Save Money on Christmas Dinner

Now that December is well and truly here, our minds are also well and truly fixed upon Christmas. But whilst we scramble for deals on presents and decorations, we may overlook the very important main event: Christmas Dinner. Very often it can end up creeping up on us and becoming the most expensive meal of the year…but why? Here are some tips to ensure you’re not overspending (and wasting) on food this festive season!

Ditch the Turkey

Who says you need to have turkey at Christmas? In fact, many of us opt for a chicken instead. It’s far cheaper, and there are an array of recipes online to spice up a chicken for Christmas. As the meat is also often the most expensive part of the meal, make It stretch as far as possible – ensure there are plenty of veggies on offer to fill people up, also serve veggies that are particularly festive, like sprouts or parsnips – we love roasting those too as well as potatoes!

Don’t Buy Food No One Eats!

So many of us buy food at Christmas simply because it’s traditional to do so, but we don’t actually like it! How many times have you found your Christmas pudding you meant to eat after dinner in the back of the cupboard come spring? Again, who says you have to be traditional? If the kids eat ice cream, buy ice cream instead – just make sure you’re buying something everyone will eat, and not because you feel you have to.

Limit Waste

Christmas is typically a time of excess, and most of us have leftovers of some kind at the end of the day. Instead of throwing them away, why not save up some recipes to use to create something delicious for boxing day? It will save spending on another meal, and it might even stretch the Christmas cheer a little further too.

Perhaps to avoid leftovers or waste to begin with, why not make a list beforehand of what you need? That way you’ll be more organised too, and it may prevent you from remembering that you forgot the sprouts on Christmas Eve…

Try Alternatives

Not only can you swap the turkey for chicken, but why not try shifting away from the brands? Often branded doesn’t always mean better, but it does always mean more expensive. Why not try some supermarket own labels instead? Or even go homemade on bread and cranberry sauces or gravy? Your wallet may forgive you for it, and it may even taste better too!

Don’t be Seduced

It’s sometimes very tempting when we watch the yearly John Lewis ad to want to buy everything they’re selling to make our tables appear the same. But at the end of the day, Christmas is not about how much money we’ve spent, but the time spent, namely with family and friends. Don’t be seduced by the biggest turkey or the most expensive wines and champagnes to make the day “more special.”

If you’re still struggling with Christmas, why not plan ahead and open a Christmas Savings account with us? Putting a bit of money aside every week for the big day can really take the pressure off, and it can ensure that you have enough money set aside for the big day. You could also take out a flexible Christmas Loan with us too and pay it back over twelve months to help foot the bill! Here at Smart Money Cymru, we’re here to help!