Save More this Christmas

Christmas is a time of celebration. You eat, drink and be merry, but that can mean spending a little extra in the winter months. However, that isn’t the only thing we spend more on…

Believe it or not, in the UK we use almost £66 million of electricity on Christmas day alone – that’s 402Gwhs of electricity. That’s enough electricity to light the Eiffel Tower for 50 years!

Not only is it energy we’re consuming more of at Christmas time, on average we create 30% more waste than we do for the rest of the year.

So, there are plenty of things we can do, big or small, to save on your bills and have a more sustainable Christmas.

Recycling and Food Waste How can you reduce waste this Christmas?

  • Utilise your leftovers
  • Recycle Christmas crackers
  • Fix and reuse broken fairy lights
  • Try eco-friendly wrapping paper alternatives
  • Buy vouchers or gift cards as gifts
  • Remove plastic bows and ribbons (to reuse) before recycling wrapping paper
  • Compost peelings and leftover veggies

Energy Saving

LED Fairy Lights: When it comes to Christmas lights, research shows that incandescent bulbs can cost up to 83% more than LEDs. Upgrading to LEDs could save you money and will give you an impressive 25,000 hours of festive glow.

Turn Down the Thermostat: The ideal temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees, and the general principle is that for every degree you turn your heating down, you could save around £80 a year.

Layer Up: Before heading to the thermostat, pop on another layer to warm up.

Keep Oven Door Shut: Try to keep your oven doors shut when cooking Christmas dinner, the heat will escape meaning your oven has to work harder to maintain the temperature.

Turn off Plugs: Chances are you might have several electrical items plugged in and on stand-by currently and they use more power than you think. You could save £35 a year just by turning things off at the wall.

Energy Efficient Appliances: Thinking of buying a new household appliance in the January sales? Make sure you choose an energy efficient model and look for the energy rating sticker - aim for A+++ rating.

Affordable Gift Guide

Giving gifts to family and friends this Christmas doesn’t need to cost the earth. You hear it time and time again, but it’s the thought that counts! It’s all about quality over quantity.

Try these Tips:

• Make your own wrapping paper: Newspaper, cloth or handmade print on paper

• Recycle Christmas Cards: Make your own small tags with card

• Plan gifts and budgets in advance: Set yourself the challenge of staying in budget

Make Your Own Gift Sets

Making your own gift sets is a fantastic way of saving some pennies rather than buying pre-made. Bundle up a couple of items and make something your friends and family will love and remember!

Here’s a few ideas:

Smores Gift Set What you need:

• 1 bag marshmallows • 1 packet of digestive biscuits • 1 bar of chocolate • Ribbon or small basket (to gift in)

Pamper Night Gift Set What you need:

• 1 sheet mask • 1 bag of bath salts • 1 box of chamomile tea • 1 scented candle • Ribbon or small basket (to gift in)

Hot Chocolate Gift Set What you need:

• 1 pot of instant hot chocolate • 1 carton long life milk • 1 bag of mini marshmallows • Festive mug (optional) • Ribbon or small basket (to gift in)