It might feel strange to be thinking about Christmas in July, but here’s a little secret: the people who enjoy Christmas the most usually aren’t the ones rushing around in December. They’re the ones who’ve planned ahead.
With just five months to go until Christmas, there’s still plenty of time to spread the cost, avoid unnecessary stress and even save hundreds of pounds before the festive season arrives.
Of course, here in the UK, if you mention Christmas when the calendar is still in the summer months, you will most likely get some strange looks, or even frowns. But, there are benefits to stealing a march on prep and thinking about it now.
Whether you’re buying presents for a large family, hosting Christmas dinner or planning festive days out, these 50 simple ideas can help you enjoy Christmas without the January financial hangover, plus a few little tips that will get you ahead of your usual prep timelines.
1. Set a Christmas budget today
Decide how much you can realistically afford to spend. Having a figure in mind makes every other decision easier. Think broadly here – the obvious one is presents, but think food and drink also. Not just the big day, but the lead up, the snacks, the festive parties and get togethers.
Also, sadly, the cost of things such as giftwrap has significantly increased in recent years. The best time to buy giftwrap and cards may have already gone (January), but maybe take a stock check to see what you have already lying around in the loft or attic, or if any shops have some laying around for cheap before new stock arrives in a couple of months.
2. Open a separate Christmas savings pot
Even saving £20 a week between now and December soon adds up. Some workplaces can do this, or you may have a savings account or mechanism to make it easier? All else fails, withdraw £20 (or equivalent if you’re overseas) out of an ATM and pop it in somewhere secure which you can add to each month. If you did £20 a month from now until the start of December, you’d already have an £80 head start!
3. Make a gift list
Write down everyone you intend to buy for now, rather than adding names throughout the year. Also, start to keep tabs on prices NOW. Before you know it, so-called Christmas sales and Amazon Black Friday will be rammed down our throats. Sometimes, the best bargains are had way in advance, and it’s the least stressful approach!
4. Set a spending limit for each person
Avoid buying “just one more thing” for everyone. Even if you’re only buying for four or five people, you can have spent an extra £100 in the blink of an eye.
5. Buy one present each payday
Spreading purchases across several months feels much more manageable. Again, referring to the earlier point, review prices and availability now too. Tesco, for example, have been known to do a great toy sale in Autumn, this is a brilliant time to buy big toy presents way in advance for a fraction of the price. Other supermarkets do similar, but beware, some products will be ‘loss leaders’. They won’t stock many – so know what you’re looking for so you can act as soon as that bargain appears.
6. Keep an eye on Amazon Prime Day and summer sales
Okay, I started this article before Prime Day, which has now gone. However, to the above point, many popular Christmas gifts reach their lowest prices during the summer.
7. Join retailer mailing lists
Many shops offer welcome discounts or exclusive vouchers.
8. Start collecting loyalty points
Tesco Clubcard, Nectar and Boots Advantage points can all help towards Christmas spending. In years gone by, some ran amazing promotions in the lead-up to Christmas to multiply your points to spend on presents. For example, Nectar used to allow you to multiply your points by FOUR TIMES, and it coincided with the annual toy sale. I’ve not had that offer for a few years, nor seen any other retailer being so generous, but definitely review all of your balances.
9. Save every £2 coin (or similar)
It sounds old-fashioned, but many people are surprised how quickly they build up. Let’s say you get a £2 coin once a week, every week until 1st December. That’s another £36 in your Christmas pot!
10. Use cashback websites
Earn money back on purchases you’re making anyway. This isn’t a sponsored article, but I’ll give you an example. I was told by a friend to use Top Cashback. I was sceptical, not least because he received an introductory bonus if I joined and spent! However, it works. Through the year we have had cashback on all sorts; from pennies at Argos, Amazon, etc through to £70+ on a hotel booking for a summer holiday. I think they are also still running an introduce a friend offer whereby you both receive a £15 bonus. All you have to do once signed up is remember to go to the website you are purchasing from, via the Top Cashback app.
