British consumers reining in budgets and still have a happy Christmas
As we head into another Christmas during a cost of living crisis, new research from Mintel Retail Insights published today (17 November 2023) reveals that 8% of consumers expect to pay more on credit for Christmas spending this year. And, although 74% of the British public believe that money can’t buy a happy Christmas, 51% say that they will be stricter on their budget during the coming festive season.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published retail figures for Great Britain October 2023 which showed that retail sales fell again in October to their lowest level since February 2021 when widespread lockdown restrictions were in place. Consumers are spending less.
However, whilst there is lots of advice available about how to save money on presents and food this Christmas, we still want to partake in festivities and get into the spirit without getting into debt, especially if we have children.
There are activities and entertainment you can access free or at low cost, with or without children, so that you can get into the Christmas spirit.
@thecomplainingcow How to save money on Christmas activities and festivities. #ChristmasMoney #ChristmasActivities #ChristmasFestivities #SavingMoney #ChristmasBook
15 free and low cost ways to enjoy Christmas activities and soak up the atmosphere
1) Arrange play dates with other families. Take it in turns to go to each other’s houses to play Christmas-themed games and eat together. This helps with the atmosphere, with free entertainment for the kids and each time you are out of the house it is saving energy costs, heating and cooking. When it’s your turn, you would have been in and cooking anyway, so will not be incurring extra energy costs!
2) Look for local cheap and free entertainment: Local carol concerts, entertainment at the shops and Christmas markets can all help with the festive atmosphere for the family. Join local Facebook groups and pages and sign up to the council’s newsletter to keep up to date with local activities.
3) Start family traditions that cost little or nothing. Have Christmas music playing when making a new decoration and adding to your collection every year. Decorate the tree together on the same date, accompied by special home-made drinks and pizza. Make paper chains, lanterns and clay or salt dough ornaments for the tree. You can find many templates for decorations on the Internet.
4) Look for the Christmas star on Christmas Eve. It’s the one that shines the brightest! On a clear night with lots of stars, go with friends or family and the children to look at the stars to see what patterns and shapes you can find.
5) Snuggle up and watch Xmas films as a family/with loved ones/friends with popcorn, biscuits, hot chocolate or wine, etc!
6) Going to a Christmas party in fancy dress or looking for festive clothes? eBay, Depot and charity shops are ideal, as you are unlikely to wear the item more than once. Accessorise and jazz up your outfit with Christmas decorations! Then sell/give on. Or swap with friends and colleagues if someone is the same size as you, giving you two outfits for the price of one!
7) Go to a church carol service. You don’t have to be religious to go to a church service. Taking part in singing with others is an easy and free way of soaking up the atmosphere and meeting with other people.
8) Consider going door-to-door carol singing yourself. Get together with a few friends and cover your local area. People used to love carol singers coming to their homes but you rarely see them nowadays. Contact a local charity and ask them how to collect donations responsibly. Perhaps sing outside a charity shop to raise money for them?
9) Write a Christmas quiz, it could cover Christmas carols, films, food etc. And if you want to play too, download a quiz from the Internet. You can do this in person or online of course.
10) Volunteer. Volunteering can have many obvious benefits to the organisation. It can help the volunteers too. It’s good for mental health, well-being and social life. Volunteers can learn new skills and meet new people. Around Christmas time there will be an uplifting atmosphere in a lot of places where volunteers can offer their time. Try the foodbank, local community groups, Crisis at Christmas etc.
11) Get the children sticking Christmas pictures, doing Christmas word searches, Christmas colouring in etc., with free downloadable activities from the Internet.
12) Design a “Christmas kindness” advent calendar with the children. For each day write down a kind activity to undertake. For example, phoning a grandparent, donating an old toy to charity, doing a chore for someone else, offering to help someone, giving a compliment to someone, etc. This can be a lovely activity as a family to think of ideas and undertake them.
13) Go festive foraging. As well as an activity you can do with children, foraging can bring you free/ very cheap decorations. Get leaves and berries for wreaths and arrangements, such as branches with lots of twigs that can be painted and hung with decorations. Make wreaths by foraging and tying finds together on a grapevine wreath from a hobby store.
14) Organise a party at your house where every guest brings a contribution. This makes for party that costs you no more than feeding the family with one meal. Different people could host on dates throughout December or take turns during the year. Make a list of everything needed so that costs are equally split. More than one person could bring the more expensive items or contribute.
15) Do your own “Christmas Swap Shop”. If you are over a certain age you may remember the Noel Edmonds’ Saturday show on which children around the country swapped toys and games on the telephone and at events. Hold your own event with friends and family where everyone brings games or Christmas decorations, jumpers and other items and see what you can swap. Clothes and games will have a new lease of life at no cost to anyone.
Saving money on Christmas activities on The Complaining Cow Consumer Show on East London Radio.
More help at Christmas
Saving money and your rights at Christmas various posts about how you can save money on different aspects of Christmas, Black Friday the sales and your consumer rights.
Ways to save money various posts on how to save money on shopping and services.
456 Ways to Save Money on Christmas Throughout the Year
and via Amazon UK.
