Celebrate Chinese New Year with these cheap ways to enjoy takeaway food
THERE is only ONE way to celebrate Chinese New Year . . . with a takeaway.
The Year of the Rat is not the only reason to order in a Chinese as it is already the nation’s most popular takeaway grub.
But it can get expensive. A weekly takeaway can set you back more than £1,000 a year.
But it does not have to cost a fortune, thanks to these thrifty “fakeaways” . . .
Chinese, please: Stick with the Chinese New Year theme, but fake it to make a saving. On average, we spend £9.86 per person on a Chinese takeaway, so instead create your own. A chicken chow mein sweet and sour chicken meal box serves two from Tesco for just £5, usually £8.
Add to your feast with a selection of half-price appetisers — such as crispy chilli prawns, £1.75, usually £3.50.
SAVING: Around £12.97 for two
Doner spend a lot: Drank too much last night? Save pounds on post-pub kebabs — usually around £6 from kebab shops — by stocking up on Babek doner kebab meat, £2 for 600g, from Iceland.
SAVE: at least £4
Pail imitation: Create your own KFC bargain bucket. Get a bag of frozen Southern fried chicken thighs, £3 from Iceland. For the sides, grab Southern fried chips, £1.50, and a bag of mini corn cobs, £1. Gravy fans should head to B&M for Mayflower Southern style gravy mix, £1, which makes 1.6 litres of gravy. All of this works out at around £6.50 — far cheaper than a six-piece bargain bucket, approximately £10.49.
SAVING: £4.20
Cheeky swap: Most of us love a Nando’s. But you can create your very own chicken feast at home without having to fork out for a takeaway. Head to Sainsbury’s and buy a Nando’s Bag Bake, £1, down from £1.20.
If you also buy 1kg of chicken breast fillets for £5.50, you can make more than enough for everyone.
A Nando’s chicken butterfly costs £8.25 — so you make a big saving when cooking for a family.
SAVE: At least £1.75
PRICES correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
PICK up a Salter Chinese New Year set for £15, down from £20 at Sainsbury’s. Including a steel wok, Blue Dragon soy sauce, chow mein stir-fry sauce and sweet chilli and garlic stir-fry sauce.
SAVE: £5
Cheap Treat
IF you fancy making your own Chinese curry, head to Tesco. It has two for £2 on selected Sharwoods sauces such as Chinese curry and sweet and sour sauce, usually £1.85 a jar.
SAVE: £1.70
My Sun Savers Fiver
LESLIE GEE, from Steyning, West Sussex, says: “I will put my Sun Savers fivers towards both my daughters’ birthdays, which are coming very soon.”
Send your Savers fiver stories to and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Please include your name and town.
Top Swap
DON’T pay £1.40 for Amoy dark soy sauce from Waitrose. Instead, try a bottle from Aldi for 45p. I can barely taste the difference.
SAVE: 95p
Reader's Saving Tip
GLYNIS CASEY, from Carnforth, Lancs, says: “When shopping at B&Q, ask at the customer service desk if there are any discounted items. They often sell items, which people have not collected, cheap.”
- Send your tips to and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Please include your name and town.
Shop & Save
PICK up any four Chinese ready meals at Iceland for £5, including chicken chow mein and crispy duck with pancakes.
2 FOR 1 DAYS OUT WITH SUN SUPERDAYS
LOOKING for some fun activities to kick start the year? Look no further than this fantastic 2 for 1 offer to top UK attractions with Sun Superdays.
Enjoy some serious star-spotting at Madame Tussauds London or Blackpool. Party with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in London and don’t miss the new Strictly Experience in Blackpool.
Escape the ordinary and experience the awesome at The Bear Grylls Adventure in Birmingham. Or enjoy new deep-sea adventures with the return of Professor Finn in Jawsome Sharks (and Friends!), plus dive into a new
mission with the Octonauts at SEA LIFE Aquariums across the country.
So what are you waiting for? Simply cut out the voucher below and take it to the attraction on the day of your visit. Some attractions require pre-booking online, see the voucher for instructions.
- “Bear Grylls” is a registered trademark of Bear Grylls Ventures LLP. These images depict figures created and owned by Madame Tussauds. Voucher valid until April 30, 2020.
Your paper could be worth £50,000
Every month YOU could win the super cash giveaway in our Sun Raffle just for reading this paper.
Entering could not be easier – simply download the Sun Savers app or sign up at .
Then, opt in to each month’s Sun Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the codes printed daily inside the paper – scanning in the app or entering online.
With every code you enter you will earn a Raffle ticket into that month’s £50,000 Raffle.
There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect per month, so make sure to enter as many codes as you can to give yourself the best chance of winning. Remember, you have got to be in it to win it.
Not already a Sun Savers member? Join Sun Savers today.
It only takes a minute to sign up – just search “Sun Savers” in the app store and then download the app, or head to . To get started, all you need to do is enter a few details.
- T&Cs apply. For full T&Cs see .
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver.
So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple.
You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
MOST READ IN MONEY
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at .
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, .
- PRICES correct at time of going to press. Deals/offers subject to availability.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]