21 minute read
Christmas on a budget
2 Ho ho hold on to your pennies
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Well, here we are hurtling towards the festive season in the midst of a cost of living crisis – but don’t despair. Shire is here to make sure it’s a Christmas to remember for all the right reasons
1. Get crafty on page 62
Christmas is practically upon us. And Christmas is always the 2. Go eco on page 61 one time of the year when we spend, spend, spend. But with the way things have been – and look set to continue, for a while at 3. And most of all, have fun! 3 least – we can’t let the festive season run away with us and our budgets this year. This is not the year to splash out on designer decorations “One in five Brits admitted or pay over the odds for a prestige pud. The Bank of England website tells us that a to spending more than they typical household in the UK spends just over could afford on presents £2,500 in a month. In the run-up to Christmas those spending habits change: we spend on and paraphernalia” average almost £740 more in December, 29 per cent more than in a typical month. Some of these costs are hard to avoid, and if we’ve been carefully planning for them all year round, we shouldn’t have to give up on all our Christmas treats, but others are often a complete waste of money. GOING UP & UP & UP
This year costs have increased in almost every area of our lives, and for most of us, wages have not kept up. Little wonder we’re starting to feel the pinch. Inflation rates mean those Christmas extras could be higher than ever in 2022. Research and statistics experts from www. finder.com have done some analysis (warning – you might find this alarming) and predict that the cost of Christmas could hit a hefty £1,130 per household this year. This is made up of an average spend on presents of £621 and £509 on everything else such as decorations and food. Overall the UK is expected to spend around £25 billion on gifts!
The same researchers found that many people admit to overspending at this time of year, with one in five Brits admitting to spending more than they can afford on presents and Christmas paraphernalia but keeping it a secret. This is never a good idea and could lead to getting into debt when families and partners are not fully aware of how budgets are being spent. But the survey also found a few festive secrets that might be worth keeping, as they help keep costs down. They say 15 per cent of people have gifted something pre-owned claiming it was new, and 13 per cent lied about being busy to avoid visiting or hosting people.
These are just a couple of (rather drastic) examples of how you can avoid the unnecessary costs of Christmas – but we know there are plenty you simply can’t avoid. Over the next few pages we’ve spoken to experts and local businesses who have some great ideas on how to survive the season without a huge bill to settle in January, whether it is eating better for less, spending wisely, cutting costs where you can or simply saying no to extravagant extras. DID YOU KNOW? In Greenland it’s traditional on Christmas night that the men look after the women, serving their food and coffee and stirring the meal for them (Psst, pass it on!).
NUMBER CRUNCHING
16 The average number of gifts a child in the UK receives 10m The number of turkeys eaten in Britain at Christmastime 7,000 The number of calories the average Brit consumes on Christmas Day 6m The number of rolls of sticky tape we buy in the run-up to Christmas (imagine all that plastic!) 270,000 The tonnes of food wasted and thrown away over Christmas 25% The amount of our Christmas shopping time that will be spent queueing £5bn The amount we spend in Britain on unwanted Christmas gifts
Do your sums, you know it makes sense!
ere are so many sources of sound advice out there, but we’ve singled out three experts whose judgement we really value to share realistic ways to save money this Christmas. (You’ll meet them over the page…)
DID YOU KNOW? In Polish homes, during Advent and sometimes also on Christmas Eve, people pour melted beeswax onto water and create stories from the shapes that it makes. Why not try for yourself?
It’s tricky to know how to approach the subject of Christmas spending in a way that won’t bring on the blues. But if you can adopt some, if not all of our trusty panel’s advice, you should be able to enjoy the season without leaving yourself in debt.
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SET A STRICT BUDGET
KS: Set an amount for each person you’re buying for and don’t go beyond that. It can be particularly hard where kids are concerned. We all know that feeling when you’ve wrapped the presents and worry that one child ‘doesn’t have enough’. If you’ve stuck to your budget, they’ve all had the same. ML: Don’t plan the perfect Christmas – first work out what you can afford. Do your sums and ask: “What can I afford to spend?” Christmas is one day – don’t ruin the whole of the next year for it. SA: Yes, set a realistic budget. It’s easy to feel the temptation to plan a perfect Christmas straight out of glossy magazines. But this is the quickest way to burn through your cash and end up stressed.
LIMIT THE GIFTS
ML: Consider not giving this Christmas. We’re not talking about gifts from parents or grandparents, but the ever-widening circle of friends, extended family and colleagues. Christmas isn’t a retail festival – we need to put an end to obliged giving and think about what we’re giving, to whom and why. You could always make a No Unnecessary Present Pact (NUPP) with friends, or at least agree to a Secret Santa or a £5 cap on gifts. KS: Secret Santa is perfect between adult family members, work colleagues and friendship circles. Rather than buying for everyone individually, set an agreed budget and buy for one person only. SA: Of course you want to buy for those closest to you: your children, partner, parents or grandparents. But the list of people that we feel obliged to buy for seems to get longer every Christmas. At a time when finances have been stretched to their limit for many, the best gift you could give might be the removal of that obligation.
