With all parts of the UK under lockdown conditions and travel restricted, restaurant bookings and romantic mini-breaks are off the table. But those same lockdown measures may be the key to staging a stay-at-home celebration to remember.

With drastically reduced spending on commutes, travel and leisure, many households have actually increased their savings during lockdowns. It’s estimated that £87.6 billion was added to household savings in the spring/summer and November lockdowns in the UK, while Aldermore Bank research suggested that the average person working from home was saving £110 every week.

As one of Scotland’s leading Independent Financial Advisors, we here at McCrea naturally advise using unexpected savings to pay down debt, invest in your pension or boost your ISA contributions. That said, if you have been lucky enough to find a financial silver lining in these tough times, there’s also a case to be made for setting some cash aside to celebrate all that’s still worth celebrating in life as we're big believers in that too!

So why not treat your loved one to a restaurant quality meal, without having to leave the house? As the beleaguered hospitality sector adapts to ongoing restrictions, many have launched cook-at-home services to take you from takeaway to gourmet delight. Why not check what’s available from your local favourites, or sample somewhere you’ve been meaning to try? (And if you want to hide the evidence and take all the credit, we won’t tell!)

Whilst you're cooking (or waiting for the take-away) you could treat others in your household and the planet at the same time with a pre-dinner tipple from Garden Shed Gin, who support Trees4Scotland and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust with profits from their delicious blends of local botanicals.  And as a special treat for you, our friends at Garden Shed Gin are offering 10% off every purchase when you use the code MCCREA10 at checkout.

Guy Chatfield, private client manager at Inverarity Morton, Scotland's largest independently owned wine and spirit merchant adds  "With lockdown still a signficant entity in our lives, the idea of a wee bit of indulgence really appeals to many of us, something nice to counteract the restrictions of not being able to eat at our favourite place or drink in our favourite bar and so has recommended something for everyone here!

For the red wine drinkers;  Goyenechea Quinta Generacion Malbec, Mendoza @ £16.75 per bottle.  Now in their 6^th generation this juicy Argentinean red delivers a complex but infinitely drinkable glass of wine

 If you like White: Chablis, Domaine Albert Bichot, Burgundy @ £20.00 per bottle

This classic bright, racy white from the aristocratic vineyards of Burgundy and a multi international award winning producer

For the Rosé fans : Domaine Bonnard Sancerre Rose, Loire, France @ £15.95 per bottle. A superb ‘sister’ wine to the more famous white, this Pinot Noir rosé is a deliciously dry wine with notes of strawberry & apricot.

And finally there's always the option of Friday Fizz!  Brilla Prosecco Rose –  new to the market; all the fun & flavour of regular Prosecco, just with a dash of silky Pinot Nero to add a delicious strawberry flavour & tone to the glass.

To order you can visit the website  (free delivery for orders over £50) or you can contact Guy directly and he will be happy to help you.

With so much of our normal routine off the menu for the time being, it’s more important than ever to find ways to mark special occasions or simply try and make the weekends feel special.  And while we might not have much more to offer in the way of food and wine, the team at McCrea are here to help you plan for all the special occasions yet to come. Why not get in touch to find out how we could help you plan for your financial future?