Martin Lewis reveals shop that’s ‘winner’ for cheap Christmas — and it’s not a supermarket

If you’re not one of those people that puts away bits and bobs for Christmas throughout the year, you’re probably gearing up for the big shop.

But working out where to do this can be a bit of a challenge – do you head for the one with the tastiest food and drink, or opt for somewhere that’ll be kinder to your wallet?

If it’s delicious delights you’re after, Waitrose was recently crowned as the ‘best’ for Christmas 2025, with Aldi coming in second place.

However, Martin Lewis, has revealed in his most recent MoneySavingExpert newsletter (on November 18), that it’s a different spot you should be heading to for your groceries and gifts this year – and it’s not a traditional supermarket.

According to the pro, it’s Costco that’s a real ‘winner’ for Christmas dinner and more.

What is Costco and how can you get a membership?

For those who have never been, Costco is a wholesale warehouse, which sells everything from food to clothing, electronics, toiletries and books in bulk and at discounted prices. 

There are currently 29 stores across the UK, but you can’t just waltz into one off the street, as the retailer requires a membership, which starts from £42 per year (£35 plus VAT). For this price you get to shop online and in the Costco warehouses and receive two membership cards. 

The criteria for getting a membership is pretty strict, but if you meet it and have a larger household or are throwing a big party, the cost can be worth it.

This is especially true if you’re a fan of branded items, as MoneySavingExpert claims it’s ‘very competitive on brands’.

And for Christmas items specifically, the team found that it was the ‘cheapest’ for 14 out of 15 branded products, including a Lindt Teddy 3D advent calendar, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, panettone and smoked salmon.

Their findings are based on a random sample of 15 items in November 2025, with the test comparing the products at Costco to items elsewhere using Trolley.co.uk and Google Shopping.

Highlights from the list include 5kg of Albert Bartlett Rooster Potatoes which cost £4.99 at Costco, but the cheapest price elsewhere was £5.58. 

Similarly, a pack of 40 Hallmark Christmas Cards was £11.98 at Costco, but £13 elsewhere.

And Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne (75cl) costs £40.78 at Costco and £49 elsewhere.

Other items that were found to be cheaper at Costco include Long Clawson Stilton (454g), a Paco Rabanne Lady Million gift set and toys like a Carrera GO! Mario Kart car race set.

While you can clearly find some bargains here, the MoneySavingExpert did share a few caveats, saying: ‘Bear in mind items can come in jumbo sizes [at Costco], so consider how much you can actually chomp through.’

They added that all of the prices they featured are warehouse prices, and items are usually more expensive when purchased on Costco’s website, so it’s cheaper to shop in-store.

But with so much crammed into the warehouses, it’s easy to get distracted and come out with things you didn’t need, so be sure to take a shopping list if you don’t want to spend too much. 

And while Costco might be a ‘winner’ for certain products, it’s still worth noting that those really looking to really cut costs this Christmas can ‘usually save even more’ by switching to supermarket own-brands. 

For example, John Ross smoked salmon (454g) was £7.99 at Costco, but the equivalent amount of Aldi’s salmon worked out at £6.74. And while Costco’s Tom Smith crackers with silver-plated favours (8) were £29.98, Dunelm sells a pack of eight for £6 (though without the silver-plated extras).

I went to Costco for the first time – it isn't for the weak

Call me boring if you want, but I love a good supermarket shop.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise then, that going to Costco for the first time ever would be a big deal for me. It wasn’t quite on par with the way a child feels at Disneyland, but it was up there. 

But the trip wasn’t quite what I expected. I headed inside the store… and was met with utter chaos.

If you’ve never been to Costco before, it’s my duty to warn you never to go on a weekend – it’s akin to being in London when the Christmas lights are switched on, or at a UK beach in the height of summer. There were people absolutely everywhere and endless queues, both to get into the store and for the checkouts. It isn’t for the weak.

The layout of the shop itself was also rather chaotic, although this is definitely part of the experience. I never knew what I was going to find from one moment to the next – there were sports bras on a shelf next to blenders, and children’s toys near power tools. 

We quickly realised we’d never be able to do a proper grocery shop here. Everything is sold in bulk, which is ideal if you’re running a business or feeding a large family, but rather unnecessary for just the two of us, as there’d be too much waste. 

That said, there were some store cupboard essentials, that would not only last for ages, but proved to be better value when bought this way.

For instance, a 600g tub of Marmite cost us £5.99 at Costco, while a 250g jar is £3 at Sainsbury’s (our nearest shop). Similarly, Twinings English Breakfast Tea Bags are £4.80 for 80 bags at Sainsbury’s, but £7.99 for 300 bags in Costco.

Not everything was necessarily good value for money though, especially products in the bakery section. A 12 pack of croissants was priced at £5.49, whereas 12 croissants in Sainsbury’s work out at £3.20.

I also audibly gasped when I saw that a six-pack of chocolate muffins was going for £7.99, but thankfully a kind stranger pointed out the fine print on the label, which said you could get two packs for £7.99. There were a few sneaky offers like this, so definitely worth keeping your eyes peeled to get the most bang for your buck.

My top tip? Stick to a shopping list (we ended up spending over £100) and stop by the food court before you leave. £1.50 for a hot dog and a drink? You won’t find those kind of prices anywhere else…

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