9个建议:圣诞怎么过才省钱（图）

2008-12-26 00:55 经济的不景气，失业人口增多，生活消费依旧高涨，许多人感到手头拮据。但是没有必要因此而取消过圣诞节。你需要做的是接受专家的几点建议，你就能陷入节日的热情中，即使你在购物资金不多。下面将告诉你怎么做··
经济的不景气，失业人口增多，生活消费依旧高涨，许多人感到手头拮据。但是没有必要因此而取消过圣诞节。你需要做的是接受专家的几点建议，你就能陷入节日的热情中，即使你在购物资金不多。下面将告诉你怎么做······

With the recession hitting home, unemployment rising and the cost of living still at a high, most people are feeling the pinch. But there's no need to cancel Christmas. All you need to do is take some tips from the experts and you can get into the festive spirit, even if you're shopping on a shoestring. Here's how....

 

1/9 装饰

DIY decorations help cut Christmas costs (Image (c) Getty Images)

自己做装饰品曾被认为是吝啬鬼和怪人的专利，但是现在不是了。想象一下蜡烛插在苹果上，周围铺上草木。门上的花圈就用树枝和细铁丝编制而成。在桌子上放上结霜的葡萄，这个葡萄是通过在蛋白中浸泡然后在表面涂上白糖制成的。索菲·康兰这位设计师的后代，用冬青树、带浆果的常青藤、桉树和松树球果来装饰她的家。

Making your own decorations may once have been the preserve of skinflints and eccentrics, but not any more. Think candle displays set in apples and surrounded by greenery, door wreaths made with branches and chicken wire and table displays of frosted grapes created by dipping them in egg white and coating them in sugar. Sophie Conran, scion of the design dynasty, uses holly and ivy with berries, eucalyptus and pine cones to decorate her home.

 

Budget gifts wisely or give home-made presents (Image (c) Getty Images)

雪梨·康兰这位女超人，告诉你应该限制你送礼的范围以及价格。"打算比往常少花点钱在送礼上，你应该只为小于12岁的孩子和你爱的人买礼物，即便如此你也要把花费限制在20~25英镑之间。"如果你对自制礼物还存在疑惑的话，其实没有必要。著名厨师迪莉娅·史密斯说："找出接受者最喜欢的蛋糕类型，比如：棕色巧克力型的，买个混匀钵，把原材料干粉放进去，再系上个字条注明她们需要再加的东西。这就是个不错的礼物（呵呵）。"

Shirley Conran, the original Superwoman, says to limit who you buy for and how much you spend. "Plan to spend much less than usual. You should only buy presents for the under-12s and your loved ones, and even then you must impose a £20 or £25 limit." If in doubt stick to home-made gifts, which are always appreciated, says celebrity chef Delia Smith. "Find out the recipient's favourite cake. If, for example, it's chocolate brownies, buy a mixing bowl and layer up all the dried ingredients needed. Attach the recipe showing what they need to add."

 

3/9 礼品包装

Try alternatives to gift wrap this season (Image (c) Getty Images)

你没要必要花高价在礼品包装缎带上，你可以从旧杂志或者目录上撕下几页纸，还有就是不要忘了用布包。接下来就是包上牛皮纸，用丝带绑上上开起来棒极了。模特迪·莫米说："用剩余的墙纸或者可回收的纸来包装你的礼物。这样包装对于像化妆品和衣物这种比较难包装的礼品也变得简单了。"

You don't need to waste pounds on expensive gift wrap, you could use pages torn out of old magazines or catalogues and don't forget fabric. Then there's brown paper, which looks stunning tied up with ribbon (recycled from an old present or bouquet of flowers preferably) or raffia. Dee Momi, of Clotheshorse, said: "Make your own gift bags from old wallpaper remnants and recycled papers. This works well for items such as toiletries and clothing which can be awkward to wrap."

 

4/9 圣诞贺卡
Find alternatives to costly cards (Image (c) Getty Images)

据估计，圣诞节人们花费在贺卡和邮资上的金钱高达40英镑，因此这也是我们减少花费的一条途径。你可以邮寄电子贺卡。他们是免费的和环保的。如果你选择邮寄"真实"的贺卡你最好自己制作。来自绿党的艾伦·弗兰斯说："从环保的角度，你自己做贺卡是非常完美的，尤其是父母和爷爷奶奶能收到来自孩子和孙子的手工贺卡更显得有意义。"

It's estimated that we spend as much as £40 on cards and postage at Christmas, so this is one way to cut costs. You could send an e-card. They're free and they're environmentally friendly. If you prefer to send "real" cards you could make your own. Alan Francis, from the Green Party, said: "From an environmental point of view it's nice to actually make your own cards. It's especially nice for parents and grandparents to receive handmade cards from their children and grandchildren."

