T-11 Weeks
Who’s hosting and how are you splitting the cost?
Hello, and welcome to week six of the MFY Christmas Countdown - 11 weeks to go!
I’ve noticed the nights getting decidedly darker, and the air has that autumn chill to it - the fact that Christmas is on the horizon suddenly feels a little more believable!
This week’s prep is around hosting, whether you’re having family over for a meal, accommodating them for a few days, or planning any sort of festive gathering at your home, which can be one of those pesky hidden costs of Christmas. It could also be you who’s being hosted - in which case, what’s the etiquette?
Costs can be shared without making things feel uncomfortable or transactional
I absolutely love hosting people at my house, whether for a play date or a full-blown meal. We’ve never really lived anywhere with enough room for more than a couple of extra people, but I don’t mind emergency chairs and too many elbows - it’s all part of the fun.
What I don’t necessarily love is the extra costs involved - the food, the drink, the other little things that sneak in. There’s a conflict there - between wanting to be the perfect host and ask for nothing in return, and knowing the consequences of spending with abandon on my mental health post-Christmas.
None of us want good times with family and friends to feel or seem transactional, which can end up meaning that one person or couple ends up shouldering all or most of the cost - but there are ways to share things out more fairly without necessarily sending out invoices.
The best way I’ve found to do this is to allocate responsibility for elements of the day or meal, rather than to ask for money towards costs. So, someone could bring dessert, someone else wine, another could provide crackers, breakfast, after-dinner chocolates etc. Most people want to give something towards the day, and this is a lovely way to keep things collaborative - it also gives you something to say when visitors inevitably ask, ‘what can I bring?’
Get the logistics under wraps
Supermarkets have started releasing their Christmas delivery slots and launching their festive food collections, which means you can start planning what you’re going to buy, what meals will be served and how much it’s going to cost.
Start by creating a little menu - nothing fancy, your notes app will do - for each meal, as well as a list of snacks. Then, write out what you will need and how much, as well as and snack or incidentals to create your Christmas food shopping list. Don’t include anything you’ve asked others to bring, obviously!
You can then cost this out and add a rough total to your budget planner.
Raid your loyalty points
Supermarkets have gone crazy on loyalty schemes this year - some are dubious about their motives and whether they just serve as an excuse to put up prices for non-members, but that’s a topic for another time.
If you’ve been using a Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Asda Rewards or another scheme, get checking those points totals and see how much you might be able to knock off the cost of Christmas. If you haven’t been using a a loyalty scheme for somewhere you shop regularly, there’s still time to earn enough to really make a dent in your expenditure - I find Asda Rewards particularly good.
Don’t forget to download the planner!
My Christmas budget planner is designed to help you to keep track of your costs and ensure you don’t go over-budget - download it for free if you haven’t already.
To do:
Ascertain who’s hosting, and who’s bringing what.
Plan meals and make your shopping list.
Check all of your loyalty accounts ready to cash in your points for money off your Christmas food.