Ocado shopper? Christmas delivery slots are now open for some – here's how to bag yours

Ordering from Ocado is the only way to get M&S Food delivered – M&S Food doesn't have its own separate home delivery service.

Ocado Christmas delivery slots are available to book now for some

Here's what we you need to know:

• Delivery slot bookings are now open for 'Smart Pass' customers who joined on or before 1 September 2024. So if you don't have a pass, it's unfortunately too late to get one to bag priority access.
  
  Buying a Smart Pass upfront means you don't have to pay delivery charges each time you order, plus you're offered certain discounts and other perks. But you'll need to weigh up whether this is worth it based on how often you do an online shop and how much you normally spend.
  
  A mid-week delivery pass (Tuesday to Thursday) costs £3.99 for one month, £22.49 for six months or £39.99 for a year. An anytime delivery pass costs £8.99 for one month, £49.99 for six months or £89.99 for a year.

• It's unclear when non-Smart Pass shoppers will be able to book their slots. Ocado told us it will stagger the release, though it wouldn't give us an exact date for the next round of bookings. In the past though, this has happened a few weeks after Smart Pass shoppers get access.
  
  Ocado told us existing shoppers will receive an email or text message when slots become available to book, so keep an eye out as they're expected to go quickly.

• You'll be able to pick a delivery date between 20 and 24 December.

• There won't be an option to click and collect. While Ocado has run click and collect trials in the past, it has confirmed that it won't be offering one this year. If you prefer a click and collect option for your Christmas delivery, you might want to consider another supermarket.

What to watch out for when booking Christmas supermarket delivery slots

1. Bag your slot early if you can. They've often gone quickly in previous years.

2. Check if you can edit orders. Many shops let you make an unlimited number of changes to your order by certain deadlines. If you order from Ocado, the cut-off will be 11.30pm two days before your delivery date. So, even if you're not sure what your final shopping list will be, it may be worth getting your order in with just a few items and making edits later (but set a reminder so you don't forget!).

3. Beware delivery fees. Most supermarkets will deliver up to and including Christmas Eve, but opting for click and collect will invariably be cheaper than choosing a home delivery.

4. Remember to factor in food costs, as these will vary by supermarket. Try using a comparison tool, such as Trolley, to benchmark the cost of items at major supermarkets including Ocado, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and more. You can also use Trolley to set alerts for when the price of your favourite items drop. For more ways to save on food, see our Supermarket shopping tips guide.

5. Not all supermarkets release specific Christmas dates for orders. Co-op, for example, will be running its usual delivery services up until and including Christmas Eve.

To find out how to save yourself financial stress this festive season, including banning unnecessary presents and booking train tickets in advance, see our 48 Christmas MoneySaving Tips.