Are you the type who has their Christmas shopping wrapped and labelled by October, or more of a Christmas Eve dash-around-the-shops person? Whatever your style, we’ve got you covered.
I work on the front counter here at London Mutual, and although its still only October, we’re already getting questions about Christmas loans. So if you’re like me, and a planner who’s already getting into gear, here are some tips about getting your application sorted without any hassle.
The deadline
This year’s Christmas loan deadline is midnight on Tuesday 9th December 2025. If you apply before then, you’ve got the best chance of getting everything approved and paid before Christmas.
We’ll still take applications after that date, but there’s a good chance they won’t be sorted until January—which is fine if it’s not too urgent.
What actually helps
Applications usually take 7-10 working days to go through. Here’s what I tell members who want to avoid hold-ups:
- Don’t leave it till the last minute. The earlier you apply, the more time we’ve got to look at everything and get back to you if we need more information.
- Send everything in one go. Do the open banking bit and upload all your documents when you first apply. The members who do this have a much easier time. It will take much longer if we need to go back and forth asking you to complete bits and pieces.
- Check your texts. If we need something from you, we’ll text you. The quicker you get back to us, the quicker we can move things along.
My top tip: borrow what you need, not what you can
If there’s one thing to bear in mind, it’s this: Christmas doesn’t have to cost the earth to be special. The best ones are about being together, not about how much you’ve spent.
Before you apply, have a think about what you actually need the loan for. A bit of help with food shopping, a few presents, maybe the travel costs to see family—that’s all fine. But borrowing more than you need for a big blow-out just leads to regrets in January when the bills come in.
Only borrow what makes sense for you and what you can comfortably pay back. Your future self will thank you.
Who can apply?
Our Christmas loans are open to all members:
- If you’re working, you can borrow from £100 up to £5,000, sometimes up to £15,000 depending on your circumstances
Small Loans - If you’re retired or unemployed, you can borrow up to £600, or up to £1,200 if you’ve borrowed with us before and kept up with payments
Unemployed & Retired Loans
Not a member? You can join and apply at the same time.
After the deadline
If you apply after 9th December, that’s fine—we’ll still process it. Just know it probably won’t be done until the new year.
Getting started
Head to our Christmas loans page to see what you can borrow and start your application. Make sure you send all your documents at the same time—it honestly makes everything simpler.
If you’ve got questions, come and see us or give us a ring.
