Christmas secret spending costs UK households over £413 – here’s how TikTok’s ‘Project Pan’ method can help you save
Slash your Christmas spend and save £413 with these hacks
- Social media is fuelling travel FOMO as nearly half of Brits say Instagram and TikTok posts pushed them to overspend in the past few months.
- Budgets already stretched, with the average Brit adding £1,641 to their credit card debt in the past three months.
- September break bookings are up 20% year-on-year, showing FOMO is still driving trips at the very moment people can least afford them.
- Updraft explains the phenomenon, supported by psychologist insights on the ‘psychology of digital FOMO’.
Christmas is one of the most expensive times of the year, and much of that extra spending comes from rebuying things we already have.
The Bank of England estimates that while the typical UK household spends £2,460 a month, this rises by £713 in December (a 29% jump)[1].
To help cut costs, Updraft is highlighting the TikTok trend ‘Project Pan‘. Originally from the beauty world, the name refers to using a product until you hit the bottom “pan”. The idea is simple: use up what you already own before buying anything new.
With searches for the trend up 213% this year, it’s a timely money-saving hack for anyone wanting to keep Christmas affordable.
Updraft Founder Aseem Munshi breaks down exactly how Project Pan works for Christmas and where you can find the biggest savings.
What is the project pan method?
“The Project Pan is a useful money-saving trick designed to encourage people to fully use up items before buying more. It’s a simple but effective approach to reduce unnecessary spending and become more mindful of what you already have at home.”
“The main benefit of the project pan method is that it works with everyday spending by encouraging resourcefulness and thoughtful purchasing. People often accumulate items they don’t need or forget about products they already own, but this method helps them get the most value out of what’s in their home, which directly cuts costs.”
“While project pan is usually applied to daily items, it works equally well at Christmas, a time when overspending is common. People tend to increase their spending on items they may already have from previous years, but look to ‘spruce up’ or treat themselves during the festive period. By applying project pan, you can limit this by reducing unnecessary purchases to make Christmas more affordable.”
If you chose to adopt the project pan method this Christmas, Updraft estimate that you could save £413 on the following items:
- Christmas decorations and home accessories
- Food & drink
- Christmas clothing
- Wrapping paper and accessories
Here’s how to master the ‘Project Pan’ method this Christmas
1. DIY your decorations
“Before buying new decorations, check around your home or last year’s boxes for hidden gems. By doing this, you can mix old ornaments with DIY touches like paper snowflakes, ribbons, or pinecones from your garden. This reduces the need to buy new decorations, saving money while adding a personal, festive touch to your home.”
Estimated savings: £117.60
2. Plan around what’s already in your kitchen
“Use leftover sauces, frozen veg, and half-used ingredients before buying more. Planning meals around what’s already in your kitchen reduces extra supermarket trips, saving money on unnecessary food purchases as well as on petrol or diesel, which can be a hidden cost during the winter months when fuel prices tend to rise[3].”
Estimated savings: £177.60
3. Wrap it up reuse-style
“Instead of buying new wrapping paper, bows, or gift bags each year, reuse materials from previous Christmases. These small items often seem insignificant, but they can inflate overall festive spending if replaced annually. You can even tape leftover scraps together to create a festive patchwork effect, giving gifts a personalised look. Reusing also encourages planning ahead – sorting and storing wrapping materials during the year can help you stay organised and avoid impulse purchases when the big day approaches.”
Estimated savings: £17.20
4. Cut costs, not style
“Rather than buying new Christmas outfits, get creative with pieces already in your wardrobe. Unfortunately, seasonal clothing is a high-cost, low-use expense. By repurposing items or adding accessories, you can maintain a festive look without extra spending. This approach not only saves money but also promotes thoughtful budgeting, helping families allocate funds toward more meaningful or unavoidable holiday costs.”
Estimated savings: £100.80
For more tools and information on how to manage your budgets this season, visit updraft.com/moneytalk
Final Thought
Want to take control of your money? If you’re looking to consolidate credit card debt and cut down on high interest, download the Updraft app today.
About Updraft
Updraft is an FCA-authorised lender and UK-based fintech aiming to help people swap financial stress for a little more headspace. We blend clever tech with practical tools – including ways to help manage and structure borrowing – designed to make money management feel less like a chore and more like getting your life back on track. Find out more about how we’re rethinking borrowing and money management at updraft.com.
Data
Google Glimpse was used to identify all search data, using a worldwide population. The data was sourced and correct as of 14.11.2025.
Methodology
MoneySuperMarket’s Household Money Index was used to source all costs of Christmas spending. Some categories were grouped together to provide an overall cost on spending on a particular item:
- Christmas decorations and home accessories (‘Christmas spruce-up’) = £30.30 + £87.10 = £117.40
- Food & drink (‘Meals and drinks’ and ‘Turkey’ costs) = £113 + £64.60 = £177.60
Christmas clothing = £100.80 - Wrapping paper and accessories = £17.20
TOTAL = £430
These figures represent the total amount households typically spend on these items if purchased new. By applying the Project Pan method – using what you already have rather than buying more – households could save a substantial portion, or even all, of these costs depending on how much they already own.
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