Christmas menus and trying to buy it all reduced

the-mango

I got 2 christmas cake kits in ASDA for £1 (Don't even personally like Christmas cake but other will enjoy it)

Soworried

the-mango wrote: »

I got 2 christmas cake kits in ASDA for £1 (Don't even personally like Christmas cake but other will enjoy it)

That's a good buy. :j

Edwardia

My tips having done this would be

• to make a list of the stuff you need for your dream Christmas menu but be prepared to be flexible
• snap up stuff that won't be affected by being frozen or is a store cupboard item as early as poss (now even)
• shop around on booze offers
• not to buy cheese for cheeseboards too early as freezers can dry it out
• smoked salmon freezes if you see any YS
• prosciutto - some says can't be frozen so check - if it hasn't got the gold crown it's not the real thing pls don't pay over the odds, 1.99/£2 a pack is good price
• check out ethnic stores for figs, dates and melons
• Lidl good for premium coleslaw, sliced meats, pickles, pandoro and panettone, chocolate coins
• ASDA does good range of buffet type stuff also
• Iceland for party stuff - last yr they had Christmas pudding ice cream too

meg72

Good tips Edwina, especially pickles etc,they always go up around xmas time, I got 6 big jars of pickled onions in Asda some weeks ago for 30p each dated until 2014, also cranberry sauce for 20p a jar.it all helps. I dont need a lot as live alone but I like to help the younger family members out as remember the nightmare of young kids and very little money at Christmas.

Soworried

Great post Edwardia.
I have been debating wether to get minicheese cakes frozen. They are down to just 50p for a 12 box at MrT.
A great price on the pickled onions, I will have to watch out for them as well.

sarahcmo

i have now started but not as well as youlot so far i have the jars of mince meat 20p from tescos, asda ready rolled pastry 5p ( now in freezer) sausage meat 36p Asda (in freezer) and thats it , had wrapping paper cards and labels not to mention glitter ,ribbons and bows in the sale in january. I have now wrapped all my presents and most of the stocking bits so pleased that is out of the way . Just wish i was as organised as you lot :T

Soworried

sarahcmo wrote: »

i have now started but not as well as youlot so far i have the jars of mince meat 20p from tescos, asda ready rolled pastry 5p ( now in freezer) sausage meat 36p Asda (in freezer) and thats it , had wrapping paper cards and labels not to mention glitter ,ribbons and bows in the sale in january. I have now wrapped all my presents and most of the stocking bits so pleased that is out of the way . Just wish i was as organised as you lot :T

Well done, great start. I am jealous of the 5p pastry. :T

Stephen_Leak

Start checking the bargain shelves for eggs for hard boiing and pickling.

miss_emmajane

scaredy_cat wrote: »

Soworried, i got a couple when they were 30p, saw they were now 20p and bought 3 more., i have some jars already from last year but might get a couple more!

Thanks for this - I got my mum a few jars when they were 30p and after reading this went and got myself some for 20p :beer:

Celia

Mr T had vacuum packed chestnuts on the reduced shelf (the one that has discontinued lines etc) and they have a date until some time in 2013 - have thrown away the ticket now but they were well under a pound. useful for stuffings etc.