Christmas 2025 on a Tight Budget: How French Households Are Cutting Back — and What It Really Means

Christmas 2025 will be a tighter year for many French households. Here’s how families are cutting back on food, gifts and travel — and practical ways to stay on budget.

After another year of rising food prices, higher energy bills and constant talk of budget cuts, many families in France are approaching Christmas 2025 with one clear idea in mind: this year, we have to do more with less. The decorations, markets and adverts still promise a magical season, but behind the scenes, households are planning a quieter, more controlled end to the year.

From smaller festive meals to cheaper gifts and fewer long-distance trips, this Christmas looks very different to just a few years ago. Here’s how French households are adapting, what the trends tell us, and how you can still enjoy the holidays without blowing the budget.

Household Budgets Under Pressure

Over the past two years, French families have seen a steady squeeze on their budgets. Food prices are higher, insurance and transport have become more expensive, and winter energy bills remain a major worry. As we recently reported, the cost of living in France in 2025 leaves little room for error, especially for modest incomes and rural households.

Energy remains a key issue. Even if tariffs have stabilised on paper, around a third of households still struggle to pay their energy bills. Add winter heating to higher food and fuel costs, and it’s no surprise that Christmas is being planned with a calculator in hand.

Where Families Are Cutting Back This Christmas

1. Festive Meals: Still Special, but Simpler

Traditional French Christmas meals are famous for being generous: foie gras, seafood, roasts, cheese, desserts, champagne. In 2025, many families are keeping the spirit but simplifying the menu:

Choosing one main highlight instead of several courses
Buying more seasonal, local ingredients rather than imported luxuries
Reducing waste by planning portions more carefully

Some households are also leaning more on their garden and local markets. Our guide on growing your own vegetables in France has proven popular for good reason: a well-planned potager can noticeably reduce the grocery bill, especially for winter soups and side dishes.

2. Gifts: Fewer, More Thoughtful, and Often Cheaper

Another clear trend is a shift towards:

Fewer total gifts per person
Spending limits agreed within families
More practical gifts (warm clothes, useful items) instead of gadgets
Buying during promotions or in discount stores

Second-hand platforms and local brocantes are also getting more attention, especially for children’s toys and books. The idea is not to cancel Christmas, but to avoid starting January with an empty bank account.

3. Travel and Visits: Staying Closer to Home

Christmas travel is another area where households are cutting back. Some families are:

Doing one big family gathering rather than several smaller trips
Choosing regional Christmas markets instead of long-distance breaks
Limiting hotel stays and focusing on day trips

For those still planning a festive getaway, especially from the UK to France, careful planning and early booking remain essential to control costs, whether by ferry, train or air.

4. Heating and Decorations: Comfort, But with Limits

With the cold already settling in, heating is front of mind. Rather than turning the thermostat up without thinking, more households are:

Heating fewer rooms and closing doors to keep warmth in
Using wood stoves more intensively where possible
Checking which hours are cheapest on their electricity tariff

Our recent guide on which heating system is cheapest in France in 2025 shows just how big the difference can be between wood, gas, oil and electricity over a full winter.

Even Christmas lights are being reconsidered: many families now choose LED chains with timers or limit how long outdoor displays are switched on.

What This Means for Families and Expats

For many households, this Christmas won’t be “cancelled” — but it will be more sober. That doesn’t only apply to French families; expats and mixed households are feeling the same pressure. The difference is that expats often juggle costs across two countries: gifts and travel for family abroad, different currencies, and sometimes two sets of traditions to honour.

The positive side is that families are becoming more intentional. Instead of automatic spending, there’s more discussion, more planning, and often a return to simpler values: time together, shared meals, local events and homemade touches.

Practical Ways to Enjoy Christmas Without Overspending

If you’re looking at your December budget and feeling nervous, you’re not alone. A few practical steps can make a big difference:

Set a total Christmas budget (gifts + food + travel) and work backwards.
Plan menus early and buy non-perishables when you see real promotions.
Consider one bigger gift per person instead of many small ones.
Use local markets for seasonal produce and simple decorations.
Review your heating habits and check if your system is really the most economical.

For expats with family in the UK or elsewhere, managing currency conversions also matters. Using a dedicated multi-currency account or low-fee provider can reduce the cost of sending money abroad or shopping online in another currency.

A Different Christmas, but Not a Joyless One

Christmas 2025 in France will probably be remembered as a more careful, more thoughtful festive season. The economic pressures are real, but so is the desire to protect what matters: family time, a good meal, and a sense of light in the darkest weeks of the year.

By planning ahead, making conscious choices and using the tools and information available, it’s still possible to have a warm, welcoming Christmas — even when the budget is tighter than you’d like.

For more help navigating the months ahead, see: