We’re about to enter 2021, but lockdowns are still very much a reality across the UK. Here’s what we can expect from Northern Ireland’s latest lockdown, including what it means for your Christmas celebrations.
When is Northern Ireland’s lockdown?
Northern Ireland enters a new lockdown from 12:01am on Saturday 26 December 2020. It will last for six weeks until 6 February 2021. However, the measures will be reviewed after four weeks, so there’s a chance that some of the rules might change at this point.
Can I still see family over Christmas?
Yes. Northern Ireland has implemented a Christmas bubble window to allow families to get together on one day between 23 and 27 December. The window is flexible to make allowances for people who are working on Christmas Day.
On your chosen day, you can form a Christmas bubble, which means you can join up to two other households. You can choose which one of the five days you spend with your Christmas bubble, but you can’t spend more than one day with them.
All that said, it’s important that you keep your bubble as small as possible to stop the spread of Covid-19. And remember, you should limit social contact in the meantime to reduce the chance of infecting anyone in your bubble.
What are the rules during Northern Ireland’s lockdown?
Well, they’re very similar to the previous national lockdown rules. However, there’s one key difference, and it’s a curfew.
For the first week of lockdown, you should stay at home between 8pm and 6am unless there’s a valid reason for going out, such as essential work purposes and medical reasons. If in doubt, stay at home.
Here’s what else you can expect from the Northern Ireland lockdown:
- You should work from home where possible.
- All non-essential shops and retail must close. Supermarkets and other essential stores can stay open.
- Beauty salons, hairdressers and other close contact services are closed.
- Unless it’s an emergency, you shouldn’t mix households. This includes mixing outdoors.
- Gyms are closed, but you can exercise alone outside or with someone else from your household.
- Bars, cafes and restaurants must close, but they can offer takeaway services.
- Funerals and weddings can go ahead, but there’s a limit of 25 people. Receptions are prohibited.
How does lockdown affect my money?
Northern Ireland’s lockdown means making some serious lifestyle changes, and you might be worried about how it all affects your money.
To help you get through this next lockdown, here are our top Covid-19 money-saving tips.
- Put aside emergency cash. An emergency fund ensures you can handle those unexpected costs, such as home repairs, car maintenance and even redundancy.
- Open a savings account. The best part? You don’t need much money to get started. Since we’re going out a lot less these days, just put away what you’d normally spend on a night out or a lunch date – even small amounts add up over time. And, if you pick a high interest rate savings account, you might even earn some money on what you save!
- Set a budget. Be strict about what you can spend during Northern Ireland’s lockdown, and don’t waste money on things you don’t need. Sure, the January sales always look tempting, but this year, it might be best to save rather than spend.
- Avoid taking on more debt. Instead, focus on paying down your credit cards and loan repayments. Don’t take out new credit unless it’s for an essential purchase.
Takeaway
No one wants to spend the holidays in lockdown, but it’s important that we make the best of a bad situation.
During Northern Ireland’s lockdown, focus on what you can control and set yourself some goals for the new year. Why not spend the downtime learning how to invest money or start a side hustle?
Remember, we’re all in this lockdown storm together. If you’re worried about debt or struggling to cope mentally during the shutdown, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
