It seems that this Christmas will be a bleak one of cost-cutting and financial management for many Brits.
Amidst a global and nationwide energy crisis, rising utility bills and other cost-of-living increases, Brits are having to be extremely financially savvy. With the average family spending an extra £740 in the run-up to Christmas,
Rather than installing Christmas lights, stocking up on pigs in blankets, or spending lavishly on our loved ones… we are instead monitoring room thermostats, shopping out of need and spending the Christmas period with immediate family only.
New consumer research from Worcester Bosch, the leading home heating and hot water manufacturer, has revealed the measures that Brits are taking this Christmas to cut back their spending – with over half (56%) of 2,000 respondents stating that they will be looking to change their lifestyle and spending this festive period to manage their household bills.
Two-thirds worried of costs, whilst others cannot afford to celebrate Christmas
Almost two-thirds are also worried about the cost of the festive period, with 61% stating ‘worry’. One in five (20%) are ‘extremely worried’ about their outgoings, yet in comparison less than one in ten of us (9%) aren’t worried at all.
Over a third (34%) of respondents are only buying the absolute necessities when Christmas shopping, shunning treats and delicacies in favour of ‘must have’ items only, with 15% also planning to share the cooking or hosting duties with others to cut their home energy usage.
Charades and active party games are making an enforced comeback too, with almost one in five (17%) planning to get more active at home this Christmas to avoid needing to increase their room thermostat, whilst the same amount of Brits will also be cutting down individual screen time to cut their electricity bills.
Several respondents also declared they have saved up all year to afford Christmas – some by working longer hours – with others declaring they “cannot afford to do Christmas this year”, such is the dramatic rising cost of bill payments.
Turn off appliances, boilers and electrics for biggest savings
A key energy cost-cutting exercise, two-thirds of us (67%) will be turning our appliances – including televisions, ovens, microwaves and more – off when not at home this Christmas, the most common cost-cutter by those surveyed. Light switches turned off come a close second (64%).
For increased savings, a savvy 52% of Brits will also be turning their heating and hot water system off, whilst one in four (26%) will shut down their electricity at the mains.
All of these actions are proven energy savers. Turning appliances and lights off, instead of leaving on standby, can save you £80 a year, whilst turning your boiler down just one degree can save you £145 in that period – even more if off completely!
Celebrating at home out of necessity
The decision to spend Christmas at home or elsewhere has always been a tough decision. However, whilst the cost of living is at an all-time high, three quarters (73%) of Brits will be staying at home during Christmas Day, and more than half of us (55%) plan to spend the entire Christmas period – including Christmas Eve and Boxing Day – at home this year.
It seems that home is certainly where Christmas Day itself is most spent – but with two-thirds (68%) travelling elsewhere in some capacity and an extra 15% staying at home but wanting to visit family elsewhere, whether a Christmas at home is due to tradition or cost-cutting is unclear…
How you can cut costs this Christmas – Tips from Worcester Bosch
In order to keep your home cosy and your costs low this Christmas, Worcester Bosch has offered various cost-cutting measures that every homeowner can do in minutes.
- The perk of cooking Christmas dinner is that it warms your kitchen too. The Energy Saving Trust states that cooking typically accounts for 14% of electricity usage in UK homes, so to avoid doubling up with your home heating, turn down your thermostat by a degree or two when cooking.
- To stop heat escaping, close curtains at night, and pull furniture away from radiators to help circulate hot air better around your home
- If one is not already installed, consider a smart room thermostat to control your heating output – this can save you up to £80 a year
- To cut costs on your light usage, consider replacing your Christmas tree lights with LED ones. These use nearly 90% less energy than incandescent lights
For more general energy saving tips to help lessen the financial load this Christmas period, you can visit https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/christmas-energy-savingto find out more.
