Christmas in London on a budget

The festive period can often be expensive. If you plan ahead and think smart, you can save rather than spend these holidays. Here are some tips to get you started - everything from food to presents and all those winter adventures.

Buying presents

• Buy your wrapping paper from Primark. They have some really great designs, including Elf!
• Make sure you check for and use student discount. It’s so easy to forget that you have it! Some places, like Whittards, will allow you to use your student discount on top of discounted items.
• Don’t join the Oxford Street Christmas rush just yet! Head to Camden Market first as you’re more likely to find something unique and a lot cheaper. 
• Use price trackers online such as Idealo. Such sites allow you to track prices over time on a variety of websites to ensure you get the best deal!
• Charity shops/thrift stores can be a gold mine. Visit often and you’ll definitely find some bargains.
• Don’t feel the need to buy unnecessary presents. Your loved ones know you’re a student on a tight budget!

DIY it

• Wrap your gifts in magazines and newspapers. Try to use articles and pages relevant to the person you’re gifting and it’ll be all that more special.
• One of my favourite DIY presents is definitely a jar filled with little notes - ‘50 things I love about you (and more)’. Fill it with quotes, jokes and all the little things that person does that makes you smile.
• If you’re artistic, draw them an assortment of all their favourite things. My sister did one for me years ago and I still have this up in my bedroom. Personal gifts will always be cherished.
• If you want to dive into crafts, how about making some bath bombs, candles or soap. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube! My favourite is Milk and Honey soap!
• Decorate a blank hoodie or t-shirt. Personalise it for the individual with fabric markers/paints, iron on badges etc.

Festive drinks

• Buy in some pre-made mulled wine from a supermarket and add some fresh orange slices to be the best dinner party host.
• Mix some milk, cocoa powder, chocolate squares and Baileys together to recreate the most luxurious hot chocolate at home (with less sugar!)
• If you want to forego the alcohol, mix apple juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and/or powder and fresh ginger chunks (fish those out before serving) together. Simmer for a few minutes for one of the best festive drinks.

Festive food

• Festive food can be expensive, but why not try some treats from budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl (both in Camden High Street!)
• Use apps/websites like mysupermarket to help you find the best deals from the comfort of your own sofa
• If you’re staying in London over Christmas, split the costs with your flat mates and cook a traditional Christmas lunch together. You could even try an alternative Christmas meal from around the world – fried chicken from Japan, curried goat from Jamaica or a BBQ from down under!

Winter adventures

• Rock around the Christmas tree (and London) on an adventure to see them all! Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Windsor Castle, The Claridge’s, St. Pancras, Liberty London’s pink bonsai, Granary Square’s geometric masterpiece, Annabel’s tree, Paddington Central, Wembley Park, Somerset House and more! Check out all the Christmas lights too!
• If you’re heading to Winter Wonderland, be sure to scout out all the rides first instead of rushing on to the first one you see! Be on the lookout for the number of coupons per ride (1 coupon = £1).
• The Munich Looping is £9 or for £10 you can enter the ‘Magical Ice Kingdom’ and explore the beautifully crafted world of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol - completely made out of ice! Pre-book your tickets online to skip the main queue and remember to wrap up warm, temperatures in the Kingdom can be as low as -10’C!

Christmas decor

• Make yourself a fruity garland! Cut up some orange slices and dry them in the oven. (You’re going to want to be in the house when you do this - the smell is divine.) Then all you need to do is thread string through them.
• For the cheapest tree on the market, try shops like Poundstretcher, Ikea or Poundland.
• You could also make your own mini Christmas tree out of string.

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  Julie Colonna, BA English Language and Literature