To ask how much you will spend on Christmas Day meal

[UnicornsAndLizards]

Just that really. Last year was the first time we've ever had family over to ours on Christmas Day (we had recently moved to a large house) and we went all and spent a fortune. We're hosting again this year and whilst I want the day to be special I don't want to go overboard and spend heaps on fancy food. We will be 7 adults, 1 of which is a vegan and no children. What is a reasonable budget to set?

Don’t have a set budget, we just work out the ingredients needed for the meals that day and purchase. We don’t drink so don’t need to buy that but usually get a box of nice biscuits and some chocolate for snacking on during the day.

Loads. We are all foodies and although our menu is fairly simple it's expensive. If I include the wine its easily over 200.

Fillet of beef - organic from local butcher - extortionate
All the trimmings
Two puddings
All the cheese, and from a specialist cheese shop
Expensive wine for each course

It depends on what you eat - I don't set a budget either, we just buy what everyone wants to eat.

Just the two of us, so about £50 for the whole day food and drink usually. We have just the main meal and nice dessert and then party food or crackers and cheese later on.

I would ask family to bring a bottle and a dessert.

Turkey
Make masses and masses of vegetables to fill up on.
Lots of gravy too.

Biscuits and crisps and sandwiches for later.

It’s just a posh roast dinner. Don’t go crazy.

We are eating out at a local posh hotel, 2 adults ,2 children all having 3 courses for the grand cost of £129 in total! Its locally farmed meat too in Northumberland

I just put in a 145 order earlier for m&S food but that was only for a Turkey, gravy, starter, sticky toffee pudding, red cabbage and a vegan option oh and some pigs in blankets. I still have to get a ham, condiments, veg and bread and snacks for the evening. We don't drink but normally buy alot of fizzies so probably 250 for the day itself.

Watching with interest.
1st yr were hosting. We've always gone to family. It was said tongue in cheek by dh to his parents. And they accepted.. It was kind of funny. But I'm now panicking I hate cooking for people. Dh isn't the best cook. But I've said he's got to practice a roast between now w and then as I'll be 36w and I'm not stressing.

I've been picking the odd bit up.. Xmas pud, and treats.

Want to order a turkey crown but not sure where from?
And 1 other meat but again undecided which?

@UnicornsAndLizards

£2.99 each. On a Morrisons Ready Meal.

And a fiver for a bottle of wine.

And a couple of quid on dessert.

So less than a tenner.

Me and DH are seeing DC (and other family) a few days before, when we all go out for a meal at a pub in the town where DC and our family live. (We live 20 miles away in the sticks...)

Then me and DH are spending Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing day alone - just the 2 of us. Bliss. Utter bliss.

A few lovely walks, a long lie-in each day, lots of goodies and sweets, and lots of great Christmas TV. Can't wait.

Get people to bring dessert, or cheese or side dishes. Don’t let the expense all fall on you.

As for budget no idea. You could do it cheaply with supermarket bits, or go all out with indy shops and organic produce. For my meat alone (beef rib & goose) it will be £155. Then all the sides/desserts/booze/soft drinks/nibbles etc on top of that:

We’re going out and I think it’s £65pp. Shocking.

For 7 adults the meat alone (turkey plus beef) would be £100.

If you want 3 course plus nibbles, tea .alcohol it would need to be £300+

That is a Morrisons 'chicken dinner' Ready Meal...

I meant just a bit MORE than a tenner sorry. Like just under £15 for the lot.

We don’t set a budget just buy whatever we need/want, never added it up before.

3 of us going out. No idea of cost...probably about £150 including wine

Maybe £70 for 7 people, turkey was £32 last year, vegan option was £5 but veg are cheap as chips. Had champagne, wine ...

Stupid amounts. Oh will go crazy in m&s. I hate spending money....he more than makes up for it.

Not sure - depends on how many people surely? Last year we had 6, spent over £500. This year we have 4, I assume it’ll be about £400 as one is the guests is allergic to a fair few things so will have to tailor it a bit. Booze usually puts the price up!

Thanks for all the replies. I know it's just a posh roast so doesn't have to cost the earth but I got carried away last year. For example, I wanted people to have a choice of puddings so bought Xmas pudding, Xmas cake, roulade, mince pies and a couple of other options. Everyone was too full after dinner to want dessert! For the evening meal, we did a buffet but again I went all out and had so much choice that there was far too much food. With alcohol we probably spent close to £300.
I get sucked in by nice packaging and want everything so setting a budget might be the best way of ensuring I don't overspend.
Just don't know what a realistic budget is but all your posts are helpful

For 6 of us I'm thinking about £250.

We are fortunate that we don’t really have to set a budget, but I do try to think through what is likely to be eaten and what is not. An example, I was always told by family that there must be a green salad as an option. Year after year I dumped out a bowl of wilted green salad because people only put a token amount on their plates out of obligation. No one wanted it when there were so many special holiday only options available. I no longer make it and no one has complained. There are a few of us who really enjoy a particular veggie dish, but only a few so I’m cutting the recipe in 1/4 this year. It really is ok to pare down.

Cook ahead and freeze. Takes the last minute work out and is cheaper. You can do organic bronzed turkey crown with a huge array of options or you can but and defrost a frozen turkey. You can do a cheaper version of Paxo or you can make your own stuffing using organic gluten free sausages, chestnuts and gluten free bread.
Making your own red cabbage and cauliflower cheese is much cheaper for large numbers. Make it now and freeze it.
Homemade cranberry sauce is very easy but more expensive than a jar- it’s a lot nicer though and hides a cheaper turkey well.

There is choice about how much you spend. My advice would be that most people want a nice meal but don’t want or need a table groaning with alternatives and every possible side dish. Keep it simple and cheat, where you can without it being too obvious. You don’t need lots of puddings. Christmas pudding with brandy butter or ice cream is fine as people can just have ice cream.if you want to make ice cream more special for children buy a few Christmas sprinkles.

There are just 4 adults in my house and we hate turkey. So I get a big chicken from the supermarket bought in advance and frozen less than £10. We have roast spuds lots of veg, pigs in blankets which I make well in advance and freeze, plus bread sauce and stuffing from packets and cranberry sauce. We have Xmas pud for after I have a nut free tesco one under £3 with cream. We eat normal cereal for breakfast, something like cheese and crackers and mince pies and cake for the days other meal I think the days food is well under £50. That is just the day though I cook a ham Christmas eve or boxing day and we don't drink alcohol which keeps the cost down.