MAKE THE MOST OF DEALS
KS: If you’ve got your eye on a certain toy, perfume or gadget for someone, use an app like Pricerunner or Idealo to set price alerts – they’ll notify you when the price drops. Then google a promo code. ML: We found Google Shopping is the most consistent at finding the cheapest price. Make a list of who you need to buy for and whenever you see goods at decent prices, grab, wrap, and stuff ‘em in a Christmas cupboard. SA: Always use comparison sites to find the best bargains. Save yourself time and money when you’re buying Christmas gifts by finding the best deals and cheapest products.
1. More fun than vouchers? 2. Set a cap for group gifts 3. Shop around online first
DID YOU KNOW? In areas of Greece a version of fi rst-footing at New Year involves breaking open a pomegranate at the door of a house. The seeds are scattered, symbolising good fortune – the more seeds the better.
MAKE SOME EXTRA PENNIES
KS: Side hustle extra money! You still have time. List old toys for sale to make room for new ones. ML: If a few quid more in the Christmas fund would really help, flogging via eBay’s a good way to start. Facebook has been snapping at eBay’s heels as the place to get rid of unwanted stuff though. The best part is that sales are often instant, so you’ll have the money a lot quicker than you will through eBay, plus you don’t have to send items in the post unless you want to. SA: Cutting down on your expenditure is one way to raise funds for Christmas, but you could also try to earn money by selling things you don’t use at home. Vinted is popular for unwanted clothes.
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1. Give preloved toys a home 2. Don’t miss the post 3. Remember what’s important 4. Old or new, they’ll love it 5. Compare deals before buying
EMBRACE SECONDHAND
KS: Secondhand doesn’t mean lesser quality - you can find unopened gift sets, brand new perfumes, unwanted jewellery, clothes with tags, unopened toys etc on online selling platforms. And if you’re buying for young children, they literally will not know the difference between used and new.
SA: Items for sale on eBay and Facebook often come with a ‘collection only’ policy. This cuts down the number of people who are interested in buying them and also removes postage costs, so there are some good bargains to be found.
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CASHBACK AND BONUSES KS: Get cashback! Whether that’s via topcashback, airtime rewards or a cashback current account. Every penny counts. ML: With cashback sites, you sign up for free, then click through them to buy something. They get paid for sending traffic and give some of this to you, netting some £100s a year. Never let the cashback dictate where you
“Unless you have spend, though. Focus on the cheapest deal, then see if cashback’s available. to, don’t borrow for SA: Cashback sites can be a great way to add
Christmas…” a few extra pounds to your Christmas budget. It’s important to check the terms carefully though, because you may find that your purchase only counts if you haven’t visited the site before. If so, be sure to clear the cache on your PC before you click through to place your order. ML: Unless you have to, don’t borrow for Christmas… but if you must, get a 0 per cent card and remember that cashback credit cards pay you every time you spend on them, so you can get cashback on every gift you buy. You grab the card, set up a direct debit to repay in full every month so it’s interest-free and, to boost the gain, use it for all spending.
TRAVEL SAVVY
ML: If you’re visiting friends and family, book train tickets in advance. Rail operators generally launch tickets 10-12 weeks before the date of travel and cheap tickets vanish quickly, but you can sign up online to get a free alert when your tickets go on sale.
SHELVE THE SNOBBERY
ML: With an “It’s Christmas! We need the best!” battle cry, everyone raids the supermarket shelves. But don’t be a retail snob. Taste with your tongue, not by looking at the packaging. And buy what’s right for you, not the shop.
SA: It’s easy to be seduced by Christmas advertising, and think that you have to buy the luxury version of everything from chocolate biscuits to celebratory fizz. But quite often the own-brand goods are just as good, if not better. So give some cheaper alternatives a try and you may be pleasantly surprised. After all, the important thing is sitting down with your loved ones to share a meal, not whether the fizz in your glass is cava or Champagne.
MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE
ML: Christmas shopping on impulse is dangerous, so make an old-fashioned shopping list and stick to it. Remember, shops spend a fortune on targeting your spending impulses – a list helps you beat them. Even if you’re shopping on the high street, remember to benchmark the prices using shopbots first. SA: List-making is one of your biggest friends when it comes to present shopping on a budget. Do the same when it comes to
food and drink shopping as well. Plan every item right down to the last cranberry, to have the best chance of sticking to your budget.
