10 Simple ways to save money on Christmas dinner

Christmas is an expensive time of year, what with presents, social occasions and food, so why look for ways to make savings.

One way would be looking to save money on your Christmas dinner and in this post, I’ll give you my ideas on how you can.

Just the very thought of Christmas dinner makes my mouth water.

Turkey, Brussel Sprouts, parsnips, pigs in blankets stuffing, Yorkshire Puds and of course some good old roasties, all sitting on a huge plate with lashings of gravy.

For me Christmas has always been about slobbing around the house, sticking the TV on and sitting back and doing absolutely nothing.

We overlook the Christmas Dinner

While we consider and budget for the presents we often forget that the Christmas dinner can be just as expensive, especially if you’re catering for a large group.

Of course, the best way to save money on your Christmas dinner is to go around to someone else’s house and eat them out of house and home, but if that isn’t an option, here are some simple ways to enable you to do Christmas dinner on a budget.

Ways to save money on Christmas dinner

1. Make a list

You can’t start a how to save money on your shopping post, without making a list be number 1.

Supermarkets are so tempting at this time of year with aisles especially set up for Christmas dinner, boxing day festivities and festive period parties.

In making a list you have to think about what you need before you even set foot in a supermarket and so long as you go in with the intention of sticking to the list you’ll not end up buying more than you are ever going to use.

2. Don’t be seduced by the advertisements

As seductively enticing an advert might be we have to remember that thousands have been spent on them and professional home economists have been brought in to make their dishes look as appetising as possible.

The reality is we’re probably never going to be able to make our dinner table look like they do in the ads no matter how much we might spend.

3. Try the cheaper alternatives beforehand

Brands aren’t always better not only nutritionally but on the purse strings too, so before Christmas try the cheaper alternatives of what you might expect to buy to see whether you can shift from brands to supermarket own-label products.

4. Don’t shop too far in advance

By waiting you might be able to get those items that the supermarket can’t shift at a discounted price.

Unfortunately, you also run the risk of getting to the supermarket and being met with empty shelves.

5. Do some research

From the comfort of your own home, you can compare your Christmas dinner shopping list with apps such as trolley.co.uk.

6. Beware of the supermarket selling tactics

Supermarkets aren’t there to do you a favour as much as they will all say they have the customer first and foremost at the heart of everything they do.

They don’t.

They’re businesses out to make a profit and will use industry-recognised tactics to get you to spend more in their stores.

Whether that is putting the most expensive items at eye level or getting you to try freebies in the knowledge that if you get a taste for it you will more than likely be a regular buyer of that product.

7. Check whether you are really getting a good deal

Supermarkets love to package items as though you’re getting a great deal but be wary of these and at the very least check for yourself whether it would be cheaper to buy items individually or already in their prepacked deal.

8. Only buy what you need

I’m always bemused by the fact that a few weeks before Christmas, everyone acts like they’ve been informed that they have to stockpile in readiness for the end of the world.

Only buy those items that you need for those people that you expect to be entertaining.

Buying on the off chance that you might get visitors will probably only result in food wastage you flushing money down the drain.

9. Use a calculator or shop online

What’s the point in having a budget if you’re sticking stuff in your trolley without any thought to your budget?

You’re likely to have your phone with you so why not use it to save some money and calculate what you’re putting into your basket.

Though you’re paying for delivery, if you were to go into a supermarket you could end up paying multiple times more by putting stuff in your basket that you don’t need.

10. Avoid the turkey

While I get that a Christmas dinner without turkey for some isn’t a Christmas dinner at all, for a meat that holds no prisoners and has to be cooked perfectly or run the risk of it being dry it can be quite expensive.

Why not try a different meat, chicken always goes down well in our house.

So long as you have your pigs in blankets and your roasted parsnips and Brussel Sprouts I think Christmas dinner is set.

If you just have to have a turkey for your Christmas dinner then consider buying a turkey crown, while they might be a little more expensive than a whole bird, you decrease the chances of wasting any of the meat that you have available.

So there you are

There you have it, some of my tips on how to save money on your Christmas dinner, you might decide that you’re not going to pay any attention to any of them and that’s fine.

It’s your Christmas and only you know what’s going to make your Christmas perfect.

Though I haven’t mentioned it in great detail here, it is also worth considering starting a sinking fund for not only your Christmas presents but your Christmas dinner too.