'I tried to only spend £20 at Cambridge's Christmas market and failed miserably'

Christmas markets combine some of life's greatest joys: shopping, food, and festive joy. Nothing quite gets you in the holiday spirit more than walking around a neatly decorated market with a boozy hot chocolate in hand.

However, they are also known for being horrendously expensive. So, armed with a budget of £20 I went to the Christmas in Cambridge market found on Parker's Piece to see what I could get.

I was ready to scour the place for deals while also filling up on some festive treats. I knew it was going to be difficult but I was determined to enjoy myself while sticking to my budget.

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My excitement for the challenge grew as I walked towards the market with all of its fairy lights glistening and Christmas trees decorated with shiny gold and red baubles. The smell of sugary treats almost slapped me in the face as I neared the entrance.

Before even attempting to spend any money, I scouted out the stalls. I walked past an array of jewellery, novelty socks, and brownies, all things that would make a nice gift for someone.

I had a look around the many bars and tents dotted throughout the market, all of which were decorated with festive garlands, and twinkly lights. The drinks may be more on the expensive side but I can see how it might be worth spending a little extra on the festive and comforting atmosphere.

The market also has a huge outdoor ice rink with a few people deciding to brave the ice and they seemed to be having a good time. However, I was content enough with my feet firmly on the ground and watching everyone else slip and slide on the rink.

By walking around the market and constantly doing maths sums in my head to avoid overspending, I had worked up a substantial appetite. The Christmas market had many festive favourites from bratwurst to hot chocolates.

As I've recently moved out of my parent's house, the one meal I miss the most is a Sunday roast. To provide myself with some much needed homely comfort, I bought a Yorkshire Pudding wrap for £13 filled with mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, and topped with your meat of choice.

I was asked if I wanted any cranberry sauce but after my Christmas pizza adventure, I think I have had my fill of it for at least a year. I did get gravy instead because no roast is complete without it being completely drowned in gravy.

Seeing as, for once beef didn't cost more than every other meat, I treated myself and was handed a dauntingly large Yorkshire Pudding that was overflowing with a fork sticking out and several napkins that would most likely come in handy. After realising the only way to eat the wrap was to dive right in, I took my first bite and was instantly transported back to my parent's dining room on a Sunday evening.

The beef melted instantly in my mouth and the gravy made sure the whole wrap was well insulated. The vegetables were still crunchy and the mash was creamy, bringing the whole meal together.

Even though the wrap did cost an eye-watering £13, I was left completely satisfied. So much so that I had to do another trip around the market stalls to make room for some dessert.

On my walk around I spotted a stall selling German chocolates for £1.50 each. The cute almost bauble-shaped chocolates were filled with a light marshmallow, which came in a range of flavours from Bailey's to mint, and sat on top of a wafer.

For only £1.50, I had to pick one up, as it was one of the only gifts I could buy without going over budget. While the chocolate was handed to me in a little plastic bag, if you took some time to decorate it with a bow and a tag, this inexpensive treat would make for a great stocking stuffer.

After bagging my gift, I was enticed by the sweet smells of the churros stand. The heat was radiating from the frying oil and I simply could not resist the look of the dough covered in sugar and cinnamon.

A small box of churros cost £5.50, which would mean I would have spent exactly £20 at the market. However, this is where things started to go wrong.

I was asked if I would like a sauce with the churros and of course, I said yes, as who eats churros without a pot of Nutella to accompany it? I made the mistake of assuming it was included in the price but when I came to pay, the amount had suddenly jumped up to £7 and brought my total up to £21.50.

I was quickly reminded that nothing in life is free, not even a small pot of Nutella! Even though I had failed my challenge, the delightfully tasty churros had just the right amount of crunch and paired wonderfully with the chocolate hazelnut sauce. For a small box, the portion size wasn't bad either!

I may have gone over my budget by £1.50 thanks to my own greed but I left the Christmas market feeling incredibly festive. The market is definitely not the best place to be if you want to save money but it is worth a trip if you want to enjoy some holiday spirit.