Boxing Day & January sales budget

January is the longest month for money: Christmas pay often lands early, the bills don't stop, and the sales start on 26 December. Work out what's genuinely spare before you shop.

Money in your account on 26 December (£)

Bills and essentials until your January payday (£)

Safety buffer to keep (£)

Gift cards and vouchers to spend (£)

Planned sale buys you'd get anyway (£)

Rules for the sales

Only buy what was on your list before Christmas, like a winter coat or a replacement kettle, not what the sale suggests.
Spend gift cards first, and soon. Check the expiry date, and remember a gift card may lose value if the shop goes into administration.
Online purchases usually come with a 14-day cooling-off period after delivery. In a shop, non-faulty returns depend on the shop's own policy, and many extend it over Christmas, so check before you pay.
Don't use "buy now, pay later" for sale items, unless the money is already in the budget above. A January sale bought on credit is still a debt in February.
Then switch to a no-spend January once the sales are done.

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FAQs

When do the Boxing Day sales start?

Many UK retailers start online on Christmas Day or Boxing Day (26 December), with January sales running into early or mid-January.

How much should I spend in the January sales?

Only what's left after your bills and essentials until next payday, minus a small buffer. Spend gift cards first, and stick to things you'd planned to buy anyway.

Related calculators & guides

Blue Monday budget · Free no-spend calendar (PDF) · Pay off your overdraft? · No-spend challenge · Black Friday deal checker