‘I start buying Christmas dinner in January – this year will cost £30 for my family’

A money savvy dad is urging other Brits to start planning for the festive season nowAl Baker shares his money-saving methods online as The Penny Pincher(Image: Jam Press/@thepennypincheruk)

A savvy dad has shared his top tip for a budget-friendly Christmas feast: he starts stocking up on festive fare in January, ensuring this year’s dinner will cost him a mere £30 without missing any trimmings. By snapping up bargains with yellow stickers just after the New Year, Al Baker managed to secure £4 desserts and £12 turkeys that would have set him back £80 at full price, all stashed away in his freezer well ahead of time.

Despite being labelled “mad” by some for his early-bird tactics, Al insists his approach is sound and often convinces the sceptics. He has also dished out additional penny-pinching advice to help others save over £100 by the time Christmas comes around.

The 51-year-old told What’s the Jam: “I’ve spent about £30 so far, which has already covered the main items. The turkey is the most expensive part of Christmas dinner, so that is the first thing I hunt for.

“I’ll be checking supermarkets, but also online options. Last year, I found the £12 deal on Amazon Fresh – they were originally £80 each – which is not where most people think of looking.

Al’s penny pinching tactics will give his family the same Christmas at around a quarter of the price(Image: Jam Press/@thepennypincheruk)

“I actually bought three, but one of them went at Easter. That alone would normally cost me more than my whole Christmas budget, so it was a huge saving. I also grabbed a few yellow-sticker desserts, which will cover puddings and sweet treats for Christmas Day.

“I freeze Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes many months in advance as well. It’s not about buying absolutely everything a year early.

“However, having the meat, desserts and freezer-friendly sides already in hand takes the pressure off and significantly reduces the bill. People often look at me as if I’m a bit mad, but once I explain it, they see the logic.”

But it is this forward-thinking approach that eases the financial strain come December: “Having the meat, desserts and freezer-friendly sides already in hand takes the pressure off and significantly reduces the bill. People often look at me as if I’m a bit mad, but once I explain it, they see the logic.”

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While Al bags the bulk of his festive feast early on, he plays the waiting game with veggies, aiming to nab them fresh on Christmas Eve when supermarkets are known to slash prices.

The Penny Pincher founder said: “Vegetables are often better bought fresh, and supermarkets deliberately slash prices on them right before Christmas. I’ve picked up a bag for as little as 9p, so I will wait for those.

“Supermarkets tend to offer smaller reductions in the mornings, a bit more in the afternoons, and then the bigger cuts usually occur somewhere between 4pm and 8pm, but it really depends on the store.

“It’s less about one magic time or day now and more about knowing your local store’s habits and being ready to grab the bargains when they pop up. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff members what time the reductions get done.

“I was a code checker (yellow sticker man) and had no problem telling people what time to aim for to get the best reductions, especially for those who I could see really needed those reduced items.”

Al’s stint at Morrisons gives him the inside track on bagging bargains, and he has got a pretty good handle on just how rock-bottom certain products will go. He said: “I just bought some Quality Street this past weekend as they were on a Clubcard deal, at £3.95. In my experience – they don’t go lower than that.”

Al plans some purchases months ahead while others like vegetables he waits until Christmas Day to buy(Image: Jam Press/@thepennypincheruk)

The savvy shopper dished out some advice for Christmas planners keen to keep their wallets happy this festive season: “Decide your menu before you go shopping so you only buy what you need. If you have freezer space, buy yellow-sticker bargains throughout the year or put a small amount of money aside each week instead.

“Even if you start now, £10 a week from today adds up to £120 by December. You could try a banking app with pots, like Monzo, which makes this easy. That money then sits there waiting for you when the festive season arrives.

“Cooking from scratch is another big saver. Yorkshire puddings cost pennies to make but £3 for six if you buy them. A trifle can be thrown together cheaply, while shop-bought versions can be £10 or more.

“In short, plan early, spend gradually, use your freezer wisely and keep the meal simple. People often go overboard, and the food waste levels at Christmas are shocking.”