Christmas Food

Christmas Crackers

The Food!

Now Christmas isn't Christmas without a good nosh up I'll admit that! I love a well cooked Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, but you know what's coming - I don't like what it can cost.

However do not dismay. I am not about to pour cold water all over the upcoming festivities. On the contrary, I want to bring reasurrance that we can still enjoy  ourselves, but not overspend. There are ways to enjoy your food over this festive period without going overboard and ending up spending way too much and throwing out far too many leftovers.

 Over the past few years I have cut back more and more with regard to how we approach the festive period and I can honestly say it has not made it any the less enjoyable. I have said it before and I stand by it - We work hard for our money and although we are in a fortunate position now of not being hard up, I don't want to waste what we do have to spend. 

You can almost see the pound signs appearing in the eyes of retailers as Christmas approaches and I am sure months of planning have gone into how best to maximise their profit during this time of year. Now, I am not against people making a living, particularly the smaller traders, who are pricing their products honesty and fairly, but are still being suffocated by the larger Supermarkets. However, I do resent having every spare penny  I own squeezed out of me until there is nothing left. I like to start the New Year with money in my pocket, not that feeling of having spent too much.

So, here are my suggestions to keep the food budget in check over Christmas and some ideas of how to minimise the cost of the Christmas dinner.

• Prepare, prepare, prepare! Plan what you can ahead of time so you can decide where and how you are going to spend your money.
• Write a food shopping list. Take 10 items off.( Yes I did say that!)
• Do not 'panic buy' huge quantities of food. The supermarkets are shut for a very small amount of time. You. will. not. run. out. of. food.
• Write a menu plan for over the Christmas period. Include any entertaining you are doing and set a reasonable budget. Now see if you can cut it by at least 10%. Here are some menu plans and costs  from Tescos Real Food Christmas Challenge 2011
• Plan what treats you are going to buy. Don't go overboard. Limit your treats - do you really need crisps, peanuts, chocolate, wine, beer, cakes, biscuits, mince pies, endless nibbles..... 
• If you can't decide let each family member choose one reasonable item.
• Shop as you would normally. The same store and the same brands - just adding in what you need for your extra entertaining and Christmas meal.
• Don't be tempted to buy a higher brand or shop at a more expensive supermarket than you would do normally!
• Wine often works out cheaper if you buy it in a box. The down side of this is you need discipline if you have wine on tap in the fridge! Check out MoneySavingExpert for wine deals and vouchers.
• Plan a menu for your Christmas dinner and cost it out. 
• Shop around for the best prices.
• Check for deals, coupons and vouchers online for supermarkets and local traders to cut your budget further.
• If you have a smaller family don't buy a whole turkey. Go for the cheaper option of a turkey crown instead.
• Don't buy pre prepared pigs in blankets and all the trimmings etc. It will be cheaper to make your own.
• Work out how much food per head you need for the Christmas dinner and buy just enough, not double! It will still be too much!
• You don't have to stick firmly with tradition. e.g A chicken is cheaper. Do you really need a Christmas pudding if no one eats it etc
• Look up some tasty, but inexpensive festive recipes to try out.
• Get visitors to muck in and bring a dish/drink/a box of crackers so you are not providing the whole meal.
• A homemade soup and rolls with leftovers is a cheap and welcome meal on Boxing day after the indulgence on Christmas Day! Don't feel you have to cook another masterpiece. I love a Christmas sandwich done properly - warm homemade bread, turkey, stuffing, a bit of bacon and slice of sausage, some crunchy salad leaves and a smear of cranberry jelly. YUM.
• The three day rule - Christmas eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Once these days are over return to your usual menus. This is better for your waistline and your pocket!
• Freeze any leftovers that can be frozen so you can use them later and not waste them.
• Make some meals beforehand and freeze them so you aren't left over the Christmas period tired and worn out wondering what to feed your hungry brood. A stock of basic meals like meatballs, lasagne, steak pies and chilli are inexpensive and so useful to have as a back up in the freezer.
• Get some supermarket own brand ice creams, cones and assorted sprinkles to make some quick and cheap puddings for hungry children.

Check out my other Christmas Cracker posts:

1. The Budget

2.  Cutting the Budget on Gifts

3.  Decorating on a Budget

4.  Christmas Outfits

What advice would you give regarding spending on groceries at Christmas?

*Photos Courtesy of Wylio