December 4th 2024.
The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but they can also come with a hefty price tag. One of the biggest expenses during this time of year is the cost of running Christmas lights. While the sight of twinkling lights may be priceless, the resulting energy bill can be quite pricey. That's why money-saving expert Martin Lewis has a handy tip for UK households to keep costs down without sacrificing the magic of the festive season.
In his latest newsletter, Martin reveals how one simple switch can significantly reduce the running costs of Christmas lights. "We've crunched the numbers to see how much those sparkly lights actually cost," he says. "And the big difference is whether they're LED or incandescent." While incandescent lights can cost around 1p per hour for 100 bulbs, LED lights are much cheaper at only 1p every 12 hours for the same number of bulbs.
To break it down further, Martin explains, "If you run a string of 100 LED lights for six hours a day for a month, it'll only cost you about 15p. But for incandescent bulbs, it could cost you around £1.80." And the difference is even greater for larger sets of lights with more bulbs, as they would use more energy and cost more to run.
In fact, Martin points out that LEDs are 12 times cheaper than incandescent bulbs when it comes to energy usage. To calculate your exact running costs, simply find the wattage for your lights, multiply it by the current electricity price cap of 24.5p, and then multiply it by the number of hours you plan to have your lights on and divide by 1000.
But how do you know if you have LED or incandescent lights? Martin has a simple trick for that too. "Check if the bulbs are glass or plastic," he suggests. "Incandescent lights are usually made of glass and get hot when they've been left on for a while. You may also be able to see a filament inside. LEDs, on the other hand, are generally made of plastic and are cool to touch."
Before you go and replace all your old incandescent lights with LEDs, Martin reminds us to consider the cost of replacing them. "You'd likely save in the long run if you plan on using the lights year after year, as LED lights also last a lot longer and are cheaper to run," he explains. "But if money is tight this Christmas, it may be better to ration how often you turn on the lights rather than buying new ones."
Saving money on Christmas lights is just one of the many ways that Martin Lewis and Money Saving Expert can help you cut your bills. They also recommend simple changes like keeping doors closed to retain heat, lining your curtains to prevent heat loss, and hanging curtains on interior doors to trap warmth between rooms. For those with single glazed windows, even clingfilm can act as a makeshift draught excluder. And investing in an energy monitor can give you valuable insights into your electricity usage.
While these changes may seem small, they can add up to significant savings when combined. So why wait until January to start saving money? With these tips, you can enjoy the magic of the holiday season without breaking the bank. And if you have any money-saving stories or tips of your own, don't hesitate to share them with us by emailing email. After all, the more we can help each other save money, the merrier the holidays will be.
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