How to Cut Your Christmas Food Bill This Year (Without Cutting the Joy)

Christmas doesn’t have to come with a credit-card hangover. With a little planning, a few smart swaps, and a willingness to ignore the pressure to “overbuy just in case”, you can enjoy a generous, traditional Christmas while keeping your food bill firmly under control.

Here’s how to do it — calmly, practically, and without feeling deprived.

1. Plan First, Shop Second

Impulse buying is the single biggest reason Christmas food bills spiral. Before you step foot in a supermarket (or open a shopping app):

Write a realistic menu for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the days immediately after

Count exactly how many people you’re feeding — not how many you might feed

Decide which meals actually need to be special and which can be simple

Christmas doesn’t require luxury ingredients for every single meal. Save the splurge for where it truly matters.

2. Be Honest About How Much You Actually Eat

Most households massively overestimate Christmas consumption.

Ask yourself:

How much of last year’s cheese board went untouched?

Did anyone really want pudding after a full roast?

How much party food ended up forgotten in the fridge?

Buying slightly less is not being mean — it’s being realistic.

3. Don’t Fear Frozen (It’s Your Secret Weapon)

Frozen food has an unfair reputation at Christmas, but it’s one of the best ways to save money.

Frozen veg is often cheaper, just as nutritious, and never wasted

Frozen desserts can be portioned exactly

Bread, rolls, and pastry freeze beautifully and defrost quickly

Freezer space is worth more than gold in December — use it wisely.

4. Shop Little and Often Instead of One Big Panic Shop

A single massive Christmas shop encourages excess “just in case” purchases.

Instead:

Do one early essentials shop (tins, flour, sugar, long-life items)

Add fresh items closer to Christmas

Keep receipts and review what you’re actually using

This spreads the cost and reduces waste.

5. Supermarket Own Brands Are Your Friend

At Christmas especially, supermarket own-brand ranges often match branded products in quality — sometimes surpassing them.

Items where own brand makes little difference:

Flour, sugar, rice, pasta

Tinned tomatoes, beans, pulses

Stock cubes, sauces, condiments

Mince pies and biscuits (many are made by the same bakeries)

Reserve premium brands for the things you genuinely taste and appreciate.

6. Be Strategic With Meat

Meat is usually the most expensive part of Christmas dinner — but it doesn’t have to be.

Choose joints that stretch (turkey crowns, rolled pork, gammon)

Ask your butcher about smaller joints or half portions

Remember leftovers are only useful if you actually enjoy eating them

A perfectly cooked smaller joint beats a huge, dried-out one every time.

7. Reduce the “Nibble Creep”

It’s not the main meals that quietly drain your budget — it’s the constant grazing.

Instead of endless tubs of snacks:

Choose one savoury nibble and one sweet treat

Plate snacks rather than leaving bags open

Replace some nibbles with popcorn, nuts, or homemade dips

Less out means less eaten — and less wasted.

8. Batch Cook Once, Relax Later

Pre-Christmas batch cooking saves money and stress.

Make soups, stews, or curries for the days after Christmas

Use cheaper cuts of meat or plant-based proteins

Freeze portions so you’re not tempted by takeaway menus

Future-you will be very grateful.

9. Alcohol Is an Easy Place to Save

Festive drinks add up frighteningly fast.

Ways to cut back without feeling deprived:

Pick one “special” bottle and keep the rest simple

Add soft-drink mixers to stretch wine and spirits

Remember not everyone drinks, don’t buy for 'imaginary' guests

A smaller selection, enjoyed properly, costs far less than overflowing cupboards.

10. Accept That “Enough” Is Enough

Christmas marketing is designed to make you feel like you’re never doing quite enough.

But:

Enough food is enough

Enough choice is enough

Enough generosity is enough

A warm, relaxed Christmas table matters far more than excess.

Cutting your Christmas food bill isn’t about penny-pinching or denying yourself joy. It’s about spending intentionally, wasting less, and putting your money where it actually enhances your Christmas, whether that’s one lovely meal, a bottle you’ll truly enjoy, or simply the peace of mind that January won’t start with regret.

