Christmas on a student budget

CONTENTS

1. Christmas gifts on a budget

2. Cheap Christmas decorations

3. Budget Christmas dinner

4. Student budgets aren’t just for Christmas…

When you are living off a student loan, the thought of how to do Christmas on a budget may not be the first thing you think of. But it is possible to have affordable festive fun if you plan ahead and look for the best deals for Christmas. There are also plenty of cheap Christmas ideas for students – but you don’t just have to buy one present per person; we’ve got other suggestions for you too.

Remember, it’s a time to be with loved ones and enjoy yourself, and you don’t need to break the bank to do that.

Christmas gifts on a budget

You’ll need to plan before hitting the shops to buy presents. Make sure you have a budget in mind for what you can afford to spend and make a list of what you want to buy.

If you’re a student, don’t think you’ll have to give gifts to all your friends and family. Everyone understands that money will be tight if you’re at university. If you're a student parent, a useful strategy is to buy your child 'one present they want, one present they need, something to wear and something to read'.

You could also agree on a price limit for presents. Agreeing limits with family and friends means you eliminate the fear that someone has got you a more expensive gift. It also helps everyone to keep control over their budgets.

Of course, if everyone agrees, another way to save money on presents is to not buy any at all. Instead, make a plan to do something nice together, such as watching an old Christmas movie on TV.

Student Secret Santa

Secret Santa doesn’t just have to be for offices. Why not suggest this to your family or student friends?

For those who aren't aware of them, a Secret Santa is a festive gift exchange within a group. You're assigned a random person to buy a gift for, and they have no idea who the present is from. When you all meet to exchange presents, one person takes charge of handing out all the gifts – then everyone enjoys trying to guess who bought what.

For a student Secret Santa, agree on a price limit for the gifts – of £5, for example. Each person taking part should write their name on paper; if you want, each person can also write three gift ideas they might like within that budget. Put the names into a hat and have everyone pick out one person to buy for. Then you can work out what you are going to give and can effectively plan your spending for this.

Homemade Christmas gifts

As an alternative to buying a gift, why not try making one? You can get gift inspiration from places such as Pinterest and watch tutorials on how to make just about anything on YouTube and TikTok.

You can create a tea light lantern by upcycling a glass jar; just decorate it with acrylic pens. You can also tie-dye a T-shirt or draw on it with Sharpie pens. Beads can be made from rolled paper to create a unique necklace. Other homemade gifts include candles or jewellery; supplies are cheaper if you make similar gifts for multiple people.

The kitchen is another great place to create gifts. Make sweets, iced biscuits or brownies, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon to create a beautiful and considerate gift.

Gift your time

If you have friends or family members who are new parents, they may appreciate a voucher for free babysitting more than a fancy present. Your friends might be delighted if you plan a day out for them or cook them a delicious meal. Or even clean for them!

Gift a memory

Another way for students to spend less at Christmas is to gift a photo that reminds them of a friendship or a fun memory. Photo printing is fairly cheap (ASDA offers photo printing from 9p). You can also buy inexpensive frames from Ikea, Poundland, or your local supermarket. Together, they create a thoughtful, personal gift that won’t break the bank.

Buy second-hand

Students are no strangers to the joys of buying second-hand. There’s no reason why this can’t include Christmas presents, too. Sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Depop, and Vinted all offer a great way to save money on gifts. You can pick up just what your family wants at a great price and in a sustainable way: win-win!

Alternatively, you could try looking for inexpensive second-hand gifts in local charity shops or check out car boot sales.

Students who want to earn some extra cash for Christmas could try selling some of their own items on eBay or selling unwanted clothes on Vinted to help boost their finances. Other people may be just as keen to buy your second-hand goods as Christmas gifts, so it can be a good time to sell.

Cheap Christmas decorations

Most students are likely to head home for the holidays. But you may want to decorate your rented student pad to get into the festive spirit before then! So, how do you decorate your place for Christmas on a budget?

Reused decorations or buy the cheap option

You might find local charity shops selling donated decorations if someone's had a clear-out to change their decor this year. If you don’t have any old decorations, don’t run to the pricey Christmas section at department stores. You can get a similar effect by borrowing their styling as inspiration and heading to the supermarket or Poundland.

Make your own 

Students are unlikely to buy a Christmas tree. A stylish but cheap alternative is to artfully arrange some dry twigs (you can spray paint them if you like) and hang them with baubles and battery lights. It will look very effective and will only set you back a few pounds.

You can also make your own decorations. From salt dough ornaments to spray-snow window stencils – even a DIY Christmas wreath isn’t too difficult to make. Tie ribbons to the door and check online for second-hand outdoor lights.

Budget Christmas dinner

If you want to have a Christmas lunch in your student house, there are a few tips you can adopt.

Plan ahead 

If you want to have a meal with your flatmates or friends from a student society, then planning ahead will save you money. Buy only what you need for the number of people you are feeding. You don’t have to go overboard. Everyone can chip in to a kitty to cover the cost of the meal.

Other money-saving Christmas food ideas for students include a ‘pot-luck’ lunch, where each guest is responsible for a different course – starters, main, side or pudding.

Shop around for the best prices

Once you've decided what you'll eat and who's coming, compare prices in different shops. Swap out branded products for your supermarket's own range – in most cases, you're unlikely to notice any difference.

You might also be able to buy what you need in stages, spreading the cost of your Christmas lunch. For example, tinned or frozen products can be bought weeks before you need to use them.

Budget supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl often undercut the ‘big four’ supermarkets and vie for the honour of being the cheapest supermarket in the UK. Of the larger supermarkets, Asda and Tesco are among the best value.

While the cost of Christmas food can vary, this shows it can be worth trying out different stores to see if you can cut down on what you spend.

Coupons or vouchers 

Students can also look for money-saving coupons. For these, check supermarket magazines and newsletters, and look out for promotions on food packaging. Also, check money-saving apps like Shopmium and CheckoutSmart.

Then there are supermarket-specific offers, most of which tend to reward loyal customers. As well as Sainsbury's Nectar and Tesco's Clubcard, there are also Asda Rewards, Iceland Bonus, and Lidl Plus, which offer savings and discounts.

Student budgets aren’t just for Christmas…

If you’re a Fresher who has just started university, by now the reality of your student loan will have kicked in. It’s essential to keep on top of your spending, so making a budget and sticking to it will help you manage your finances.

If you are having difficulty covering your living costs, then see if your university or Students’ Union has a money advice service that can help you work out what to do.

If you are still deciding where to study – or are thinking of changing where you study, our student cost of living calculator can give you an estimated monthly spend for each UK university.

With a bit of planning and savvy shopping, you can work out how to celebrate Christmas without overspending. Meaning you can enjoy yourself more without worrying about the expense.