Cheap Christmas Dinner?

Vaila

we only eat chicken , so thats a cheaper alternative to game or beef. but , none of our family are to keen on the traditional roast dinner served for christmas and all of the inflated prices on traditional christmas fods come december ie meats, veg, cakes etc. so we either have something like a lentil soup or salad followed by a home made curry

MrsE_2

laurel7172 wrote: »

Asda smartprice crackers £1 for 12.

They even have elasticated ties, so you can slip your own present into them if you make your own.

Thats a fab tip:money:

I HATE spending lots of money on crackers they contain pure rubbish.

Better to get cheap ones & slip in some posh chocolate mints:D

MrsE_2

slowandsteady wrote: »

great thread! I might be totally mean and cheap but this year i have decided to go to Mr M and get one of their whole turkey legs that cost the grand total of £3.29! I have two in the freezer at the moment, i will probably use just one and put it the slow cooker for a few hours and each time ive done that its come out beautiful,

A turkey leg with all the bones taken out, spread flat, coated in a thick layer of stuffing (I've used sausagemeat) & rolled like a swiss roll & cooked in foil (removed for the last few minutes to brown) is lovely.
I buy a boned & rolled turkey breast from the butchers, but i think I might buy a turkey leg off him too, as I miss doing this.

toddles*

For our crackers we always buy the cheapest ones and my mum slips a scratchcard inside.
Its so exciting on xmas day everyone scratching their cards. Only costs £1 pp then but just adds that extra bit of excitment. We always argue about whos got the winner and your always secretly hoping that your bro/sis doesnt win so there is more chance of yours being a winner!! lol

mineallmine

All this talk of Christmas has got me thinking - stumbled across this thread and found this today too:
http://www.fionaharrold.com/2008/12/stay-on-top-of-christmas-spending/

So I have just dug out my Christmas shopping list for pressies (making this simpler every year with vouchers and stuff) as well as my food shopping list. And I'm thinking I probably need to start getting some of the tinned and packet stuff in now.

For Christmas dinner itself it has to be Turkey for me. Sainsburys usually do a decent sized one for a decent price. The day before we usually do a really big English fry up.

Plus the being frugal bit is not only careful planning of what you eat but of course making a lovely meal or meals from the leftovers too.

:xmastree:

MrsE_2

toddles* wrote: »

For our crackers we always buy the cheapest ones and my mum slips a scratchcard inside.

Thats a REALLY good idea:T

liney

My son makes the "make your own" crackers from poundland; you get 6 in a box, gold or silver with decorations to stick onto them, and we slip the after dinner mints inside.

They all think they're lovely because DS6 has made them, and they keep him busy on Christmas Eve while i'm frantic. Everyone's a winner.

artybear

I think there are some great ideas on here, really christmas dinner is nothing more than a big roast dinner with some added bits and pieces so shouldnt cost much more than a normal day.

However sometimes the Christmassy feeling can take over and budgeting goes a bit out of the window. I know that Weelz's website http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/ is planning on having a Christmas week planner for people who wish to have yummy food but at low cost prices. If anyone wants to come over to the thread and test some please do!!!!!

XXXXXXXXX

[Deleted User]

I saw in Fortnums last year 7 slices of dried orange in a net bag for £8.00 I came home and did it myself by slicing and orange up and laying it on kitchen roll on the top of the radiator for a day or so until it dried out.Cost around 40p for the orange and the heating was on anyway and I just had to find a bit of silver and gold ribbon (which I had lots of anyway as I do crafting ) in my craft box and threaded it through and hung on the tree.
I go to my DDs over Christmas and usually buy the turkey or whatever for them.We usually get a turkey crown from M&S as she only likes to have it for dinner with a little left over for sandwiches.Boxing day we have beef, but as I have to spread myself between the two DDs over Christmas and New year I normally get what ever they want for the main meal and they get the 'trimmings' Last year the boys and I made the crackers ourselves and they decorated them and it lept the youngest three amused on a rainy afternoon before Christmas day.very easy to make and lots of fun.The 'snap' bit you can buy easily of the internet and I have lots of them left over for this year

mrsmortenharket

Anyone got a recipe for a lovely veggie gravy & a veggie stuffing please!

I usually end up with packet gravy & packet stuffing!

We usually have a beef & a chicken. DH likes beef so that's his treat. & the kids have chicken. I usually buy something veggie, but would like to make something this year. Any ideas?

Lisa