Christmas Money-Saving Hacks

Christmas Gifting / 10 December, 2025 / Ellie Thompson

As the average UK household gears up to spend about £1,626 this festive season, many will feel forced into a performance of the Grinch thanks to the mounting cost-of-living squeeze.

“Christmas is meant to be about family, fun and generosity, but the price tag can steal the sparkle,” warns MandM ambassador and money expert, Gemma Bird (moneymumofficial).

“I’ve seen a sharp rise in people sharing money-saving hacks on social media. It shows you can be generous to yourself and others even when funds are tight.” In the spirit of the season, Gemma has pulled together her 12 Days of Christmas Money-Saving Hacks so you can spread joy without spreading yourself too thin.

Start with a Christmas budget

It sounds obvious, but many households skip it. Set an overall budget and divide it by category, for example, gifts, food, and social gatherings.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” says Gemma. “A family of four will spend more on food than a couple without children, so the best approach is to tailor your budget to your household.”
“An easy way to do this is with a spreadsheet or try banking or budgeting apps to split money into pots for each category.”

Sign up for bank switches or cashback schemes

Free money sounds too good to be true, but it’s even stranger that you can get it from the bank.
The big banks are offering up to £200 if you open an account with them. That’s a healthy amount to add to your Christmas fund.

If you’re not in the market for a new bank, even with the money boost, try cashback apps or websites. These sites allow you to earn money back on your purchases, so you can save as you spend.

Always check for discount codes

Before buying, always search for discount codes online.

If your search comes up empty, here’s a hack: sign up to the brand’s newsletter. Many will offer a discount if you sign up. It’s usually around 10% off, with a minimum spend.

Use loyalty points for your Christmas food shop

If you’re scanning your member card when checking out your weekly shop, chances are you have a stack of vouchers piled up.

“A lot of people don’t realise how much they’ve earned because when supermarkets talk about member card benefits, they focus on the immediate discount at the point of purchase,” says Gemma. “You can usually find out how much you have in vouchers on the company’s website or by asking in store.”

You may already use your vouchers, however, this is your sign to save ahead of Christmas price spikes.

Reuse and reimagine your wrapping

Get creative and save on gift wrapping with these hacks:

Try fabric wraps. Use old scarves or fun tea towels (or pick some up from a charity shop). Lay the fabric flat, place your gift in the centre, and tie two diagonally opposite corners together in a knot. Then tie the remaining two corners over the top to secure it. The reusable wrap becomes part of the gift. Decorate brown paper with your own designs in pen or paint and finish with twine bows.
Reuse old paper that you’ve saved

Start your food shop early and buy over time

Social media users swear by this festive stocking hack.

Each week, add one non-perishable festive item (cranberry sauce, mince pies, chocolates) to your regular shop.

By December, you’ll have most of your pantry ready without a sudden hit to your wallet. Coupled with your member card vouchers, the Christmas shop suddenly looks a lot less worrying.

Shop off-price retailers

If you want to get something special but don’t quite have the funds this year, consider off-price retailers online.

“Some people just love certain brands, maybe they love the styles or quality or just the brand itself. Off-price retailers are the place to go for those gifts,” says Gemma.

“MandM lets you shop premium brands for up to 65% less all year round. Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Levi’s – you name it.”

Try DIY decorations that cost next to nothing.

Try crafting your own decorations this year. It’s affordable, fun, environmentally friendly, and a great excuse to bring family or friends together.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Dried orange garland – bake clementine slices, poke holes in the centre of each, thread along some twine and hang wherever you’d like.

A foraged wreath – make your own wreath ring by bending an old hanger into a circle or purchase one new online for around £3, then get the family together for a walk to collect elements, like pinecones, holly and berries. Create your own, unique wreath together.

DIY baubles – give old or scratched baubles a refresh with a pack of balloons. Cut off the thinner ends of each balloon and cover your old baubles with fresh finishes.

Make your own Christmas crackers

Christmas crackers are often full of hilariously useless objects, like the tiniest comb you’ve ever seen or maybe a miniature screwdriver.

Why not make them yourself and choose what goes inside? For the cracker, purchase a kit online for about £6 to make six, or do it yourself. You will need:

Card or thick paper
A paper tube (for example, an empty toilet paper roll)
Tape
A cracker snap, available to purchase online for about 20p each
Ribbon or string
Inside, pop handmade treats, sweets and jokes of your choice. And don’t forget the all-important paper crown!

Try a family secret Santa

Instead of everyone buying for everyone, set a budget and draw names.

One thoughtful gift per person means less waste and more meaning. Plus, it adds a bit of fun and mystery to the festivities.

This hack is particularly good if you’ve got a big family to buy for.

Embrace the four-gift rule for kids

To encourage the little ones to appreciate what they get, save money and reduce clutter, parents are embracing the ‘four-gift rule’.

Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read

Introduce your children to the idea, then allocate a budget for each to keep spending sensible and ensure gifts are truly appreciated.

“People are realising that a thoughtful, budget-friendly Christmas often feels more special than one where you’ve overspent,” says Gemma. “It brings the focus back to quality time together with fun family activities and carefully considered, meaningful gifts.”

Shop premium-branded fashion, outdoor and sportswear at up to 65% off all year round at mandmdirect.com.

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