What are you not going to buy this christmas

trulymadlydeeply_indebt!

I am telling myself at the moment that I don't need to buy gin, vodka, whisky, brandy, advocaat, baileys, cider, beer, lager AND wine on the odd occasion that someone might pop in. It never happens and me and OH end up drinking the wine, lager, gin and baileys in the first instance and then drinking all the other stuff up we'd normally never choose in a bid to get rid of it by New Years Day to start Resolutions not to drink! It's ridiculous.

This year it will be wine, gin and lagers, perhaps a half bottle of baileys (or Al*i equivalents) and if someone doesn't like what's on offer, then they can have a good old fashioned cuppa and mince pie.

I reckon I could easily save about £100 on the shopping bill with this approach, just need to not cave in at the last minute

I normally buy vacuum packed chestnuts too to go with the sprouts, but as there is only me that likes them, I may not bother, although saying that I did see a lovely recipe for chestnut soup the other day made with garlic, cream and wine too. Perhaps they will still make it into my basket after all

craigywv

pringles ......too dear, yule log shall make my own,mince pies ditto.

mother_noah

No one has mentioned sprouts ... Yum yum to me but others may disagree .

mother_noah

Yes you do need Baileys ( I buy the Aldi version , tastes just as good ) .Though keeping it until Christmas has proved problematic in the past

red_devil

we have no need for crackers or christmas tree chocolates.

Charliex

A far-too-big bird for a family of two adults and two little ones under four. Last year I spent about £40 on a huge capon as we don't like turkey. It was so unnecessary and yes I know you can portion/freeze the left overs but who really wants the hassle of doing that?? This year I'm setting myself a budget of £10 and buying a big free range chicken and thats that! :rotfl:

Butterfly_Brain

I make my own Christmas cake, pudding, mince pies and yule log.
I will not be buying the tins of chocolates a) because they are smaller b) because Roses now taste vile and c) There are too many cream centres being used instead of the ones that we actually like.
Tinned biscuits and crackers are a rip off price.
Pringles have been replaced with stackers from Aldi, their chocolate is lovely so is their fudge and truffles which are less than half the price of Lindor and much nicer, in fact I have been buying bits and bobs from Aldi for months now, so you could say that we are having an Aldi Christmas :rotfl:

trulymadlydeeply_indebt!

I usually buy a turkey crown for us 4 as we don't need a massive turkey. We have done this for a few years now and we still have ample left over for sandwiches, turkey and ham pie and curries. What I will be changing though is my provider. I normally buy from a butchers shop but at £20+, I have decided to go to A*di this year at £9.99 instead. A colleague at work has done this for the last 3 years and says it's wonderfully moist.

Don't you just hate the price of crackers too? I may try making my own with loo roll inners, leftover wrapping paper, bows and find something small to put it (couple of chocs perhaps?). I'm sure it will be better received than those plastic, comedy moustaches that fail to stay on :rotfl:

Pernicious

I'm going to try not to buy chocolates for the tree this year as although they always get eaten, we still have LOADS of candy canes from last year! So I figured if we just put them on, then they will get eaten instead.

I'm also planning to not buy any more alcohol as our cupboards are full of it! We need to finish what's there first no matter how much of a bargain it may be.

I am also planning not to buy any special snacks like tinned chocolates, biscuits, crisps, etc as we always end up overeating because of it & I am trying to lose a few extra lbs & need to save £££'s

Whether or not I stick to this is another matter of course

I do want to make my own yule log this year, as I know that will get eaten & is more MSE & tastier than buying one.

Rainy-Days

No To:-

Roses chocolates - they have palm oil in now and they have beggared the recipe.
Crackers - some left over from last year.
Loads of spirits and mixers
May forego on the cake!
Tins of anything - biscuits and chocolates