Whether it’s turkey or something different, there are plenty of ways to save on Christmas dinner this year
If we’re celebrating Christmas, we’ll want to get the food right. But that doesn’t mean we can’t save on Christmas dinner.
There are lots of ways to avoid spending a fortune.
Here’s a Quids in! guide outlining how to save on Christmas dinner – and where to shop for it.
- If we’re going for turkey, consider buying frozen (if we have a freezer). We can buy one right now for peace of mind. A whole frozen turkey costs from £14.99 for a small bird to £21.99 for a large one (Aldi). Or if our family prefers the white meat, Iceland’s Luxury Easy Carve turkey crown serves six to eight and is £26.
- Asda have pulled together an entire frozen Christmas dinner to serve six for £25.
- Or try a turkey thigh joint. An 850g stuffed joint from Aldi costs £11.99 and serves four. It’s fresh, so will be in stores from 19 December.
- It doesn’t have to be turkey! Lots of other dishes have become quite trendy in recent years. A slow cooked shin of beef (frozen) with gravy to serve eight people costs £12 from Iceland. The store also has a luxury pulled beef Wellington (frozen) to serve four people for £10.
- Go fish! Nearer the big day, Asda will be offering monkfish wrapped in prosciutto (price TBC) and Lidl have a frozen three-fish roast for £5.99.
- Or try a veggie dinner – it’s come a long way from nut roasts. From vegan mushroom Wellington, £6 from Asda (serves four), to a mushroom and chestnut festive wreath, £6 from Tesco (serves six), it can be a great way to trim costs.
Other ways to save
- Start buying reduced items now and freeze them for Christmas.
- Plan to cook at least some festive meals from scratch.
- Check for vouchers, points or coupons that might have built up.
- Don’t be tempted to try a more expensive supermarket just because it’s Christmas. Yes, the packaging might look nicer but we won’t be serving the food in its packaging.
- Unless we’re big fans, consider ditching the Christmas crackers. We can decorate the table with small candles, a vase of pine cones and a few sprigs from a Christmas tree (or a red-berried bush).
Image: Tim Douglas / Pexels
