Let me guess. You told yourself you’d be disciplined this year, right? Then December showed up with concerts, weddings, random hangouts, Abuja runs, beach trips, and that one friend who keeps saying, pull up, it will be fun.
That’s how Detty December gets people. One minute you’re sipping cold malt in your office, the next you’re calculating transport from Lekki to Festac at 11 PM and wondering why life is like this.
TL,DR
- Detty December is sweet, but your wallet must survive.
- Mix premium enjoyment with budget friendly plans.
- Know your limits: money, energy, and friendship tolerance.
1. Start With Your December Personality (Know Yourself First)
Every December comes with characters. Some people are Out Every Day. Some are Selective Vibes Only. Some are Homebody Until 24th Then They Disappear.
Figure out who you want to be early. It saves money, stress, and unnecessary wahala.
If you say yes to every invite, December will finish your future. Pick your lane before your lane picks you.
2. Create a Two Week Enjoyment Budget (So You Don’t Regret Your Life in January)
I’ve seen too many people enter January looking like unpaid extras in a Nollywood film.
A simple trick: break your December money into two buckets.
- Experiences you really want.
- Experiences you can enjoy for cheap or free.
You’d be shocked how far your money goes when you stop buying 8 bottles for strangers you don’t know.
3. Build Your Core Detty December Calendar (The Non Negotiables)
Write down the things you genuinely want to attend. Not what your friends want. Not what will look fine on Instagram.
For most young Nigerians the calendar looks like this:
- One big concert or festival.
- One wedding or owambe.
- One beach or outdoor vibe.
- One chilled day with food and friends.
Once those dates are set, it becomes easier to say no when someone invites you to a Thursday morning brunch in Lekki.
4. Add the Sweet, Low Budget Vibes (Balance is key)
Enjoyment does not always mean loud events or overpriced tables.
Some of the best December moments are the relaxed ones: long walks with a friend, suya night, game night, cheap movies, small road trips, karaoke in that one random spot that looks sketchy but has vibes.
These moments keep your social battery steady and your bank account alive.
5. Set Your Friendship Boundaries Early (This Saves Peace of Mind)
December friendships can be stressful. Someone will drag you to the mainland at 9 PM. Another person will cancel last minute. Someone will borrow money with that classic line: I will send it tomorrow morning.
Set rules.
Tell people what you can afford, the areas you are willing to reach, and your cut off time for going out.
If not, December will turn into customer service work.
6. Plan Your Transport Like a Mastermind (Because Lagos Will Test You)
Transport is where money disappears quietly.
If you’re outside a lot, plan your movement around:
- Carpooling with responsible friends.
- Knowing your last bus or safe route home.
- Having at least two reliable e-hailing apps.
Moving smart is not about being stingy. It is about reaching January with sense.
7. Give Yourself One Unplanned Fun Day (The Best Stories Come From This)
Leave one day open for vibes. No plan. No pressure. Just see where your day leads.
Sometimes the most memorable December moments are the ones you didn’t schedule. Someone randomly calls you, you step out for one small thing, and suddenly you’re laughing till your stomach hurts. That is the magic.
8. Wrap It Up With a Mini Reset (So January Doesn’t Humble You)
Take one or two days before work resumes to rest. Clean your room. Check your account balance with courage. Review your goals.
Ending December with sense makes the whole month feel worth it.
The Takeaway
Detty December is not about doing everything. It is about doing the right things, with the right people, at the right price, and still stepping into January with your dignity intact. If you plan it well, you’ll enjoy fully and still wake up in the new year with peace in your chest and small money in your account. Let that be your real Detty December glow up.