Seven ways to make the Christmas food shop cheaper

Food prices are set to rise exactly when people are stocking up for Christmas, so now’s the time to think about how you can keep costs down.

According to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), food inflation will reach 3.9% in December 2026.

An increase in food prices is never welcome, but this is particularly bad timing, as millions of us will be stocking up for the festive season, buying everything from a huge turkey to loads of booze, snacks and chocolatey treats.

Why are food prices tipped to rise?

The FDF’s warning might raise an eyebrow, as food inflation actually fell to its lowest level in two years in July (1.3%).

But factors such as the Iran war, droughts and El Niño are pushing up prices for manufacturers, with the cost of energy, ingredients, transport, logistics and packaging all increasing.

“Food and drink manufacturers have kept food prices as low as possible during the energy shock since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” said FDF chief executive Karen Betts.

“But they can’t do this indefinitely.”

How can you save money at Christmas?

If you’re worried about the prospect of higher food prices at exactly the time you’ll be filling your trolley to the brim, don’t worry.

There are a few ways to take some of the sting out of the Christmas food shop.

1. Spread the cost

Don’t wait until December to buy food for Christmas.

There’s no reason why you can’t buy non-perishable items like tins, biscuits, crisps, drinks and boxes of chocolates gradually over the next few months.

That means you can spread the cost across several pay packets instead of paying one massive supermarket bill just before the big day, when you’ve probably got loads of other expenses to deal with like buying presents.

2. Use your freezer

If you have freezer space, make the most of it in the run-up to Christmas.

For instance, you could buy your Christmas turkey before demand in the supermarket soars, so you’ve got that job and that expense out of the way early.

You might also want to prepare some food in advance that could easily be left in the freezer, such as roast potatoes and stuffing.

3. Write a list and stick to it

You’re surrounded by temptation when you do the Christmas food shop, so it’s easy to chuck anything and everything into the trolley without much thought.

But that’s exactly how you end up spending more than you want to.

So do a little bit of advance planning and ask yourself a few questions, like:

• what meals and snacks do you plan to eat over the Christmas period?
• how many people will you be feeding?
• do you already have some of the things you need in your cupboard or freezer, so you don’t have to buy them again?

You can then write down what ingredients and items you want on a shopping list.

Just make sure you stick to the list once you’re in the supermarket, so you don’t pick up items you don’t need or might not even use.

4. Budget for the Christmas shop

Work out exactly how much money you can afford and want to spend on the big Christmas shop.

If you have an upper limit, you can prioritise your spending and make sure you’re able to juggle other day-to-say and seasonal expenses

Check our guide to how to create a budget to get started.

5. Shop around to save money

If you’re in the habit of going to the same supermarket every week, mix it up a bit and see if you could get a better deal elsewhere, particularly for expensive items like meat and cheese.

Consumer group Which? recently named Aldi as the cheapest supermarket overall, followed by Lidl and Asda.

So it’s worth spending some time researching the market to make sure you don’t pay over the odds.

6. Plan meals around leftovers

When you’re planning your Christmas meals, think about what you can do with leftovers, rather than treating them as waste.

For example, uneaten roasties and veg can easily be turned into bubble and squeak or vegetable soup.

And leftover turkey is perfect in a sandwich, pie or curry.

It just means you’re making the most of the food you’ve bought, rather than buying extra and possibly unnecessary items to keep everyone fed over the festive season.

7. Check our regular money saving tips

Check back here regularly for our round-ups of standout deals and low-cost recipes that can save you money in the supermarket.

For more money-saving tips, check out our other ideas on how to keep the cost of your food shop down.