Expert tips on making Christmas dinner cheaper, from switching ingredients to maxing out on supermarket loyalty points.
United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ More than half of UK adults are worried about being able to afford Christmas this year, as the cost of living crisis continues to eat away at household finances.
The survey by TopCashback also revealed that 45% of people who celebrate Christmas plan to cut their budget this year.
Budgeting experts were requested to share their tips on how to buy and make Christmas food for less, so you could focus on enjoying the celebrations.
1. Save throughout the year
With the cost of Christmas dinner set to rise by 11% this year compared to 2022 according to Interactive Investor, spreading the cost throughout the year is a savvy move.
Which? member Donya Veevers says she and her family each put £10 a month in a pot until December and use that to fund festive get-togethers.
You could also use savings schemes offered by supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Iceland, and Tesco throughout the year to give you a bonus to spend during the festive season.
While it’s a bit late to put this tip into practice for Christmas 2023, why not make it a New Year’s resolution for next year?
2. Make the most of leftovers
According to Asda, 90 million plates of leftovers are thrown away on average every Christmas, so it is clear many of us are buying more food than needed.
Pre-planning meals and writing a list of exactly what food and how much you need can help you avoid this.
But if you do end up with leftovers, Leftover turkey could be stored in the fridge for up to two days, or you can freeze the excess turkey and defrost either in the fridge or using the microwave on the defrost setting directly before reheating. The golden rule? Only reheat once.
Here are some more ideas for using up leftovers:
Make soup with your vegetables, and freeze portions if you have too much.
Use your turkey carcass for stock and soup, and put any remaining Christmas chocolates into cookies, ice cream and s’mores.
Create potato cakes for breakfast with leftover roast potatoes, a cheesy pasta bake with remaining cheese from a cheeseboard, freeze leftover wine into ice cube trays for risottos, red wine gravy, or stews and use stale mince pies to make mince pie ice cream with leftover custard and cream, which you can do by combining, freezing and stirring every two to three hours.
3. Freeze what you can
The freezer is your best friend in the fight against wasting food, especially at Christmas.
Try freezing your leftovers and stocking up on cut-price frozen or freezable produce, as it is less likely to be wasted given you just use what you need.
It is best to use food stored in your freezer within three to six months.
I t was pointed out by several readers that frozen turkeys can be cheaper than fresh ones too, but you will need plenty of freezer space to store a turkey and will need to allow plenty of time for defrosting.
4. Go for a cheaper supermarket
The cost of festive feasts can add up, particularly with prices rising steeply for certain foods. But selecting a cheaper supermarket can go a long way towards cutting costs.
In terms of general groceries, Aldi has been the cheapest supermarket for a basket of food and drink every month except October so far in 2023, according to Which? research.
5. Share the cost
If you need to cut down on your Christmas food spend, why not ask everyone to contribute a dish?
One Which? reader said a that a potluck-style meal could save money, add ‘diversity to your menu, and create a fun and festive atmosphere’.
This could work particularly well if you have loved ones who are especially good at making certain dishes – and could save time, too.
6. Use loyalty schemes
If you are a member of your supermarket’s loyalty scheme, make sure you take advantage of any loyalty cardholder-exclusive offers they have.
7. Get cashback on your shopping
Doing your Christmas grocery shopping via cashback sites like Quidco and TopCashback could earn you money back – just ensure you click through via the cashback site link before making your purchase so it is registered.
You could also consider making use of a cashback credit card. The best deals pay 5% in your first three months, earning you £75 if you spend £500 a month for the first three months. But do remember to pay back your full balance each month to avoid gains being wiped out by interest charges.
Some debit card providers offer cashback too. Chase, for instance, pays 1% cashback on everyday debit card spending for the first year after opening your account.
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8. Try non-traditional foods
A few swap turkey for a takeaway or make an alternative dish instead of the traditional Christmas dinner.
If you want to spend less on ingredients while keeping things as traditional as possible, chicken can be much cheaper (and some might argue tastier) than turkey, and still goes perfectly with roast potatoes, sprouts and stuffing. A shoulder of pork can also be a more affordable option.
Or, if you are looking to cut back on meat, you could go for a vegetarian centrepiece instead.
And remember, branded food and drink do not always taste better: own-brand ranges are usually much cheaper, and we have found plenty that gain higher scores in our blind taste tests.
