Top 10 Christmas food essentials and how to save on them

We've all got our festive must-haves, haven't we? Whether it's mince pies, a splash of Baileys, or those tubs of chocolate that get smaller and smaller every year, many of us are willing to splurge on what we deem "Christmas essentials."

Our research here at thinkmoney revealed the top 10 Christmas cupboard essentials that people in the UK refuse to go without.

Topping the list were tubs of chocolate with over half of Brits partaking. Cheese crackers, Christmas pudding and mince pies were also popular choices. Here’s the full list:

• Tubs of chocolate (57%)
• Cheese crackers (39%)
• Christmas pudding (37%)
• Mince pies (36%)
• Turkey (36%)
• Nuts (32%)
• Gravy (28%
• Baileys (27%)
• Cheese / cheese board (25%)
• Cranberry Sauce (22%)

No surprise there - chocolate wins by a mile. But here's the thing, lots of these "festive must-haves" end up in the bin anyway.

About 1 in 10 say their chocolates go untouched (1 in 5 if you’re 25–34). Crackers and cheese? 11% wasted. Christmas pudding? 10% binned. And those “just-in-case” extras like cranberry sauce and brandy butter? Straight to landfill, unopened.

How to save on your Christmas food essentials

None of us want to chuck good money – and good food – straight in the bin. But how do you get in the festive spirit without ending up with enough leftovers to open your own corner shop?

Vix Leyton, our consumer expert here at thinkmoney, says: “We love the idea of being prepared for Christmas, but for most of us, the Christmas cupboard is often overstocked and based on habits; full of snacks we ‘save for guests’ who never turn up, and puddings nobody really likes but we buy anyway because it feels festive.

“We all want Christmas to feel abundant, but that doesn’t have to mean overspending. A lot of what ends up in that cupboard is impulse – the third tub of chocolates or the ‘just-in-case’ cranberry sauce that never sees the table, none of them expensive but all of them stack up and have an impact when January drags on.

“The trick is to plan ahead, buy what you’ll actually use, and find smart ways to save on it. You can be generous and indulgent without the guilt of being wasteful.”

Vix’s top tips for saving money on the Christmas essentials are below.

Start with a cupboard raid

Before you dash to the shops, have a nosey in your cupboards. Last year’s cranberry sauce, unopened crackers, or that rogue tub of chocolates might still be good to go.

Make a list of what you actually need – it’s the easiest way to avoid buying duplicates (and wondering why you’ve got three tubs of gravy granules come January).

And don’t be shy about roping in your guests. Get them to bring the bread sauce, for example – clears their cupboards and saves you a few quid.

Don’t fall for “festive fever”

Supermarkets make everything look like a must-have but stick to your list. Shopping when you’re tired or hungry? That’s a fast track to buying half the aisle and regretting it later.

If you’re heading out closer to Christmas, start noting prices now so you can spot a real deal from a dodgy “discount.” And watch those multibuys – check the price per 100g or per item. Sometimes that “bargain” is just a fancy sign.

Make the most of your loyalty points

Clubcard, Nectar, Morrisons More – they’re all worth a look, but don’t assume the “member price” is always the best deal. Compare brands and pack sizes before you chuck it in your trolley.

If you’re flexible, go for items with points boosters – those little extras soon add up and can turn into pounds later. It’s like free money… well, almost.

Stack your savings

If there’s a way to double up, do it. Use cashback apps, browser extensions for online shopping, and loyalty points – pile them on like gravy on your roast. In the wise words of one popular supermarket chain, every little helps, and it all adds up to more money in your pocket (and less stress come January).

If you have a thinkmoney SmartPlus account, you get access to PlusSave which gives you up to 30%^ off gift cards for hundreds of retailers.

^Offers are subject to change and may vary. Check the thinkmoney app for the latest offers.

Plan your portions

Start with your guest list before you write your shopping list. Ask what people actually like and what they’ll leave on the plate – no point buying sprouts for someone who hates them.

Stick to the essentials first: meat, veg, and basics. Then top up the treats closer to Christmas when you know what’s missing. That way, you won’t be paying corner-shop prices for a packet of stuffing on Christmas Eve.

Spread the cost smartly

Spread the staples across your normal weekly shop instead of doing one big trolley dash that costs a fortune.

Christmas dinner doesn’t have to break the bank. Stick to the foods your family actually loves, swap branded for own-brand, and don’t be afraid to ditch tradition if no one’s bothered about bread sauce or eggnog. A bit of planning saves cash and cuts down on waste – win-win.