The commentators, Caesar Kondowe and Wonderful Mkhutche said as many are likely to get their early December salaries, the recent 44 percent Kwacha devaluation should always remind the citizenry that there is a surge in the cost of living.

Meanwhile, peeping around some shops, leisure and recreation places, it is evident that the festive mood has been activated.

This festive hype will reach the climax soon after most workers have received their early December salaries as some will go on holidays and partying.

However, Kondowe said this time people need to be wise to avoid hard life from January 2024.

"People should avoid unnecessary shopping and traveling, bearing in mind that soon they will need to buy food, farm inputs and pay school fees for their children," he said.

On his part, Mkhutche also shared the advice, adding it is clear that 2024 will have a hard beginning due to the effects of 44 percent Kwacha devaluation.

World over, some people celebrate Christmas on 25 December as a Jesus' birthday and New year on January 1, and unwise spending has always been attributed to recurrent difficult life in every January.

Last week, Centre for Social Concern documented that a 44 percent kwacha devaluation has increased the average cost of living by nine percent in urban and peri urban areas with Blantyre being the most expensive city in November where cost of living was at K505,427 from K461,421 in October.

This was seconded by Zomba city where dwellers spent at least K455, 451 from K401, 274 representing a 13.5% increase