I’m a money-saving master and here’s how you can make tomorrow’s Xmas lunch for a fiver – and even bag drinks for free
IF YOU'RE making a last minute dash to the supermarket for Christmas dinner today, make sure you read this first.
One savvy mum has revealed how you could make a festive feast for under a fiver per head on the big day.
Eilish Stout-Cairns, an actor, 27 from Newcastle, says: "I’m on a budget this year and am in charge of Christmas dinner for the first time.
"I’m doing my whole shop at Aldi where if you get some of the deals it comes to less than a fiver per person.”
Here she shares her tips on how to get a turkey with all the trimmings while trimming down your budget.
Turkey - from £3.75 per person
“Starting with the main event, the turkey, the Ashfield’s Small Whole Bird is £14.99 and serves three to seven people.
"I’m hosting four people including myself, which works out as just £3.75 per person. The one I got is 3.3kg."
Potatoes, from 5p per person
“Aldi announced last week that it’s dropping the price of potatoes and other veg. You’ll be able to get a 2KG bag of white potatoes for just 19p! That’ll cost just 5p per person.
Most read in Fabulous
“As an alternative, you can buy a bag of pre-made Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes for £2.49. Per person, that’s 62p.”
Pigs in Blankets, from 50p per person
“Christmas isn’t Christmas without the trimmings, and pigs in blankets are my favourite.
"A pack of 12 is £1.99, so you’d get three each. That works out at just 50p each.
"If you need more, I think it works out cheaper to buy a pack of cheap chipolatas and some bacon and do them yourself."
Yorkshire Puddings, 12p per person
“Aldi’s budget range is called Everyday Essentials, and you can get 15 Yorkshire Puddings for just 46p.
"That’s only 12p each, and you probably wouldn’t need to use the whole bag if you’re feeding four people."
Stuffing, 12p per person
“For stuffing, the cheapest way to do it is with a mix.
"Aldi’s Quixo Sage & Onion Stuffing Mix makes 12 stuffing balls and it costs 45p, or 12p per person."
Veg, from 13p per person
“Not forgetting about veg, from the 18th December, Aldi is dropping major deals on Christmas vegetables.
"You will be able to get 1kg of carrots for 15p, 500g of parsnips for 19p and 500g of Brussel Sprouts also for 19p. That works out at just 13p a head for all your veg.
“I’ve done the math and it comes to just under £5 per person for a Christmas turkey dinner with all the trimmings!
"If you’re happy to make your own spuds you can bring the cost down even more, but either way it just goes to show you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a traditional Christmas lunch with all the classics."
FULL SHOPPING LIST
- Ashfields British Turkey Whole Bird Small, £14.99, £3.75pp
- White Potatoes 2kg, 19p (available from 18th December), £0.05pp
- Let’s Party 12 Pigs in Blankets, £1.99, £0.50pp
- Everyday Essentials 15 Yorkshire Puddings, £0.46p, £0.11pp
- Quixo Sage & Onion Stuffing Mix, £0.45p, £0.11pp
- Carrots 1kg, 15p (available from 18th December), £0.04pp
- Parsnips 500g, 19p (available from 18th December), £0.05pp
- Brussel Sprouts 500g, 19p (available from 18th December), £0.05pp
- Total price: £18.68, or £4.67 per person
For drinks Eilish said, “I’ve got my family bringing the booze and pudding which I think is only fair because I’m doing the cooking.
"To be honest, probably one bottle of champers costs more than the whole dinner.”
Tom Church, Co-founder of money saving community added, “Eilish has shown Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be expensive.
"You hear of people spending hundreds. You don’t have to. Aldi has a decent selection of good value foods. Cook together, have fun, and enjoy.
“If you’re looking to spend a bit more and maybe want to throw in a few branded products, I recommend comparing prices to make sure you’re getting the best value on your food shop.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
";For example, I used the to find the best deal on a pack of 12 Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Puddings and found there was a 50p difference between the cheapest and most expensive supermarket.
"Morrisons is selling them for £2, whereas at Ocado you’ll pay £2.50. By checking just one product you’re already making a substantial enough saving for exactly the same product”.