8 December 2025
By Lyn Oaten, Co-Founder of Delphini
Is it weird that I think Christmas shopping is a bit like running a business in miniature?
You have budgets to juggle, a deadline to meet (the 25th December, obviously), high expectations to manage and a sense that one purchase could land you in problems.
As a business owner, the festive season blends your personal and professional worlds in a way that’s both heart-warming and mildly chaotic.
Every year I find myself advising clients on how to navigate this period without slipping into a financial or operational muddle so here’s my take on how to survive Christmas shopping season with your sanity, your cashflow and your boundaries intact.
Before you load up the boot with gifts, ask yourself a simple question: do you know if you can afford it?
That may sound obvious, but many people guess rather than check and a quick review of your accounts can give you a solid answer.
Look at your expected income for the month, your upcoming bills and anything unusual landing in the bank around this time.
Only then can you get a clear sense of what is safe to spend on presents without creating a January hangover.
Treat this the same way you would any business outlay.
You would not spend on new equipment without checking the bank first, so do not do it with your Christmas list either.
Knowing your numbers removes guilt and guesswork, and it lets you enjoy the shopping rather than worrying you have overdone it.
The next question is about time, not money.
Can you actually afford to step away from the business for a few days?
Whether you can or not is largely a matter of forward planning so look at your workload for the run up to Christmas and the first week of January.
If you know a bottleneck is coming, plan around it now, not on Christmas Eve.
I often tell clients that taking time off is not a luxury, it is a strategic decision and clear communication with clients helps you do it without drama.
Let them know your holiday dates, set expectations about response times and put boundaries in place.
You can even set an out-of-office that gently reminds people you are taking a well-earned break, and that urgent queries will be handled when you return.
Some clients switch off at Christmas, others don’t.
If yours fall into the second camp, you will need to protect your time proactively.
You are allowed to have a holiday without being permanently tethered to your inbox and setting boundaries is not unprofessional, it’s necessary.
My advice is to decide in advance what level of availability feels reasonable.
If you want to check emails once a day, schedule it.
If you want a complete tech detox on the bank holidays, say so.
You train clients how to treat you, and Christmas is often the moment when that lesson either sticks or slips.
Unless you work in hospitality, retail or events, December can be noticeably quiet.
That lull can feel unnerving if you rely on steady trade to keep things running smoothly, but it is also an opportunity.
Use the downtime to catch up on tasks that never make it to the top of the list during busy months.
Review your books, chase overdue invoices, think through your goals for the new year or simply tidy up processes that have gone a bit rogue.
A slowdown is not a failure, it is part of the rhythm of business and the more you accept that ebb and flow, the less anxious you will feel during it.
Many business owners panic about the gap, but strategic planning turns it into breathing space rather than a threat.
This time of year is not just about shopping for the family.
If you have employees, you might be thinking about throwing a Christmas party or giving them a small festive gift.
There are some useful tax rules here that can make your generosity a little more cost-effective, as long as you stay within the limits.
For parties, HMRC allows an annual exemption for staff events.
As long as the event is open to all employees and costs no more than a set amount per head, you can usually claim it as a business expense without creating a taxable benefit for your staff.
It applies to any annual event, not just a Christmas party, but most businesses sensibly save it for December.
For gifts, the trivial benefits rules can come in handy.
If the gift is small, not cash or a cash voucher, not a reward for work and within the monetary limit, it can often be given tax-free.
Think of things like hampers, chocolates or a bottle of something.
Go outside the rules and it becomes taxable, which defeats the whole point of the gesture.
These little allowances are not loopholes, they are designed to encourage you to look after your team.
A well-timed gesture can boost morale far more than its monetary value, and if the tax system supports you in doing it, all the better.
Christmas should not be something you endure while juggling spreadsheets in the background.
It can be a chance to step back, reset and celebrate the wins of the past year.
With a bit of preparation, you can protect both your finances and your time, give your family your attention and return to your business in January with a clearer head.
The festive season will always demand a balancing act from business owners.
But when you understand your numbers, respect your boundaries and embrace the natural pace of December, it becomes a lot easier to enjoy.