“Boost your immunity this winter” ran a recent newspaper headline – one of an increasing number that tend to catch the eye as you get a little older and begin to appreciate the health benefits of keeping viruses and other nasty conditions at arm’s length, particularly at this time of the year.

Many doctors maintain that taking regular doses of vitamin C will increase the production of white blood cells, considered key to fighting infection. Other medics prioritise keeping the gut healthy by eating plenty of leeks, bananas, apples and oats.

As we head towards the festive period, healthy eating may be shelved for a little while as we plan for family gatherings and eagerly await the annual screening of Jason and the Argonauts.

However, as Ken Carter, head of insurance services at personal finance website Moneymapp.com, notes: “‘Tis the season to be covered. It’s a time when people should check whether they need to boost their insurance cover as well as their immunity.”

While the overwhelming majority of us embrace the joy we experience at Christmas, we’re also deeply saddened when learning of thieves who sense the opportunity to make other people miserable, shamefully taking advantage of people’s good nature and seasonal spirit, usually by stealing or something equally despicable.

Online shopping, for example, has caused a surge in ‘porch piracy’ as packages left outside homes by delivery drivers are stolen by heartless criminals. Last year, out of an estimated one billion successfully delivered packages, a record 22,000 parcels were stolen.

“If you’re unsure whether you’ll be home to take a delivery, either give the courier an alternative address or arrange to leave your package with a neighbour,” adds Mr Carter. “You may prefer to buy your presents online but use a ‘click and collect’ option to ensure you pick your items up yourself.”

Given that the possibility of opportunist thieves pouncing increases significantly at this time of the year, most insurance companies will either automatically increase homeowners’ contents insurance cover by between 10pc-20pc for 30 days either side of Christmas Day (the same, incidentally, applies to Hannukkah and Eid-ul-Adha) or insurance policyholders can secure their own peace of mind by boosting their level of contents cover.

But there are other aspects of insurance cover worth considering.

“Insurance companies will pay up to a certain level, usually around £500, should any food or drink be ruined as a result of a fault with your fridge or freezer,” says Ken Carter. “And don’t forget accidental damage,” he adds.

The festive period usually results in many of us welcoming more family and guests than at other times of year, which increases the risk of breakages, minor damage and general mishaps.

“The majority of insurers offer some kind of accidental damage insurance designed to cover unexpected spillages and minor mishaps,” says Mr Carter. “Checking with your insurance company to see if you're covered could prove worthwhile – particularly if someone should spill a glass of red wine on a light-coloured carpet for instance."

As pandemic-related travel restrictions have almost completely disappeared, many folks are looking forward to getting away for Christmas in numbers not seen since 2019. Upon return, each of them will want to find their home as they left it.

Reassuringly, home burglaries are not as big a problem as people often believe. That is, of course, unless you’re a victim and the impact of someone coming uninvited to your home and either stealing or deliberately damaging personal effects can be devastating.

Insurance companies encourage festive holidaymakers to use a house-sitting service or call upon a relative to look after their homes while they’re away. If this isn’t an option, people lucky enough to be heading off for a winter break should ensure their property is as secure as possible by installing an alarm (or having an existing one serviced) and making sure that existing door and window locks work properly and meet their insurers’ security requirements.

Finally, people who intend on being away from home for more than 30 days should check their insurance policies: there is usually a requirement to advise an insurer if a property is to be unoccupied for more than 30 days.

For more financial advice, check out Peter Sharkey’s regular blog, The Week In Numbers.

This column is for general information only and cannot be relied on as financial advice for individuals. Consult your professional adviser.