PERFECT THE POSTING
ML: Sort Christmas post early. If using Royal Mail, ensure you send parcels and letters before the last posting date – the cut-off depends on where and how you send your post. Using a discount web courier may cut costs and you may even be able to have goods collected from your home. Do note, though, that a lot of couriers are currently taking longer to deliver than normal. SA: Posting early means you may be able to send cards 2nd class rather than paying extra for 1st class stamps. You’ll also be able to take advantage of slower, and cheaper, parcel services.
MEET OUR PANEL
We scoured the area for those in the know and taken advice from the following panel of financial and lifestyle experts…
KS: Lifestyle blogger Katie Saves – Katie started her blog as a way of documenting how her family survived when she took maternity leave and had to manage with a drastic reduction in household income.
ML: Martin Lewis – the Cheshire-born radio, TV and internet finance sensation is known for his brilliant advice and forthright nature in challenging policymakers when times are tough, and for his ever-popular website moneysavingexpert.com
SA: Sally Akins – owner of lifestyle blog SallyAkins.com who offers advice on Christmas budgeting as well as food and travel, plus all-round hints, tips, and links to businesses in and around her Shropshire home.
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1. Lists, lists, lists… 2. Post early using 2nd class post, or check out online couriers
CITIZEN SAVINGS
Our national network of Citizens Advice Bureaus are key providers of help and guidance and the Shropshire branch is no exception. They suggest three focus areas to make simple changes to how you spend.
Maximise your income
You might be able to increase income by doing things like: • Claiming benefits or government grants • Checking you’re being paid the right wage • Getting help from charities • Renting out a room • Getting child maintenance
Reducing your regular living costs
You might be able to save money by: • Getting a discount on your council tax • Getting a water meter fitted • Switching to a cheaper broadband, TV or phone deal • Getting cheaper travel • Paying for your prescriptions in advance
Budgeting
If you’ve never created or maintained a budget before, it might seem intimidating but it doesn’t need to be. The most successful budgets are simple. A budgeting tool can help you understand what you’re earning and spending, and where you might be able to cut costs.
Shropshire CAB adds: “If you are worried about the rising cost of living, we want to assure you you’re not alone. In Shropshire 14 per cent of households experience food insecurity and 17 per cent are in fuel poverty. Never feel ashamed about reaching out for help when you’re struggling.” ”
Citizens Advice Shropshire offers confidential, free, impartial advice. Anyone can call the free advice line on 0808 278 7894 (Monday-Friday 10am-4pm).
Save mor e th an just mon ey Dr Cath Price from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust shows how you can have an eco-Christmas this year. It’ll cost you less, as well as helping you do your bit for the wildlife in your area.
for glittery paper. Use brown paper for a lovely vintage look, and avoid plastic sticky tape. Look for brown paper tape or get creative with string – or pick a reusable option like a box, bag or cloth.
The same rules go for glittery and shiny Christmas cards. Have a go at making your own (bonus points for recycling last year’s cards!) FOOD
DID YOU KNOW? ‘Sviata Vecheria’ (Holy Supper) is eaten on 6th January in Ukraine. It can’t start until the fi rst star is seen in the sky – so people go outside to watch for it as soon as it starts getting dark in the afternoon!
There are multiple ways you can reduce your carbon footprint this season without skimping on Christmas magic. A more sustainable, greener Christmas will help your purse and help our environment too. Christmas can be a particularly wasteful time. Don’t buy too much, and plan meals so you know how much food you’ll need. Compost your vegetable waste (Shropshire Council collects food waste in the garden waste bin). Try out some vegetarian alternatives to meat.
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CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Almost everyone has a battered box of treasured decorations – make the most of what you have and don’t throw them out unless they’re dangerous! If you want to add something new, think first. Avoid tinsel and glitter, those little bits that end up all over the house are plastic. How about bunting, origami or pinecones? Get the children involved too! When it comes to a tree, buy a pre-loved fake tree or even rent one! These trees are grown in special pots that can be dug up and replanted year after year. Make sure it’s grown sustainably first. If you have a real tree, look after it.
GET CREATIVE FOR NATURE
You could make your very own wreath that’ll feed the birds as well as looking great. Use the same natural bits and bobs to make your own table decorations – holly, ivy, small cones and a bit of red ribbon looks fantastically festive.
PLANET-FRIENDLY GIFTS
Look out for gifts that come with as little packaging as possible, or at least some you can recycle. Why not put together a zero-waste kit? Include things like a portable cup, a biodegradable lunchbox, a shopping bag or wax food wraps. Buy sustainable products, and look for things made from British wool, wood from sustainable sources or organic cotton. Alternatively, make something yourself – a cake or biscuits, or a handicraft. A personal gift is priceless.
