too little?
This time of the year is also filled with sales and “limited-time offers.” Discounts pull us in, but too often, our shopping is driven by offers instead of actual needs or priorities. A lower price doesn’t always mean better value, especially if it pushes us off balance. What if we flipped the approach? Planned spending doesn’t mean cutting joy. It means planning for joy. Setting priorities early. Creating a simple festival fund across the year. Even something as small as Rs. 500 a month adds up to Rs. 6,000 by December. Rs. 500 feels insignificant monthly, but Rs. 6,000 during Christmas can make a real difference, without stress, borrowing, or regret.
This kind of planning works best when done slowly, monthly, and intentionally, not in a rush when the festival has already arrived.
That’s where platforms like Moneybar come in, not as lectures, but as companions in everyday money decisions. Through simple tools, conversations, and shared experiences, financial planning becomes less intimidating and more relatable.
Festivals will always come. Celebrations will always matter. The question is, can we enjoy them fully, without worrying about what comes after? Because when we plan better, we don’t celebrate less. We celebrate better.
Paweii Kayina
Founder & CEO, Moneybar