Advent Calendar Day 23: Final Christmas Shopping
- Jacob
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
A last-minute shopping trip before Christmas can often include a mix of discounts.
Today’s Skill that Counts will help you manage a fixed £100 budget using clear percentage and money calculations, as well as a quick look at EQUIVALENTS.
You plan to buy the following:
Gift set £28 with 20% off
Toys £36, no discount
Chocolates £12 with 25% off
Wrapping paper £5, no discount
Step 1:
Work out the gift set discount
20% of 28 = 5.60
Sale price = 28 − 5.60 = 22.40
Method: Find 1% of 28 by dividing by 100
28 / 100 = 0.28
Then, multiply the answer by the required %, 20 in this example.
.28 X 20 = 5.6
As it's a money question, the rule is to write your answer to 2 decimal places.
5.6 becomes £5.60
If you need any resources to build this skill, drop me an email or leave a comment for FREE RESOURCES ON PERCENTAGES.
Step 2:
Work out the chocolates discount
25% of 12 = 3
Sale price = 12 − 3 = 9
Method: Find 1% as above or work with equivalents.
12/2 (Half or 50%) = 6
6/2 )Half again or 25%) = 3
3 is 25% or 1/4 of 12, a great example of equivalents.
Step 3:
Add the discounted and full-price items
Remember: Keep your working out in easy-to-read, clear columns and align the decimal points.
22.40 + 36 = 58.40
58.40 + 9 = 67.40
67.40 + 5 = 72.40
Total spend = £72.40
If you need any resources to build this skill, drop me an email or leave a comment for FREE RESOURCES ON PERCENTAGES.
Step 4:
Compare your spending with your £100 budget
100 − 72.40 = 27.60 left
You are under budget.
Skills that Count Check
Always calculate the discount first.
Subtract it before adding totals.
Check totals carefully when discounts vary.
The Skills that Count
Mixed-discount shopping appears often in the Functional Skills exam.
This example helps you build accuracy, plan purchases and make confident decisions on your final Christmas trip.
Have a look at recent spending, and if possible, share your biggest discounts in the comments
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