Christmas Is Nine Weeks Away: A Simple Plan to Spread the Cost

It might feel too early to talk about Christmas, but Christmas Day is now just over nine weeks away. That’s a handy amount of time. Start planning now and you can spread the cost, avoid a last-minute panic and head into January without a nasty surprise on your bank statement.

Step 1: Set your total budget

Start with a figure you can afford without borrowing, then break it down:

• Gifts
• Food and drink
• Travel to see family and friends
• Decorations, wrapping and cards
• Nights out and festive treats

It’s much easier to stay on track when every pound has a job.

Step 2: Spread the cost over the weeks ahead

Divide your total budget by the number of weeks or paydays left before Christmas. That gives you a manageable amount to set aside each time, rather than one big hit in December.

Keeping your Christmas money in a separate savings pot or account can stop it getting mixed up with everyday spending.

Step 3: Make a gift list (and check it twice)

• Write down everyone you’re buying for and set a limit for each person.
• Suggest a Secret Santa with friends, colleagues or the wider family. One thoughtful present each costs far less than lots of little ones.
• Agree a spending cap with family members, or a “kids only” rule for presents.
• Think about homemade or experience gifts. Homemade treats, a framed photo or an offer to babysit can mean more than something shop-bought.

Step 4: Put loyalty points and cashback to work

This is the time of year when the points you’ve been collecting really come into their own.

• Check your loyalty card balances. Supermarket, pharmacy and high street loyalty points can often be put towards gifts or the Christmas food shop.
• Use cashback sites and apps on purchases you’re making anyway, but remember that cashback can take a while to arrive.
• Keep an eye out for coupons and vouchers, such as money-off-your-next-shop offers, and save them for when you need them most.
• Use up gift cards you’ve had sitting in a drawer before they expire.

Step 5: Get ahead on the food shop

Christmas food can be one of the biggest costs, so spread it out:

• Buy long-life items like tins, gravy, crackers and drinks a little at a time over the coming weeks, especially when they’re on offer.
• Plan your Christmas meals now, so you only buy what you’ll actually eat.
• Use your freezer. Batch cook and freeze dishes ahead of time, which also means less stress on the day.
• Plan for leftovers, as they can become meals for Boxing Day and beyond.

Step 6: Time your shopping

• Black Friday (27 November) and Cyber Monday (30 November) can be a good time for big-ticket gifts, as long as they’re already on your list and you’ve compared prices.
• Order online in good time to avoid paying extra for last-minute delivery.
• Buy wrapping paper, cards and crackers in the January sales for next year.

Step 7: Keep track as you go

Use a simple notebook, spreadsheet or the notes app on your phone to keep track of what you’ve bought and how much you’ve spent. Hide gifts somewhere you’ll remember, so you don’t buy the same thing twice.

A calmer, cheaper Christmas

Christmas should be about time with the people you love, not money worries. A bit of planning now means you can relax and enjoy it when December arrives.

Keep an eye out here for the latest deals and offers to help your Christmas budget go a little further.