Have yourself a lovely low cost Christmas
Low Cost Christmas is a new campaign launched by Winchester City Council, Citizens Advice Winchester District and The Great Waste.
Running for six weeks from 1 November, the campaign aims to help people save money this holiday season and to cut out waste. Comprehensive tips on how to keep costs down focus on six topics: food, presents, cards, parties, keeping warm, and decorations.
Last January it was estimated that one in eight Britons struggled to make ends meet after spending more than they could afford over Christmas.
There is so much pressure for everyone to spend money at this time of year, it is very easy for people to run up really large debts. We want to help everyone spend wisely and still have a good time,
said Natalie Webb Chief Officer, Citizens Advice Winchester District.
We are here to help people budget carefully to avoid Christmas debt. People can check out the information on the Citizens Advice website; there are some really helpful tools to help people budget and help avoid financial pressures in January. Our services operate across the district and if people need any money advice before or after Christmas we are here to help.
Households generate a whopping 25% more waste at Christmas. According to estimates by recycling advisors WRAP, discarded Christmas wrapping paper in the UK alone could stretch to the moon. Along with one billion cards and enough tin foil to cover Suffolk, that adds up to a lot of rubbish over the festive period.
We encourage everyone to think carefully about what they are buying – both in terms of value for money, and how they can limit the waste. It is not just the cost to our pockets, but also the cost to our natural resources and the environment,
said Cllr Frank Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Wellbeing at Winchester City Council. “
Buying things that will last and limiting the amount of packaging and waste can make a big difference.
Suggestions from the campaign team include:
- Reduce - buy things that will last, not something disposable; get your party portions right.
- Re-use – buy vintage or second-hand gifts; offer a service or an experience instead of a short-lived present.
- Recycle - wrap presents in paper that can be recycled; use brown paper that your children decorate or colourful magazines tied with colourful string.
Cllr Pearson and Natalie Webb got together this week to try out some of the Low Cost Christmas ideas, including making recyclable wrapping paper and gift tags. To find out more about the campaign and download a copy of tips and advice, visit www.thegreatwaste.org.uk and make this the happiest low waste Christmas ever.