I already bought and wrapped my 2025 Christmas gifts — it’s saved me hundreds

Many of us will still be panic-buying Christmas presents on December 23.

But Georgia Hawken has already bought and wrapped all her gifts for the festive season – and has her spending mapped out for the whole year.

The 34-year-old assistant lawyer says being organized saves her hundreds of pounds each year and reduces the stress of Christmas.

“Buying my presents early saves me half of what I would otherwise spend, so around £300 ($378.81),” Georgia, from Basingstoke, says.

“Spending a few minutes of my time each month comparing prices and looking for preloved alternatives means that I avoid spending hours in a busy shopping center nearer the time.

“This is great because it is less stressful and frees up my time for family activities as the festive season draws nearer.”

Last year Georgia snapped up an expensive golf jacket for her husband in the January sales which was reduced from $126.27 to $63.13.

She then had to hide it for nearly 12 months so it would be a Christmas surprise.

“Our son is really into superheroes and, of course, wants to have every one to play with!” she says.

“Things like this add up in cost so I’ve been picking up second-hand action figures and spreading out when I give them to him to keep him interested.

“This also makes me feel like I’m doing my bit for the environment by reusing things rather than always buying new.

“I also plan ahead with my son’s and nephews’ gifts when I see clothes on sale in the age they will be as well as books and toys I think they might like, which can be a bit of a gamble at times with how quickly they change.”

Research from Mastercard found that 50% of UK consumers said they spent more on experiences in 2024 compared to 2023 — and Georgia is certainly a huge fan of investing in experiences.

“As I’ve got older, I’ve begun to value experiences over possessions,” she explains.

“There’s always going to be a time and place for physical items but there’s just something priceless about creating memories with the people you love.

“For example, we’ve already arranged to take our son to Legoland for his birthday in May and just can’t wait to experience more of the world with my family.

“I do think this is a growing trend. A key thing that’s worked for me recently is signing up for pre-sale alerts and mailing lists of the experiences I really want to gift my friends and family.

“This was especially helpful in getting tickets for Oasis and golf activities for my husband.

“Another element that’s key is to start early, you’ll be surprised with the discounts you will find on the Christmas gifts you already have in mind ten months earlier.

“Also, social media has given me a lot of inspo for gift ideas, so whether it’s a retreat for your partner or a theatre trip for your nephew, ensure you bookmark experiences and gifts to refer back to.”

Georgia applies her organizational skills and money-saving techniques to experiences too.

“It’s never too early to get planning and this often results in the best savings, although there are also last minute deals to be had!” Georgia explains.

“I normally focus on special events like birthdays and then fill in the gaps to spread things out over the year for things to look forward to.

“The focus for me is good value for money. I don’t mind paying for things that I know my son will love but am also wary of not wasting money on things that he probably won’t fully appreciate or remember at this stage.

“As long as he has a good time, we will too.

“As well as saving what you can regularly, do not underestimate the benefits of the supermarket loyalty schemes.

“I took my son to an expensive soft play recently for free using my Tesco Clubcard vouchers and have done the same at an aquarium previously.

“Also look at annual memberships for places like zoos and farms if you live locally and think you will make the most of it as they often work out much better value than day passes.

“With my money-saving hacks, our monthly costs are pretty low but I would say on average we spend around $63.13, farm $12.63, $15.91 National Trust and $10.10 trampolining memberships – with ad hoc swimming, soft plays and group activities).