Christmas, sustainability and the cost of living crisis
In the past few years we have created a range of blogs on the subject of Christmas and sustainability, and this year is no different! However, the current cost of living crisis adds further difficulty to making sustainable choices this Christmas. In this blog, Catherine Player finds ways to keep on top of Christmas spending through the cost of living crisis, all the while considering sustainability of course!
As we creep towards Christmas, many people will be faced with tough decisions about their spending choices. The cost of living crisis will force many to rein in their celebrations, with The Guardian reporting that Brits are expected to buy fewer and cheaper items this Christmas – especially online.[1]
Last year, the cost of consumer goods and services in the UK rose by almost 10% – the fastest rate in four decades.[2] Though the rate of inflation has slowed since this period[3], UK consumers are still facing heightened costs.
As at October 2023, the price of gas was 60% higher, and electricity 40% higher, than in October 2021.[4] Similarly, the price of food was around 30% higher in October 2023, than it was two years prior.[5]
Due to the price increase of essentials such as these, consumers may already be stretched, particularly those on lower incomes. The Guardian highlights findings from a study by Asda that “about 40% of households now find the cost of bills and essentials exceeding the value of their post-tax income.”[6] This is supported by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) findings that almost 64% of adults in Great Britain are spending less on non-essentials as a result of the cost of living.[7]
Therefore, you could argue that the situation is difficult enough without needing to consider the sustainability of our choices this Christmas, as making ‘sustainable choices’ can often be more costly. However, if you have read our previous Christmas themed blogs, you will find that alongside making better choices for the planet, there are some cost savings to be had.
This year, we ask ‘what can be done this Christmas in the face of the cost of living crisis’?
Spread the cost
Planning your spend early and setting aside money each month, or purchasing gifts in advance throughout the year, can help spread the cost so there is less financial pressure when Christmas comes around. Though credit options may be available, it's always recommended to consider affordability and whether there is an alternative or less expensive gift you could opt for.
For the past couple of years I have found it helpful to keep a Christmas present spreadsheet. I start this a couple of months before Christmas, and I plan out what I intend to buy for each person. I add the prices for each item, and then I can see the total of how much I’m spending, who I’m spending it on, and it allows me to decide if I need to rethink what I’m buying. It also allows me to plan when to buy the items. This is helpful for my bank account, but also means I’m thinking more carefully about what to purchase and therefore reducing my Christmas waste.
Look out for deals
There are always deals available around Christmas. Some are better than others of course. MoneySavingExpert (MSE) publish a Christmas deals predictor which, though not guaranteed, can help you see what deals might become available. The MSE team also publish a ‘Deals Hunters Blog’ on their dedicated ‘Deals, Vouchers & Shopping’ page which is a useful resource for viewing deals all year round. Do stop and think before you buy however. Just because something is a good deal, it doesn’t mean you need to buy it. Make sure you will use the product, or have a recipient in mind, in order to limit your Christmas waste, and keep your spending in check.
Shopping around
In an ONS survey, near to 48% of those surveyed said they were shopping around more,[8] so always make sure to have a look online or in other stores, to compare prices. MSE (again) offers a guide to cheap online shopping, with a few tips on how to get the best deal. Though bear in mind, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it could be a scam. Make sure to use trusted sites when doing your research.
If you also want to compare the ethical credentials of an item, Ethical Consumer is a helpful resource where you can compare anything from chocolate to laptops. You need a subscription to see all their findings, but you can also view a lot of guidance without this.
Celebrate after Christmas
If you and your family and friends have the patience, then postpone your gift giving to after Christmas and make the most of the January sales. You may find what you’re looking for at a cheaper price. I personally have on a few occasions seen the gifts I purchased available at a significantly reduced price in January, and sometimes even in the few days before Christmas.
If you move your Christmas dinner to a later date, you could benefit from clearance prices. Also, have a look at our blog about how to cut down the carbon footprint of our Christmas dinners.
