A savvy mum has come up with a brilliant way to stock up on food in the run-up to Christmas in order to save some pennies.
The seasonal period can be an expensive time as the family feasts on mince pies, chocolate and roast dinners.
But Casey Stanley has revealed a 'brilliant' solution to get prepared for Christmas without having to spend a fortune all in one go.
The mum said she makes a Christmas box each year which she slowly fills with festive goodies to help stretch out her cash, Birmingham Live reports.
The mum took to Facebook group Family Lockdown Tips and Ideas and explained she starts food shopping three months before Christmas, picking items with last dates.
She builds up the items in the box, including tins of Quality Street, After Eights, crackers, cranberry sauce, gravy granules, Pringles, biscuits, wine, beer and pet treats.
Her post read: "Does anyone else have a Christmas box?
"We add a few things to the weekly shop every week from October so it’s not a huge bill come the week before Christmas.
"Anything that won’t perish before the 25th from cranberry sauce and gravy granules to chocolates."
Parents loved the idea and some vowed to give it a go, while others said they've been doing it for years.
One user claimed it was a family tradition that had been passed down through the generations.
They wrote: "We started our box this week! My twins were so excited. Always did this when I was little and myself and brothers loved it!"
Another said: "Yep, passed down from Mum. I thought everyone did this. We also use all our nectar points to do the Christmas week shop."
A third commented: "We start in January with crackers, cards, wrapping paper and discounted decorations.
"If you have the space to store them you can save yourself a fortune!"
A fourth shared how she had started making her very first Christmas box this year and thought it was "brilliant".
