One thing I wasn’t prepared for in my first year of university was Christmas. Student finance was running out, my friends wanted to go to Christmas markets, and Secret Santa was looming closer. I suddenly realised the festive season as a student was going to require a bit more planning than it used to when I was at home, and my parents would sort everything. Don’t get me wrong, I had an amazing time. But I definitely had a lot to learn about how to make my money stretch further.
First year was definitely a learning curve, but it taught me that you can absolutely still have a great Christmas without spending loads. Here’s everything I wish I’d known back then about how to do Christmas on a student budget.
Set a realistic budget for Christmas
Before you even think about anything else, figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend. You’ve got to make sure you prioritise your essentials first: bills, food, transport, and then anything after that could go towards your Christmas budget. It might not be as much as you’d ideally like, but knowing the numbers gives you more clarity to plan properly and enjoy Christmas.
This year, I’m splitting my Christmas budget into categories: presents, decorations, food, and social/events. I’m accounting for everything. I don’t want to miss out, I want to be able to enjoy things without the financial stress. Once you’ve allocated amounts to each category, use these numbers as guidelines to help you stay on track. You can use whatever method works for you. Whether that’s a spreadsheet, an app, or just writing it in your notes, do whatever works best for you.
Choose budget decorations that are cheap but feel cosy
You can absolutely make your student accommodation feel Christmas-y without spending a fortune. Poundland, B&M, The Range, any shop like this is brilliant for basics like fairy lights, tinsel, baubles. If you’re decorating with your flatmates, you can split the cost between you to save more. The other day we found some perfect fairy lights in B&M for £6, split that between the four of us, it’s next to nothing.
Something else I’m really looking forward to this year is homemade decorations. It’s such a sweet idea, and it really adds whimsy to your home knowing you’ve all made them yourself. There’s so many tutorials and inspiration online if you’re struggling for ideas, such as these zero waste decorations. You could make paper snowflakes, paper chains, clay baubles – the opportunities are endless, so get creative with it, it also makes for a cute flat day in.
Get creative with your gifts
There should never be pressure to buy someone a super expensive gift; all that matters is the thought and love that’s gone into it. You’d be amazed at what you could get for someone on a budget when you really think about it and the person you’re buying for. One thing that helped me last year was suggesting a £15 budget Secret Santa with my friends; it meant that everyone got a present, but we didn’t have to buy something individual for everyone (I think we were all struggling at this point).
There are so many different approaches you could take for gift-giving when on a budget. For example, homemade presents are always cute, unique, and straight from the heart. It’s affordable, but it shows your friends and family that effort has gone into it. You could make something out of clay, like a keyring, paint a mug, bake them something – a lot of people tend to care way more about the thought and effort put into a gift than receiving something expensive. One of the sweetest gifts I received was a clay trinket dish from my friend – knowing she’d put her time into making it for me was invaluable.
If you’re worried about expectations for gifts, be open and honest about your budget. Most people understand that students don’t have loads of money anyway, but if it’s something you’re stressed about, mention that you’re keeping things small – it takes the pressure off.
Opt for free festive activities
There’s nothing I love more during the festive season than a Christmas market. They may be a little pricey, but a lot of the time, I just go for the atmosphere. It’s peak-Christmas vibes. There’s music, the smell of Yorkshire pudding wraps, and the beautiful lights. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t buy anything. I always treat myself to a hot chocolate to keep me warm.
There are so many other things you can do, for example, Christmas film nights with your friends. One of my favourite things to do is bring all our duvets and blankets into the living room, set up some snacks, turn the fairy lights on, and watch Love, Actually. It doesn’t need to be an expensive outing; something simple and cosy like this is just as great.
Make your own Christmas dinner!
This year, my flatmates and I are having our own Christmas before we split and go home. Obviously, this means Christmas dinner. When you think about cooking a big roast for people, it immediately sounds like it’s going to cost a fortune, but when you split the cost, it’s much more affordable than you’d think, especially if you shop smart. The Christmas ranges at supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl are really good, but also affordable. You can get meat, vegetables, yorkshires, stuffing, gravy, the lot, all for a good price. Make sure to also keep an eye out for those yellow stickers; reduced products on the day always come in handy.
After having a quick look at the Christmas brochures, you could definitely get yourself a dinner for £30 or under, depending on what you buy – that includes some little sweet treats for pudding! Split that cost between your flat, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful, affordable Christmas dinner. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive; all that matters is that you have fun making it, and have fun sitting around the table with your friends, telling terrible cracker jokes.
The best parts of Christmas genuinely don’t cost money. It’s about spending time with the people you love, taking a break, and just soaking in the atmosphere. The thing that gets me most excited is just the overall spirit of it – the lights, the music, everything just feels a bit more special. And you don’t need money to feel that. My favourite memories from last Christmas were not the ones where I spent the most money; it was the fun, care-free moments. Like, when the Christmas market closed, so we played basketball in the snow instead, or when we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but ended up talking through the whole thing. Spending less did not mean experiencing less; if anything, it was the opposite.
What do you call an obnoxious reindeer? Rude-olph. (Even the terrible cracker jokes are free.)