Study reveals the true cost of hosting festive celebrations

There seems to be an increasing pressure for hosts to go above and beyond for their guests when hosting festive events, with a modern culture for comparison taking over. However, there’s a difference between wanting to create an enjoyable atmosphere for guests and placing unnecessarily high expectations on yourself.  

Lucie Levesley, director and hosting expert here at Jackson Woodturners has shared some simple tips on how to host a cosy Christmas without overspending or causing unnecessary stress.

1. Decoration swaps

Brits are set to spend £95 more on decorations this year when compared to 2023. If you are looking for a spend-free way to freshen up your decorations, why not plan a swap party with friends? A bit like a clothes swap, you all bring decorations you would be happy to share and then swap as you please. 

2. Agree on gift spending limits with friends and family

Over a quarter (27%) buy gifts via credit (19% on credit card & 11% via store credit schemes) and whilst credit isn’t always a bad thing, it can lead some to spend beyond their means. Agreeing to gift limits in advance can be a great way to ensure nobody feels pressured to overspend, it can also help narrow down the many options of gifts to buy too.

3. Compromise on home updates

Over a third (39%) of Brits will make home improvements before hosting over the festive period however, these projects don’t always need to be so big. A compromise can always be made that costs less but has a similar transformative effect. Take a hallway renovation for example, a full replacement might be unnecessary, simply replacing spindles or adding new treads could still update your staircase on a smaller budget. 

4. Use budget-splitting apps to share food and drink costs

The average host will spend £182 on food and £129 on drinks alone this year. Whilst planning shopping lists and getting portions right can help, why not agree to split the cost between your guests? You can now get apps to help with this such as Splitwise, where groups can upload expenses and the app automatically splits the bill between those in the group. 

5. Stand by your budgets

This time of year is about who you spend it with, not how extravagant your celebrations are. If there is something you really want to do for your guests and you have the money available, then go for it. However, don’t feel pressured to do anything based on what you’ve seen online or at other’s homes. Ultimately, you are being kind enough to open up your home and spend time hosting your guests, which is more than enough. 

1. Create a schedule and pace yourself

Creating a schedule can help you pace out each task you need to do in preparation and during the celebration. For example, could you prepare some food in advance and put it in the fridge or freezer? Could you get up a little earlier to plan some rest periods into your day? Our survey found that food is planned on average 1 month (31 days) before the day of the event, although one in nine (11%) organised individuals start planning over a month in advance.

2. Make home updates all year round

Over a third (39%) of Brits will make home improvements before hosting over the festive period, but, to ease the stress of squeezing updates into the weeks before Christmas, stagger projects throughout the year. This will mean that festive home updates are less daunting, time-sensitive and you don’t pay over the odds for tradespeople who are booked up at this time of year. 

3. Share the workload

Delegating specific jobs can free up your time and headspace on the day. For example, make one person responsible for topping up drinks on the day so you can focus on the food and another for games and entertainment. 

4. Prepare for things to go wrong

Things like having paper towels handy for spills, a vacuum for mess and a first aid kit nearby for accidents are a good idea for unplanned mishaps. In addition, things like delays when serving dinner can easily happen. To avoid guests’ stomachs rumbling,  have some low-effort emergency snacks in the cupboards. Think of a box of pretzels, a tin of chocolates or grapes which can be left out whilst you finish the preparations. 

5. Suggest a “bring your own” rule

Things like BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) are common but, why restrict this idea to drinks alone? If you are short of furniture, why not try BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair)? Instead of giving yourself yet another hosting task to find enough chairs to seat everybody, place some of the responsibility on guests to bring their own.