Claire Appleton and husband Matthew decided to make a big change in response to the soaring cost of going out, and now they claim to be saving more than £6,000 a year
Matthew. and Claire Appleton used to spend £850 a month on going out
A mum of three says she is saving more than £6,000 a year by cutting back on nights out in favour of entertaining friends and family at home.
Claire Appleton, 42, estimates she and husband Matthew would typically spend £850 a month on eating out, going down the pub and partying. As well as nipping to their local in Skipton, North Yorkshire, for dinner and drinks twice a month, they would travel to Leeds for evenings.
That was before the Covid pandemic-triggered lockdowns placed heavy restrictions on socialising. Instead, Claire took the plunge and built, painted and decorated a DIY garden bar herself for £370, using materials she bought online. When restrictions lifted, they invited friends and family over for get-togethers.
After moving home, they took the bar with them. The time and money needed to renovate their new pad also curtailed their going out. It coincided with what Claire says was a noticeable rise in the cost of going for a meal. Her revamped garden space has become a focal point, with the couple hosting loved ones twice a month for cocktail parties and other gathering, using her “Prosecco Palace” and the revamped interior.
Claire estimates she and grounds works manager Matthew, 41 – parents to Liam, 23, Jake, 20, and Evie, 16 – save at least £550 a month as a result. She says they still go out, but only for special occasions – around seven times a year. Claire said: “We used to go out at least once every weekend. If you’re with a big group of people, a few rounds will set you back quite a bit. hen if we went to our local Italian restaurant, that would be at least another £50.
“I also used to go to Leeds for nights out – which would set me back up to £250 for one night. But I can stock our whole bar for £150 and have all of our family and friends round instead.”
She went on: “We have had so many good nights here and I actually prefer them – I think it’s a nicer atmosphere. Our home has become the centre of our socialising during the summer.
“Some people find hosting stressful, but I think it’s more stressful to wake up in the morning knowing you’ve spent more in a few hours than you do on the weekly shop.”
Research from price comparison website MoneySuperMarket suggests they are not alone. A survey found rising costs are changing people’s socialising habits. Three quarters of those asked said they were entertaining at home instead, with one in five throwing more parties than they did two years ago.
But the trend is deeply worrying for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses that rely on such trade to survive. Many are struggling to keep their heads above water because of a jump in costs, from business rates and energy bills to April’s hike in employers’ national insurance and the national minimum wage. Industry chiefs warn that if people don’t support such business, they will disappear.
Claire, now an interior designer, said: “We will still go out but it is not as frequent. We still want to support local establishments but nowadays we are not going out every weekend. Life just isn’t as affordable as it was,” she adds.