Christmas can be expensive. This one easy shopping tip can help spread the cost
With Christmas just around the corner, budgeting for the festive season can be a major source of stress for families.
Sweet treats, boxes of chocolates and selection packs for the little ones can quickly become an expensive addition to your Christmas food shop, especially if you have to buy them all in one go. One savvy shopper on TikTok has shared an easy way to help keep costs down, without scrimping on the festive food fun.
In her ‘realistic vlog’ a TikToker called Meg (@megleab) explains her top tip for affordable shopping that everyone around her refers to as ‘genius.’ The method is simple – by picking up a few extra items each month, you can spread the cost and avoid the last-minute scramble for seasonal essentials.
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The Tiktoker said: “I do this every year before Christmas. From the first of September until Christmas Day, on every single weekly shop, I buy one small long-life item for Christmas.
“It basically means that when I get to Christmas I have all of my long-life snacks and condiments already bought so it eases the financial difficulties round Christmas. When it’s just a couple of pounds coming out of your weekly shop you don’t really notice it that much as opposed to going out and spending £100 on random snacks nearer the time.”
While we may already be well into November, starting this way of shopping now could still help to ease the burden of the ‘big’ Christmas shop.
Some of her 6000-plus followers applauded her tenacity and agreed with her methods. @CDK said “That’s how to do it especially if you got kids” while @shazza39 agreed “I’ve done this every year for years.”
Others however were more concerned with having the willpower not to dig into the treats before Chrtistmas.
Gem said: “How do I hide these from myself? Did this last year and ended up spending more [because] I ate everything.” @Hayljc said: “I’ve got 2 things so far, already fighting for my life to not eat them.”
Finally, @becky.98 added: “You should write a list of what you usually get to help others this is a genius idea.”