Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year, but it can also be one of the most stressful. With the holiday season fast approaching, it can be difficult to make sure everyone is happy and safe. Here are four things that have ruined my Christmas in the past.
Whether you’re organizing a family gathering or just looking to keep your home safe and secure during the holidays, there are certain steps you can take to help ensure that your holiday season is memorable for all the right reasons. From setting up safety measures to avoiding overindulgence, here are some tips on how not to ruin Christmas.
Ensure you don’t get locked out
There is hardly a single instance in which being locked out of your home is a pleasurable experience, especially around Christmas. Being outside with no way in is, if anything, stressful and frustrating and requires the need for a 24 hour locksmith. Now from first hand experience, I can tell you this is a sure fire way to ruin Christmas.
However, there are a few precautions you may take to avoid being unable to enter your home, which is as follows:
- Duplicate your keys – One of the simplest methods to prepare for a lockout is to have a duplicate set of keys for your home. If you don’t have family in town, you can leave a set of duplicate keys with a trustworthy neighbour or keep a copy in a secure location at your office.
- Regularly service your locks – Locks, like other mechanisms, deteriorate with time and use. As a result, it is critical to arrange regular maintenance of your locks by a professional locksmith to guarantee they function properly. Although being locked out due to a broken lock is less common than just losing your keys, minor faults can swiftly escalate into major concerns if ignored. It’s preferable to get ahead of this problem by consulting with a professional locksmith about how to maintain your locks.
- Install a smart lock – Smart locks get rid of the need for keys, so you’ll never have to worry about misplacing your keys. Some smart locks allow you to lock and unlock the door with the touch of a button on a security app that you download to your phone. You can also gain entry using a key fob or by entering your personal code.
- Be wary of keeping keys inside the door – For some it is common practise to leave the front door keys on the inside of the lock. This means you cannot open it from the other side even with the right key. When you have guests staying they may not realise this is the case and exit without removing the key.
Keep your house secure and safe
Many homeowners are concerned about keeping their houses secure during the holiday season when they go away. With houses packed with pricey gifts and festive delicacies, it’s critical to take precautions to avoid burglars by doing more than simply locking up.
- When you leave the house, close and lock all windows and doors – This may seem like a basic recommendation, but the Christmas season is full of social gatherings and excitement, so take a few minutes each time you leave the house to ensure all entrances are secure.
- Secure the side gates – During the holiday season, people may not be utilizing back gardens, side gates, and such, and can thus neglect to lock them securely. Strong winds and turbulent weather can cause the locks on your side doors to become unstable, so it’s a good idea to double-check them. Investing in sturdy locks that offer good security will make it harder for people to gain unauthorized access to your home through your gates.
- Do not leave any presents or expensive items exposed next to windows or entrances – When you are away from your home, make sure to draw the curtains at the front, so that robbers can’t observe what is inside.
- If you are planning to go away on a trip, then consider using a light timer so that it looks like someone is still home – Instead of hiding your spare key outside, give it to a reliable neighbour. Burglars are aware of all the methods that they can use to locate keys, so they will probably look under the plant pot or bin. Request your neighbour to park their car in your driveway when you are on holiday, and this will make it look like you are still at home.
- Examine the safety of your entranceways and windows – Put in sturdier doors, deadbolts, durable locks, and new window latches to keep out intruders.
- Store things like gardening tools, ladders and other items in a shed or garage and make sure to lock them up – These items could be used by intruders to gain access to your house. Additionally, it is important to make sure the shed or garage itself is locked, particularly if it is connected to the residence.
Ensure your house is warm enough
You don’t always have to turn on the thermostat to keep your house warm throughout the winter. A few basic things you may do to keep your home warm, and cosy include:
- Check your roof insulation – Before the temperature drops, it is important to make sure that your roof insulation is of the correct thickness. In the past, it was suggested that 100mm was adequate, however, the current recommendation is between 250-270mm. This means that although you may have already insulated your attic, it may not be enough. Upon completion of inspecting the insulation of your rooftop, make sure you don’t forget to insulate your attic hatch. Omitting this straightforward step can nullify all the effort you put in.
- Get the boiler serviced – If you upgrade to a better boiler, you will be able to enjoy a cosier home without having to spend extra on your heating costs. This is because the boiler won’t need to use as much energy to reach the desired temperature. If you are staying in a rented house, the boiler needs to be inspected yearly by your landlord. Even if you are a homeowner, it is a wise decision to get your boiler serviced annually. Although the cost of boiler repairs may seem high, it is still much cheaper than buying a new boiler.
- Block out the draughts – Take a second to survey your residence for any breezes. Chilly windows should be protected with insulation foam or seals, depending on the kind of windows you own. You can also keep out draughts from beneath doors with basic draught blockers. Lastly, utilize a chimney balloon to avert heat loss through the chimney.
- Fill the holes in your floorboards – Even though hardwood floors may be very attractive right now, they can create a draft that makes your house seem colder than it is. Fortunately, you can seal up any cracks in the flooring without sacrificing the look of the exposed wood floors. All you need to do is place foam filler into the gaps in the boards and you’ll be able to experience a much more comfortable home atmosphere.
- Lay a rug – You should put rugs in areas that require more warmth if you don’t have carpets. Rugs will help maintain the temperature inside your home and they can fit into how you design your room. If you cannot discover a rug large enough for the area, consider placing several smaller rugs on top of each other to get the desired result.
Organise your food shop
The big shop entails a journey across the store, loading up on all the seasonal delicacies for the big day, and getting all your food and drink ready for the festive period. It’s important to not rely on a late delivery as you may find the supermarket swaps out essential items. I suggest stocking up and freezing items in advance to avoid disappointment.
Here are some pointers to help you prepare should you need a mad run around the shops:
- Write down a list of items you need – The ideal way to remain within a budget and make sure you don’t miss anything is to make a complete shopping list for the festive holidays and adhere to it. Prioritize developing a meal plan for the holidays to make the most of leftovers and prevent excess food waste. Start with the feasts you commonly eat and build your plan from there.
- Organise your freezer space – Clear out your freezer to make room for new supplies. Use up whatever leftover items from opened packages you have, and if you can manage it, empty, and thaw the freezer. A well-organized freezer is a great asset for anyone who plans out meals and you’ll be astonished at the number of items it can accommodate. You can make your freezer work for you near Christmas by stocking it with home-prepared vegetables ready for the oven and joints of meat ready to be defrosted.
- Shop in the evening – Grocery stores usually reduce the price of their merchandise as the day goes on. You may be able to find items at a discounted rate of up to 75% after 7 pm. The downside is that if you are looking for something specific, it may have been taken by someone else.
