A personal finance expert says you need to ‘think twice’ as we head towards December
With summer over many are starting to plan for Christmas, and finance experts say you could save £3,000 before the end of the year with a few easy changes. Carlton Crabbe, a financial adviser at Capital for Life, said there is time to get ahead and avoid falling into the January debt spiral.
Carlton said: “If you start now, you could comfortably save close to £3,000 before Christmas. It’s about small, consistent changes. No one likes to feel deprived, so these are practical tweaks that really add up.”
Carlton’s ten tips cover everything from your weekly food shop to your weekend plans. And he says one of them could see you banking £500 by early November.
Look down the supermarket shelves
“Supermarkets are clever,” says Carlton. “They put the expensive stuff right at eye level. If you simply lower your gaze, you’ll see the cheaper versions hiding further down.”
He said value ranges often taste just as good as the big brands. “For example, swap Heinz beans at £1.40 for Tesco’s Stockwell beans at 29p. Kellogg’s cornflakes are £3.20 but the value box is just 79p. Do that across a weekly shop and you’re saving about £25 a week, which comes to £300 by Christmas.”
Cash is king
Contactless has made it effortless to spend. Carlton said: “When you pay with cash, you feel the money leaving your hands. It makes you think twice. I recommend taking out a set budget in cash at the start of the month. Whatever’s left at the end goes straight into a Christmas pot.”
He says an average family could save at least £200 this way before December.
Clear out the cupboards
“We all have cupboards full of unwanted gifts,” Carlton said. “On average, households are sitting on about £1,500 worth of unused items. I’m talking unopened perfume, toys still in packaging, and clothes with the tags on. With second-hand shopping booming, there’s a real market.”
Even if you only manage to sell ten items at £10 each, that’s £100 for the festive fund.
Cut the coffee habit
That daily £5 latte quickly adds up. “Bring a flask or use the office machine,” Carlton advises. “If you’re saving £25 a week, that’s £225 in your pocket by December.”
Ditch the meal deal
Office lunches are another sneaky drain. “If you’re spending £4–£5 a day on a meal deal, that’s £100 a month. Cook extra dinner portions and bring leftovers. You’ll save around £300 before Christmas.”
Fakeaway, don’t takeaway
Takeaways may be tempting on a Saturday night, but Carlton warns they’re financial black holes. “A family of four can easily spend £50 on one meal. If you make your own pizza or curry at home instead, you’ll save £500 by early December, and you might even enjoy cooking it together.”
Free fun at weekends
The holidays may be over, but weekend costs mount up quickly. “Cinema tickets and theme parks can burn through £50 a week,” says Carlton. “Instead, look at free activities like local library clubs, woodland walks or art projects at home. Over three months, that’s another £600 saved.”
Cut back on Christmas cards
A first-class stamp is now £1.35. “If you’re sending 30 cards, that’s £40 gone,” Carlton said. “Why not send an e-card or festive WhatsApp message? People will still feel thought of.”
Join supermarket Christmas schemes
Carlton said: “Most major supermarkets offer saving clubs. You put money in each week and they reward you with vouchers. By December, that could mean an extra £25 towards the big shop – and you won’t notice the money going out.”
Cancel the streaming services
“In the run-up to Christmas there’s plenty on Freeview,” Carlton notes. “If you cancel Netflix, Disney+ and the rest for three months, that’s around £168 back in your account. You can always resubscribe in January.”