Halloween is over: now it’s November and time for Bonfire Night! With Christmas just around the corner, you’ve probably started to think about budgeting for presents, but Bonfire Night doesn’t need to cost you a fortune.

Here are some useful tips on celebrating on a budget, and most importantly – how to stay safe.

Choosing Fireworks

There are many different types of fireworks out there, but how do you know which ones are best for you? Here’s some of the most common you’ll find in the shops and what they do:

• Sparklers – these are the most common fireworks which can also be used indoors. They’re hand-held, but can still reach quite high temperatures so shouldn’t be given to very small children.
• Cake – cake fireworks fire multiple fireworks in succession and are placed side-by-side to create the effect.
• Rocket – a very loud and colourful firework, rockets are probably the firework with the most “wow” factor.
• Catherine wheel – these fireworks don’t take off into the air, but are set on the ground to spin around. You should make sure you have plenty of room for this one.
• Roman candle – similar to the rocket firework but with less noise. They can last much longer than rockets, so roman candles might be the best choice if you’re looking to make your celebrations last throughout the evening.
• Fountain – similar to the catherine wheel, these fireworks don’t take off into the air but create a “fountain” effect and loud crackling sound.

Buying Fireworks

Once you’ve selected the fireworks you’re looking to use, you’ll want to find the best deal. Unfortunately, the sale of fireworks is limited online, so you’ll have to pick them up in a shop. The major supermarkets usually have the best deals on individual fireworks and pre-made collections as well.

Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Lidl are all great places to find the best deals, but also make sure to check out DIY shops like Homebase and B&Q.

Staying Safe

• While you may be looking for value for money, don’t cut corners. You should only buy fireworks which conform to the British Standards Check or European safety standards. Check for “BS7114:1988”, “BS EN 15947:2010”, or “CE” markings to confirm this.
• Sparklers can get very hot, so don’t give them to small children.
• Never leave your fireworks unsupervised, especially around children.
• Once a firework is lit, stand well back. Even if it hasn’t gone off for some time it can still explode.

Don’t Have the Budget for Fireworks? Don’t Worry!

If you’re eager to host an electrifying firework party in your garden, but don’t have the immediate funds to do, an instant cash loan from My Financial Broker can help! Simply complete a quick online loan application.

It’s also important to remember there are cheap or completely free public fireworks displays all throughout the country. UK events guide The List has a program of fireworks displays available throughout the UK.