Buying used or second hand
As mentioned in our green gifting blog, buying second-hand items is a great way to reduce your waste, and to keep costs down. Have a look around Charity shops, Antique shops and see what you can find. You could also use online platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Vinted, Depop and Etsy, especially if you wanted to search for something specific. In addition, shops like CeX sell pre-owned tech, so this is a great place to look for pre-owned games and DVDs, as well as old gaming consoles, phones and laptops. They often provide guarantees on the pre-owned tech they sell.
In addition to this, why not trade in, or sell any old tech, games, DVDs and clothes that you’re no longer using, and make some money back! You’ll also be helping the planet by finding new homes for your unwanted items.
Home made items
Making your own gifts can also be a great way to waste less and save money. From baking Christmas cookies, making jams or chutneys, to whipping up some bath bombs, there are many low budget ways that you can create something to show you care.
Making your own gifts can also be a great way to waste less and save money
Simply buy and give less
In recent years I’ve chosen to ask my family what they want, in order to avoid spending money on the wrong gift. Though this might not be considered particularly festive, they do at least get what they actually want (if it was a reasonable request!) and the gift won’t contribute to Christmas waste. I used to worry about whether the recipient would like my gift, and so overcompensated by buying additional ‘fluff’. Now I’m purchasing gifts more tactically, this means I’m spending less, and creating less waste.
It has become common place that people choose to give gifts to wider friends and family, which often results in purchasing gifts that they don’t actually want or need. This can be a drain on finances, and may create unnecessary waste. Agree with family or friends to simply not get each other gifts, and save the money. Alternatively, as suggested in our Christmas waste blog, agreeing to a secret Santa between your family and friends means you only need to buy the one gift.
The cost of living crisis has disproportionately affected low-income households
Instead of gifts, you could choose to spend time with each other/ or partake in a festive activity. This can even be done via electronic conferencing if distance is an obstacle in the wake of high fuel costs (keeping both your costs and your carbon footprint down). With some tech wizardry you could all virtually take part in an online escape room, a Christmas quiz, or you could even watch a film together from different locations.
Charity donations
The cost of living crisis has disproportionately affected low-income households.[9] Therefore, consider giving a charitable donation this Christmas. This could even be done on behalf of another, as a gift. You can then gauge an appropriate amount to donate based on your finances rather than being ‘held to ransom’ by the price of a consumer product. Your donation will go to a good cause and would likely be a no-waste option.
Charities such as Crisis and Shelter focus on housing and homelessness, while Fareshare and the Trussel Trust focus on food provision. These are just some of the charities whose work ties into issues which have been made more prevalent by the cost of living crisis. However, all charities will no doubt benefit from financial support during this time as charitable donations have fallen.[10] The Guardian highlighted findings from a report by the Benefact Group, which estimates “that the value of charitable donations fell to £4.3 billion in 2022, down sharply from £9.3 billion in 2021.”[11] They say this is likely as a result of the cost of living crisis.[12] The same article also suggests alternative ways in which we can support charities during the cost of living crisis.
I hope the above gives you some ideas of cost saving and sustainable options this Christmas. There are lots of additional resources online, with further helpful information, some of which I have included below.
Written by Catherine Player
Additional Resources:
This article by good house keeping offers a range of ways you can keep your spend down:
How to save money at Christmas (goodhousekeeping.com)
This calculator created by the ONS allows you to see how average prices have changed:
Shopping prices comparison tool - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
In addition, you can also use this inflation calculator to see how your household costs have been affected by inflation in the past year:
How is inflation affecting your household costs? - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
Gov.uk offers guidance on what support is available to help with the cost of living:
Cost of living support: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In addition, MSE created this ‘Cost of Living Survival Kit’ with helpful money saving tips:
Get help with the cost of living - MoneySavingExpert
[1] Christmas shoppers to buy fewer and cheaper items this year as cost of living crisis persists | Retail industry | The Guardian
[2] Cost of living latest insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[3] Cost of living latest insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[4] Cost of living latest insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[5] Cost of living insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[6] Christmas shoppers to buy fewer and cheaper items this year as cost of living crisis persists | Retail industry | The Guardian
[7] Cost of living latest insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[8] Cost of living latest insights - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[9] Experiences of homelessness during a cost of living crisis | Crisis
[10] Value of Giving report - Benefact Group