Embargoed until 00.01 Wednesday 2nd December
Christmas magic without the big price tag • 1 in 8 worried how they’ll afford Christmas • 1 in 3 planning on spending less on presents • Young people leading the way on second-hand gifts Hubbub shares 10 ways to be sustainable and save money this festive season New research from environmental charity Hubbub shows 45% of people across the UK want to make Christmas EXTRA special this year, however the financial impact on households and restrictions on socialising will make it challenging for many of us. Of the 3,000 adults surveyed, 18% say their family is cutting back on presents this year, 32% are planning on spending less on presents and 12% are worried about how they are going to afford Christmas. Is this the year of the second-hand gift? It appears 16-24 year-olds are setting a new trend for pre-loved gifts with over a third (34%) saying they will buy some second-hand presents for the first time this Christmas. Although 44% of all adults said they’d be embarrassed to give second-hand presents at Christmas, 41% said they’d be happy to receive one (even higher at 51% for 16-24 year olds). Giving time or a service as a gift instead of a physical present is also a great way to save money and one that nearly a quarter (23%) said they’d be happy to receive. Having a meal cooked for you topped the charts, followed by a haircut and then cleaning. For those with children under 18, almost one in four opted for an offer of babysitting/child-free time. Trewin Restorick, CEO and founder of Hubbub said: “2020 has been a tough year for so many people and it’s important to find ways to make Christmas special without a hefty price tag. The great news is lots of money-saving ideas are also better for the environment, like buying pre-loved gifts or making your own presents. The rise in the number of reuse groups and selling sites online coupled with the range of charity shops on our high streets means there are some fantastic bargains to be had. Regifting is also a great option but make sure you don’t return an unwanted present to the person who bought it for you!” Hubbub has put together ten top tips for saving money and being sustainable this year: 1. Eat your leftovers! We throw away a whopping 270,000 tonnes** of food during Christmas including 2 million turkeys and 74 million mince pies***. Make the most of your food this festive season by planning what you need before time and making sure you save up your leftovers. They’ll keep in the freezer or you can munch on them in the potato filled limbo between Christmas and New Years Eve.