The festive season is in full swing - more meals, more treats… and more spending. And while we all love a bit of Christmas indulgence, nobody wants to throw their hard-earned money (or food) in the bin. In Wales, the average four-person household throws away around £84 of food every month – and with extra feasts, treats and leftovers over Christmas, that figure can climb even higher. But with a few simple tricks, you can cut waste, stretch your festive food further, save money, and even help power homes across Wales. It’s a festive win-win-win!
Plan like a festive pro (and save £££ while you’re at it)
It sounds simple, but it’s a game-changer during the Christmas chaos: Make a list and stick to it.
Before the “just in case” extras and impulse buys start creeping into your trolley, take a few minutes to plan your meals for the big day and festive period around it.
The fix is simple: A little prep goes a long way:
Plan your Christmas meals - think about who’s coming, when, and how many mouths you’re feeding.
Shop your cupboards and fridge first before the shop - you might already have veggies, herbs or other ingredients you’d forgotten about.
Choose meals with overlapping ingredients – fewer items bought means less waste and lower spend.
Shop smart in store – buy loose fruit and veg so you only pay for what you need, and be wary of jumbo deals. They’re only a bargain if you’ll actually use them.
Follow these simple tips to waste less, save money, and keep more cash back for the festive fun!
Cook smart to make your festive food go further
Whether you’re using up what’s already in the fridge or getting creative with leftovers, cooking smart helps your food stretch further – saving time, saving money, and cutting waste. And it matters: around a quarter of the average rubbish bin is food, and most of it could have been eaten.
Before you start prepping, take a quick look at what you already have and improvise. Those odds and ends can be just what you need to supercharge a meal:
Throw any stray veg into warming soups, leftover curries or festive bubble & squeak.
Throw cheese odds and ends into mash, fry-ups or toasties.
Turn turkey, nut roasts or veggies into wraps, curries or hearty winter salads.
Freeze anything you won’t use – future you will be grateful.
Recycle what can’t be eaten – and help power Wales
Any food that can’t be eaten belongs in your food waste caddy. From tangerine peels and veggie stalks to turkey bones, nut shells and teabags, it’s all turned into renewable energy to help power homes across Wales. Just one caddy full can generate enough energy to keep a string of fairy lights glowing for two whole days.
Wales is currently 2nd in the world for recycling – but this Christmas, let’s go for gold.
Recycle all your food waste and help put Wales at the top of the tree!
Festive habits that make a mighty difference
This Christmas, a few small changes can make a mighty difference. By planning ahead, cooking smart, using up what you buy and recycling what can’t be eaten, you’ll save money, cut waste and help create clean energy for communities across Wales. Together, let’s keep food out of the rubbish and help boost Wales to No.1 in the world for recycling.
