Turn your home into entertainment central without breaking the bank.
The clocks have turned back and the nights are drawing in and Christmas will soon be here. Yet as the recession continues to bite, the festive season won't be welcomed by everyone. A recent survey found that two thirds of all UK consumers won't save enough cash before the end of the year to help cover their Christmas costs - meaning credit cards, overdrafts, loans and December's pay packet will be used to make up the shortfall.
Keeping guests and family entertained can be deceptively expensive - but it doesn't need to be. Another survey from Abbey Savings found that a few well planned nights in here and there you can help you save an average of £89 a month - simply by entertaining in your own home. What's more, nights in can be more fun than costly evenings on the town.
Find out how it's done as we show you how to turn your home into entertainment central.
Good food at home
Each month 16 million dinner parties are held across the UK, according to the Abbey Savings survey, and this passion for entertaining has led to the rise of the celebrity chef. Free recipes - such as our very own Frugal Recipe series - can easily be found online. So even the most extravagant kitchen creations can now be made at home!
The supermarkets have also noted this trend and have rushed to stock their shelves with fine ingredients ahead of the Christmas season. Your first step before you send out the invitations should be to check out the latest half price and BOGOF (buy one, get one free) deals at all the leading supermarkets every Friday with our Frugal Food round-up.
Then check out and compare the latest prices on the shelves using Mysupermarket.co.uk. The site lists and compares prices at Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose / Ocado and highlights each store's latest promotional offers.
Don't be afraid to supplement your main dish with sides from each store's budget range either - cheaper brands don't necessarily mean poor quality. Often they are just as nice, if not nicer, than the big brands - and even upmarket Waitrose has joined the frugal food bandwagon. Its 'essential Waitrose' range comprises hundreds of low cost everyday items.
Finally, it's also worth checking each store's website before you hit the shops; supermarkets often send out discounts exclusively via email to website subscribers.
Once you've filled your trolly with low cost good ingredients (making sure you haven't been seduced by any costly tricks in store at your supermarket), you can set about turning them into dinner.
As I mentioned earlier, you can find recipes for simple, hearty fare here every Friday in our Frugal Recipes series, but if you want something a little more ostentatious look to Channel 4's hit show Come Dine With Me. The broadcaster has capitalised on the show's success by publishing a comprehensive list of dos and don'ts complete with recipes on its website.
Other good online recipe sources include Jamie Oliver's website, the BBC Good Food website and, of course, Deliaonline.
Karaoke Fun
If The X Factor has got you wanting to flex your singing muscles, you don't have to spend upwards of £30 to hire a karaoke room for one solitary hour or shell out for a dedicated machine to store at home. There are plenty of cheap home alternatives to help you sing along at home, whether you want to keep the kids entertained or have a night-in with the girls.
The Lucky Voice Party Box - the latest brainchild from Last Minute guru Martha Lane Fox - retails for £49.99 and allows you to turn your PC into a karaoke machine. Songs from a list of thousands can be downloaded online in exchange for a monthly subscription to its website (first month free with the party box). The songs stream over the internet so you don't have to download any software and the catalogue includes classics from Take That, Beyonce and Madonna.
Other low-cost options are available to Playstation and Xbox owners. Singstar on Playstation 2 and 3 is the undisputed daddy of the genre - players sing into microphones along to classic songs while the lyrics and original videos are displayed on the TV screen. There are 20 discs avaiable for both Playstation models,priced upwards of £19.99, including games dedicated to Queen, Abba and, coming in time for Christmas, Take That.
Xbox 360 owners can enjoy a similar experience with its Lips franchise: the new Number Ones Hits package comes with two microphones and boasts hits from Coldplay, Rhianna and Lily Allen.
More Fun and Games
If singing's not your thing, there are other low cost options to keep you entertained. Board games have enjoyed a resurgance of late. Retail giant Marks & Spencer has sought to capitalise on the trend with the launch of its own-brand low cost family games, while Tesco has launched a half price toy sale to help it capitalise on the closure of Woolworths. It's currently offering 50% off Star Wars Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit DVD game War of the Wedges. You can also find heavy reductions on classics such as Scrabble, Cluedo and more at many online retailers.
Or, if that's too much like hard work, why not gather the family around the TV for a classic movie - particularly as trip for four to the cinema with drinks and popcorn can often break the £30 mark. High street chain HMV is currently selling Disney classics online from just £4.99, while more adult fare such as The Dark Knight can be found for a fiver in the Amazon 70% off sale.
Get help from lovemoney.com
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More: Cut the costs of going out | The secret to a free night out