Nine ways to serve up Christmas dinner for less

There’s no getting around it: Christmas is expensive.

Different surveys suggest we spend anywhere from £600 to £1,150 during the festive season.

And it’s not just gift buying that adds up. Serving the traditional Christmas Day meal – especially if you have extra guests- can also be pricey.

According to the Bank of England, UK households spend 20% more on food and 38% more on alcohol to celebrate the big day than at any other time in the year.

But there are plenty of ways to cut costs and still have a special day.

Here are some tips for serving a feast fit for a (baby) king while staying on budget.

Substitute the turkey

Turkey prices fluctuate throughout December, with some supermarkets offering discounts to attract shoppers. However, prices tend to be higher at Christmas than during the rest of the year.

Cut costs by buying turkey cuts instead of a whole bird. Choose turkey breasts, legs, and thighs, which cook more quickly and save money on energy.

Another money-saving option is roast chicken. It tastes like turkey and is just as delicious but much cheaper. A whole chicken costs around £4 in most supermarkets compared to £13 per kilo for a turkey.

Alternatively, opt for a frozen turkey. They’re typically 20% cheaper than fresh, and you don’t need to worry about use-by dates, so you can buy ahead of time.

Fill up on veg

For the past few years, supermarkets have tried to attract festive shoppers by slashing the price of their Christmas vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, sprouts, and other essential vegetables were as little as 50p in some supermarkets last Christmas. Root vegetables are also a nutritious way to bulk out your Christmas meal.

Go for own-brand

Retailers spend a fortune making their Christmas fayre stand out. Bypass the extra expense this brings and go for own-band alternatives, which tend to be much less expensive.

This is especially true when it comes to alcohol. Supermarket own-brand champagne, wine, and spirits like gin and vodka can be as much as half the price of household names.

Some wine clubs offer introductory discount offers, such as Laithwaites, the Sunday Times Wine Club, Virgin Wines, or Naked Wines. Sign up for membership to make the most of savings this Christmas. Just make sure you remember to cancel your subscription so you’re not out of pocket in the new year. You could also try picking up cheaper alternatives, like going for cava or prosecco over champagne.

Also, try to be savvy when you shop at Christmas. Retailers usually place more expensive items at eye level with better-value alternatives placed on the bottom shelf. Take some time to scan the shelves and see if you can make an instant saving.

Serve up a yellow sticker meal

Look out for special offers and discounted ‘yellow’ sticker items when shopping over the next few weeks. Freeze anything close to its use-by date so it can be cooked over Christmas.

Share the cost

If you have invited guests or family over for dinner, ask them to bring a dish and share the cost. After all, Christmas is all about sharing, and most guests will be more than happy to contribute.

Use up leftovers

UK households throw away around 4.5 million tonnes of food during Christmas.

Store leftovers in the fridge so they can be eaten over the days following Christmas. Make the most of what’s left by turning them into something different. Check out websites such as Good Food, Olive Magazine, or BBC Food for free recipes.

Cash in loyalty points

Save your supermarket loyalty points throughout the year to cash in at Christmas. This will reduce your spending during the most expensive month of the year.

You can also use cashback sites like Quidco and TopCashback to earn extra on your festive shopping, which you could swap for supermarket vouchers.

Check out food waste apps

Food waste apps help people or businesses share food they don’t want or need locally for free.

With 43% of Brits overbuying festive food in case they run out, you should be able to pick up a range of ingredients on apps such as Olio and Too Good to Go to help keep spending to a minimum.

Charities that can help

Not everyone’s budget stretches to cover the cost of Christmas. If you’re struggling, there is help available. Charities such as The Salvation Army, Crisis and Social Bite provide free meals at Christmas.

Some food banks also provide specialist support at Christmas. You’ll need a referral from a recognised organisation or professional, such as your GP, health visitor, housing association, the police, or Citizens Advice, to get help from most food banks.