Milk, mince pies and carrots don’t come cheap
Experts at Ailsa have crunched the numbers, revealing that the price of leaving out a pint of milk, a mince pie and a carrot has jumped by almost 40% since 2015.
Supermarket data shows the average pint of milk now costs 85p, a pack of mince pies £1.25, and a 500g bag of carrots 49p — adding up to £2.59 for Santa’s snack station this Christmas Eve.
Back in 2015, the same treats would have set families back just £1.86.
A tradition with history
The ritual of leaving food out for Santa dates back to the 1930s. In 1935, families spent barely 0.05p on the festive offering.
Since then, the cost has rocketed by more than 5,000% over nine decades, with the sharpest rise coming between 1975 and 1985 when prices leapt by 151%.
“The magic matters”
Kane Taylor, Ailsa researcher, said:
“Yes, the cost of keeping Santa fed has shot up but that just proves how determined we are to keep the Christmas dream alive. Even when the world feels a bit heavy, we still leave out the milk, mince pie and carrot with a smile, because the magic matters.”
He added:
“For kids, it’s a moment of pure wonder. For the rest of us, it’s a chance to reconnect with the part of ourselves that still believes in something sparkly. If paying a few extra pennies means keeping that glow going, then we’ll happily keep topping up Santa’s snack station.”
Rising costs, rising cheer
While mince pies may be pricier, experts say the tradition is priceless. Families across Wales are expected to keep the ritual alive this Christmas Eve, proving that festive spirit can’t be measured in pounds and pence.
Cost of feeding Santa
| Year | Amount (£) |
| 1935 | 0.05 |
| 1945 | 0.07 |
| 1955 | 0.11 |
| 1965 | 0.15 |
| 1975 | 0.33 |
| 1985 | 0.83 |
| 1995 | 1.25 |
| 2005 | 1.45 |
| 2015 | 1.86 |
| 2025 | 2.59 |
