AIBU to think what's the big fuss over Christmas costs??

[Kindofnewtothis]

I know I might get slated for this ladies but was just genuinely wondering how people spend so much on Christmas food??? Just did a Sainsbury's shop, not the cheapest supermarket, and still managed to keep things under £30 for the whole family- most of it pre made! I honestly don't know how people can complain and spend up to £100!

£30? Small turkey then?

How is that even possible mine is £110 for 6 adults and 2 toddlers. Includes 2 bottles of cheap bubbly.

Not having any guests at any point?

I suppose it depends how many you're feeding. Ours is low but there's only 2 of us.

We spend well over £100 and it's only just two of us (on the years we don't spend it with wider family), but I don't complain about it! You can do it cheaply, you can spend more, it just depends what kind of thing you're buying and what your budget is. £30 is impressive though - I think we spent more than that on the turkey one year!

and i thought mine was cheap aswell

What did you get for your £30 quid though? just the basic elements of a roast dinner or all the other food people generally have around at Christmas, tin of quality street etc

Yes - also do you mean just for Xmas dinner or for Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, lunches etc? Our 'Christmas shop' is for about four/five days.

We're a family of four, got a cheap turkey from the local markets and lots of veg from Sainsbury's as well as pigs in blankets Yorkshire puddings and stuffing etc, even got a couple of bottles of cheap bucks fizz!! I'm not saying it's bad to spend a lot, it's great to indulge over the festive eseason, but I just can't stand people spending hundreds and then complaining when it clearly can be done on the cheap!

I've just spent £76 on a Tesco shop to last till next Wednesday, it's insane because most of the meals I have planned are coming out of the freezer! It does include nappies and some household items but still do t get much for your money these days

Bit early isn’t it? Christmas Day isn’t for another week and a half

Feed my 18 guests on £100 😂

We like to have nibbles and chocolates, mince pies etc, cheese and crackers, a few drinks over the festive period. Bread and pickles and bits for tea. We also host and are having 14 for Christmas Dinner.

i spend more at christmas because it is only once a year, normally i dont drink in the house but at christmas it nice to treat myself to some fizz and baileys , nice cakes that only get bought at christmas , i have guests both days so decent joints of meat where normally as only two of us would be chops or mince , mine will probably come to around £100-£150 but that will be the whole weeks shopping not just the two days

You’re only feeding four and you’ve bought a cheap turkey, vegetables and pigs-in-blankets. So you’ve only shopped for one meal for four. How are the vegetables going to stay fresh until the 25th or are they just bags of frozen veg?

Obviously, you’re adding up other meals separately, not hosting meals or get together for friend and family etc.

So your £30 doesn’t actually include the turkey?

That’s quite a lot for one meal. I presume that others includes meat, food for more than one meal, food for more than 2 adults and more booze & extras such as nice breakfast food and chocolate.

Stop being silly.

YANBU. Why would anyone want to spend more than £1.27p when you can get such delicious low cost options.

Turkey & ham from butcher for 10 adults is about £70. Smoked salmon for 10 is easily £10-15. And not to mention the champagne and wine, easily hundreds. Then if people want some fancy chocolates, cheese board and port, deserts, ready roast potatoes, expensive pancetta for in the turkey, around the pigs in blankets and tossed with the Brussels sprouts that’s easily £8 in pancetta.

It depends on how luxury or hornet you are going. Clearly. I could easily do a roast for 10 for £40 instead. It’s not some kind of badge of honour. Neither is buying all the top of the range ingredients.

How are you going to keep the stuff fresh for almost a fortnight?

We’re hosting 7 and then another 6 on Boxing Day. Our goose is going to me more than your entire spend combined at about 50 quid, plus we are having a turkey crown as well. We will spend about 150 in total for the three days including fizz. Will have chessboard and biscuits and all that good stuff. It’s christmas after all.

That's one meal.
My usual weekly shop is £80-100. I have four dc.

When I look at Christmas food I'm thinking of all the food we'll need over Christmas.

You not having any breakfast? No snacks? Nothing to eat other than the roast on Xmas day? No NY meal? No Christmas tipples? No bucks fizz?

How much was your turkey? Won't it all be off by Christmas?

We plan on having lunches at home (normally all out at work and school), snacking things to nibble, nice dinners a few evenings, lots of fresh fruit and veg (as we're all run down and need it!), proper breakfasts, .....over the course of the week from finishing work and school on 21st to heading off on visits to extended family (departing sometime between 29th-31st). As well as a roast turkey dinner on Christmas Day, and hosting a gathering over the afternoon on 26th (nibbles and mulled wine).

And there are lots of larger sized packs on offer at this time of year - so as we use a lot of mayonnaise, I will get 3 or 4 of the large sized jars at 50% extra free, and other items like that which we would be buying and using anyway - just buying early to get more for our money.

So yes, our Christmas shop is expensive. But we waste very very little of what we actually buy. I have been emptying cupboards and the fridge/freezer for a few weeks now, and am ready to restock them. And there is some indulgence in some things we buy, but we can afford that, and after a very long hard year, could do with spoiling ourselves just a little bit.

I’m hosting xmas eve and the good alone is £200 for 6. Not including any drinks at all. I think Christmas is the one time of year you can have fabulous food and do spend extra. If you want to spend £30 that’s fine, but I definitely wouldn’t be having a Christmas I’m used to on that little!

Vegetables are cheap but turkey drinks, desserts and treats add up.