How to cut the cost of Christmas Day?

masonsmum

Hi everyone

I am looking for some advice regarding Christmas Day dinner. My mum was always in the habit of having everyone over for dinner but since we suffered a bereavement a few years ago I really dont think she is up to it anymore so ..... (what was I thinking) I offered to do it. I am having 8 people for dinner not including dh, ds and I so 11 in total.

However my aunts have offered to chip in and everyone is taking their turn with one doing a main course and one preparing a dessert so I am looking for ideas for a first course/starter that will not break the bank and will be easy to pull off.

Also I will be looking to decorate my table so where could I pick up some cheap tablecloths, runner, mats, coasters etc for the festive season.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

RustyFlange

Starter you could do a couple.

Fresh Melon served with fruit juice
Prawn cocktail (generally lots of offers on prawns nearer christmas)
Pate and toast/crackers.

These are things we always had a choice of when we were growing up.

curly_cabbage

What about a home made vegtable soup, maybe ? with either home made bread or part baked so that it is warm when served. I'm sure there will be a great soup that will be very cheap to make either on the grocery challenge thread or the menu planner thread. Have great day.
CC

fiscalfreckles

Have a look in Poundland or similar for table bits & pieces, they haven't got much in yet but are starting to put the Xmas stuff out. I bought some packs of Xmas teatowels last year which I cut in half & used as place mats, they were lovely and really brightened up the table over a plain cover. Wilkinsons are very reasonable too.

Can you locate some holly near you? If there's a hedge or bush in the vicinity, a few sprigs of that in a wine glass with a bit of red ribbon is simple & festive as a table decoration.

lilian1977

Red paper napkins folded into a cone and tucked into a champagne (or cava!) glass really brighten up the table, especially if combined with fiscalfreckles' holly idea.

Veg soup is a lovely idea too, mmm warm bread!

thevicster

My Mum always used to cover the table with cheap christmas wrapping paper - it can look really nice, we usually get an asda smartprice roll which is about 20p ish and surprisingly tasteful!! I also used to spray pine cones and leaves which we'd pick up from the park - my little sisters used to love it! I totally agree with the melon/prawn cocktail idea - iceland are very good nearer christmas for offers and things. Perhaps you could try a salmon dish? I keep finding nice salmon reduced in supermarkets (last lot was 30p!)if thet do that in your area which would be freezable and would be something fresh and light to start with? perhaps with cream cheese and chives? Good luck, hope you have a fab day x

Oldernotwiser

Do people really have a starter before their Christmas dinner? With the enormous meal to follow it seems a bit superfluous to me.

PasturesNew

I've never had a starter at Xmas dinner.
We just have the one main course. There's afters available if anybody wants some, but nobody ever does.

RustyFlange

Christmas is the day when we have 4 courses ... starter, main, pudding and then cheese and coffee After all its a special occasion and if you can't have it at christmas then when can you have it

tracyburt

lilian1977 wrote: »

Red paper napkins folded into a cone and tucked into a champagne (or cava!) glass really brighten up the table, especially if combined with fiscalfreckles' holly idea.

Veg soup is a lovely idea too, mmm warm bread!

have I missed something? we have a holly bush in the garden so alternative ways of using it are always welcome

tessie_bear

id go for a cold starter as u can sort it out before hand such as toast and pate,melon smoked salmon......studio cards do nice table decorations and the £shop is ok