I’m a mum of two and ditching pricey UK Christmas for a sun-kissed family holiday in Spain – it’s SAVING me over £1k
FAMILIES can save £300 by spending Christmas overseas, a new study has found.
The cost-of-living crisis means it is now far cheaper to enjoy a slap-up holiday in Spain than it is to stay home and celebrate the festive season, according to the report.
A four-night package deal including flights to the Canary Islands – where the temperature has hit 26 degrees in recent days – can cost as little as £1,500 for a family-of-four from Christmas Eve.
But researchers with MoneySuperMarket.com found that festivities in the UK will set you back £1,800 over the same period.
Mum-of-two Kate Denyer is one of around 1.5 million Brits that have decided to jet off abroad this Christmas.
She estimates she will save £1,330 compared to what she spent enjoying the festivities at her home in Edinburgh, Scotland, last year.
Roughly £470 of her savings will be through cutting back on gifts for loved ones, as she will be away.
But she will also slash £860 from her outgoings on gas, electricity, food and travel, as long as she sticks to meals and drinks at the hotel.
Savvy Kate, 42, said: “Everything is just so expensive that it makes no sense to stay at home over Christmas. Going away was a no-brainer.
“We usually host up to eight family members every year, and while it’s always a lovely family occasion, the costs mount up.
“By the time I’ve paid for food, drink and presents, as well as activities like a light show or a pantomime, it’s a huge amount of money – in the thousands.
“I do all I can throughout the year to save for Christmas, but this year I wanted to make the most of that money and give my kids an experience they will always remember.
“This way I get the chance to spend a few days on the beach with them without all the faff – in 20 plus degrees heat and all my costs wrapped up.
“It’s not surprising that so many families are thinking the same this year.”
Research by the same price comparison website shows that online searches for sunny holiday Christmas destinations – such as Tenerife and Lanzarote – have increased by a massive 110 per cent since 2023.
Average UK household ependiture for Christmas
Festive drinks: £79.30
Accommodation and visiting relatives: £145.40
Travel expenses for Christmas social events: £126.30
Groceries: £123.80
Turkey: £64.60
Meals/drinks out: £113.00
Christmas activities with the family: £108.40
Christmas clothing: £100.80
Batteries: £17.20
Beauty/Haircuts: £87.10
Extended warranties: £32.20
Pet care, boarding and pet gifts: £117.40
Energy bills and heating: £52.20
Gadget insurance: £38.20
Work related Christmas party and travel expenses: £78
Gifts, including charitable donations: £310.70
Christmas cards and postage: £21.80
Wrapping paper, gift tags and tape: £17.20
Christmas tree, ornaments, home decorations and lighting: £30.30
Gifts and tips for service workers: £29.70
Additional phone and data expenditure: £30.60
Gifts for yourself: £94.40
TOTAL BILL: £1,818.60
MoneySuperMarket’s Household Money Index (HMI) has found one in four Brits believe Christmas in the UK is “too expensive”.
A total of 25 per cent admit they’re trying to avoid hosting friends or family due to mounting costs. Over half (54 per cent) say Christmas in the UK is now too expensive.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “If you’re planning a Christmas holiday, check you’ve got the right travel insurance before you travel.”
Kate's expenditure for Christmas 2023
Festive drinks: £200
Accommodation over holiday: £0
Groceries: £600 – 4 days catering
Turkey: £70
Meals/drinks out: £70
Christmas activities with the family: £100 – light show tickets + extras/£100 pantomime, parking, extras
Christmas clothing/Christmas Eve box: £30 per child – £60
Batteries: £30
Beauty/haircuts: £15
Extended warranties: £0
Pet care/boarding/pet gifts: £0
Energy bills and heating: £450
Gadget insurance: £20
Work-related Christmas party and travel expenses: £100
Gifts for immediate family: £500
Christmas cards, inc postage: None, I do a free e-gift card
Wrapping paper, gift tags and tape: £30
Christmas tree, ornaments, home decorations and lighting: £60
Gifts and tips for service workers: £10
Additional phone and data expenditure: £0
TOTAL BILL: £2,415
Kate's expenditure for Christmas in Tenerife 2024
Festive drinks: £0 (all inclusive)
Accommodation over holiday: £990 all inclusive break including flights
Groceries: £0 (away so no grocery shopping)
Turkey: £0 (as per groceries)
Meals/drinks out: £0 (as all inclusive)
Christmas activities with the family: £0
Christmas clothing: £15 (vinted summer bundle clothing)
Batteries: £0
Beauty/haircuts: £15
Extended warranties: £0
Pet care/boarding/pet gifts: £0 (neighbours kindly doing this!)
Energy bills and heating: £20 (much less than if they stayed at home)
Gadget insurance: £0
Work-related Christmas party and travel expenses: £0 as not attending it this year as will be away
Gifts for immediate family: £30
Christmas cards, inc postage: none, I do a free e-gift card
Wrapping paper, gift tags and tape: £5
Christmas tree, ornaments, home decorations and lighting: £0 (still put a tree up but it’s the same one we’ve had all years so no cost)
Gifts and tips for service workers: £10
Additional phone and data expenditure: free wifi at resort so £0
Gifts for yourself: £0
TOTAL BILL: £1,085