A tea pot covered in a green and white knit, two mugs, a gold bauble and a plate of mince pies.

Cost of Living at Christmas with cancer

Blog
Published: 28 November 2025

The festive season can feel stressful. If you have cancer, money worries can make this time even harder. The rising cost of living means many people have to make tough choices.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this time of year can still bring pressure to spend money.


In this article, you’ll find everyday tips to to help you save money and enjoy the season in a way that works for you. If you need extra help, Macmillan is here for you.

A selfie of Kerstin. Kerstin has short, brown curly hair and brown eyes. She is wearing a black cardigan and a black and white top. She is looking at the camera and appears to be sitting on a train.

Kerstin Digital Content Editor at Macmillan

Are you worried about money?

The festive season can be expensive. If you are worried about money, planning ahead can help.

Here are some tips.

Budgeting for the festive season 

Making a list or plan may help you to organise your spending. It can also help you see how much money you have to spend and where you might be able to save. Here are our tips:

  • Use a free budget planner like MoneySavingExpert's tool.
  • Pay for essentials first, like bills, food and mortgage payments first.
  • Be realistic about what you can afford.
  • If you are worried about debt, StepChange provides support and guidance.

Help with daily costs  

It's okay to ask for help. If you have cancer, you may be able to get benefits or other support. 

"Something as simple as eating Christmas dinner with my children was like winning the lottery." - Clare

Celebrate your way

Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and that’s okay. Whether you celebrate or not, this time of year can still bring pressure to spend money or meet expectations. It’s easy to compare yourself to others and feel like you have to buy gifts, organise meals or host family gatherings.

Remember: Christmas is just one day in the year. You can spend it in a way that works for you.

Here are some ideas for free or low-cost ways to make the season special.

    A group of people are celebrating the Christmas period with games. One person is standing up and has their mobile phone on their forehead. The screen is facing others at the party who are giving clues to the person holding the phone what the screen may say.

    Free community events

    Lots of communities have free children’s events and Christmas light switch-ons. Check local social media accounts and newsletters for upcoming events.

    Someone's hands crafting a Christmas wreath

    Fun activities at home

    • Get creative at home with crafts using things you already have.
    • Borrow books or games from your local library. 
    • Play free Christmas music using a free Spotify or YouTube account.
    A Christmas dinner with roast chicken

     Low-cost meals

    Christmas day doesn't have to be extravagant to be meaningful.

    Gift ideas that save money

     

    • Ask people what they want or need -  asking people what they need might give you some cheaper ideas.
    • Make homemade gifts - baked goods, jams or crafts that you can't find in the shops.
    • Secret Santa - suggest a Secret Santa to reduce the number of gifts you need to buy.
    • Shop early - buy in sales throughout the year. This will also help you to spread the cost. 
    • Suggest alternative present ideas - if you want to help others, you could invite people to donate money or items to a charity instead of buying a gift.
    • Christmas cards - instead of sending cards in the post, you could send an e-card or a video to save you the cost of cards and postage.
    • Reuse what you can - get out the decorations from last year before buying new ones.
    • Consider turning off Christmas lights after a few hours, to reduce your energy bills.
    • Regifting - consider giving things you never use into a Christmas gift for someone. This might be a gift you received in the past, like a scarf, unopened bath set or piece of jewellery.
    • Buy second-hand - look for preloved presents and Christmas decorations. This could be clothing from sites like Vinted or Depop. Or it could be toys and gadgets from eBay or local online marketplaces like Gumtree.
    • Manage expectations - this is especially important with children, who may not understand money.  You could also encourage them to save up their own money, or make it a goal to save up together.  

    Other organisations who can help

    • Something To Look Forward To provides gifts to families affected by cancer in the UK.
    • The Lewis Foundation delivers free gifts and support packs to adult cancer patients in hospital across the Midlands, including hampers at Christmas time.
    • Little Lifts provides gifts for people with breast cancer in the UK.
    • The Salvation Army provides Christmas lunches to older people living alone, and food parcels to families who are struggling to afford a Christmas lunch.

    You might be eligible for help from a food bank, if you need food. Find a food bank near you.

    Clare, diagnosed with throat cancer

    Clare preparing Christmas dinner

    "I wanted to spoil my kids because I was so grateful for being there that Christmas, but I couldn’t afford it. The only way I could do Christmas was by popping bits of spare change into a jar.

    I had some decorations from the previous year and my friend got me a tree. I made a lot presents, little baskets and hampers full of jam and little bits.

    Something as simple as eating Christmas dinner with my children was like winning the lottery."

    Coping with fatigue and side effects of cancer

    Treatment can make it hard to celebrate as before. You might feel tired or find eating difficult. Remember: there is no right way to celebrate Christmas. Do what feels best for you.

    Christmas lanterns with candles inside, hanging from a string

    Talking about money

    Money can be hard to talk about. But being open can help you plan. If you have cancer, you may have extra costs like travel or heating. Try planning free or low-cost ways to celebrate.

    Looking after your feelings

    Money worries and Christmas can affect your wellbeing. This can affect you if you have just been diagnosed with cancer, or if you are caring for someone having treatment.

    If you would like to talk, you can:

    Jenny is a Macmillan Support Line Welfare Rights Advisor. She is sitting at a desk and smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red top and blue jeans. On her head is a headset and she appears to be working at a computer.

    Call us

    Call the free Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00. The helpline will remain open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week throughout December. Our advisors provide a range of emotional and practical information and support.
    A side profile of a Black man on laptop.

    Email us

    Email us or chat to us online. You can also request to set up a call using a British Sign Language interpreter, or receive support in your own language.
    Woman working from home

    Speak to others on the Online Community

    The Online Community has lots of forums you can join, where you can chat anonymously to other people living with cancer. This includes topics such as help with transport and parking fees, and needing new clothes as a result of cancer. 

    More resources

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    About our information

    This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan's Digital Content Editor team and checked by Macmillan's Cancer Information Development team.

    Learn more about our Digital Content Editors and how we produce our cancer information.

     

    About the author

    A selfie of Kerstin. Kerstin has short, brown curly hair and brown eyes. She is wearing a black cardigan and a black and white top. She is looking at the camera and appears to be sitting on a train.

    Kerstin Felton

    Kerstin is a Digital Content Editor at Macmillan. She has a background in creating digital content for the NHS, other health charities, and research organisations. 

    Read more

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    How we can help

    Macmillan Support Line
    The Macmillan Support Line is a free and confidential phone service for people living and affected by cancer. If you need to talk, we'll listen. 

     

    Call us free on 0808 808 00 00
    8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. You can talk to our cancer specialists about anything.
    Email us
    Email the Macmillan Support Team if you have any questions.
    Chat online
    Available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. For confidential, real-time support if you don’t want to call.
    Help with the cost of living and cancer
    We know that cancer can be tough on your finances. You may also be worried about rises to energy bills and other costs of living. There is support available.
    Get help