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Ten Ways to Save Money on Christmas Dinner
So it's your year to host Christmas dinner. You're about to have dozens of family members, that you only see once a year, come into your home and you have to feed them all. All while also buying gifts for everyone. It's an expensive time of year, but it doesn't have to be if you have a Christmas dinner budget and plan within that budget. You can prepare a fabulous Christmas dinner for your family on the cheap if you just follow these ten simple steps (I've been doing it for years!).
Step 1. Watch the flyers. Most supermarkets have good specials on Christmas specific foods during November and December. Look for sales on turkey, ham, chicken, seafood, ice-cream, chocolates, and drinks. Make room in the freezer now, ready for those perishables you'll need to buy early.
Step 2. Make it from scratch. More often than not preparing it yourself will save you money. Now we know, you're thinking, "but I don't have time." Really, though, peeling vegetables for a roast can be done while waiting for dinner to cook. I like to drizzle them with oil and herbs and freeze them, ready to go into the oven to roast. You can put them straight into the oven to bake on Christmas Day, just add about 15 minutes extra cooking time. Gravy can be made ahead and frozen, ready to heat. Salad dressings can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. Start now and you'll have everything done before the big day.
Step 3. Look for in-season vegetables. Expect salad veggies to go up from about mid-December, with prices for traditional roasting veggies (potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, onions, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower etc.) rising the week before Christmas. Frozen is sometimes cheaper than fresh, and you don't need to wait to buy them or worry about them keeping until Christmas Dinner. Check prices at your local greengrocer as well as your supermarkets to get the best deals.
Step 4. Make your own desserts. Christmas cake and pudding aren't hard to make. In fact there are some great recipes for delicious, but very easy to make, cakes and puddings in the Recipe File. Pavlova is also easy to make, and can be done a week or so ahead of time. Cheesecakes can be made ahead and frozen. Ice-cream of course can be bought or made ahead (Condensed Milk Ice-Cream is divine and very easy to make).
Step 5. Save money on the drinks - wine in particular. You don't have to be all about the good stuff. You can start out plying them with the good stuff and switch to the cheap stuff once your guests have loosened up a bit. They likely won't notice. Store brand soda isn't going to get you barred from ever serving Christmas dinner again either. Even better ask everyone to bring their own drinks.
Step 6. Know exactly how many guests are coming. Having a head count will help you to not over cater - leftovers are OK for a day or two, but after that they just get old (and go off!).
Step 7. And since you know exactly how many people are coming, you can cook enough food for your guests. Don't plan for leftovers (see above!) and sending people home with food. While that's nice and all, many times people don't want the leftovers and you're just left with this huge amount of food that you can't possibly finish.
Step 8. Keep it simple. There's no sense in having a million dishes. While you might want to please everyone, sticking to the basics is best. If at all possible, have one meat, one starch, and one vegetable. You will appreciate the ease in only having to cook three things on the big day. Your purse will appreciate it too.
Step 9. Make your list and check it twice. Okay, not really; you're not Santa Claus, but you should stick to your list. No impulse buying, just get what you absolutely need - nothing more nothing less.
Step 10. This is my favourite step, and the one that makes hosting Christmas dinner so easy and enjoyable. Encourage guests to bring a portion of the meal. If someone is extra good at desserts, then let that family member handle it. Most of your guests will ask if they can bring something, so take advantage of that. Have a list of possible things you'd like someone else to pick up for you. This could be rolls, drinks, ice, or whatever will make it easier for you.
Are you ready to enjoy the holidays with your family now? No need to break the bank to have a great Christmas dinner with everyone. Just shop smart and you can save not only lots of headaches, but lots of dough as well.
Step 1. Watch the flyers. Most supermarkets have good specials on Christmas specific foods during November and December. Look for sales on turkey, ham, chicken, seafood, ice-cream, chocolates, and drinks. Make room in the freezer now, ready for those perishables you'll need to buy early.
Step 2. Make it from scratch. More often than not preparing it yourself will save you money. Now we know, you're thinking, "but I don't have time." Really, though, peeling vegetables for a roast can be done while waiting for dinner to cook. I like to drizzle them with oil and herbs and freeze them, ready to go into the oven to roast. You can put them straight into the oven to bake on Christmas Day, just add about 15 minutes extra cooking time. Gravy can be made ahead and frozen, ready to heat. Salad dressings can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. Start now and you'll have everything done before the big day.
Step 3. Look for in-season vegetables. Expect salad veggies to go up from about mid-December, with prices for traditional roasting veggies (potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, onions, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower etc.) rising the week before Christmas. Frozen is sometimes cheaper than fresh, and you don't need to wait to buy them or worry about them keeping until Christmas Dinner. Check prices at your local greengrocer as well as your supermarkets to get the best deals.
Step 4. Make your own desserts. Christmas cake and pudding aren't hard to make. In fact there are some great recipes for delicious, but very easy to make, cakes and puddings in the Recipe File. Pavlova is also easy to make, and can be done a week or so ahead of time. Cheesecakes can be made ahead and frozen. Ice-cream of course can be bought or made ahead (Condensed Milk Ice-Cream is divine and very easy to make).
Step 5. Save money on the drinks - wine in particular. You don't have to be all about the good stuff. You can start out plying them with the good stuff and switch to the cheap stuff once your guests have loosened up a bit. They likely won't notice. Store brand soda isn't going to get you barred from ever serving Christmas dinner again either. Even better ask everyone to bring their own drinks.
Step 6. Know exactly how many guests are coming. Having a head count will help you to not over cater - leftovers are OK for a day or two, but after that they just get old (and go off!).
Step 7. And since you know exactly how many people are coming, you can cook enough food for your guests. Don't plan for leftovers (see above!) and sending people home with food. While that's nice and all, many times people don't want the leftovers and you're just left with this huge amount of food that you can't possibly finish.
Step 8. Keep it simple. There's no sense in having a million dishes. While you might want to please everyone, sticking to the basics is best. If at all possible, have one meat, one starch, and one vegetable. You will appreciate the ease in only having to cook three things on the big day. Your purse will appreciate it too.
Step 9. Make your list and check it twice. Okay, not really; you're not Santa Claus, but you should stick to your list. No impulse buying, just get what you absolutely need - nothing more nothing less.
Step 10. This is my favourite step, and the one that makes hosting Christmas dinner so easy and enjoyable. Encourage guests to bring a portion of the meal. If someone is extra good at desserts, then let that family member handle it. Most of your guests will ask if they can bring something, so take advantage of that. Have a list of possible things you'd like someone else to pick up for you. This could be rolls, drinks, ice, or whatever will make it easier for you.
Are you ready to enjoy the holidays with your family now? No need to break the bank to have a great Christmas dinner with everyone. Just shop smart and you can save not only lots of headaches, but lots of dough as well.