THERE’S just over 100 days to go until Christmas, and many families will be starting to think who is hosting and what presents to buy.
It might seem early, but it’s also worth starting your festive food shopping now if you want to save some cash and avoid being left in the red come January.
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Experts warned this week that food inflation is set to hit almost 4% by the end of December, as hot weather and the Middle East conflict push up prices.
From advent calendars to Christmas puddings, there are some items you should stock up on before the weather has even gotten cold to save you money.
Here are X things to buy NOW to have a cheaper Christmas – and the items you should hold off until nearer the big day to get.
Advent calendars
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They’ve only just hit the shops, but now is the best time to nab yourself and the kids an advent calendar.
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Shopping experts at Idealo say September is the cheapest month for the festive buys, whether you’re buying chocolate advent calendars from the supermarket or luxury beauty ones.
Major supermarkets have some great deals on calendars at the moment too.
For example, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Advent Calendar is currently on Clubcard offer at Tesco for £5, instead of the £7.10 you would pay if you were to purchase closer to Christmas.
Christmas puddings
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“Christmas puddings last for ages, so you can start looking for them now,” says consumer expert Martyn James.
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He says you can even get them for a third of the price by purchasing early compared with in December.
He also suggests asking friends and family if they’ve got any spare they could bring to dinner or gift to you – which would save you buying one.
Molly Monks, expert at Parker Walsh insolvency practitioners, says Christmas cake is also worth nabbing well in advance if you can.
“Christmas cake can last a couple of months if stored correctly, so if you spot one on the supermarket shelves, purchase it now to avoid last-minute price creep,” she says.
Yorkshire puddings
You can freeze Yorkshire puddings for up to three months, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for supermarket deals now and in the coming weeks, says Martyn.
Right now, Morrisons has a 10-pack of Aunt Bessie’s Glorious Golden Yorkshire Puddings reduced to £1.75 from £2.50.
Wine and booze
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“Alcohol is worth stocking up on early,” Molly says.
“It doesn’t perish, and supermarkets often run their best wine and spirits deals in the autumn to get people buying in bulk before prices creep up nearer Christmas.
“Buying a bottle or two a week from now, rather than doing one big shop in December, also helps spread the cost,” she adds.
Martyn James has a clever trick that can help you stock up on wine for cheap ahead of December.
“There are some great wine club intro offers, just cancel after you’ve sampled the trial,” he suggests.
For example, Laithwaites is offering new customers 15% off in September when they spend £60, and many of their bottles have up to 50% off.
Martyn adds: “Spirits are always on sale at the bigger supermarkets – often up to half off. So start stocking up now.”
Waitrose, for instance, is selling a 1L bottle of Smirnoff for £20 instead of £24.75 right now.
Christmas decorations
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You might wince at seeing tinsel and baubles in the shops this early, but you could be missing out on a bargain.
According to Idealo, September is the cheapest time in the run up to Christmas to buy decorations.
Compared with buying them in December, you can save yourself over £30.
Right now, The Range has a four-piece front door Christmas set – with two trees, a garland, and a wreath, reduced to £49.99 from £89.99.
Sauces and condiments
Stock up on the long-life items now, like sauces and condiments, to avoid them going up in price nearer to Christmas.
It’s also worth making the most of any special offers or multi-buy deals now.
Rick Sheepshanks, founder of Stokes Sauces, says: “Christmas shopping has a habit of creeping up on you, and it’s often the little extras that suddenly make the final food bill look a lot bigger than you expected.
“My top tip is to start a Christmas cupboard now and pick up the long-life things you know you’ll want.
“Cranberry sauce, chutneys, pickles, onion marmalade, mustard and horseradish are all good ones to look out for, as long as the best before date comfortably takes you past Christmas.”
Things you should wait to buy
Christmas turkey
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Securing a Christmas turkey ahead of the big day can undoubtedly be one of the most stressful parts of the festive season.
According to Safefood, you can keep raw turkey in the freezer for nine to 12 months – just make sure you properly defrost it before cooking.
But Joe Cook, director of online butcher The Village Butchers, says the end of October into early November is the “sweet spot”.
“That is when the first of the new season’s birds and joints arrive, quality is high, and you are not yet competing with every hotel and restaurant that has already locked in its festive menu.
“Buy it fresh from a butcher, take it home and freeze it,” he says.
He warns: “Leave it until December and demand soars. Prices firm, popular sizes disappear, and you pay more for less choice.”
If you’re shopping from the supermarket, Martyn James suggests waiting until late November/early December, as there tends to be “early bird discounts” of up to 25% off.
He adds that shoppers should opt for a turkey crown if they’re just planning a small family dinner, as it’s cheaper and easier to cook.
Baileys
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Baileys is a Christmas staple, and prices can vary massively depending on deals.
Idealo found that the cheapest time to buy it last year was around Black Friday – between 28th November and early December.
So consider holding off until then to nab the biggest discounts.
However, right now Ocado has a 70cl bottle reduced to £13.25 from £18.70.
Christmas veg
If there’s one thing you should hold off on buying until December, it’s your Christmas veg.
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Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, says: “Vegetables are often slashed in price in the run-up to Christmas, with many supermarkets selling them for just pennies.”
Last year, Aldi and Lidl both slashed the price of veg to as little as 8p between December 18 and 24.