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!

I get the sentiment of your post but £30 is a bit ridiculous. My food shop order is going to be about £100 for us all for Xmas (including Xmas eve and Boxing Day) and I thought that was me really reigning things in this year

OP, the guy in front of me in Morrison's knew how to spend it. He spent £270 on big fancy steak things (poor vegetarian so don't know what they were), salmon, expensive crackers, champagne, whisky, chocolates, etc. I had plenty of time to notice as the cashier kept stopping to continue a fascinating conversation about Russia. Had not a bloody word for me with my humble £60 food shop.But I kind of get where you're coming from. We always eat tons of vegetables but prefer them plain, so there's no need for the actual Christmas dinner to cost much more than the average. It's the extra wine and luxury nibbles that make it add up.

Hosting 12 on Christmas Eve (friends), 10 for Christmas dinner (DH family), 6 for second Christmas dinner(my family), 18 adults plus who who knows how many kids, easily another 20, for buffet on the 29th (more friends and workmates), then a New Year’s Day dinner for another 10.

Thank fully we will be going out on new year’s eve. And I like cooking. But it isn’t going to be £30.

i think when most people say it cost xyz, they aren't just pricing up one meal

Your £30 = cheap turkey and some vegetables = one meal

Our £200 say would include = 3 nicer than usual meals per day on 24th, 25th, 26th December. Plus leftover for 27th, 28th. Plus extra snacks and drinks for anyone visiting. Plus extra guests joining for random meals on those dates.

I like a bit of turkey but its obscenely expensive

I know, and I don't even like it that much so resent paying all that money for one. I used to get one from the local farm, but they always gave me one which was much bigger and more expensive than I wanted. Now when I'm doing Christmas dinner I get a turkey crown from Waitrose for about £50, instead of £90+ for the full monty. And no waste.

Ooooooh I'm getting roasted for this haha. I have no problems with a big all out Christmas at all, I just mean that many people spend lots of money and then complain when it CAN be done on the cheap! Also I am having Christmas dinner early due to family being aware for all those concerned about my veg rotting

Turkey cost £20 but will last for sandwiches in the week. Will get a second meet. Two bottles of Prosecco for £12. That's my £30 gone.

Won't your veg be a bit.. Limp??? by Xmas day?

Also the thirty quid including a new tablecloth napkins and two desserts

Cross post Re veg.

So what have you brought for that £38 Op?

Your dinner sounds a bit pants to be honest. No starter, pudding, cheeseboard, booze, crackers and nibbles?

Share with us exactly what you bought for your £30?

Photo required or we don't believe you.

What about the meals eitherside of Xmas though? When people do big Xmas shops they aren’t spending £100-200 on one meal. It’s usually enough food and treats to last for most of that week

Yes, come on, photo and a list of everything you brought!

Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, tablecloth napkins etc, few bottles of bubbles, desserts, enough for the family really 😂 think everyone's taking my post out of context, I'm not judging people for what they spend on Christmas or how much they decide to buy, more just wondering how people have the cheek to spend lots of money and then complain about it as if there isn't any alternative!

Christmas cooked breakfast / biscuits

Fresh fruit
Nuts

Turkey
Gammon
Potatoes
Veg
Stuffing
Wooly pigs
Cranberry Sauce, Apple sauce etc
Gravy
Wine

Christmas Pudding
Cream / Tip Top

Pork Pie
Other snack bits for Xmas dinner

Mince pies
Chocolates

Table cloth
Napkins
Crackers

Other alcohols or more wine, a soft drinks for non drivers/mixers/kids

I can pay cheap for each of those but it doesn't come cheap in total

Hold the front page all. Jesus could turn water into wine, Kindofnewtothis can turn £30 into everything you need to eat and drink for a whole week of festivities! Oh sorry, my mistake, no she can’t, she’s purposefully being very misleading and disingenuous indeed with this post.

Did you just buy potatoes, sprouts and bags of carrots OP?

I’m demented with M&S at the moment because for a family if 5 it’s cheaper than eat out than speed shop in there. I buy a few bags of stir fry veg, maybe chicken or prawns for the stir fry and maybe a few yogurts and strawberries / blueberries and hey presto it’s over £60! I stand there at the self-service till thinking all this would be cheaper in Deliveroo and I wouldn’t have been stuck in queues and parking nightmares.

I kind of want my Xmas fayre to be a bit nicer than a cheap turkey, ready made sides and cheap fizz tbh.

Not sure how you do it / I've spent £40 just on the turkey (I do insist on a decent free range one). My Christmas order for collection is just shy of £100 and that doesn't include veg, wine, nibbles etc or food for other days other than Boxing Day. I may not buy cheap but from other discussions here £200 is normal

I used to spend a fortune on Christmas food and drink when our only child was young, and we'd have family staying for a week, but we've changed countries and things are a bit different now.

Anyway, I was looking at all the costings for turkeys there and I realised there's a massive difference in price between frozen ones and organic ones (doh)! This is a nice list for those of you who haven't bought your turkeys yet, from extremely expensive to quite reasonable. I hate turkey, but if I had access to it, I'd happily buy that cranberry burst crown from Waitrose! And I love the idea of the entire meal in a box, as well! Good turkey deals.

M&S are ridiculous. I went to get some mince pies for work at lunchtime and they had a pack of 5 stollen bites for £3.50.

Lidl - £1.99 for 350g. And M&S wonder why they are going down the tubes.

You are only including the cost of one meal though - the reason why some people have big bills is because (like us) they are providing several meals for lots of guests who, in our case, are staying for 3 or 4 days.
Over the years I have got better at judging what to buy and what quantity but we spend a lot more than £30!

Can you show the receipt, I need tips!

your dinner will be pants as PP said.