A calmer Christmas starts in the kitchen — and often, in the shopping list.

How Switching from Baths to Showers Saved Us £50–£70 a Year …and why this unexpected saving feels like a little Christmas gift

Switching from baths to showers has saved me £50–£70 a year. A simple change for my arthritic knee turned into a welcome Christmas saving on our household bills.

At Christmastime, every household looks for ways to stay warm, stay comfortable and stay within budget, not easy when December seems to come with a never-ending list of extra expenses.

So when I realised I’d been quietly saving £50 to £70 a year simply by changing how I wash, it felt rather like finding an early Christmas present tucked behind the tree.

A change driven by comfort

The switch itself wasn’t planned as a money-saving tactic at all. An arthritic knee was making getting in and out of the bath increasingly difficult, so I began showering exclusively. It was a practical decision, nothing more.

But within a few months, one thing became clear: our household bill was running noticeably lower. All because the bath, lovely as it can be, had been replaced by shorter, far more efficient showers.

Why showers cost less

A festive tip worth sharing:

Baths typically use 80–150 litres of hot water. Heating that volume several times a week adds up very quickly.

A short shower uses far less, meaning far less energy goes into heating water.

Across a year, that simple difference can shave £50–£70 off your energy costs — and even more if energy prices rise again.

It’s the kind of saving you don’t feel day to day, but really notice when winter bills arrive.

A seasonal saving that makes a difference

With Christmas approaching, that extra £50–£70 can be redirected to something far more joyful:

a special festive treat

a little luxury for the dinner table

a stocking filler for someone you love

or simply a cushion against rising winter costs

In a season when warmth, comfort and generosity matter, choosing a routine that supports both your wellbeing and your wallet feels wonderfully fitting.

A reminder that small habits matter

We often think energy savings must come from big investments, insulation, new boilers, smart systems. But sometimes the most effective changes are the smallest and most personal. In my case, it was simply stepping into a shower instead of running a bath.

This Christmas, if you’re looking for an easy, comforting and quietly cost-saving habit, the humble shower might be the most festive switch of all.

12 days of Christmas’: 12 money-saving hacks to save you cash

“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, 

https://www.facebook.com/moneymumofficial)

She told That's Christmas 365: “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.”

Gemma has pulled together her 12 Days of Christmas Money-Saving Hacks so you can spread joy without spreading yourself too thin.

‘12 days of Christmas’: 12 money-saving hacks to save you cash

Start with a Christmas budget

Set an overall budget and divide it by category. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” says Gemma. “A family of four will spend more on food than a couple without children.” “An easy way to do this is with a spreadsheet or banking apps to split money into pots.”

Shop early to beat price hikes

Many start shopping as early as September.

Sign up for bank switches or cashback schemes

The big banks are offering up to £200 if you open an account. If not switching, try cashback apps or websites.

Always check for discount codes

Search for discount codes. If you find none, sign up to the brand’s newsletter for a discount.

Use loyalty points for your Christmas food shop

“A lot of people don’t realise how much they’ve earned,” says Gemma. “You can usually find out how much you have in vouchers on the company’s website or by asking in store.”

Reuse and reimagine your wrapping

Try fabric wraps, decorate brown paper, or reuse saved paper.

Start your food shop early and buy over time

Add one non-perishable festive item each week to avoid a December budget hit.

Shop off-price retailers

“MandM lets you shop premium brands for up to 65% less all-year round.”

Try DIY decorations that cost next to nothing

Dried orange garland, a foraged wreath, DIY baubles.

Make your own Christmas crackers

Purchase a kit or make them yourself and choose what goes inside.

Try a family secret Santa

Set a budget and draw names for one meaningful gift each.

Embrace the four-gift rule for kids

Something they want, need, wear, read.

“People are realising that a thoughtful, budget-friendly Christmas often feels more special,” says Gemma.

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