It might seem like a long way off to be thinking about Christmas dinner, but budgets are tight this year – so forward-planning can help save you money.
Also, the earlier you start planning your Christmas, the more stress-free it will be.
And one of the most important parts of the big day is the food – but this indulgent feast can set us back considerably, in terms of cash.
Thankfully, we have top tips from chef Mickael, a Michelin-star trained private chef at HOMETAINMENT.
He’s shared a few things to consider to bring the price down on your Christmas dinner, with a few areas you can start thinking about now – 40 days in advance.
Use turkey thigh instead of a whole Turkey
Of course, a glistening turkey usually takes centre stage on the Christmas table – but there’s no need for lashings of leftovers.
As a result, Mickael suggests using turkey thighs instead – especially if you’re a small party – so you still get the classic taste without lots going spare.
He says: ‘We tend to cook more than we actually need, so to avoid waste (unless you’ll be using the leftovers for other meals) try going for turkey thighs instead.
‘You can still have stuffing and season the thighs with your usual herbs and garnishing, but it’ll be much cheaper.
‘The Christmas turkey can be the most expensive part of your meal. Whereas the average turkey thigh joint comes in at much cheaper and can easily be sourced from your local butchers.’
Mickael adds that one turkey leg can feed up to four people.
‘But I’d go for two just to make sure there’s enough,’ he continues.
‘Try not to buy bad quality/cheap meat as this can make or break the Christmas dinner, if you have to buy less meat then bulk up the dinner with more vegetables and stuffing.’
Bulk up on the vegetables, and buy them loose
Christmas is all about the trimmings, and you can bulk up most of the plate with vegetables – which are much cheaper than other parts.
‘Not only are they inexpensive, but with the right seasoning, they can elevate a dish,’ explains Mickael.
‘But don’t buy ready-prepared Christmas vegetables in a tray or packet, instead buy them loose as this is much cheaper, and you get more for your money.
‘Ready prepared vegetables are usually around £2.30 from a supermarket, and usually you have to buy two for four people, costing £4.60.
‘However, you can pick up better alternatives from your local grocer, such as five loose potatoes for £1 (0.21p each), four carrots for 28p (0.07p each), four parsnips for roughly 80p (0.19p each). And that’s double the quantity you’d get in pre-packaged bags.’
Buy a cheaper wine… and blend it
Christmas is a celebratory occasion, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on fancy wine – especially if money is tight this year.
Mickael says: ‘If you’re drinking the wine, a really fun trick is to buy a cheaper bottle of wine and blend it to enhance the flavour.
‘It might sound crazy, but blending the wine (also known as hyper-decanting) allows it to breathe, creating a mellower and fruitier tasting wine.’
More money-saving tips from Mickael:
Never buy out-of-season veg
It’s a huge waste of money as the veg will go off quickly and just taste awful. Go for seasonal, and locally grown to ensure the best flavour.
Shop in advance and freeze to avoid the price hikes
The further you shop in advance, the cheaper you can get those Christmas essentials for.
Naturally, as demand for items increases, so does the price, so shopping 1-2 months in advance is advisable. You can easily defrost these in the fridge, 24 hours prior to cooking and brine the meat with water, lemon and sage.
When it comes to cutting costs scrimp on wine
You can buy cheap wine which can be used for both drinking and for the gravy. Have a look round speciality wine shops as they have a great selection, and always have offers on. Never scrimp on meat, just buy less
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