Last Updated on Mar 5, 2020 by James W
You may not want to believe it but Christmas isn’t too far away, and before you know it you’ll be celebrating the festivities at home with your closest family and friends. While spending Christmas with your loved ones, will inevitably be a time for festive joy and fun, there are bound to be a few concerns about how you will afford to host and entertain them.
With the cold spell on the horizon, you may be thinking about where to get a new boiler from affordably. If you do decide to invest, don’t forget to add a good boiler insurance plan for additional peace of mind through the winter – or why not look at insuring your existing boiler against any faults which might spoil the festivities? Preparing your home ready for the onslaught of festive visitors is essential if you want to provide a warm home in which they can enjoy their Christmas.
Once your home is prepared you should spare a few minutes thought to how you can keep your bills as low as possible, while still having a cosy Christmas with your loved ones. While websites such as www.britishgas.co.uk can provide some fantastic energy-saving ideas in the home, you won’t see many savings unless everyone jumps on board and, in a home full of family over the holidays, there are plenty of people who will be able to help.
The cost of entertaining guests can easily run away with you if you’re not careful, especially in a season where giving is second nature. If you’re the festive host this year, make sure you incorporate the cost of entertaining your family and friends into your Christmas budget, so that you’re not faced with additional spending that you weren’t expecting. So many people think that a Christmas budget is all about the presents, but it’s not – food and drink should also be included.
Here are some great money-saving tips to help:
- Don’t ditch the leftovers! You’ll undoubtedly make too much food for Christmas lunch but don’t throw away what doesn’t get eaten – you can use it for a scrummy bubble & squeak dish or Boxing Day buffet the day after!
- Encourage guests to turn lights off and switch electrical equipment off when they’re not using them. Extra important if family members have been given gadgets as gifts.
- Just because you have guests staying doesn’t mean you have to crank up the heating. Heat through the guest room but don’t worry too much about other rooms – they won’t want to swelter, and more people means more body heat!
- Opt for a Secret Santa approach when it comes to gift giving, rather than worrying about buying for everyone. This is especially handy when it comes to larger families. Many choose to just buy for the children – either way, try and come to a mutual agreement so that you’re not overspending.
Christmas is all about family get-togethers, but they can be expensive. Make sure that you’re prepared for guests and encourage everyone to keep costs under control.
By Roxanne Wells
