Christmas-loving Brits will spend over £4,000 on Christmas decorations over their lifetime – stringing up a total 1,019 metres of fairy lights, and hanging 841 baubles over the years.
Over half of festive adults (54%) treat themselves to new decorations every year, collecting a total of 639 Christmas ornaments over their lifetime, as well as 421 metres of tinsel.
In fact, the total length of Christmas decorations hung by the average adult comes to nearly a mile – and could stretch across Wembley Stadium's football pitch 14 times.
The average spend on new decorations each year is £51.30, adding up to a lifetime spend of £4,150 each for the 2,000 adults polled.
It also emerged they pull an average of six crackers, and fill four stockings with gifts, each year – a lifetime total of 477 crackers, and 307 stockings.
A spokesman for Lottoland.co.uk, which commissioned the research in honour of its annual Christmas Lottery, said: “It’s amazing to see how many Christmas decorations we get through in our lifetime, and even more so that people are buying new trimmings every year.
“Lots of people see decorating the house as a big family activity that brings everyone together, which is probably why all we invest so much time and effort into it.
“There are so many other things that bring people together at this time – such as the good food, parties, and we even see people buying Christmas lottery tickets in groups over the festive period.”
The study also found 60% of those who celebrate Christmas put up decorations every year without fail.
And while 54% revel in trying out new lights and tinsel combinations each year, 27% have kept hold of their classics – and still display decorations from the 1970s or earlier.
But despite wanting to make sure their home is at its festive best, 35% are making efforts to reduce the impact on the Christmas coffers this year.
As a result, decorations are low on the priorities list for many – with 8% taking aim at their fairy lights budget.
Reducing the amount spent on gifts is the prime candidate for cost-reduction, with 12% vowing to get savvier with their gifting.
Meanwhile, nearly one in ten (9%) will keep the Yuletide well-wishing to social media, scrapping Christmas cards entirely.
And 10% of those polled, via OnePoll.com, think they could make some changes to the Christmas food shop to save some pennies – as long as the roast potatoes stay.
Turning their minds to Christmas dinner, 28% think the crispy carbohydrates are the highlight of the meal, while 24% prefer roast turkey.
Pigs in blankets are a treat for 21% – but carrots (6%), mint sauce (6%), and the unspectacular addition of peas (4%) struggle to make an impact on festive dining.
A third are also making the effort to be more environmentally friendly and socially conscious with their Christmas habits this year – with an aim to eat less meat, buy less plastic, and use eco-friendly wrapping paper.
Lottoland’s spokesman added: “Between fairy lights and tinsel, wrapping paper and cards, there is a lot of plastic and paper being produced at Christmas time, and it’s really fantastic to see that a third of Brits are making efforts to be greener this year.
“Even small changes can make a difference when everybody gets involved, and we can promise it won’t diminish any of that Christmas magic.”
To find out more about the Christmas Lottery, drawn on December 22nd, visit here.
A LIFETIME OF CHRISTMAS IN NUMBERS:
- 1,019 metres of Christmas lights hung
- 841 baubles dangled
- 639 festive ornaments bought
- 477 crackers pulled
- 421 metres of tinsel strewn
- 307 stocking stuffed
- £4,150 spent on Christmas decorations
