and tight about my Xmas food shopping?

[Bogeyface]

I was called stingy today!

My total food delivery for the Xmas, including dinner for 12 and 8 bottles of wine, comes to less than £150. That includes "normal" food for my family of 8 for 4 days. Her exact words were "OMG how stingy, Merry Xmas Ebeneezer!"

My "friend", well, friend of a friend really, kindly informed me that she was spending over half that just on the turkey and that if she only spent what I am spending then it would be "total crap".

Thanks for that.

We dont have masses of money
I wont go into debt for the sake of one day
Our meal will be huge, lots of lovely leftovers for boxing day and taste delicious. It is all homemade from scratch, including stuffing, pigs in blakets etc and the pudding (homemade mincemeat icecream). It will have all of the trimmings, a nice big tea and plenty to drink. I have just managed over the years to get my shopping bill for a good healthy diet, down to the bare minimum. Our weekly shopping bill is never over £80 and tbh I have heart failure if my main shop is over £60! I top up for milk bread etc at the corner shop.

So does it really matter what it cost? And we are having chicken after a family vote 2 years ago where we all agreed we dont really like turkey anyway :o

She is an idiot. It is lovely to be generous at Christmas; but it is stupid and vulgar to spend more than one can afford or to waste stuff.

I watched the Superscrimpers thing too, and thought I could cut back more Well they obviously over-catered didn't they?
I have a living tree which is on its 4th year now.
I spent £70 in Lidl the other day for most of our Christmas food (I mean the whole Christmas period) for me and 2dcs, as well as lots of food that will last much longer than that. Boughts lots of choccies, crisps and nuts and some frozen goodies.

I agree that some of the spending on food is ridiculous. I remember my parents spending £600 on food one Christmas at Waitrose when I was a student and then complaining that they were poor.

However, it does add up if you are hosting and have lots over. My family Xmas often involves 12+ people with enough food to feed everyone left overs for a few days after, whereas people here are talking about feeding 4-6. £600 is ridiculous though!

Why is it the host's responsibility to buy and cook all the food over Christmas and new year? Surely anyone visiting should bring some food and drink as a contribution to their stay?
Perhaps that's why we never have anyone over for christmas.
I have visited friends and relatives after Christmas, and I always bring e.g. Dessert and a bottle of wine/schloer for the host.

I spend 100 on traditional christmas food and drink: and 85 on gifts total.
That's my budget. I host it and we do very well!
If guests want something particular to drink, they are welcome to bring a bottle, and same goes for deserts.
Even if I had millions, we'd do the same I think!

@inmysparetime It's not but if people are control freaks they may not want to rely on other people.

Just my experience, not me!

I'm surprised at how much hosting Xmas dinner is going to be (9 adults, 1 baby). Splashed out on fancy turkey and a ham for tea, but got most things on offer or by using nectar points (DH and I had £100 between us that way!!).