What can I get away with buying on Xmas Eve?

[CloudyVanilla]

I started a new job over the some and so for the last 6 years I’ve been paid at the end of the calendar month, so always had to have everything sorted or budgeted by the end of November payday.

This year I’ll be getting paid before Christmas for the first time since having a family, and it would really help if I could make the most of the extra payday. But I won’t be getting that money until Christmas eve!

What can I realistically get away with not buying until the day before? Everything seems like a bit of a risk; food, presents, what can wait that long??

Over the summer*

Are you getting an extra payday or just your end of December pay early?

If so, will you not need that money for January?

You will likely need that money to get you through the 6 week January pay gap.

I buy everything in advance for Christmas. Just this morning actually bought my first few gifts for the DC. I am trying to spend as little as possible this year.

Food will get bought in bits over the coming months too and frozen as appropriate.

A plane ticket to escape Christmas and sit on a beach. Buy that....

Buy everything for the end of November as usual and transfer your early Dec pay into a separate bank account until the beginning of Jan. I used to get paid on Christmas eve and used to do this and I was the only person in work who wasn't skint in Jan. Most of my colleagues would blow their Jan pay over Christmas & really struggle. So no don't leave shopping for Christmas for the 24 of Dec as you'll be borrowing money from your Jan pay to do this.

I’d not use the wage and save it for January too. It always feels like a long dark month and I like having extra to make it more enjoyable.

I get paid before Christmas and I always try not to spend anything until the actual payday.
Can you buy extra over sept/Oct/Nov pay so you aren’t having to wait until Christmas Eve.
The only thing I buy on Christmas Eve is fresh veg. Everything else can be bought in advance including frozen stuff

Friend of mine always used to buy a couple of fresh turkeys late on Chr. Eve, when they were heavily reduced.

They went in the freezer and she'd later cook and feed them to her dogs! 5 huge Newfies at one point.

I wouldn't like to leave it that late to get my turkey, but I dare say it'd be fine.

I always get all the stocking sweets, chocolate gifts etc on Christmas Eve. I've never had a problem sourcing that kind of stuff, and often I find stuff like that heavily reduced. If I get it in advance I just eat it .