Natalie Wiseman, a 47-year-old regional operations manager for gyms from London, saves as much as £800 each year on Christmas by starting her shopping in the January sales and keeping her festive spirit alive all year round. She has had a Christmas tree up for so long she cannot remember when the habit began, and she listens to Christmas music throughout the year.
Year-Round Festive Shopping Strategy
Wiseman, who posts to her 43,000 TikTok followers as Xmas Nat, buys gifts, stocking fillers, food, and drinks as soon as the January sales hit. She explained to PA Real Life that she picks up items whenever she sees a good price, not just during traditional sale periods.
"As soon as the January sales go on, if I see anything that I think is a good price, maybe some little stocking fillers, anything like that, I always pick them up straight away and start putting them away," she said. "And anything throughout the year – if there's things on sale, maybe a big shop has a big sale and they have some bits that are cheaper, I always get them."
Wiseman begins buying non-perishable food items like tins and sauces from June or July, which she says saves money throughout the year. She also checks the reduced section from New Year's Day, noting that "everything goes around half price in January" and that items with long dates are fine to store.
Why Black Friday Isn't Always Best
While many shoppers wait for Black Friday in autumn to buy Christmas presents, Wiseman warns this can be a mistake, as the same items are often cheaper at other times of the year. Certain products, like Christmas pyjamas, can sell out long before the festive season.
Data from high street shop Peacocks shows that in 2025, sales of Christmas pyjamas were higher in its stores and online in the last week of August than they were during Christmas week. Wiseman advises buying early to avoid disappointment, especially for large families.
"Get it then and there, and you don't have to worry about that on the run up, especially if you want a big family lot, because it's very hard once they sell out," she said, adding that she personally wears Christmas pyjamas all year round.
Decorations in Every Room
Wiseman, a mother of four aged 30, 29, 26, and 21, and grandmother of a one-and-a-half-year-old, said her children are used to her year-round Christmas habits. "They know that I listen to Christmas music (all year). They know that I enjoy it. They know it makes me happy. So I think they just feel like it's normal now," she said.
On November 1, she puts up decorations in "every single room of my house," including ceiling decorations in an '80s and '90s style and a 10-foot main tree with multicoloured lights. "It's a whole completely different feel ... Everyone else has got their decorations up. Everyone is excited. My decorations will change completely. I have a much bigger tree, much more decorations, and people outside are saying 'Merry Christmas'," she explained.
Christmas Savings Pot Advice
For those who prefer not to stockpile mince pies and stocking fillers, Wiseman suggests putting aside small amounts of money throughout the year. "If I've got a little extra £20 at the end of the month, I will put that in my Christmas savings jar, so that I've got a bulk amount at the end of the year," she said.
"I think if you do it that way, it's not such a big spend in December, and it's not so much pressure on yourself. Plus, it takes the stress away from December, so you can enjoy that time with your friends, your family," she added. "Christmas is not just one day; it's throughout that month you can spend time with your family, go and sightsee around the city, see the lights, meet up with friends, have a Friendsmas."
