Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

How to rescue Christmas (financially, at least) - incl train refunds, holiday rights, last chance food & drink deals and board games you can play online

Sadly, for millions of people Christmas has been dramatically transformed at short notice. With a series of tighter restrictions in place, many have had to cancel or curtail family visits, axe holidays, or rethink last-minute shopping. While we can't help bring the full Christmas experience back, we can help prevent the turmoil making too big a dent on your finances, and remind you of some seasonal tips that can help if you're scrambling to change your Christmas plans. Here are the key helpers...

• You can claim a full refund for many Christmas trains if you can't travel. As millions have been forced to cancel trips to see friends and family, the Government has said you can get a full refund on many train tickets in Eng, Scot and Wales if you meet the conditions below and usually if you claim within 28 days of the trip:
  
  - Eng/Wales: With all the major operators we checked with, if any part of the journey is in those countries, and you booked the ticket from 24 Nov-19 Dec for travel from 23-27 Dec, you'll get a full refund. See how to claim in Eng/Wales.
  
  - Scot: If the journey is on ScotRail, you can get a full refund on any ticket for travel on or after 20 Dec. On all other major operators we checked with, the same rules as for Eng and Wales apply. See how to claim in Scot.
  
  - N Ireland: Sadly, unlike the rest of the UK there are no special mass refunds available. Usual policies apply which mean admin fees are charged on any refunds. See NI train reclaim for more help.
  
  If your trip does not meet the date requirements above, you'll revert to usual rules which can be tighter on how long you have to claim, and may force you to take a voucher, or get a refund but with an admin fee on top - full info in the links above.
  
  
• You can also claim a refund for many unused coach tickets over Christmas (and possibly beyond). As with trains, the Government says you'll get a full refund on many trips in Eng, Scot and Wales. The country-specific rules are similar to trains above yet some firms have indicated they'll go further - eg, National Express says it may give refunds over a wider period but says this is on a "case-by-case basis". See coach refunds help.
  
  
• Your rights if hit by holiday chaos amid travel bans and closed borders. Many in the UK are banned from travelling abroad, while 40+ countries, such as France, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and Italy, are restricting visitors from the UK, which has led to many airlines, train firms and ferry operators cancelling services.
  
  This is a very fluid situation, so we will be constantly updating our Coronavirus Travel Rights guide to take you through the main issues, both if you can't go, or if you or someone you know is struggling to get home due to border closures. Here are some of the key points we know so far:
  
  - If the airline, tour operator etc has cancelled your booking, you should be due a full refund. Some firms may still try to only give you a voucher, though. See my trip has been cancelled help.
  
  - If I'm banned from travelling away from my area, what are my refund options if my trip abroad is going ahead? Many firms are offering refunds, letting you move the trip or swapping the ticket for a voucher if you tell it you can't go - see our firm-by-firm analysis. If you can't get a refund and there's no flexibility, try your travel insurer, but most policies do NOT cover Covid-related disruption - see travel insurance help.
  
  - If I was due to go away to a part of the UK which I'm now not allowed to travel into, will I be refunded? Some providers have said they'll give refunds, and the Competition and Markets Authority says you should get your money back, but we're still doing lots of checks on more firms' policies. For the latest, see lockdown UK accommodation rights.
  
  
• Where to find cheap food such as 14p veg and £3.50 chocs if you suddenly need to make Christmas dinner. Millions who had planned to have Christmas elsewhere may now be scrambling to get the essentials for Fri, while some may have left it to the last minute anyway. Regardless, we've rounded up the cheapest Christmas food deals, though you'll almost always need to go to a store, as available delivery slots are almost impossible to find.
  
  Of course, given the time of year and uncertainty over supply chains, we can't be certain what stock will be available at supermarkets - local stores may be a better option if you just need essentials.
  
  
• If you want a Christmas tipple, there's £5 prosecco and £10 champagne. On a similar theme to food, you may also be rushing to get booze in for the big day (or beyond) if you'd originally planned to be elsewhere. See which supermarkets have the cheapest deals, but please be Drinkaware.
  
  
• Need to post presents now? Sadly, it's unlikely they'll arrive by Christmas Day, but we can show you how to cut costs. If you can't visit friends and family, and you're in possession of presents you planned to give in person, you may want to post them as none of us can be certain when restrictions will end.
  
  We spoke to Royal Mail and some big couriers, which all told us that even if you paid for their fastest services, it's too late for Christmas Day - so you may want to warn recipients.
  
  But if you need to post something, as a general rule it's usually cheapest to use Royal Mail for lighter objects, such as socks and small beauty items. For heavier stuff, cheap courier firms usually win on price. Our Cheap UK Parcel Delivery guide has full help.
  
  
• You can play Articulate, Cluedo and Exploding Kittens online - where to find the cheapest board games. Sadly, many won't be able to show off their Trivial Pursuit knowledge skills, Scrabble word prowess or Monopoly magic in person. Even if you are allowed to meet up, the Government advises against playing physical board games with anyone outside your household due to the risk of spreading coronavirus.
  
  However, many popular games are available online or to play over a video call. Our cheap board games round-up has all the top deals on physical and online board games, and info on which are easiest to play remotely.
  
  
• What's free on TV? Eg, footie, Jurassic World and Succession. Great if you'll be even more glued to the box. Watching TV is a big deal during a normal Christmas, but with many Home Alone (which is also free) or simply having fewer people around, it may be an even bigger part of your ritual than usual.
  
  To help, our TV Tricks guide includes the big free streaming trials you could use (eg, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video), what free footie is on and what classics you'll find on Freeview.
  
  
• Consider doing good by giving to charity if you're unable to buy presents. The sudden closure of some shops and the inability to personally give presents may have scuppered your plans. Yet given many end up buying unneeded tat anyway, why not embrace the spirit of charitable giving, whether personally or on someone else's behalf? Here are a few ideas:
  
  - Help feed the hungry for free with just one click.
  - Give to charity, with loads of ideas in our charity gift catalogue.
  - Foodbanks expect record demand, so see foodbank giving help.
  - Buy toys for kids who mightn't get a gift. See Christmas present appeal.
  
  And to wish you a Merry Christmas, we've practised what we preach and paid for tetanus vaccines for 20,000 children on your behalf via the charity Unicef.