Families struggling with the cost of living this Christmas are being urged to rethink how and when they spend, as soaring prices continue to put pressure on household budgets.
Financial expert Jasmine Birtles told GB News that although inflation has eased slightly, everyday costs remain painfully high for many shoppers.
“Prices have really rocketed since Covid,” she said. “People are going to the supermarket and coming out shocked at how much they’ve spent.”
Among her top tips, Ms Birtles advised shoppers to delay buying non-essential Christmas presents until after Christmas Day, when Boxing Day sales are expected to offer significant discounts.
She told The People’s Channel: “I think it makes perfect sense for people to tell friends and family, I’m going to get you something after Christmas when it’s cheaper, so I can get more.
“Everybody understands that. Even people who are usually quite well off are feeling the pinch at the moment.
“They’re watching the sales and waiting to see just how much prices will drop which is great for us as consumers, though not so good for businesses.”
For Christmas dinner, she suggested ditching expensive traditions and choosing what families actually enjoy eating, such as chicken instead of turkey, while asking guests to bring a dish or drinks to share the cost.
Jasmine Birtles shared her top tips with GB News viewers
|
GB NEWS
Ms Birtles said: “It’s a tough one. A lot of people are eschewing the traditional turkey and going for something else, like chicken and frankly, many prefer chicken anyway.
“They’re thinking about what they actually enjoy eating and choosing that.
“Many families are also asking guests to contribute someone brings drinks, another brings the pudding, and someone else brings side dishes.
“I think that’s a really nice way of doing it. I’ve even heard of people asking friends and family for money.
Turkey is usually served at Christmas dinner | ALDI
“If it works for your family, then go for it. Personally, I’d rather ask for things, because asking for money feels a bit naff, but it’s whatever works.
“And of course, this afternoon many supermarkets will have lots of yellow-sticker bargains.
“I’m planning to pop into my local store around 4pm, as they close at 6, because I expect there will be some great deals.
“If you’ve got the time and energy, it’s worth popping down to see what’s available.”
Rising commercial pressures over the festive season are driving up household spending in December, with a third of Britons admitting they are “fairly worried” about how Christmas will affect their finances, according to a recent YouGov poll.
One of the knock-on effects of rising costs is that a Christmas dinner is now around 4 per cent more expensive than last year, with a typical turkey meal and all the trimmings costing roughly £32.45, according to the BBC.
Research by Zopa Bank suggests the average UK household will spend about £1,015 on Christmas throughout December, while the Bank of England’s 2024 estimate was slightly lower, at £713.
While some families are happy to splash out during the festive season, for others, it may be worth rethinking how much they spend.