Super Scrimpers

nannygladys

£50!!!!!
Blooming heck thats what I will be spending on all my Xmas food and goodies, I suppose it depends on how many people are coming for dinner and what sort of food they are preparing, cos I know some recipes etc call for expensive ingrediants and if they go for five courses and wine with each and coffee and mints for afters I suppose it could go to £50. I know its only once a year but It does seem a bit excessive on a program for super scrimpers it should have been £5 not £50.

oldtractor

I "do" xmas dinner for less than £25 4 adults, and the meat goes into the freezer for later next year so although its upfront cost the turkey will do lots of subsequent meals. We have 1 bottle of £3.50 wine with the meal and 1 bottle of cheapo fizz for NYE. Cant see why people buy so much booze TBH, do they have miserable lives they need to escape from?

lostinrates

rosieben wrote: »

Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. I think you'll find the discussion on here will have a very different emphasis to the one you mentioned

actually, I think in this instance that's unfair. It was throroughly discussed fro different pov and the biggest argument on the board atm is spill over from this board.

I frequent both and while Debate board has more than its fair shares of nutters and idiots it also has some round and balanced discussion.

one example is this subject where one person has rasoned with pricing his over £50 quid lunch and one puts forward an idea for £20 lunch.

Personally I usually spend a lot more at christmas than £50 though I kno byt doing things differently I could do it for less. This year we are having beef direct from the farm, two thirds of a £40 rib of beef. champagne and wine bill (for us its usually a social occasion, but not this year) is usually over £50, but will probably be around that this year ..though not a december spend but sourced fro purchases already made (champagne itro £20...bought by the crate at appropriate price, derset wine about £12 from ''our cellar''---i.e. a cubboard in the dining room, red wine, could be anything from £7 to about £30 for the bottle....( probably have a more expensive bottl but just the one). we're not having a starter this year, but normally that wuld also be partnered with wine. we are having a cheese plate which will cost I guess about 12-15 quid, but will last a week or so! so while it is certainly possible to have a SUPERB family meal for well under £50 its also possible to spend more without covering everything n gold leaf or having a single hit of spend...

the meal is difficult to price as it does more than one sitting,with left overs. I prefer the leftover meals over the next few days MORE than the ''proper'' one, and things like pudding, wine, etc don't come into my december budget.

I see no reason to be derisive about people not spending so much, whether by choice or necessity, nor those making different choices about things like meat quality, or not drinking, but I see no reason why those who want to spend more (and can without putting their finances under strain) are sneered at either!

oldtractor

Good post LIR.

lostinrates

oldtractor wrote: »

I "do" xmas dinner for less than £25 4 adults, and the meat goes into the freezer for later next year so although its upfront cost the turkey will do lots of subsequent meals. We have 1 bottle of £3.50 wine with the meal and 1 bottle of cheapo fizz for NYE. Cant see why people buy so much booze TBH, do they have miserable lives they need to escape from?

No, personally we just love fine wines, and buy the nearest we can afford. we like cheaper wnes too, sometimes depending on the wines, and when we find good wines on good offers we buy them.

Another big treat spend for me at christmas is a big bottled water purchase, because I CAN taste the difference, and its a treat.

gailey_2

I think people should spend what they can comfortably afford as everyones different.

If we had guests I might go more grand and spend slightly more

but its just me , hubby, 5year old, 2year old and 8month old not that disserning diners!

last few years we not brought turkey as seemed so pricey dident seem good value for money so instead brought large chicken, duck or goose and leg of lamb for same price as 1turkey.
This year we risking reductions xmas eve but as backup will have

lidls pheasent £4.99 aka the sparrow as hubby calls it
free range chicken £6
Aldo 3bird roast £9.99

if i get some reduced duck, goose or turkey xmas eve all the better.

booze our fave wine is presidents selection £9.99

but probably get sainsburys vintage cava £7 abd aldis ox chardonnay £3.49.
spend 5quid beer/cider so less than £20 on booze and thats for whole hols not just xmas day.


I actually think £50 is about right if includes booze, 3course meal.
yes could easily do for less but xmas only once a year.

I estimate total cost of mine at £40 I think but havent done xmas shop yet.
we are cutting back where we can to get better value for money.
yes we get some value infact the sainsburys basic 15stuffing not bad but we like some quality too so mix and match plus shop around .

Aarons_mummy

I think £50 for one meal is excessive, I'm surprised that on a programme such as this such a large budget is allocated. I won't be spending anything for Christmas dinner but if I were it would be around the £15 mark. This would include all veggies, a large chicken, cranberry sauce, etc along with a pudding. There would be cocktails for me and beer for sons dad along with some juice for the wee one.

The dinner would also accommodate 3 extra adult portions to freeze along with a large curry from leftover chicken, a chicken lasagne and some added to a cheese pasta dish.

I have spent around £30 (which includes all alcohol and goodies for christmas and new year) so in total £45 for everything this year.

I have it set to record anyway, should be insightful if nothing else.

Ilona

I had a phone call from a researcher for Super Scrimpers, back in July, (I was in the last series), asking if I had any money saving tips for their Christmas programme. I had to laugh, I said, 'yes I have one tip, cancel Christmas, don't do it'. I was only being honest, I don't know any tips because I don't do Christmas. I don't think that was what they were looking for as I haven't heard back from them. :rotfl:
Ilona

MandM90

We spend more than £50 on our bird, but last year we ate our Christmas meal about 3/4 times (twice each on xmas day!); it was gorgeous (thank you, Nigella) and we didn't get bored of it. I agree with lostinrates; why sneer if people want to spend a bit extra? I, for one, enjoy having one meal where no expenses are spared. We do over indulge on alcohol, but my life is just fine thank you very much; there's nothing wrong with liking a bit of a drink when you're in the festive mood and it's freeeeezing outside!

candygirl

Ilona wrote: »

I had a phone call from a researcher for Super Scrimpers, back in July, (I was in the last series), asking if I had any money saving tips for their Christmas programme. I had to laugh, I said, 'yes I have one tip, cancel Christmas, don't do it'. I was only being honest, I don't know any tips because I don't do Christmas. I don't think that was what they were looking for as I haven't heard back from them. :rotfl:
Ilona

Lol well at least you were being honest hunnie:D:D