Divide what you still need by the weeks left until 25 December. Starting on 4 October, a £500 Christmas means saving about £42.68 a week.
Weekly savings chart
| Christmas budget | Start 4 October (82 days) | Start 1 November (54 days) | Start 1 December (24 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £300 | £25.61 a week | £38.89 a week | £87.50 a week |
| £500 | £42.68 a week | £64.81 a week | £145.83 a week |
| £800 | £68.29 a week | £103.70 a week | £233.33 a week |
| £1,000 | £85.37 a week | £129.63 a week | £291.67 a week |
| £1,500 | £128.05 a week | £194.44 a week | £437.50 a week |
Starting in December roughly triples the weekly amount compared with October. That's why spreading the cost early is the single biggest thing that keeps Christmas off the credit card.
Make it automatic
- Set your total budget first.
- Divide by your paydays left (not just weeks) so you know the amount per payday.
- Set up a standing order to a separate savings pot on payday.
- Track gift spending against the budget so the pot isn't overspent.
FAQs
How much should I save each week for Christmas?
Divide your remaining budget by the weeks left. For £500 from 4 October that's about £42.68 a week; from 1 November about £64.81.
Is it too late to start saving in December?
No, but the weekly amount is much higher: £500 from 1 December is about £145.83 a week. Reduce the budget or spread costs into January carefully.
Weekly or per payday?
Per payday is easier to automate: divide what's left by the number of paydays before Christmas and set up a standing order.
Plan it in minutes
The planner's Save by Christmas calculator does this for your own budget, per week, fortnight, month and payday, and tracks every gift against it.
See the Christmas Budget Planner UK →
