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!

Pet peeve of mine, but why is everyone using 'ladies' all of a sudden.

You spent £30 without the most expensive bit for most, aka the turkey and didn't buy any spirits, just Buck's fizz.

So basically spent £30 on sides which are the cheap bit.

£30 on basic side dishes for one meal sounds a bit expensive. Is this a stealth boast post?

So you bought one meal for four for thirty quid. Anyone could do that if they wanted to.

I'm not a massive fan of ancient sprouts myself.

Your veg will be rotten by Christmas day it is 12 days away! I will be spending an extra £150 on Christmas food shop coming 24th Dec including soft drinks and a bit of alcohol as only 1 adult drinker, that is for 5 people. My normal weekly shop is usually £125 and I will be getting that delivered on 21st december also but it comes in £20 cheaper as I won't be buying as many snacks as have them in the Christmas delivery.

Iampickle holy crap. that's a Christmas abomination

But I presume you'll be having Christmas pudding or mince pies or things like cranberry sauce, stuffing or bread sauce with the dinner. What about Christmas crackers? Or a box of chocolates in front of the telly? Or some beer or wine for people calling in?

You've really just given the cost of two bottles of cheap fizz and some vegetables.

haha, so you did not count in the Turkey

Probably did not count in anything else either like mince pies or Christmas pudding (any pudding) you already made/bought? or booze you already have?

Christmas crackers? cheese ? a specially nice born for the dog?

I am having various guests to stay from the Saturday 22nd until the 27th. I have 11 adults to feed on Christmas Day alone. I don't think £30 is going to cut it!

I've got visitors this weekend for a festive family meal. 8 adults. From 11 on Saturday until 11 on Sunday so lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Party bits and smoked salmon for lunch, probs glass of prosecco, roast beef and all trimmings for dinner followed by a lovely pud, good coffee and mints, sherry, prosecco, nice wine. Bacon rolls next day. Some fresh flowers for house. Expect to spend about £200.

It could be done on the cheap.
We could all eat gruel and give the children an orange each. But we don't want to have a miserable Christmas, and don't want that for our children, family and friends either.

We don't buy adults presents.
We shop at aldi
We save where we can
And get some nice things in at Christmas.

We're all breatharians in my family so our Christmas dinner is even cheaper than yours.

I may be a bit of a fibber

I've spent £10 already on pigs in blankets alone! I'm hosting 10. I'll easily spend £100 on Christmas day food and I've grown my own sprouts!

@Babygrey7

a specially nice born for the dog? That's one scary dog you have [Fgrin]

@IamPickleRick

I want that meal! x 3 in our household: job's a gundun

our turkey crown is £20
for us our 'christmas food spend' is for all meals and drinks for xmas eve, xmas day and boxing day for 5 people and sometimes guests. we dont skimp and the food will last us until new year with the addition of some things like bread and milk.

Surely it's way too early to be doing your Christmas food shop

Won't your veg be compost by then

I spent £80 on a goose one year.

It was a very big goose, but still. I do Christmas dinner for ten. With drinks I doubt there is much change out of £200.

There's only 3 of us on Xmas day and 4 on Boxing Day, but this is the one time of year where I like a bit of luxury - so am spending around 250 quid on all the food and drink (well, not all the drink, the wine's here already 'cos I save on a monthly basis for that and 'cash in' twice a year). That's just for a turkey crown and a ham as the main features, but also lobster tails for starters and a shedload of various interesting cheeses, pickles, biscuits, dates, satsumas, pigs in blankets, sausagemeat stuffing, various sauces, salad and roasting veg, breads, coffees, smoked salmon and a few bottles of spirits and mixers.

I probably could do everything for 30 quid, but it would be a bit joyless. I know some people can't afford more than that, and I'm grateful we can. I manage to save by never going out (24/7 carer for my Dad), never having my hair done, never going on holiday, not owning a car, and starting the Xmas shopping in August to spread the cost!

We spend £6 on a chicken at Christmas. Instead of the usual £4 from Asda one... add in spuds, carrots, stuffing, pigs in blankets. For me, Dh and small DS it's probably about a tenner for the meal on christmas day.

Well we spend a lot more but for us Christmas food isn't the one meal it's hosting the weekend before Christmas, it's having neighbours over for drinks and nibbles and it's food on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Posh breakfasts, lots of lovely food to have around the house. Starters, puddings, cheese boards etc.

Who is buying fresh veg for Christmas now on the 13th?

You got a cheap turkey and some fresh veg (which will now have to be frozen to keep it good for Xmas day) you got no alcohol just cheap buzz fizz. Plus you only have 4 people for Christmas.

Yes everyone knows you can do it as cheap or expensive as you like/are able to.

Some of us host for a lot of people, Christmas Eve to the morning of the 27th, there will be 17 people will be in my house.
I want a decent quality turkey from the butcher that’s £95, I want a nice ham, smoked salmon, I want nice desserts and snack bits, tasty cheese for the cheese board and lot of alcohol.

My Christmas shop will include all breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and alcohol for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day for all we are hosting. My Christmas isn’t 1 turkey dinner for 4 people

Our Christmas food spend is Sunday 23rd- Saturday 29th I have budgeted £160... BUT I have grown most of the veg myself and it’s already in the freezer, I have already paid for the ham and turkey I just need to pick them up, none of us drink so I am using the bottles we have been given over this year if people pop in. I have already got the crackers (eating and pulling), tins of chocolates, pringles, sauces, mayo and so on. I also have the meat stuffing in the freezer.

I’ve not said all that as a stealth boast at all. I don’t know how you can come on and say you’ve done your Christmas shop for £30 when all you have bought is the veg and pigs in blankets. £30 is hardly cheap for that next week all of the supermarkets start the veg war for 29p a packet.

A couple of bottles of cheap bucks fizz? For the whole Christmas period? I think my family would have me hung, drawn and quartered

You sound like my ex SIL! Crowing one year that she only spent “less than I would on a normal roast dinner” while omitting to mention that my parents bought the turkey and the Christmas pudding and mince pies, and we bought all of the alcohol!

I like a bit of turkey but its obscenely expensive. Gammon, lamb, pork, duck and nutroast are far far cheaper and much tastier.