WITH Christmas fast approaching, today The Sun on Sunday reveals how you can save more than £100 on your big festive shop by snapping up essentials early.
Strikes, bird flu, a record hot summer and an increase in energy prices are having a major impact on production, and some Christmas faves could be sold out by the beginning of December.
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Sun Squeeze Team expert Martyn James said: “You need to start early to ensure you get everything you need at the lowest price possible.”
TURKEY (Saving: £19.99)
BRITAIN is suffering its worst ever bird flu outbreak and on Friday farmers were told they can slaughter Christmas turkeys early and freeze them to sell next month.
Aldi already sells a large frozen turkey (5.4kg-7.2kg) for £19.99 at £2.78 per kg, while fresh ones are already selling from £6 per kg.
XMAS CARDS (Saving: £9.45)
PLAY your cards right on posting your Christmas greetings – and you could save nearly a tenner.
Martyn said: “There’s a lot of postal strikes ahead. When things are up and running there will be a backlog.
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Send as soon as you can, by second-class.”
Second-class stamps cost 68p – 27p cheaper than 95p first-class.
This could save you nearly £10 if you send 35 cards.
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XMAS TREE (Saving: £15)
A SHORTAGE of firs means real trees will cost up to 20 per cent more than last year.
Save by ordering early.
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The Range has a potted 1.25m Norway Spruce for £20 that you can use year after year, and is £15 cheaper than the average tree.
BEER (Saving: £4.01)
A SHORTAGE of CO2 gas used in beer to make it fizzy means higher prices. Martyn advises buying early and using supermarket offers.
Morrisons currently has a Corona Extra lager 18-pack down to £15.99 from £20.
SPROUTS (Saving: £1.15)
THE summer heatwave played havoc with our crops, but choosing frozen could help you save.
Asda has them now for £1.25 for 1kg, with some stores selling fresh at £2.40 per kg.
PRESENTS (Saving: £36.38)
A PAY dispute at Felixstowe port in Suffolk means £700million of trade will be disrupted before Christmas, with electronics and clothing most at risk.
Toys can often run out before the big day and last year a Gravitrax magnetic toy was unavailable in the shops but being resold on Ebay for £101.35 – £36.38 less than the RRP.
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Martyn says: “Get your kids to do their Christmas list and buy before things go out of stock.”
CRACKERS (Saving: £29)
GETTING your crackers now will mean you can still snap up a deal.
Savvy shopper George Waterhouse from The Yoko Club website has said: “The closer to Christmas you get, the less choice you’ll have, as the cheaper cracker sets always sell out fast.”
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Wilko’s 12-pack looks fancy but costs just £6 – while luxury crackers are going for £35 for six.
BATTERIES (Saving: £2.25)
LITHIUM batteries are in short supply.
They are made in China, which has seen continual stops and starts to trade due to the pandemic.
So if you have anything electrical on your prezzie list you could be in for a challenge.
Martyn says: “These are in such high demand at Christmas that if you manage to get them, it may well be at inflated prices.”
At Iceland, an eight-pack of Energizer Alkaline Power AAA batteries is £1.75, reduced from £4 – better than half price.
FOIL (Saving: 25p)
THE price of foil is soaring month on month due to a global aluminium shortage, but Sainsbury’s and Asda currently have turkey foil for £1.50 for 3m – 25p cheaper than some other stores.
Martyn said: “The real takeaway here is that you need to be organised this year.”
