Christmas budget calculator 2026
Add up what Christmas will really cost, and see how much to put aside each week from now until 25 December.
📘 Full guide: how much to budget for Christmas 2026
Ways to cut the cost of Christmas
- Agree limits early: a Secret Santa or a £20 cap for adults can halve your gift bill.
- Make a list before Black Friday (27 November 2026), and buy only what's on it.
- Book a supermarket delivery slot in early November, and buy dry goods and drinks in October and November to spread the cost.
- Check Royal Mail's last posting dates to avoid paying for express delivery.
Free printable: UK Christmas budget checklist 2026 (PDF, no email needed)
UK Christmas Budget Planner 2026: £5
A Google Sheets and Excel planner: gift list, food and drink, extras, a dashboard and a week-by-week saving plan to 25 December.
See the template →
A Google Sheets and Excel planner: gift list, food and drink, extras, a dashboard and a week-by-week saving plan to 25 December.
See the template →
…or get all 9 paid templates for £15 in the UK Bundle (worth £48).
We make and sell this template (Tidy Life Templates).
FAQs
How much does the average UK household spend at Christmas?
Surveys usually put it somewhere between £500 and £800 per household on gifts, food and socialising. Your own figure depends on how many people you buy for, so it's worth working it out from your own list.
How much should I save each week for Christmas?
Take your total budget, subtract what you've already saved, and divide by the weeks left until 25 December. From early October that's roughly 12 weeks.
Related calculators & guides
Free Christmas checklist (PDF) · Christmas budget guide · Savings goal · No-spend challenge
Handy for this
- Kraft Christmas wrapping paper & gift tags (Amazon)
- Undated Christmas planner notebook (Amazon)
- Reusable fabric gift bags (Amazon)
Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.