Google searches for ‘how to afford Christmas’ have risen by 261% since 2024, with the festivities forecast to cost a typical UK family £1,681 – up £100 in two years, according to MoneySuperMarket research. With 50 days left until Christmas Day, personal finance and consumer expert Sue Hayward has suggested 50 simple ways to save £1,000 before December 25.
Travel and Transport Savings
Cheap parking can save around £6 a day by avoiding expensive hourly rate car parks, as local stations usually charge an off-peak, all-day rate. Booking train tickets in advance for festive travel can save £4 on coffee plus up to 40% off the next booking, with some train firms giving a free coffee to those who sign up beforehand.
For cheap first class travel, buy a standard ticket and check Seatfrog.com, where you can often bid to upgrade to unsold first class. This can save around £50 on a Milton Keynes to Manchester journey.
Gift and Shopping Hacks
Start present buying now to spread the cost over two pay days and avoid last minute overspending, saving £10 or more. Build a gift cupboard by squirrelling away 3 for 2 deals to give to different people, saving £20. A free reply from Santa can be obtained for the cost of a stamp by writing before December 9 to Royal Mail Letters to Santa, saving £15 based on 2 Santa visits.
Cheap beauty treatments at local beauty colleges offer everything from facials to manicures at low prices, saving £40. Buy unboxed beauty products from websites like directcosmetics.com, saving £10. Dress rehearsals for pantos can be as little as £1, saving £100 for four people.
Food and Entertainment Deals
Choose refurbished phones, dishwashers and washing machines still under warranty, searching CeX for deals, saving at least £20. Trade in old IKEA furniture with a buyback service of up to 50% applied to a gift card, saving £28 based on trading a good condition Kallax unit. BYOB nights at restaurants can save around £24.
Buy leftover paint for around £2 from the Community RePaint scheme, saving £20 on a 5 litre tin. Catering colleges provide excellent meals without restaurant prices, saving £15 or more a person. Cinema deals from Compare the Market and Tesco, plus independent cinemas, can save £10.
Bills and Subscriptions
Haggle down bills from broadband and energy to phone suppliers by selecting the “thinking of leaving us” option, saving £10 upwards. Cancel unwanted subscriptions like unused Netflix at £7.99/month, saving £7.99. Check bank balance over coffee to identify such costs.
Swap premium labels for supermarket own-brands, saving £10 or more. Turn over your receipt and enter the competition on the back, as some offer prizes of £1,000. Use loyalty vouchers and points to buy presents, saving £5 or more.
Total potential savings from the 50 tips amount to £1,172.33.