Here’s what I do. I regularly find myself buying from Argos. I’ll find which product I want, login to Argos, add it to my basket, and then come out, load Top Cashback, find Argos and click the link. It just loads Argos back again, but everything is still in your basket and the cookie which will earn you commission is in place. It’s easy!
11. Buy wrapping paper after Christmas each year
If you missed it this time, remember it for next year! Even the likes of M&S will be selling off premium cards and wrap for a fraction of the price, card shops and supermarkets even cheaper again!
12. Keep a list of present ideas
Whenever someone mentions something they’d like, make a note on your phone. My notes app on my phone is full, alongside other shopping lists, food lists, etc!
13. Agree spending limits with family
Many families are reducing gift budgets and focusing on quality time instead. Have a chat with significant others, it may be that they are more than happy to take this approach!
14. Suggest Secret Santa for adults
Buying one thoughtful gift is often better than buying ten average ones. Even if that isn’t for you, it’s a fun task with family or friends.
15. Shop little and often
Buying everything in December usually costs more, and is immeasably more stressful. Plan ahead, buy frequent, and reap the rewards.
16. Compare prices before buying
The same product can vary significantly between retailers. As I’ve written above, some use specific products as a lure to get you into their shop. So, know what you want, plan, track prices, and act when you see it at the price you want.
17. Buy non-perishable Christmas food early
Items such as chocolates, biscuits and tinned goods can often be bought months in advance. In fact, this past week Tesco up in the Wirral had crates of those Celebrations/Heroes tubs out with the yellow Clubcard price on. Sure, they may be cheaper down the line (unlikely), but grabbing a couple of tubs now can save you £10/£12 in December when your trolley is already costing a fortune!
18. Freeze what you can
Butter, bread and some desserts freeze surprisingly well. Also, here’s a very festive example. Last Christmas, our in-laws came for Christmas Dinner. My mother-in-law loves red cabbage with her Christmas dinner, but I’d never really had it. So, I grabbed a recipe off GoodFood and made it a few days before Christmas. It mad enough to feed about 20 people!!
I gave lots away to guests, but also froze half of the batch and used it at Easter. It was as good as the day I made it, so over the next one or two months, it’s a great idea to think of similar items you can cook and freeze now. Although, the smell of the cabbage cooking was immense, and incredibly festive!
19. Start collecting gift bags
Reuse ones you’ve received rather than buying new. We already have a stack of these. Even if someone has written on the tag, 95% can be torn off no problem. I’ve never once met someone who was annoyed at having a used gift bag with their gift in!
20. Save delivery boxes
Perfect for posting presents later in the year. Amazon boxes come in incredibly useful!
21. Buy children’s gifts before new toy releases
Prices often increase closer to Christmas. I covered this in a few points above, but don’t be tricked by hanging on for the latest upgrades pre-Xmas, especially if your child is younger. Our four-year-old wouldn’t have cared less that the Peppa Pig house she got last Christmas was the £25 version and not the latest for £60!
22. Avoid impulse purchases
Leave items in your basket overnight before checking out, or refer to your gift list if in doubt. Also, again (sorry for repeating), if it is an impulse purchase, try to at least use the likes of TopCashback and price tracking websites.
23. Plan homemade gifts
Jams, biscuits, candles and photo books often mean more to people than buying expensive presents. Get ahead now by doing a couple of test bakes if you’ve not made them before or you’re not confident!
24. Start making handmade decorations
It’s cheaper and can become a family tradition. I used to adore making paper chains as a kid – I made some with our daughter last year, but she was a bit young to really get into it, I will be trying again this year!
25. Sell unwanted items
Use the money towards your Christmas budget. I’ve only sporadically used the second hand market to make some money back, but Vinted and Facebook Marketplace have become my best friends recently. Clothing, especially, on Vinted goes well, but old furniture, swimming aids, toys and just about anything else can be sold on marketplace.
26. Use price tracker websites to ensure you’re getting the best price
There are a few that track prices, plus some retailers themselves will show you when the product was on-sale cheaper!
27. Check cupboards first for gifts
You may already own suitable presents you’ve forgotten about. For instance, my wife is a teacher. She is very fortunate in that she often receives a lot of lovely gifts for Christmas – sweets and chocolate mainly. But at the time of the year when the house is full of such things, you can consider re-gifting. Same goes for gift sets that may be knocking around unopened!
