Families are set to charge their guests this Christmas as the cost-of living crisis bites, a new study finds. The research commissioned by spread brand FLORA reveals that hosts will ask their friends (43%), parents (25%), and even grandparents (9%) for a financial contribution.
Brits are turning to these measures due to the rise in general inflation and increase in gas and electricity costs. One aspect of Christmas that will see people cutting back on is supermarket costs. Half will switch to cheaper food alternatives and one in three will reduce the number of different food products and ingredients they buy, including Christmas staple foods like Turkey.
Three quarters of Brits are also prepared to banish alcoholic beverages from their Christmas celebrations, in order to combat rising costs. In a bid to save even more, people are also willing to cut down on other traditional festive elements. Almost nine in ten will give up laying the Christmas dinner table with centrepieces and decorations.
Other actions people plan to take as result of the cost-of living crisis include cutting back on presents (41%) and going out: Despite this being the first Christmas in the last few years which hasn’t been heavily impacted by COVID-19 measures, over a quarter (26%) admit they’ll be staying at home more than usual throughout the festive season to save money.
The research also delved into people’s core etiquette beliefs at Christmas in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, with nearly two in five believing that etiquette is about politeness which should be always be adhered to, and almost a quarter thinking etiquette is an important part of making Christmas special.
To help families with Christmas dinner preparations this year in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, FLORA has partnered with etiquette expert Lucy Challenger, for her advice on how families can adapt to a potentially more challenging festive period.
Lucy Challenger said: “This year, we know families everywhere are preparing for a very different type of Christmas. As the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, it’s clear that people will need to make difficult decisions. I’ve created a list of useful tips from how to approach difficult conversations with guests, to clever ways of making your budget go further when hosting.”
Top five etiquette tips on how to approach Christmas during the cost-of-living crisis
Get your guests involved
Rather than charging guests, create a sharing mentality ahead of festivities – so everyone can bring something (or their ‘speciality’) to have at the table. As a host, write down a list of foods or dishes for the day, and then allocate these to guests to make sure there aren’t any repeat dishes.
Switch to alternative foods and spreads
A brilliant way to make money go further this Christmas is by swapping in more cost-effective products. There are lots of different ways to approach this – for example, prosecco or cava instead of champagne, chicken instead of turkey, or even swapping some dishes for plant-based options. Choosing versatile products that can be used across multiple meals & dishes will also help make your money go further.
Don’t decant
Where possible, don’t decant food into new serving bowls and platters, as this means more washing up which can add up on your hot water bill. Instead, take your cranberry sauce or FLORA tub and decorate it with beautiful leaves or foliage picked up from a walk – these DIY centrepieces also make for a fun family activity.
Avoid buffet style service
It’s best to avoid buffet style service, as this can encourage overindulgence and waste. Instead, get the head of the household to plate up in the kitchen, and serve each guest at the table. This allows portion control but also makes sure each guest has their fair share of each dish. Roasted vegetables are the most cost-effective way to fill tummies.
Save on Christmas presents
Don’t feel the need to splurge on Christmas presents – instead, ask guests to bring a secret Santa for one other guest on the day, if they’re happy to. Put a budget in place and explain that this will be the time for everyone to sit down together and have fun with the gifting. Another alternative is to ask each guest to donate to charity, and as this is completely private, people can gift what they feel is in their budget to do so.
