Gen X and Baby Boomers face the highest share of Christmas dinner costs

Whoever hosts the main get-together bears the brunt of the cost, with more than four in ten hosts (44%) saying that other guests don't bring any food or drink with them to help.

MaPS is encouraging people to talk to friends and family about the cost of Christmas to help share the load, and to visit MoneyHelperOpens in a new window for guides on how to talk about money with loved ones.

The survey of 2000 UK adults found that those aged 55-64 are paying two thirds (64%) of the cost on average.

Those aged 65+, will be paying 61%, and those aged 45-54 will pay 58%, meaning Gen X and Baby Boomers are facing the lion’s share of the cost.

The research also found that the host of the day is largely dependent on whether they have children or other dependents.

Those who don’t have dependents are twice as likely to have their parents host (28%) compared to those who do (14%).

And only a third of those who don’t have children (33%) host the day, compared to almost half (49%) of those who do.

The festive season comes with lots of costs that can quickly add up, and if you’re not hosting or paying for the main celebration, you might forget about the cost of the food and drink for the day.

Jackie Spencer at the Money and Pensions Service says:

“Christmas and the wider festive season are lovely times for friends and families to get together, but it comes at a cost, especially if you’re the one hosting the day and buying the main meal and desserts, drinks, snacks, and more.

“If you are hosting Christmas there is still time to talk to your loved ones about sharing the load for the day.

“Visit MoneyHelper.org.uk for free and impartial guidance on talking about money at Christmas.” 

Here are three tips for talking to your loved ones about money ahead of Christmas:

You can suggest that different people to bring food or drink to the day to ease the load of the cost for those hosting.

Make a rough plan and practice saying it out loud, especially if you’re nervous.

Many people feel financial pressures at Christmas, so talking about it with friends and family can help ease worries between you.

If you are worried about the cost of the festive season, use MoneyHelper’s free Budget PlannerOpens in a new window to help you better keep track of your finances.

And if you do overspend at this time of year and you are worried about managing overpayments or think that you might miss bills, seek help early. Use MoneyHelper’s Debt Advice LocatorOpens in a new window to find free debt advice near you.

Visit MoneyHelperOpens in a new window for more free day-to-day money guidance, tools, and calculators.

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Additional stats

• It’s not until people reach the 35-44 age bracket where there is a significant difference in those who pay themselves (53%), and those whose parents cover the cost (17%). 
• Almost half of 18-24-year-olds (45%) say their parents pay for the Christmas meal, with 10% saying their grandparents pay.

Notes on the survey 

• We interviewed 2,000 people representative of the UK population in terms of age, gender and region/nation using a number of different online panels. We asked people who were celebrating Christmas who they would be celebrating with, and to estimate the proportion of the costs of the meal that everyone would be paying for.