28. Reuse ribbons and bows
Small savings soon add up and this is a great example of such. A bit of selotape will stick a bow back on a present no problem.
29. Buy Christmas cards gradually
Avoid paying premium prices in December. Also, check you don’t have half a pack left anywhere from last year.
30. Write your Christmas card list now
It helps you buy the right number. Plus, if there are addresses you don’t know, you can be sneaky in getting them from people now to save making it obvious in November/December!
31. Plan your Christmas menu
Knowing what you’re cooking avoids waste. Turkey is normally the obvious place to start for many, and it’s also a good example of something you may be able to buy early. They’ll soon start appearing in supermarkets in October!
32. Price up your Christmas dinner
Watch for offers over the coming months, know what you’re serving and check it’s affordable. Christmas is a long-way off. You can tweak your menu easily at this point.
33. Buy Christmas lights in end-of-season sales
LED lights also reduce electricity costs. Also, have a look now for lights. Stockists may still have Christmas lights on offer, others may not come packaged as being for Christmas but thus are cheaper!
34. Repair decorations instead of replacing them
A quick glue job can save buying new ornaments. There’s also something comforting about using proper old decorations for a retro or sentimental vibe.
35. Borrow specialist items
Need an extra table, chairs or serving dishes? Ask family before buying. Feeling adventurous? Look on YoUtube for an example of how to construct a cheap DIY table yourself. Making it in summer may actually be easier as you can do it with more space outside in good weather, without having to worry as much about sawdust and other mess inside in autumn/winter.
36. Book festive attractions early
Many offer cheaper early-bird tickets, in fact, some will already be sold out! Many events go on sale soon, such as Lanterns at Chester Zoo. Be ready to act quick to get best dates and times.
37. Book travel in advance
Train fares and accommodation usually increase closer to Christmas.
38. Start collecting recipe ideas
Buying ingredients without a plan often leads to waste. I love the BBC GoodFood app and (perhaps stupidly) pay the annual subscription. It lets you bookmark recipes in an easy-to-find-later format, not to mention being able copy and paste lists of ingredients out of the recipes! Cheaper (free) and other methods will exist!
39. Keep a Christmas notebook
Track purchases so you don’t accidentally overspend. This also turns into a lovely keepsake. My Mum and Dad kept a book of all of mine and my Brother’s Christmas presents through childhood!
40. Buy stocking fillers whenever you see good offers
They don’t all have to be bought in one shopping trip, and buying them now is a great way of spending the odd pound here and there without adding them to an already sizeable bill in December.
41. Save supermarket vouchers
Keep them specifically for December.
42. Watch for Black Friday deals
Some purchases really are worth waiting for, but use those price tracking website wisely and stick to your list/plan!
43. Avoid panic buying
Planning removes the temptation to overpay.
44. Create a Christmas playlist now
It costs nothing and helps build excitement. Many use the likes of Spotify or Apple Music these days, which means you can also browse ready-made Christmas playlists for inspiration (or just favourite the entire list to use yourself in December).
45. Plan free festive activities
Christmas light walks, movie nights and baking days create memories without costing much.
46. Take advantage of free local events
Many towns host Christmas fairs, markets and light switch-ons. Often, light switch-ons in villages and towns have small, free events with them.
47. Buy quality over quantity
Fewer thoughtful presents are often more appreciated.
48. Remember experiences don’t have to be expensive
A family board game night or festive walk can become a cherished tradition.
49. Keep receipts organised
Returning unwanted purchases is much easier.
50. Remember what Christmas is really about
The presents will eventually be forgotten. The laughter around the table, family traditions and time spent together are the memories that last longest.
Start Now, Thank Yourself in December
Five months might sound like a long time, but Christmas has a habit of arriving faster than we expect.
Taking just one or two small steps each week between now and December could save you money, reduce stress and leave you free to enjoy what really matters: spending time with the people you love.
Have you already started preparing for Christmas, or are you someone who leaves everything until December? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below.
ADD good food link and pic of cabbage