"Have Yourself a Frugal Little Christmas"?

Downsizing__for_sanity

Apologies if I'm posting in the wrong board, but I am an OS wannabe and I also follow Jack Monroe and the Mortgage Free in 3 blog online.

I'm trying to write my list for all the Christmas main meals to reduce the pop out shops which always cost you a fortune in the end. I've made a list and a meal planner, but is there anything else which I could be doing to cut down on the Christmas food expenses?

I've planned a "raclette" night on the 24th, to use up all the ends of stuff in the fridge and freezer. On Xmas Day, we'll be having beef and gammon from the butcher, which will give us lots of leftovers for Boxing Day and onwards.

I already make things like mince pies from scratch, and try to keep up with the Grocery Challenge thread. Probably trying not to over-cater, (as only 4 of us this year) whilst having a few nibbles in, just in case of unexpected guests, will be the key for me.

Any more tips would be welcomed!

DFS X

camNolliesMUMMY

If this helps this is my plan starting next Monday
Mon Corned beef hash
Tues Hm pizzas
Wed Turkey crown £9.95 farmfoods and leg of lamb £7.95 for the leg farmfoods cooking both in sc so I can relax then will put in the oven for an hour, serving with all the trimmings
Thurs Boxing Day buffet for us 4- sausage rolls cocktail sausages, leftover ham, sp pizza with extra cheese, chicken strips coated in cornflakes and spices and BBQ chicken strips. Anything left will go in the fridge for us or guests then dh packed lunch.
Fri cola ham in the sc
Sat left over lamb curry rhogan josh
Sun leftover Xmas turkey and ham pie including leeks and stuffing.

As you can see nothing will get wasted and if their still is leftovers straight back in the freezer it goes lol

joedenise

I always keep a bag of frozen sausage rolls in the freezer in case visitors pop in. They don't take too long to cook and are good to eat either with tea/coffee during the day or with a drink in the evening. They're also very economical at about £1 for 50.

If there are any left in the freezer after the festivities DH is quite happy to take them to work for his lunch so no wastage. (Have to say I don't actually eat them as I don't like pastry very much).

Denise

[Deleted User]

Our weeks eats will be

Monday - Fish and Chips from the chippy as it is shopping and finishing things day
Tuesday - Gammon (served hot) with jacket potatoes and stamed carrots and peas, and some pineapple chunks (tinned)
Christmas Day - Roast Beef and all the trimmings
Boxing Day - Cold beef and gammon, bubble and squeak, winter salad and H/M pickles.
Friday - Re heated Sliced Beef in gravy, mashed potatoes and whatever is left of veg in the fridge.
Saturday - H/M Quiche using some Gammon with H/M Oven Wedges and salad
Sunday - Hot Pot using the rest of the Beef.

I like meals that overlap each other so I'll always try for a joint slightly bigger than we need to eek meals out for a few days after the roast.

Butterfly_Brain

Monday 23rd......... sausage and mash with peas

Tuesday24th......... Steak, mushrooms and chips

Christmas day....... Turkey and all the trimmings, with a choice of trifle or Christmas pudding for dessert if any one is peckish It will be a turkey sandwich and a mince pie or a piece of Christmas cake later.

Thursday 26th....... Gammon mash and salad with a buffet for tea time a turkey crumble pie, a few sausage rolls, prawns etc and leftover cake, yule log, mince pies and trifle ( We have the outlaws and DD's BF on Boxing day)

Friday 27th.......Leftovers with salad........ We call it pick and mix day

Saturday 28th ......... Left over gammon, fried egg and chips

Sunday 29th.........Left over Turkey as a roast

Monday 30th........ Turkey soup from the carcass and HM bread.

Tuesday 31st........HM Pizza

Wednesday 1st......... Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding etc

Tuesday 2nd........left overs beef curry