Exactly when to purchase Christmas Day meal to economize and what to look out for in store

A savings expert has revealed Christmas Eve is officially the best day to stock up on festive produce at unbeatable prices and provides extra tips for readers

A savings expert has revealed Christmas Eve is officially the best day to stock up on festive produce at unbeatable prices. Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, says timing is “everything” when it comes to bagging these unbelievable deals.

Shop at the right moment, she said, and you can save a fortune, enjoy luxury products for less, and stop good food from going to waste. Ms Naik also gave readers some extra tips to help stretch your festive budget. She said: “Many festive items, like meats, breads, hard cheeses, and even desserts, can be frozen for later use. This way, you’ll stretch your savings into the New Year.

“Yellow sticker shopping can inspire inventive and seasonal meals. Use discounted ingredients to whip up something new and exciting for the family. If you spot something you want, don’t hesitate to ask a staff member if it’s likely to be marked down again soon.

“There’s no shame in scoring a deal. Shopping smarter allows you to splurge on higher-quality items that might not usually fit your budget.

Ms Naik said to look out for markdowns on Christmas-specific items like turkeys, party platters, and festive sweets. These often carry the ‘biggest discounts’ on Christmas Eve – alongside fresh foods like fruit, veg, and dairy.

“If you’re shopping online, remember to check voucher websites to make sure you’re getting the best price,” she added. “Festive supermarket home delivery slots often fill up weeks in advance. But, that doesn’t mean you have to brave the shops.”

“Check if there’s any click & collect slots available – these often open up into the festive period and can help you avoid the chaos of the cheese aisle.”

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Lidl’s yellow sticker markdowns usually happen in two waves: one early in the morning when stores open at 8am, and another in the evening before closing. For the deepest discounts, plan your Christmas Eve visit around 5pm.

Aldi also has a two-round system for markdowns – first thing in the morning (from 8am) and again later in the evening. However, unlike Lidl, Aldi uses red stickers to highlight its discounted products. Head there by 5pm on Christmas Eve for the best bargains before stores close at 6pm.

Red-sticker items are scattered across the store, so keep your eyes peeled. From meat to packaged goods, Aldi tends to mark down items by up to 75% on their final day of sale.

Asda’s reductions follow a three-tier system: the first in the morning, a second midday, and a final round of markdowns around 7pm. On Christmas Eve, plan your shop for 6pm to catch the best deals, especially on fresh fruit and veg, which can drop as low as 10p.

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M&S keeps it simple but strategic, with stores reducing items about an hour before closing. On Christmas Eve, that means arriving at 3pm to snag the best bargains before stores close at 4pm.

If you can’t make it earlier, some M&S stores often apply last-minute reductions in the final 30 minutes before closing time. If you’re willing to risk it all, here is when you’ll find the mega bargains.

According to Anita’s research, Tesco’s yellow stickers roll out in three waves – around 10am, 2pm, and 7pm. For the biggest bargains, head to Tesco an hour before closing. Depending on your local store, on Christmas Eve, this will be 6pm or 7pm.

Morrisons usually applies its first reductions as soon as stores open, and saves a final further markdown for the evening. With Christmas Eve hours closing at 4pm, the best deals are likely to pop up around 3pm. At Sainsbury’s, yellow stickers appear around 2pm and again at 6pm. With stores closing at 7pm on Christmas Eve, arriving at 6pm will give you the best chance to bag festive treats for less.

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