Save your energy: Which movie to watch and board game rules top the list of festive family fall outs

• 43% of Brits are bracing themselves for festive family fall outs, with everything from Scrabble squabbles to heating settings getting us hot under the collar
• To help ensure squabbles centre around rule-bending not over-spending, British Gas has launched a tongue-in-cheek ‘PeakSaver Card’ bringing to life the half price energy savings that British Gas customers can take advantage of this festive period
• British Gas customers are also able to get half off their electricity bills on Christmas Day and Boxing Day between 11am – 4pm, if signed up for the PeakSave offer by the 15th December

A study of 2,000 adults that celebrate Yuletide revealed that despite 83% looking forward to getting together with their loved ones over the festive break, 43% are bracing themselves for the usual minor arguments with said nearest and dearest, with 37% admitting that Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the squabbles.

When it comes to disagreements, which movies to watch, who’ll be donning the washing up gloves on the big day, the all important board game rules and the temperature of the house all rated high in the list of light-hearted ‘rows’ households will be having.

The research, commissioned by British Gas, revealed that there will also be squabbles over gadgets at the dinner table, when to open presents, whether tree lights should be turned off if you leave the house, and the all important family walk.

With a massive 71% of us planning on braving a board game with loved ones over the festive period, Monopoly, (37%), Scrabble (31%) and Trivial Pursuit (22%) are the top three board games those polled will be playing over this period. Board-game barneys bubble up as rules are broken (26%), sore losers act out (24%) and friends and family start being a little over competitive (23%)!

To help ensure family fall outs are about rule bending and not overspending this festive period, British Gas has unveiled the ultimate cheat code, a tongue-in-cheek ‘PeakSaver Card’, perfect for board game play with the family, that brings to life the half price energy savings that British Gas customers can take advantage of during this festive period.

But it’s not all fighting talk! 54% of Brits admit they at least somewhat enjoy a festive family squabble, with one in four even revealing they find it more entertaining than what’s usually on the telly.

A spokesperson at British Gas, who commissioned the research to mark its PeakSave half price electricity offer on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, said: “From debates over what films to watch to disagreements over who’s clearing the table, family get-togethers at this time of year are the scene of many a seasonal spat. Families bickering like this are as much a part of the festive season as mince pies and questionable jumpers.” 

“Although our research shows we can enjoy a little festive family drama, nobody wants big arguments, and with half price electricity at Christmas that’s one less thing to worry about.”

When the inevitable squabbles have run their course, around a quarter (24%) resolve the issue together, for 19% a joke is told and all is forgotten while 14% of us take a time out from our loved one to move on.

British Gas customers are eligible to half off their electricity bills on Christmas Day and Boxing Day between 11am – 4pm, if signed up for the PeakSave offer by the 15th December. For more information and to sign up to PeakSave, visit the British Gas website here.

PeakSave also offers customers half price electricity every Sunday from 11am to 4pm.