December 11th 2024.
If you're not a fan of large crowds, it may be best to avoid the supermarket on a certain day this year. We all know the stress of last-minute gift shopping or frantically searching the aisles for that one forgotten item, like cranberry sauce. But don't worry, there's a solution to this chaos - mark Monday, December 23, 2024 in your calendar. This day is predicted to be the busiest day for food shopping during the festive season.
The data collected by Kantar shows that people will be rushing to stock up their cupboards and fridges on this exact date before they begin their Christmas celebrations. However, it seems like some shoppers have already started preparing. According to Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, there are clear signs that people are already stocking up on items like assorted sweet biscuits and biscuits for cheese, which have both doubled in sales in November compared to the previous month. And, it seems like Christmas puddings are also in high demand, with 8% of shoppers already purchasing them.
But with the busy shopping day approaching, many may be wondering how much they should budget for their Christmas dinner in 2024. According to Kantar, the average cost for a dinner for four people has increased to £32.57, a 6.5% increase from the previous year. This rise is primarily due to the price of turkey and other Christmas vegetable staples.
But don't worry, there are ways to save money on your Christmas food shop. Finance expert, Lara Jarvis, suggests starting with a budget. Make a list of everything you will need to pay for during the holiday season, not just gifts but also food, transportation, accommodations, and drinks. Then, try to cut back on non-essential items to stay within your budget. And, don't be afraid to delegate tasks and share the load when it comes to catering. Have each person bring something to contribute to the meal, whether it's the Christmas pudding, cheese board, or a homemade appetizer. This not only helps reduce costs, but it also takes some stress off of you as the host.
It's also never too early to start planning for future Christmas seasons. Lara suggests starting to save for Christmas 2025 in January. This way, you can avoid the panic and stress of trying to budget for it in October. So, let's all take a lesson from Lara and start planning and saving for future holidays sooner rather than later.
Do you have any tips for saving money on your Christmas food shop? Share your story by emailing us. We would love to hear from you!
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