Rob Crump at Printster analyzed the average cost of Christmas, by calculating the most expensive expenses including the cost of dinner, gifts and decorations. Crump also advises on how to keep costs low and how to give gifts that are meaningful yet affordable.
Christmas is known to be an extremely expensive time of year. From spending on food and gifts to home decoration, many people find themselves counting every penny from the arrival of Tet. “Especially after Christmas last year was disappointing for a lot of people, as we weren’t able to spend time with our loved ones, it was assumed that 2021 would be the time to make up for the gap. lost time,” gift expert, Rob Crump from Printer Note.
Below, Crump reveals the average cost of Christmas, including the price of dinner, gifts, and decorations, and offers advice on how to keep costs down without sacrificing quality. Crump also offers personalized alternatives to expensive gift giving.
How much can Christmas holiday organizers expect to spend?
On average, Christmas Day holidaymakers can spend an average of £876.98 on the big day alone, including the cost of Christmas dinners, decorations and gifts. The most expensive part of this is due to gifts, so even guests who don’t contribute to the Christmas dinner could still spend £608.34 on their day. This is broken down into:
Food cost: £33.58 per person, £268.64 based on group of 8.
Unfortunately for the British, many key ingredients for Christmas dinners have increased dramatically, by almost 25%, resulting in a more expensive Christmas dinner. “Almost everything, from potatoes to turkeys, has gone up in price,” Crump notes. “This is due to a variety of issues, including increasing supply chain costs and even raw material shortages over the past few years.
Gift cost: £530.44
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the cost of gift-giving during the Christmas season is one of the biggest contributing factors to financial stress. According to YouGov, the average cost of gift giving in 2020 is £408 and, like most other aspects of Christmas, this cost is set to rise to 30% on 2021 spending, especially after Last Christmas was disappointing for a lot of people.
“In general, consumers are planning to spend more this year, reflecting the number of families that will reunite after a year apart,” explains Crump. “However, you can still have a great Christmas without spending extra money. Start shopping early, ideally in November, and take advantage of the Black Friday sale, as you can find plenty of bargains. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. ”
Decoration cost: £77.90
Research shows the average UK household tends to spend around £77.90 on new decorations in the home. Not only is the cost of the Christmas tree included, but people buying new decorations each season, or possibly new people replacing broken or tired decorations, the costs can be, Crump explains. vary between households.
So for a total of £876.98, how can we reduce costs without compromising on quality? With an estimated 50% of Britons in debt to pay their festive bills, Crump offers the following simple tips to save money and reduce stress during the festive period:
- Stay organized and make a list – an idea that seems obvious, but impulsive spending, especially around Christmas, is easy to do. By making lists of everything you need to buy, from food to gifts and most importantly, sticking to those lists, you can stay within your means.
- Choose a Secret Santa – if you have a lot of people to buy presents, such as an extended family or a large group of friends, suggesting a secret Santa can help keep costs down. “One misconception with Santa’s Secret gifts is that they are not personalized, which is often preferred for corporate settings, but that is not the case,” explains Crump. “Santa’s secret gifts for closer relationships mean less planning, so it can take time to choose the perfect gift. Set a realistic budget, maybe as little as £10, and choose gifts like personalized mugs or personalized photo cushions, with a photo you know your loved one will appreciate. ”
- Cost sharing – One fun idea to help share the burden is to host a hearty Christmas celebration where each guest brings their own dish to contribute to the meal. “A dinner party reduces the work of the host while still allowing guests to bring in dishes they know they like,” explains Crump. “This allocation of food costs not only means less effort for the homeowner, but also less money, as individual dishes can be made relatively cheaply.”
