How much on your Christmas grocery bill - including booze?

quintwins

We're going to the inlaws for dinner so nothing needed for xmas day, will try get some reduced cossiants for breakfast tho.

Boxing day i think my mum and brothers are coming here so i'll get some party food from iceland, and make some sandwichs, max of £15, i'll prob start picking up a few bottles of sholer (noticed there down to £1 in the spar) and i'm holding out for some £1 pringles i'll get a dip to go with them at £1 but other than that it's normal shopping for us, so about £20

p.s we don't drink, used to but it's shockingly expensive and really theres no need for it, a bottle of sholer is cheaper and depending on the wine nicer, i used to like a baileys but i never drank the whole bottle and now i have kids i like to always have a clear head and be fit to drive just in case.

We don't celebrate nye either.

valk_scot

About £150 for the four of us, including Christmas dinner for just us, a mulled wine and mince pie evening on Christmas Eve after church (most folk bring a bottle) and a buffet lunch on Boxing Day for ourselves and some friends and family.

I find in our circle anyway there's far more communal type events where we all take along some sort of drink and/or food contribution, this takes the financial strain off the host family. Not to mention relievibg them of the prep time! And it usually means a more interesting selection anyway.

horseykitty

I admire people who've already bought their groceries and have them stowed away. If I planned this far ahead with my lot I'd end up buying everything at least two or three times over.

I'm not going mad - will either go to in-laws on Xmas day or Boxing day - so only have one big meal to cater for.

zennith

Zilch. (Don't bother with Christmas)

maman

horseykitty wrote: »

I admire people who've already bought their groceries and have them stowed away. If I planned this far ahead with my lot I'd end up buying everything at least two or three times over.

:rotfl:I know exactly what you mean, DH is on his third stollen already.

I can't give a figure but I do have a few things I do that might help.

For the future, I save up all my nectar points and Asda vouchers.

Christmas food for us is mostly about the day itself and having a few treats around.

I apply exactly the same canny shopping to my Christmas shop as any other so there'll be a meal plan and a list and I'll be getting my fruit and veg in Aldi just like every week! I'm perfectly happy with a frozen turkey so that'll save a bit.

I don't really mind what I spend provided there isn't waste. For years now the most I've ever wasted has been a few salad leaves. So I'm very careful with perishable stuff and not really concerned about jars/cans/packets or anything that'll freeze. I might spend more up front but the weeks after will be quiet as we'll have plenty of LOs.

I'll cook most things from scratch and do as much as I can in advance (pigs waiting to be tucked into blankets later today;)). Some things aren't worth cooking myself so, for instance, I have Christmas puddings in the storecupboard from the sales last January and still within date.

What amazes me is the families you see with trolleys stuffed with rubbish (probably OP's neighbour:D) which just looking at them they really don't look as if they can afford.

mummyroysof3

ill be doing 2 christmas dinners so the only extra costs there are the more expensive meat than i would normally use for a roast. i estimate as ill need to get a few nibbles and we will just get the booze we would normally have that ill spend £50 extra and £20 of that is the meat.

rev229

Not a lot I am working a 12hr shift DH and kids going to his family. We will use up bits from the freezer! DH will find some reduced stuff to feed the freezer again! Can't be bothered with all the fuss for one day!!

Ilona

I might buy one bottle of wine as a treat.
Ilona

sarah1972

Last year I spent £600 for the 2 of us for the whole christmas week with booze. (we did have a party on xmas eve)

This year we are going to Cyprus all inclusive and it will save me cooking and both of us money :beer:

Clowance

I do think its a bit cheating if those who can't be bothered then go to someone elses house - maybe the other person would like not to be bothered too! (or not to have the extra expense). Its a sore point as I am always the one to cook and have done 34 years of dinners only missing one year.:(