Skip to content
Change your causeShopping for 50% of our commission goes to them, at no cost to you. Change it any time. Sign inJoin

Christmas 2026 could cost £1,500 or more: a simple budget plan before Black Friday

Two recent surveys put the cost of a family Christmas at £1,502 and £1,681. With inflation at 3.5% and Black Friday on 27 November, here's how to set a budget, split it and stick to it.

Scams & money newsBlack Friday and Christmas4 min readMike DoddBy Mike Dodd

Pick a charity and we'll give them 50% of our commission.

Presents wrapped in brown paper with red baubles and pine sprigs on a wooden table
Photo: Mel Poole on Unsplash

What the surveys say

Christmas is getting more expensive. A survey of 2,000 adults for the Christmas savings club Park, reported in October, found the typical family expects to spend £1,502 this Christmas. That's before alcohol, soft drinks and decorations. The biggest items were presents at £693.80, Christmas dinner at £185.80 and sweets and treats at £158.20. Gen Z adults, aged 18 to 29, expected to spend £2,274, and baby boomers £870.

Research from MoneySuperMarket, published in September, put the average household's Christmas costs at about £1,681, up from £1,576 two years earlier, once things like energy, travel, cards and postage are included.

Prices are still rising. The Office for National Statistics says CPI inflation was 3.5% in the 12 months to September 2026. And only 22% of people in Park's survey said they'd set money aside during the year for Christmas, which means many will be paying from November and December wages or on credit.

At a glance

  • Typical expected spend: £1,502 (Park survey) to about £1,681 (MoneySuperMarket estimate).
  • Presents are the biggest single cost, at about £694 in Park's survey.
  • Black Friday is 27 November and Cyber Monday 30 November.
  • Credit cards give you extra protection on purchases between £100 and £30,000 under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, as long as you can clear the balance.

A budget plan: a worked example

Ellie and Tom decide they can afford £1,200 this year, about £300 below the survey average. They split it before they shop:

  • Presents: £550. A list with a limit for each person, written down.
  • Christmas food and drink: £300. Planned meals and one big shop, with a top-up in the last week.
  • Treats, snacks and extras: £150.
  • Cards, wrapping and postage: £80. Thirty cards with second class stamps at 91p cost £27.30.
  • Going out, travel and a buffer: £120.

From 6 November to Christmas Eve there are seven weeks. If they set aside about £172 a week, the £1,200 is covered without borrowing. They use Black Friday only for things already on the presents list, so a "deal" on something they hadn't planned doesn't eat into the budget.

What to do now

  1. Set one total you can pay from income or savings, not a figure you'll be paying off in March.
  2. Split it into categories and give each person on your list a limit.
  3. Write a Black Friday list now with the price each item sells for today, so you can tell a real discount from a fake one.
  4. Pay with a credit card for bigger buys if you'll clear it in full, for section 75 protection. Be careful with buy now, pay later: missed payments can cost you and affect your credit.
  5. Track what you spend in a note on your phone or a banking app's budget tool.
  6. Agree limits with family. A Secret Santa for adults can cut the presents bill sharply.

Questions

Are Black Friday deals really cheaper?

Some are, some aren't. Prices can rise before the sale and drop back afterwards. Note today's prices on your list and compare on the day.

Is it worth buying presents in November?

If they're on your list and the price is right, yes. You'll avoid last-minute buying and have time to return anything faulty. Check each shop's Christmas returns policy before you buy.

Should I save through the year for next Christmas?

Yes, if you can. Putting even £20 a month into a savings account from January gives you £240 by December. A bank, building society or credit union account is protected by the FSCS up to £120,000. Payments into a hamper or voucher club aren't, so check how a club protects your money before you sign up.

What if the budget doesn't stretch?

Cut back before you borrow. If you're struggling with debts already, free advice is available from StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice. Avoid anyone offering a quick, informal loan.

Ways to save

Once your list is set, check for codes before you buy. For big-ticket presents, see Argos, Currys and Amazon. For children's presents, try The Entertainer and LEGO. For the food shop, our Aldi page lists current offers.

Sources: Park survey of 2,000 adults (October 2026), MoneySuperMarket research via Yahoo Finance (September 2026), ONS: consumer price inflation, Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75, Royal Mail: prices 2026

Know your rights

More on your rights when you shop

The Thursday email

Every Thursday: the best codes from the brands you shop at. After you sign up, pick your brands and whether you want codes, hot deals, free delivery or student offers. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.

We'll email you a link to confirm and choose what you get. We only use your email for the emails you ask for. Privacy policy.

Keep reading

Pick a charity or club to support · we give it 50% of our commission, at no cost to youChoose

Pick a charity to help

When you buy, the shop pays us a little. We give 50% of it to your charity. It costs you nothing. How it works (opens in a new tab)
Thank you

You're supporting

Now shop as normal. When you use one of our codes or deals, we give 50% of our commission to . It costs you nothing.

Popular stores
Browse all stores
A thank-you from

Thank you for shopping for

When the shop confirms your order, we give 50% of our commission to . It costs you nothing.