Between the stocking fillers, emergency gift sets and extra cheese ‘just in case’, Christmas spending can creep up before we’ve even bought the presents we planned to buy.
A few changes now can mean less spending, less waste and fewer things nobody quite knows what to do with, while leaving room for lovely gifts. We’ve included some thoughtful options to help you get started.
1. Shrink the list before you start shopping
If you usually buy £20 presents for five adults, agreeing a £25 Secret Santa brings your spending down from £100 to £25, with everyone still getting something to open.
Suggest it now, before the family’s most organised shopper has finished, and ask everyone for three ideas within the budget. Checking whether they’re happy with second-hand gifts gives you more options and saves the annual guessing game over your brother-in-law’s interests.
Set aside money for travel, outings and food before deciding what’s left for presents, remembering that January’s bills won’t take Christmas off.
2. Give something with a little history
A second-hand cookbook for a keen baker, a favourite childhood novel or a vintage serving dish will feel much more personal than a more expensive gift set grabbed on 23 December.
World of Books lets you search by title and check condition, although it’s worth looking closely at the edition if you want a gift-worthy hardback. Oxfam and other charity shops are also worth a browse for books, records and homeware.
To make it personal, tuck a handwritten recipe into a cookbook or add a note explaining why you loved a novel.
3. Choose a small ethical gift they’ll actually use
A modest budget still leaves room to support better sourcing, smaller makers or a charity. These gifts offer a few places to start, depending on who you’re buying for.
For a chocolate lover, Divine’s 45% milk chocolate bar costs £3.39 for 90g and is Fairtrade. If you’re taking something for a household to share, Tony’s Chocolonely small bar rainbow gift pack contains six small bars for £12. The brand publishes its cocoa sourcing principles, so you can see what sits behind its ethical claims.
For someone who enjoys a little pampering, Soap Folk’s orange and ginger soap is £6.95, handmade in Stroud and wrapped in recyclable paper. The maker uses organic oils and butters where possible, and its travel soap gift set offers six mini bars for £14 if you have a little more to spend.
For a keen gardener, a Seedball bee mix tin from WWF costs £7.50 and gives them a wildflower-growing project to look forward to. All profits from WWF’s shop go to the charity.
Watch the postage: WWF’s standard UK delivery is £4.95, taking a single £7.50 tin to £12.45. It’s worth checking local stockists or combining planned purchases, although spending another £20 to qualify for free delivery rarely improves a £10 gift budget.
Resist the urge to add three extras because one present looks small, or a £7 gift can quickly become a £25 one.
4. Check refurbished tech before paying for new
Phones, tablets and consoles can swallow the Christmas budget. Back Market is one place to compare refurbished models, with a one-year seller warranty and free 30-day returns.
Compare the same model and storage size with today’s new price, then check the battery specification, condition and remaining software support before deciding whether it’s good value.
If there’s one particular device someone wants, relatives could pool contributions towards it. Test it when it arrives, especially if you’re buying well before Christmas, as the returns clock may run out before the wrapping comes off.
5. Feed the people coming, not an imaginary crowd
Write down how many people you’re feeding for each meal, check the freezer and give guests something specific to bring. Three desserts are plenty if three desserts are what you planned.
Too Good To Go sells Surprise Bags of surplus food from participating businesses. Try it for a flexible lunch or snacks; don’t rely on it for the centrepiece of Christmas dinner.
Olio is useful for finding free food shared nearby and passing on your own surplus; just check collection times and only claim what you’ll use.
Before the big shop, leave a freezer shelf free for leftovers so you have somewhere to put the food you want to save.
6. Raid the wrapping cupboard
Before buying wrapping supplies, see which gift bags, boxes and ribbons you can reuse, and turn old Christmas cards into tags. Often a fresh label is all a gift bag needs for another Christmas.
If you need new supplies, Ethical Superstore has recycled-paper options. Check the recycled content and keep glitter, foil and plastic decorations out of paper recycling.
Fabric wrapping works well when you already have a scarf or spare cloth and the recipient will reuse it. There’s no need to buy a whole new wrapping system.
7. Give them something to look forward to
Money towards a bike, a course or a trip can be a welcome gift, especially with a card explaining what you’re helping them save for.
For children, our five financial gift options explain ways to give money for the future. Check with their parent first, as there may already be an account you can pay into.
Or make a specific plan together, whether that’s a homemade afternoon tea, a film night with their choice of film or an afternoon helping with the garden. Agree a date so it becomes something to look forward to, rather than an offer you both forget about.
