As the dark nights draw in, staying in rather than going out is often the easier, and more preferred option.  And with the X Factor and Strictly on our screens in the run up to Christmas, intertainment is more popular than ever.

December is often the most expensive month for all of us, party outfits, Christmas presents, birthday presents, meals out, drinks out, taxis home, and so on…and before you know it £100’s have vanished from your account…funny that? 😉

It’s hard enough budgeting to go out the rest of the year.  Even a trip to the cinema for a family of 4 can cost up to £100 in a night if you include a meal first and goodies at the pick n mix; so several such outings in the month of December can give you quite a punch!  And a nasty one at that!

So it seems, people are genuinely becoming more sensible about their choice of out of house entertainment and seeing how they can adapt this to stay in.

Based on research my team carried out last year, the majority of homes, no matter what level of debt, have a DVD player, SKY TV and some form of game console such as an Xbox, Play Station or Wii.  With these tools alone, indoor Karaoke can be enjoyed via games such as SingStar and Lips; and you can play your own interactive quiz show with Buzz and Scene It!  So, as the nation forms at least one opinion on who will win this year’s X Factor, it seems saving money on intertainment is actually going to be easier than we think!

Research by Abbey confirms intertainment saves us, as a nation, £3.9 billion (£89 per person)! It’s a clear sign that our hard work in budgeting is finally paying off.

As everyone starts spending in the stores to fill up those stockings, now more than ever is the perfect time to embrace a little intertainment.  Staying in is definitely the new “going out” 😉