How much does it cost to light a Christmas tree?
Tomorrow (November 1st), for the vast majority of people living in the UK, it’ll be time to start thinking about Christmas decorations. Before you start putting up a tree, it's important that you know how much it costs to illuminate it.
Since we're still dealing with cost-of-living issues, it's also important that we adopt energy-efficient measures at home. The new and best Christmas lights are expected to use less energy than their old counterparts.
Whether you prefer an artificial tree or a real one, in this article, I address the costs of lighting up your tree this holiday season. I’ve based my advice on the current energy price cap. Knowing how much you'll have to spend to illuminate your tree will allow you to make informed decisions regarding your finances in the future.
The cost of running Christmas tree lights can vary depending on the type of tree and the energy consumption.
Most people use two sets of 100 Christmas tree lights, which can add up to around 80 to 80 Watts of energy. This figure is based on the assumption that the lights are not LED bulbs. You can determine the specific Wattage of the set by taking the number of each string of lights and multiplying it by 0.001.
If you're planning on keeping your tree lights on for six hours a day, then you'll need a total output of 0.48 kW. After the price cap for electricity was lowered to 27p per kW, you'll be spending around £5.05 for every six hours of Christmas tree lighting.
This is expressed as a function of output of 0.48 kW multiplied by 0.27 for cost and 39 days.
If you're not sure how much you'll have to spend to illuminate your tree, then use an online calculator to get an estimate.
It's important to remember to switch off the Christmas lights before you go to sleep to avoid a triple cost if they're left on for an extended period of time.
I’m aware that many individuals value the practicality of being economical during this holiday season, which is why I’ve come up with a variety of budget-friendly Christmas decorating ideas.
The average cost of running Christmas tree lights is about £5 each day. Less than a glass of mulled wine. This is a small sum that most individuals are willing to pay for the ambiance that a lit tree provides at night. But, there are plenty of ways to lessen this expenditure.
Switch to LED Christmas lights
According to James Longley, the managing director of Utility Bidder, switching to LED lights can help you lower your energy consumption by around 10%.
Amit Juneja, the managing director of The Christmas Workshop, believes that the cost of lighting a Christmas tree can be as low as a penny a week.
Martin Lewis, a finance expert, claims that LED lights are inexpensive to run. He adds that these can help households keep their energy bills under control.
Christmas lights that use LED technology can run for around 0.0002p per hour. That's equivalent to around a penny a week, based on a string of 100 lights.
Since most households have two sets of 100 lights, this would cost around 0.12p an hour to run. That's equivalent to around 5 pence a week, assuming that you keep your lights on for six hours each day.
2. Use battery-powered lights
According to Connor Campbell, a financial expert at NerdWallet, you can opt for battery-powered lights for those who have extra batteries in their cars or in their homes.
Unlike incandescent lights, battery-powered models can last longer and use less electricity. This means you'll be able to save money on batteries as well.
3. Opt for different settings
The cost of outdoor and indoor lights varies depending on the type of product. I suggest using varying settings to save money.
4. Keep usage to a minimum
Another way to save money on Christmas lights is by reducing the amount of electricity that you use.
Our personal traits and the product itself can also help us save money. Most households in the UK add decorative or holiday lights to their homes over the Christmas season. They should be switched off at night or when one is not home.