100 Days to Christmas: 10 smart money moves to act on NOW

Christmas is just 100 days away. With household budgets stretched and sustainability more important than ever, Lisa Stanley, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zero, shares 10 clever ways to plan now so you can enjoy a Christmas you can afford – without overspending or over-consuming.
1. Work out your ‘Christmas number’ now
Set a realistic total budget today, 16th September, that gives you 100 days to save. Divide your Christmas number by 100 and you’ll know exactly what to put aside each day.
Apps like Zero let you track a GreenScore, a tool that shows the environmental impact of your spending. At Christmas, when impulse buying and excess packaging can creep in, keeping an eye on both your budget and your GreenScore means you’re not just saving smarter, but also cutting down on wasteful over-consumption.
2. Shop your own shelves first
Do an audit of what’s already at home – unopened toiletries, books you’ve not read, or kids’ unused toys. Some can be re-gifted, repurposed, or upcycled into gifts. Giving items a second life keeps them out of landfill and reduces the carbon impact of buying new. Even reusing just one toy rather than buying new can cut carbon footprint by around 0.6 kg of CO₂ equivalent per year – roughly the same as driving 2 miles in an average petrol car.
3. Go pre-loved and charity shopping
From vintage fashion to classic toys, pre-loved is booming. Charity shops and platforms like Vinted or eBay are treasure troves. Never underestimate consumer spending choices – choices are power, choosing pre-loved lowers demand for new production, cutting emissions and supporting a circular economy.
4. Plan experiences, not just things
Offer a home-cooked dinner date in January, babysitting tokens, or a DIY spa day. These cost little, mean a lot, and spread Christmas joy into the new year. Simply put, experiences create memories without generating waste or clutter.
5. Use loyalty schemes and cashback wisely
From supermarket loyalty cards to online cashback offers, stack rewards now to offset Christmas costs. A smart use of rewards means less overspending and fewer impulse buys that often go unused as a result.
6. Make Black Friday work for you (not the retailers)
Start your gift list now and only buy during sales if the item was already on your list and is genuinely discounted. Sticking to a pre-made list reduces over-consumption, which keeps both your wallet and the planet in check.
7. Craft it yourself
DIY hampers, homemade chutneys, or knitted scarves bring personal value. Start now to spread the effort. Handmade gifts cut down on mass-produced items and often use fewer resources, lowering your festive footprint – often they’re far more valued by the recipient too!
8. Secret Santa for adults
Instead of multiple gifts, pool with friends or family and each buy just one. Fewer gifts mean less packaging, less production, and less waste at the end of the season – and less shopping stress!
9. Freeze now, feast later
Start bulk-cooking and freezing meals or festive bakes with seasonal produce while prices are lower. Cooking in batches reduces food waste and saves the energy – and time – that would be used for multiple cooking sessions.
10. Embrace mindful wrapping
Avoid shiny foil papers that can’t be recycled. Opt for brown paper or aesthetically pleasing and reusable fabric wraps. According to a Wired magazine study, the UK throws away 227,000 miles of wrapping paper every Christmas – that’s the distance to the moon! Choosing reusable or recyclable alternatives helps slash this waste, saving landfill space and cutting the emissions tied to producing new wrapping paper.
Lisa Stanley says: “Christmas is about joy, not debt. By starting now, families can enjoy the festive season within their means, while making choices that are kinder to the planet. Smart money habits don’t just save pounds – they save the planet too.”