Shire’s own Janet from Afonwen Crafts shares her crafty ideas for festive budgeting over the page.
LOOK AFTER THE LIGHTING
Turn off your Christmas lights overnight and when you are out the house to save energy. Are those outside lights really necessary? If you really can’t live without them, solar-powered ones are available. While we’re at it, turn down the heating a notch or two – it gives you a reason to wear that special Christmas jumper!
DITCH THE JUNK
Avoid buying Christmas crackers that contain plastic toys. Instead make your own using toilet roll tubes and reused wrapping paper. You can buy the snaps, and have fun making up dreadful jokes.
WRAP IT UP!
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1. DIY natural bunting 2. Look after your tree 3. Try your hand at a festive wreath 4. Paint cards or even a painting to gift
Make it a happ y on e One obvious way to save some pennies at Christmastime is to make the gifts or decorations yourself. Who better to advise than Shire’s resident craft expert Janet Monshin Dallolio from Afonwen Craft Centre in North Wales
“For me, Christmas isn’t about how expensive the gifts are, or how lavish the lunch, or what party you go to – it’s about how lavish the lunch, or what party you go to – it’s about friends and family. Spending time with loved ones, warm cosy friends and family. Spending time with loved ones, warm cosy evenings, spicy scents from candles and mulled wine, and making evenings, spicy scents from candles and mulled wine, and making that extra effort to catch up with all the special people in your life. that extra effort to catch up with all the special people in your life.
“When I’m buying a gift, it has to be right, I can’t buy just “When I’m buying a gift, it has to be right, I can’t buy just anything and won’t buy something that is anything and won’t buy something that is all about a big box, fancy glitzy wrapping all about a big box, fancy glitzy wrapping and poor contents inside. I like useful and and poor contents inside. I like useful and thoughtful gifts, or something that suits the thoughtful gifts, or something that suits the person just so. But a gift doesn’t have to be person just so. But a gift doesn’t have to be commercial – you could make your own.” commercial – you could make your own.” TAKE YOUR TIME “Gift-making doesn’t have to be expensive – if you spend a little bit of time thinking and researching on the internet you can come up of time thinking and researching on the internet you can come up with some amazing ideas. Maybe change them up a little, add with some amazing ideas. Maybe change them up a little, add your own twist and think about what you can recycle to help your own twist and think about what you can recycle to help with your gifts or decorations. I tend to let my mind go a little with your gifts or decorations. I tend to let my mind go a little wild, but then I have to rein myself in to what’s practical and wild, but then I have to rein myself in to what’s practical and what I actually have time to do. what I actually have time to do.
1. The secret’s in the packaging! 2. Recycle old cards and magazines 3. Nature is your friend, and it’s free!
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“If you spend a bit of time “Homemade chocolate discs are the simplest of gifts or a treat for a gathering thinking and researching on at home. All you need to do is melt the internet you can come up some chocolate and spoon circles onto greaseproof paper – make the discs as big with some amazing ideas” or small as you want, but not too thin. When you’ve done this, top them with any combination you like, maybe roasted nuts and cranberries, or even jelly sweets and sprinkles for the little ones. “You could have a combination of dark, milk and white discs – they look amazing when you put them together. If it’s for a gift, wrap them in clear wrap and tie the ends with some string or coloured ribbon and add a homemade gift tag for the finishing touch. You could even find a suitable old jar to pop your chocolate discs in and decorate that with your string, ribbon, and label. “Sometimes I think a little extra attention on your wrapping goes such a long way. This doesn’t mean expensive. I love to keep last year’s Christmas cards and recycle them into gift tags, just like we did as children. Use plain brown wrapping paper, string or ribbon to finish gifts off.
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DID YOU KNOW? Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, but one piece of music is sung by choirs all over the country – ‘Ode to Joy’ from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, known simply as ‘daiku’ or number nine.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
“You could make an easy body scrub using granulated sugar, coconut oil to blend it (not warmed or the sugar will melt!) and add some essential oils or zest from an orange or lemon – maybe a little fresh rosemary from the garden too. Then it’s back to that packaging again. Recycled jars are brilliant if you want to keep the budget down – just let your imagination go wild when decorating and wrapping the jar.
“You could even make yourself some Christmas decorations or crackers for the Christmas table. Once you get thinking, the options go on and on. Best of all, it doesn’t have to be expensive – but do try to plan ahead. Go for lovely autumn walks and gather pinecones and conker shells, or dried greenery from the hedgerows to make decorations. Start looking at your recycling and keep containers that could be useful so that when you want to be creative you can go for it.
Most of all, don’t stress. It’s meant to be fun. There really is so much inspiration out there when you start looking. Take the pressure off and make a list of what you want to do, or who you want to give gifts to and start planning. Have some fun and make Christmas homemade.”
