How to keep Christmas budget friendly

By Matthew Currington, Technical Director of The Lighting Superstore

With the typical UK household normally spending an extra £800 in December, this year Christmas is going to be slightly different. Following the ongoing global pandemic, around 11 million UK adults feel unable to spend as much on Christmas this year.

So whether you disagree with spending so much around Christmas or you have to stick to a budget this year, e-retailer The Lighting Superstore has put together a list of purse-friendly ideas to ensure you can stay festive this Christmas without breaking the bank.

New traditions

Use the pandemic to your advantage and create some new traditions this year. The build-up to Christmas is usually the most exciting part, so start sprinkling a bit of Christmas magic early on.

With limited public Christmas activities, create your own like, driving after dark to admire the houses that have gone all out with Christmas decorations to create your own personal ‘winter lights trail’.

Alternative camping

With vacations limited this year, create an alternative by ‘camping’ out in the living room under the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree.

Set up a makeshift camp with a make-shift fire using a decorative incandescent fire glow lamp, rugs, cushions and stuffed animals. Complete the experience by roasting marshmallows or s’mores.

Best of all, you’re keeping warm inside and can use your own toilet.

Keep it green

Britain throws out around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper over the Christmas period. Not only is wrapping paper expensive, some of the designs are unrecyclable, so most likely ending up in landfill.

So to help avoid adding to the mass Christmas waste, try and use an alternative. From re-using gift bags and baskets to reusable fabric and old newspapers. Add some dried orange slices, or bits of greenery like tree trimmings for a rustic embellishment.

Deal breaker

Although Black Friday has passed, most brands and supermarkets continue offering discounts in the run up to Christmas, so make sure to keep an eye out for those.

Also, in recent years many retailers kick off their ‘Boxing Day’ and ‘January Sales’ earlier than expected. However, if you can wait, sales get a boost post-Christmas and sometimes again mid-January.

Making an entrance

One of the most simple and cost effective Christmas decorations is wrapping your front door with ribbon. You can save money on how much ribbon is used by measuring to the top of the door and securing in place.

For added flourish, place a floral wreath on top for a beautiful touch. But, if the budget doesn’t stretch, simply tie the ribbon into a statement bow.

Branch out

If you’re a creative type, a unique and low cost way of adding the wow factor to your festive décor, is hanging a lightweight fallen branch for free and drape with natural foliage and a few lights to create a rustic centrepiece.

Make sure to secure the branch properly, as the branch does need to be suspended from the ceiling and nothing ruins Christmas dinner quite like a fallen branch.

Going crackers

This year, instead of purchasing your crackers, why don’t you try your hand at making them.

To save on budget and waste, simple place a small treat and a joke inside a cardboard roll, wrap crepe or fabric scraps around, then tie the ends with ribbon.

You could even get the kids involved and keep them busy for a few hours.

Feelin’ fruity

Christmas tree decorations don’t get much more cost effective than oven-dried fruits. Clementines are a Christmas classic and are ideal to dry and attach to the tree.

Not only are they purse-friendly, they add a splash of warm colour and rich fragrance around your home.

Multiple cuts around the outside will be sufficient enough to allow the fruit to dry out quicker and emit more of the sweet fragrance. Simply thread string through the top to fashion a loop for hanging on the three, wreath or garland.