 

5/9 派对装备
Customise an old outfit instead of buying new (Image (c) Getty Images)

 没有什么比定做更酷了，因此升级你的装备而不是买新的。并且你也没有必要去自己去缝制。镜报时尚编辑安博·莫拉尔说："便宜的时尚装备如彩色的紧身衣和亮丽的手套和领带能赋予陈旧的装备新的气息。""不用干洗"，《节俭书：生活得好和化得少》的作者英蒂亚·奈特说："任何标签上说‘干洗'东西都可以用手洗，任何在标签上说‘只能干洗'的东西也仍旧可能可以用手洗，但是操作上要小心。"

It's never been cooler to customise, so update outfits rather than buying new. And you don't even have to sew. "Cheap fashion fixes like coloured tights and bright gloves and scarves will give dated outfits a lift," said Mirror fashion editor Amber Morales. Don't dry clean either. India Knight, author of The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less, said: "Anything that has a label saying ‘dry clean' can be washed by hand. Anything that has a label saying ‘dry clean ONLY' can probably still be washed by hand, but approach with caution."

6/9 圣诞正餐
Shop for deals or visit cheaper super markets (Image (c) Getty Images)

聪明的购物，你将节约你的财富。烹饪女王迪莉娅·史密斯说："如果你要为做迪莉娅的神奇熏鱼馅饼买材料，你得记住你买熏鱼边角比整块的熏鱼划算。"她还说在哪里购买也得精明。"像熏鱼，土豆沙拉和腰果，举个例子说在Lide超市买就不错。"因此你就去那里买。

Shop smart and you can save a fortune. Cookery queen Delia Smith said: "If you're making recipes such as Delia's Wonderful Smoked Salmon Tart, remember that you can buy smoked salmon trimmings much more cheaply than slices." And she also says be canny where you shop too. "Items such as smoked salmon, potato salad and cashew nuts, for example, are superb at Lidl". So there you have it!

 

7/9 圣诞酒水
Search for deals before buying drink (Image (c) Getty Images)

留意那些周期性打折的酒水。你可以在我的超市网（mysupermarket.co.uk）上比较"四大"超市的价格。如果你是大量购买可以通过批发商或者过海去国外买。如果能提供更好的买卖，不要害怕那些自家牌子的酒。毕竟，大多数人再喝上少许并不能分辨出什么不一样。如果你要招待一个批爱喝的客人，可以混兑葡萄酒--你可以侥幸的去购买便宜的红酒，其实没人会注意到酒中掺杂了其他成分。

Keep an eye out for seasonal discounts on drink. You can compare prices at the "Big 4" supermarkets at mysupermarket.co.uk. If you're bulk-buying you could go to a wholesaler or across the Channel. And don't be scared of own brands, if they're offering a better deal. After all, most people can't tell the difference after a few drinks. And if you're playing host to a lot of drinkers, make mulled wine - you can get away with buying the cheapest red and no one will notice once the other ingredients have been added.

 

8/9 燃气和电费账单
Watch the meter and unplug unused appliances (Image (c) Andrew Milligan/PA Photos)

燃气和电费账单在寒冷、黑暗的冬季几个月中飙升，我们中的许多人在11月到2月的费用是全年的40%。利用在线比较网站去确认你得到最优惠的燃气和电的价格。节能基金会有两条最优圣诞省钱建议：当电充满就尽快地拔掉（手机、笔记本、数码相机和MP3播放器的）充电器。不要让电器在待命状态，不用就立即切断电源。让电器处待命状态让中等家庭每年浪费37英镑。

Gas and electricity bills jump over the cold, dark winter months, with many of us spending around 40% of our annual usage between November and February. Use online comparison sites to make sure you're getting the best deal on gas and electricity. The Energy Saving Trust has two top Christmas money-saving tips: Unplug chargers (for your mobile, laptop, digital camera and MP3 player) as soon as they're charged. And don't leave electronics on standby, switch them off. The average household wastes £37 a year by leaving electronics on standby.

9/9 派对

Host a party the budget-friendly way (Image (c) Getty Images)

如果你是一个丢下你的铺张盛宴，你仍可以给你的客人一个经济低迷数月后的美好的时光。"在食物方面，考虑提供些量大的开胃食物和少量的口味来省钱，"事件协调者玛丽·Coch说。"或者让你的客人自带盘装菜和瓶装菜来减少你的开支"。当提到酒水方面，Coch建议囤积些合算的啤酒和葡萄酒，到时一次性的特定饮用比如说作为表示欢迎的开胃酒或者睡前饮料。

If you're the one throwing this year's bash, you can still give your guests a good time without suffering a financial hangover for months after. "For food, think about serving heavy appetizers and small plates of different tastes to save money," said event coordinator Mary Coch. Or you could ask guests to bring a dish and/or a bottle to save you from all the cost. And when it comes to drink, Coch suggests stocking up with budget-friendly beer and wine, and then offering a one-off speciality drink as a welcome aperitif, or a nightcap.

(文章仅代表作者个人立场和观点)