A former supermarket employee, Alasdair Baker, offers valuable insights into maximizing savings during the post-Christmas sales period, focusing on strategic purchases beyond just food items. Baker, who previously worked at Morrisons, emphasizes the importance of planning ahead for the following Christmas by taking advantage of significant discounts on festive decorations, wrapping paper, Christmas crackers, and cards. These items, lacking an expiration date, can be stored for the next year, resulting in substantial savings. He cites examples of acquiring Christmas crackers for under £1 and Christmas cards for mere pennies. He advises setting a budget for these “non-essential” purchases, ensuring responsible spending while capitalizing on the post-Christmas discounts.
Beyond festive items, Baker highlights the potential for savings on supermarket own-brand clothing, particularly children’s wear. He recommends purchasing Christmas jumpers a size larger for the following year and stocking up on discounted socks and pyjamas, emphasizing practicality and affordability over seasonality. Gift sets also present excellent value, often costing less than purchasing individual items separately. Coffee sets, for example, can be significantly cheaper than buying coffee, travel cups, and chocolates individually. While acknowledging that purchasing gift sets now for next year might be considered an “unnecessary expense”, he suggests it as a viable option for those who can afford it, leading to significant future savings.
Food, naturally, plays a central role in post-Christmas sales. While many deals might have already disappeared, Baker assures shoppers that bargains can still be found leading up to and after New Year’s. Supermarkets clear out Christmas-specific food items during this period, offering opportunities for significant discounts on items like ready meals, which often see reduced sales during the festive season as people opt for celebratory meals or dine out. He also suggests looking for discounts on “healthier foods,” which tend to sell less well over Christmas. Furthermore, New Year’s Eve-themed party food can be frozen and enjoyed later.
Beyond immediate consumption, Baker advocates leveraging loyalty card discounts and purchasing freezable items, like seasonal vegetables and meats, which are often available at attractive prices that might not be replicated in January. Larger portions of meat or fish can be divided and frozen for later use, while inexpensive vegetables can be par-cooked and frozen or used to create cost-effective soups. He encourages proactive thinking, anticipating future needs and capitalizing on current price advantages.
While promoting smart shopping, Baker also cautions against certain purchases during the sales. He advises against buying party food, despite tempting “buy-two-get-one-free” offers, as the cost per kilogram can be exorbitant. Instead, he recommends checking everyday product ranges for similar items, both fresh and frozen, which often offer better value. For those with time, making homemade party food is the most economical option. He encourages a mindful approach, prioritizing value over perceived deals.
Baker reveals his preference for Morrisons, his former employer, as a prime location for reductions, suggesting it as the first place to check. However, he also recommends exploring smaller convenience stores, often overlooked by bargain hunters. Additionally, he advises considering other retailers like Amazon Fresh, where significant discounts can sometimes be found. His personal experience involved purchasing two frozen turkeys at a heavily discounted price on Christmas Eve, demonstrating the potential for substantial savings beyond traditional supermarkets. He concludes by strongly emphasizing the importance of utilizing loyalty cards and cashback apps, such as TopCashback and Quidco, to maximize savings on all purchases throughout the year, highlighting the potential to cover the cost of Christmas food and gifts simply by embracing these cashback strategies.
