Christmas can be a very expensive time of year for many, and with the current cost of living crisis, many are finding money doesn't go as far as it once did. 

Recent research by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that the price of Christmas staples has risen by 18%, seeing the festive food shop reach higher prices than in any other previous years. 

The steep rise in prices around Christmas time has left two-thirds of Brits concerned that they won't be able to afford their Christmas dinner. 

But in a bid to help families enjoy their Christmas meal, grocery retail app, Ubamarket has shared its three top tips to save on the Christmas shop. 

How to save money on the Christmas food shop

1. Plan ahead and write a list to stick too

Although it might seem simple, writing a list of all your Christmas essentials will let you know exactly what you need to buy.

And if you have a pre-planned budget ahead of the shop, the list will help you stick to it and not break the budget and could help you save away some money too. 

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2. Shop around

After making your list and checking it twice, you'll want to shop around to find the best deals that suit your budget. 

This tip works particularly well for more expensive items like turkey and alcohol. 

Ubamarket recently found that 60% of shoppers do their weekly shopping across multiple retailers to grab a bargain to help them save. 

3. Use loyalty schemes

Along with shopping around and making a list, the last big tip is to make sure you are using the current loyalty schemes available.

The schemes will help you earn rewards while you spend and can also help you find the best deals around. 

Most supermarkets offer a loyalty scheme with a handy app created too, letting you see how much savings you have.

Your Money Matters

Your Money Matters is a campaign launched by us and our sister titles across Newsquest to help you overcome the surge in the cost of living.

This year has seen a whole host of household price increases — from the energy price cap rise to surging inflation and food prices — costing your family hundreds or even thousands of pounds extra per year.

We’re making it our mission to look out for your cash, offering money-saving deals, competitions, giveaways and insightful stories from your community on the impact this cost-of-living crisis is having on our readers.

The worldwide energy crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine invasion, the financial impact of the Covid pandemic, record inflation figures and a surge in the cost of goods, fuel and travel means we will all feel the pinch.

Through our newspaper, we want to do what we can to help make your cash go further because we know your money matters.