How to Save Money on Christmas Presents: My 20-Gift Test
I sat down with a list of 20 gifts and a budget that couldn’t stretch.
So I did something simple.
I priced the exact same list at 4 different stores.
I compared how much the same gift could cost at different stores.
For example, CK In2U Him perfume (150ml) averaged £20.42 at Amazon but £57.77 at John Lewis.
That’s a £37.35 difference for exactly the same fragrance!
It showed me why checking more than one store is worth the effort. If you want to save money on Christmas presents, I’ll walk you through what I’d do, step by step.
The cheapest place to buy Christmas gifts
I’ll be honest with you.
There wasn’t one store that won on everything.
In 2025 UK price study compared more than 7,500 products across 18 retailers, including Amazon, Argos, Boots, Currys and John Lewis.
Amazon came out cheapest overall, with prices averaging 16% lower than its competitors.
But that doesn’t mean it will be the cheapest for every gift on your list.
That’s why I’d compare prices at different stores before placing my Christmas orders.
If most of your list is one kind of gift, like toys, one store might win by a lot.
If your list is mixed, you can split the order between two stores.
Just check that the second shipping fee doesn’t eat up what you saved.
I’d also compare totals, not shelf prices.
Here’s a small example. A $24 gift with $6 shipping costs $30.
A $27 gift with free shipping is the better buy, even though it looks more expensive at first.
How I Ran the 20-Gift Test
I wanted to make this comparison as fair as possible, so I followed a few simple rules.
I compared the same 20 gifts at each store, using the same brand and model.
I checked the prices on the same date and used the same ZIP code.
I included shipping costs and taxes in the final totals.
I only counted items that were in stock.
My list included 20 gifts, from electronics and watches to toys and games.
I compared prices at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy.
The table of the prize comparison is given as
What the 20-gift test showed
After comparing the 20 gifts across Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy, I found that no single store had the lowest price on every item.
Amazon had the most complete set of listed prices, making it a useful option for comparing a wide range of gifts.
Walmart offered the lowest price for some items, including the Google Pixel Watch 3 and the kids’ instant-print camera.
Target had the lowest listed price for the Amazon Echo Dot Max, while Best Buy matched Amazon on several electronics.
My biggest takeaway? Don’t assume one store will always be cheapest.
Compare the same gift across stores before buying, because checking a few prices could help you save money on your Christmas shopping.
How to save money on Christmas presents, step by step
Let’s go through it. Each step helps the next one.
Pick the total first
I first decide how much I can comfortably spend without using a credit card.
Then I divide that amount by the number of people on my list.
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For example, if I have $300 for 20 gifts, that works out to $15 per person.
I don’t spend the same amount on everyone, though.
I might spend $5 on a few people and $40 on someone else. I just balance the costs so I don’t go over my budget.
Write a price limit next to each name
I also write down what each person wants.
That way, I know exactly what to look for, and comparing prices between stores becomes much easier.
Price the whole list in one sitting
I’d use a notes app or a simple spreadsheet, with one column for each store.
Add shipping and tax, then compare the totals instead of single items.
Check the price history before you trust a sale tag
I’d do this before looking for any coupon.
I Check the price of item by using mobile app.
If the “sale” price is the same as the price in September, it’s not a real deal.
Use every saving the store allows
That can be a promo code, cashback and loyalty points on the same order.
Say your cart is $72 and the code needs $75. Add a $4 item you’d buy anyway and your cart is $76.
After a $15-off code, you pay $61 instead of $72. If the extra item is something nobody wants, skip it.
Tips for students, parents and friends
The steps are the same for everyone, but each group has a different weak spot.
If you’re a student, your list is probably friends and siblings, and small gifts add up fast.
I’d set one flat limit per person.
You can also pool money with others and buy one bigger gift instead of lots of small ones.
If you’re a parent, gifts for the kids are usually the biggest part of the list.
If you’re a parent, gifts for the kids are probably taking up the biggest chunk of your budget.
I’d get their wish lists early and keep an eye on prices, buying each item when it falls within my budget.
And if you’re buying gifts for friends, I’d suggest to choose a fixed amount, say $10 to $15 per person, before looking at any sales.
That way, you decide how much to spend, rather than letting tempting discounts make the decision for you.
Where your savings can leak away
Even a good test result can fall apart at checkout.
Shipping on split orders is one leak.
Extra items you add to reach a code’s minimum are another.
Gifts you buy for yourself while you’re shopping are a third. Each one is small, but together they can wipe out the gap you found.
The thing is, a limit only works if you treat it as a limit.
If one gift puts you over, I’d drop it or swap it for a cheaper one.
A simple habit helps here: before you check out, I’d compare the final cart total with the budget I set at the start, not with the price tags I saw earlier.
I’d also leave the cart overnight. If an item still feels worth it the next morning, it probably is.
If not, you’ve just saved yourself a purchase you didn’t need.
Keeping a running total in your notes app takes less than a minute per gift, and it’s the easiest way to catch overspending while you can still fix it.
Final thoughts
No single store was cheapest for everything on my list, and that’s really the point.
Prices for the same gift can differ by a lot from one retailer to the next.
A budget, a price limit for each person and a few minutes of comparing total prizes will do more for your wallet than any last-minute sale.
My 20-gift test showed that the price of the same list can change a lot depending on where you buy it.
Try it with your own list before you pay for anything.
