Putting your Christmas decorations up can be a really special moment, and everyone has their own little traditions they adhere to each and every year.
You might want to hold off on putting up your decs too soon, however, as energy experts are warning that people can save hundreds of pounds by delaying their big Christmas tree lights switch on.
Festive fanatics have been warned that they could be hit by whopping bills - potentially running into thousands of pounds - for additional power usage during the cost of living crisis.
To help those struggling to decide when to bring out the festive glow, finance advisors at Creditfix have created a handy Christmas Lights Calculator to help Brits learn how much their displays could cost - and how much they could save by delaying their decoration date or investing in different types of light.
Creditfix has calculated that those who love decorating outside of their houses with silhouettes of Christmas characters using rope lights will rack up the biggest bills.
Having five of these on for six hours a day could cost £510 if put up on December 1 and taken down on December 31. But waiting two weeks more to put them up would drop the cost to £279, a huge saving of £231.
This will come as concerning news to many, as costs have hiked over the past year during the cost of living crisis.
If you're lighting ten Christmas characters up for over six hours a day from December to January 5, you could be slapped with an extra £1,000 on your bill.
But it's not all doom and gloom - the average set of indoor mains-powered fairy lights would cost just 12p for six hours, while an inflatable Santa would cost £3.67 to run for the same period, so families can choose which lights are right for them.
For the cheapest option, you can purchase battery-powered fairy lights to cut back on energy costs this Christmas time.
Layla Johnson, regional manager at Creditfix, said: "We all know this Christmas will be more difficult this year. Rising energy costs only add to the growing pressure that other seasonal spending such as bigger food shops and presents are likely to cause.
"The results are surprising - it's reassuring to learn that a popular set of indoor fairy lights is the cheapest option. Even indulging in a fun freestanding decoration could cost less than £1 per day to run.
"If people don't wait to cut back on the number of lights they put up this year, they could compromise on cost by waiting a week or two until they plug them in, and still enjoy the magic of Christmas on a budget."
To view the Christmas Lights Calculator, click here.
When will you be putting your Christmas lights up? Let us know in the comments.
