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Christmas

Christmas Saving Tips

By 20 October 2026No Comments

Enjoy peace of mind with our Christmas Planner!

After the Christmas fun is over, it’s easy to end up facing big bills in the New Year. With a bit of planning, it’s possible to have a great Christmas and Just CU is here to support you.

Last year, our members submitted some fantastic Christmas Saving tips.  A running theme was having conversations with family and friends to find ways to ensure you enjoy Christmas without huge financial burden. Quite often, everyone is feeling pressure and so by setting some boundaries around what you spend can lift the stress and anxiety off everyone.

Talk to your friends and family

Pressure to please loved ones and to give children the perfect Christmas is top of the list of reasons we overspend during the festive season. Start by working out what you can afford to spend.

Talk to the people you plan to give gifts to about how much you can afford  to spend and other things you might do instead. This might feel like a difficult conversation, but it helps to remember that other people will be struggling this Christmas. If you’re spending too much on presents for loved ones, they might feel the pressure to spend the same amount on you, even if they can’t afford to. To help start the conversation The Money & Pension Service have provided some tips about talking to your friends and family about money in their guide: How to have a conversation about money

Get creative; people often value time with you rather than a present. Team up with family or friends to buy a present for someone and share the cost. Run a Secret Santa for friends so everyone gets a gift without buying a present for everyone. Why not agree a maximum amount with friends or family  that you are all comfortable with? Secret Santa can be a fun tradition and makes gift buying more creative and fun.

Set a budget

Think about what money you have going in an out and how much you can really afford to spend on Christmas. Write it down or use a budget planner.  Make a list of family and friends you would like to buy a present for and what you can afford to spend on each person. Could you have a chat with any on the list about changing present arrangements this year so you both save money?

If you are providing a meal, think about how many people will be coming and how much you will need to spend on food and drink. Can you share the costs with your guests and organise a bring and share? This takes the hosting pressure off too!

Once you have your budget stick to it! Try to put a little aside each week to meet your budget but if it’s to late this year put a note early in your 2027 calendar to start a Just Credit Union  Christmas savings account for 2027.

Don’t use unplanned debt

A quarter of people in the UK are worried about going into debt this Christmas. It might seem easy now to pay for presents and food on your credit card or overdraft, but it can soon become unaffordable and lead to financial problems. 

If you do need to borrow this year, make sure you have planned the borrowing and its from a reputable registered organisation. Just Credit Union make sure any loan is affordable and we’ll even set you up with a savings account, so you have some money set aside for a rainy day or for next Christmas. Because we care about you, if we think you are planning to spend a little too much, we will let you know and offer an amount you can comfortably afford Affordable Saver Loans.

Saving money on your Christmas shopping

      • Start early! With your list keep your eyes peeled and grab the bargains as they come up but don’t be tempted to buy things not on your list just because they are reduced
      • Do your price research there are loads of resources online to help find the best price
      • If you are looking at pre-Christmas sale items, make sure you really are getting a great discount
      • Don’t rule out second hand you may find a virtually new and often still boxed item on auction and local sales websites
      • Sort Christmas post early make sure you know the last guaranteed Christmas posting date for the cheapest services
      • Do you have things lying about the house no one uses any more perhaps some of last year’s presents? Get on the internet and get them sold!
      • If you need to travel by train or bus book it early and get the best deals
      • Search for discount codes which may get you a few percent off or free delivery but always check you are still getting the best deal
      • Support local craft markets and shops they can be a great place to find unique low-cost presents
      • Plan each meal over the period and don’t be tempted to buy lots of extras just because its Christmas it may all end up in the bin!
      • Don’t be tempted to replace your normal foods with the super deluxe version they may be a lot more expensive but not necessarily better tasting
      • If there are people you won’t see until after Christmas wait and buy in the post Christmas sales
      • Make your own decorations and gift tags the kids can have a great time getting creative
      • Don’t be frightened to drop an expensive Christmas tradition, do you really need a turkey? They are big and expensive try something different!

    Don’t be afraid to ask for help

    The cost of living is making many people worry about money. There’s often a link between struggling with money and mental health problems. Feeling low can make it harder to manage your money and worrying about money problems can affect your mental wellbeing. If you think money matters are affecting your mental health, this guide  Money Problems and Mental Health can help.If you need some help and advice with your debts, we have put together this guide to free and reputable sources of help .